The Nation Newspaper

Tag: spokesman

  • EFCC secured 40 convictions in January, says spokesman

    ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recorded 40 convictions last month, its spokesman Tony Orilade said yesterday.

    He said the number was cumulative convictions secured across the commission’s zonal offices.

    Orilade said a breakdown of the figure showed that the commission`s Lagos Office secured 20 of the convictions, followed by Abuja office which recorded nine.

    He said: “Six of the convictions were recorded by Port Harcourt and Kaduna offices with three convictions each, Kano recorded two, while Benin, Ibadan and Gombe offices had one conviction each.”

    Orilade said that the convictions included, that of two former officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), adding that they were sentenced to 91-year-jail term and forfeiture of their properties to the Federal Government.

    Two INEC officials, Christian Nwosu a former Secretary of INEC at its Kwara State office and another official of the commission, Tijani Bashir, were on January 25 sentenced by a Federal High Court in Lagos.

    Orilade said: “The duo were found guilty of laundering N264.8 million in the build up to the 2015 general elections.

    “The sum was believed to be their share of the 115 million dollars illicitly dispensed by the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    “Another conviction of interest is that of a fraudster, named Ibrahim Suleiman, who defrauded the former First Inland Bank, now FCMB Plc of the sum of N400, 700,000.

    “The money was fraudulently diverted from an account domiciled in First Inland Bank to the convict’s account from where he transferred various sums to different accounts. He bagged 32 year jail term.”

    The spokesman added that a Dangote Cement Group worker Adewale Dalmeida was sentenced to a five-year jail term.

    He said that Dalmeida was sentenced for the diversion of nine trucks loaded with 800 bags of cement each valued at N15 million each, which belonged to his employer.

    Orilade said that the enhanced counter-fraud strategies of the commission have also yielded good dividends following new trends in internet fraud.

  • Ogun police boss, spokesman, others bag awards

    The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Police Command, Mr Ahmed Iliyasu, and the Public Relations Officer(PPRO) of the command, Abimbola Oyeyemi have been honoured by Africa Security Watch, for initiating and sustaining crime busting innovations in the state.

    The award ceremony was held at Labranda Koral Beach Hotel in Banjul,    Republic of The Gambia.

    At the event, Iliyasu was honoured as the best police commissioner in West Africa, while Oyeyemi was awarded the best PPRO in the sub-continent.

    Also honoured,among others, was the Chairman of Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in Ogun State, Alhaji Ibrahim Olaniyan, as the best security support organisation in West Africa.

    The Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris was represented by the Commissioner of Police in charge of Anambra State, Mr Umar Garba.

    Other dignitaries at the event included former Ghanaian Chief of Defence Staff, General Joseph Nunoo Mensah(rtd); Gambia’s Inspector General of Police, the Executive Governor of Abia State  Dr Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Deputy Governor of Anambra State.

  • Dankwambo appoints spokesman

    A former governorship aspirant in Osun State, Dr Ayoade Adewopo, has been appointed as the spokesman/Director of Communications for the Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo Presidential Campaign Organisation.

    The appointment was announced yesterday after a meeting between Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo and Dr. Adewopo.

    The spokesman brings more than 20 years of experience in public and private sectors to the role. He has served as a special advisor and counsel to government entities, as well as multi-national corporations in Nigeria and abroad.

    Adewopo served as a campaign leader for the Obama 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns.

    Adewopo studied business administration in Nigeria and later proceeded to study law in the United States. He also qualified as solicitor in England and Wales.

    He also holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the Indiana University, Indiana, USA, a postgraduate Diploma in International Tax Law from Robert Kennedy College (University of Wales), Zurich, Switzerland and a Higher National Diploma in Business Management from The Polytechnic Ibadan, Nigeria.

     

  • No disagreement between Saraki, Dogara – Spokesman

    There is no disagreement, quarrel or misunderstanding between the Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara and Senate President Bukola Saraki, the Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs to the Speaker, Turaki Hassan, has said.

    Dogara’s spokesman, in a statement denying the rumour of a rift between the leaders of the two Chambers, said the public should ignore lies being circulated in the social media especially WhatsApp.

    According to him, Dogara and Saraki have enjoyed cordial relationship in the last three years.

    His words: “Please beware of evil people, merchants of lies, falsehood and mendacity whose primary occupation is to concoct, contrive, fabricate and brew mischief and fake news which they spread and broadcast like wild fire on social media.

    “These paid minions who have sold their conscience and souls to the devil for a morsel have been broadcasting lies on social media especially WhatsApp with the sole aim of deceiving and hoodwinking the public into believing that there is a rift between the two leaders of the National Assembly – Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and His Excellency Rt Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

    “To the contrary, Dr. Saraki and Barrister Dogara have enjoyed harmonious working relationship in the last three years.”

    He further added: “The Speaker will never ever say those things about the President of the Senate.

    “But for the unsuspecting members of the public and supporters of the two leaders, we would have ignored this latest round of fallacious and fictitious perfidy which is nothing but a piece of devilish fiction as it will fizzle out and end in the pit of hell where it came from.”

  • DSS appoints spokesman

    Acting Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS) Mr. Matthew Seiyefa has appointed a spokesman for the agency.

    He is Mr. P. N. Afunanya.

    Since the exit of Ms Marilyn Ogar, who served as DSS spokesperson under the administration of Mr. Ita Ekpenyong at the agency three years ago, the DSS under Mr. Lawal Daura issued statements with the name of a pseudo character, Tony Opuiyo, whom none of the journalists covering the DSS headquarters in Abuja had ever met.

    A statement from the DSS Public Relations Department yesterday said that Mr. Afunanya was replacing Mr. Tony Opuiyo.

    The statement said Afunanya was the editor of the DSS’ in-house magazine, “The Triple S” – a publication which did not find favour under Daura.

    “He has attended several courses within and outside Nigeria, namely Innovation and Strategy at Harvard University, Boston, USA; Security Management and Coordination, London and Investigative Journalism at City University, London.

     

     

     

  • Oshiomhole gets spokesman

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has appointed  Simon Ebegbulem as his Chief Press Secretary.

    A letter by the National Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, announced the appointment.

    Buni said Mr Ebegbulem shall “perform all the functions of a Chief Press Secretary and any such duties as may be assigned to you by the National Chairman”.

  • WAEC results ready in 45 days — Spokesman

    The West African Examinations Council ( WAEC ) has reassured that it is committed to releasing results of its 2018 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates in 45 days.

    The council’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr Damianus Ojijeogu, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos.

    The council, he said, was satisfied with the conduct of the  just concluded examination for school candidates nationwide.

    The WASSCE for school candidates commenced on March 27 and was concluded on May 15.

    “We are indeed happy that the examination was conducted in a hitch free manner. Right now, we have commenced coordination, briefing and subsequently, marking.

    “We are looking at releasing the results in 45 days or earlier than that time. It has been the commitment of the council to always give quality service delivery in line with the Head of National Office, Mr Olu Adenipekun’s promise to reduce the waiting days from 90 days to 45 days,” he said.

    Ojijeogu said that technology had been deployed to some marking venues to assist in scanning the scripts.

     

  • 2019: Keyamo is Buhari campaign organisation’s spokesman

    LAGOS lawyer Festus Keyamo (SAN) has been spokesman/director of Strategic Communications for the President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation (PMBCO).

    In a letter dated April 16, PMBCO Director-General, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, stated that in his new official capacity, Keyamo is to play significant roles in Buhari’s pursuit of the All Progressives Congress’ presidential nomination ticket as well as the subsequent presidential campaigns.

    When contacted yesterday, Keyamo confirmed his appointment but requested for an hour or two to issue an official statement.

    The appointment letter titled: “Appointment as Director, Strategic Communications and signed by Amaechi, said: “I am pleased to convey to you, the decision of the President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation to appoint you as Director, Strategic Communications in respect of the forthcoming campaign for the 2019 presidential elections.

    “As you are aware, President Muhammadu Buhari is seeking the nomination of our party, the All Progressives Congress, as the candidate for the said election.

    “Your appointment is to aid in getting that nomination and to ensure the success of the subsequent campaigns for the 2019 presidential elections.

    “In your capacity, you are to be the spokesperson for the campaigns during the nomination process and also at the subsequent campaigns for the 2019 presidential elections.

  • Nigerian media ready to host IPI says spokesman

    SPOKESMAN of the International Press Institute (IPI) World Congress 2018 (IPIWoCo 2018) and Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Eric Osagie, has declared Nigerian media’s readiness to host the world.

    IPI World Congress 2018 holds in Abuja from June 21-23, 2018 under the theme, “Why Good Journalism Matters.”

    Speaking on the congress, Osagie said arrangements had been perfected to host journalists from across the world and showcase the country’s robust journalism.

    He said: “The IPIWoCo 2018 will affirm the indispensable role of quality media in building strong societies, showcasing investigative stories and projects that bring positive change to individuals and communities in Africa and around the world. The congress comes at a time the African continent is experiencing rapidly growing economies, turbulent political transitions and an increasingly tech-savvy population, with the media also experiencing major changes and increasingly more dynamic environment.

    “IPIWoCo 2018 promises to be a great experience as it is the fourth time the conference will be holding outside Europe or America. South Africa hosted the conference twice in 1994 and 2014, while Kenya followed suit thereafter. Nigeria now has the unique opportunity to host the world body of professionals.”

    Osagie said the congress is a rare opportunity for Nigeria to showcase its best.

    “It is an opportunity to re-brand the country, by proving to the world that Nigeria is not as bad as it is painted. It is one of the biggest tools to draw attention to not just the potentials and greatness of Africa’s most populous nation, but to also demonstrate that Nigeria remains the leader in Africa,” he said.

    The spokesman said the Chairman of Local Organising Committee of the IPI Congress 2018, Mr. Nduka Obaiegbena, who is also chairman and publisher of Thisday newspapers, and members of the committee have been going round the country to sensitise government and corporate partners on the need to key into the global event.

    Confirmed speakers expected at the IPIWoCo 2018 include: Virginia Pérez Alonso, Editor-in-Chief, Público, Spain; Anas Aremeyaw Anas, famous undercover reporter, Tiger Eye Foundation, Ghana; Joan Chirwa, Editor-in-Chief, The Mast, Zambia; John Daniszewski, Vice President, Standards, Editor at Large, The Associated Press, USA; Funke Egbemode, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigeria; and Michael Slackman, International Editor, The New York Times, USA.

    Others are Roukaya Kasenally, CEO, African Media Initiative (AMI); Rafael Marques de Morais, Founder and Director, Maka Angola, Angola; Tom Mshindi, Editor-in-Chief, Nation Media Group PLC, Kenya; Trevor Ncube, Chairman, Alpha Media Holdings (AMH), Zimbabwe; Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher, Premium Times, Nigeria; and Mostefa Souag, Acting Director General, Al-Jazeera Media Network, Qatar.

    President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to deliver the opening address at the IPIWoCo 2018.

    There will be an IPI Africa Media Forum, featuring invaluable insight from top media professionals, experts and thinkers from Nigeria and the rest of Africa on the future of a rapidly changing continent.

    The IPI World Congress is hosted by a large group of influential Nigerian publishers and editors from leading media houses.

    IPI is an association of media professionals representing leading digital, print and broadcast news outlets in more than 120 countries.

    IPI, with headquarter in Vienna, Austria, was established in October 1950, in the aftermath of the Second World War, with an initial 34 leading editors from 16 countries, who met at Columbia University in New York City.

    They united in the conviction that a free media would contribute to a better and more peaceful world. They also agreed to form a global organisation dedicated to promoting and protecting press freedom and improving the practices of journalism, thus, IPI was born.

     

  • Adamawa PDP spokesman dies

    Adamawa PDP spokesman dies

    The Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State, Sam Zadock, is dead.

    Zadock was killed in the last sectarian violence in the state.

    The State Secretary, Abdullahi Prambe, described the incident as a “big shock”.

    He said: “We were expecting him for a meeting yesterday, but he didn’t show up. He called me but the network was poor, only for us to hear that he was killed in an attack.”

    Prambe, who condemned the incident, called on the government to address issues resulting in such crisis.

    A youth leader, Mr. Paul Turaki, said Zadock was in the car with four people when they were ambushed around Barre village in Demsa Local Government Area.

    A statement by the Army’s spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, said 10 suspects involved in the attack were killed; six were arrested.