The Nation Newspaper

Tag: stalls

  • $9.8m fraud: Witness’ absence stalls ex-NNPC GMD’s trial

    $9.8m fraud: Witness’ absence stalls ex-NNPC GMD’s trial

    The trial of former Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mr. Andrew Yakubu was yesterday stalled at the Federal High Court, Abuja, due to the absence of prosecution witnesses.

    When the matter was called up, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Ben Ikani, told the court that the matter was for continuation of trial, but that unfortunately, his witnesses were not present in court.

    Yakubu’s counsel Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN) also told the court that in the circumstance, he had filed an application seeking the leave of court for his client to attend to his health.

    Raji told the court that the prosecution had not opposed the application.

    The trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, granted the application, as the prosecution raised no objection and adjourned the matter until May 10.

    On the last adjourned date, Mr. Waziri Nitte, the second prosecution witness, told the court how he and his colleagues raided a house in Kaduna and recovered a huge sum of money in foreign currency.

    Nitte, who was led in evidence by Ikani, told the court that he was a detective with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The witness, who said they acted based on an intelligence report that the house in question was stashed with money, added that the money recovered was taken to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    “We searched the house and found a safe which was locked, we engaged the services of a locksmith who unlocked the safe and upon counting the money, it amounted to $9,772, 800 and £74,000.”

    Yakubu was arraigned by the EFCC on a six-count charge, bordering on non-disclosure of assets and fraud, charges to which he pleaded not guilty.

    Yakubu was alleged to have, as “Group Managing Director of NNPC between 2012 and 2014, within the jurisdiction of the court, with intent to avoid lawful transaction, transported to Kaduna $9.8 million and £74,000.

    He was also accused of failure to disclose $9.8 million and £74,000 in his asset declaration form, a crime which contravened Section 27 (3) of the EFCC Act.

  • Alhaji Gay: Lack of DPP’s advice stalls trial of suspects

    Justice A.J Bashua of a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere,  yesterday postponed hearing in the bail application for 12 men accused of complicity in the killing of a dreaded Lagos land speculator, Tunji Rasak Olaniyi aka Alhaji Gay.

    The judge adjourned the matter till September 1 following lack of letter of advice from the office of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    The defendants, who were initially arraigned before Justice J. Sonaike of a Lagos High Court in Igbosere and remanded in Ikoyi Prison were however absent in court.

    Counsel to the defendants, Mr Adebayo Lawanson, whose application for bail had been pending, urged the court to order effective reply from DPP.

    He stated that the defendants are older people whose fragile health should be put into consideration.

    Lawanson argued that the DPP has failed to forward its response to the application for bail of the defendants despite being adequately served the notice.

    A representative of the office of DPP, Mr Ogunsanya, however told the court that his office was not duly notified of the bail application.

    Olaniyi was allegedly killed by angry mob on Monday July 20, 2015, when he led thugs to the scene of a protest against his forcible land grabbing activities in Temidire area of Alagbado, a suburb of Lagos.

    The suspects, Chief Najeem Abioye,64; Adeola Ogungbade,37; Ganiyu Abioye,26; Ogundare Ogunsanya,63; Olanrewaju Ololade,62; Bello Lasisi,60; Ajani Kasali,54;Oyedele Musiliu,64; Jonathan Sanyaolu,68; Taoreed Bakare,61;Olaidi Albert,66 and Wahab Abioye,38,  had been charged with five offences bordering on murder, arson, rioting, unlawful gathering and malicious damage.

  • Paucity of funds stalls skills acquisition, says ITF

    Paucity of funds stalls skills acquisition, says ITF

    The Director-General,  Industrial Training Fund (ITF),  Dr. Juliet Chukkas Oneako has said inadequate funding is hindering the agency from  implementing some of its critical projects.

    She lamented that the agency continually depended to a large extent on  internally generated funds for survival.

    Speaking during a facility tour of the Abuja corporate Headquarters of the agency, she said skills acquisition is the only way the nation can come out of its present over bloated labour market.

    She said: “Equipping this facilities is very important; that is why the agency is crying out for funding;  the Abuja centre particularly required more equipment as existing laboratories and workshops in it are in dire need of latest machinery.

    “ITF has the capacity to provide the needed human resources for the industrialisation of the country. The people we train here have been tested and confirmed to possess the right skills and knowledge to manage any industrial challenge.

    “In fact, we train specialists and we are urging all stakeholders to support what we do in the various centres. All the model s were carefully selected to match the current global industry demand, including machine fabrications, installations and trouble-shooting of all sorts.

    “ITF has concluded plans to deploy its mobile skills training facilities to the Nigerian rural population, to enable the targeted youths acquire specialised skills and vocational training.”

  • Suswam’s presence stalls opening of new PDP office in Benue

    The failure of Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam to travel out of the state in the last two weeks has prevented the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) from opening its office in Makurdi, the state capital.

    Shortly after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention in Abuja, which ended with a walk-out and the formation of the Kawu Baraje-led faction, some aggrieved members of the party from Benue State planned to open a new PDP office in Makurdi. A member of the National Assembly, who is planning to succeed Suswam in 2015, is believed to be the brain behind the new PDP office in Benue State. He allegedly sponsored a splinter group to create the new PDP in the state.

    It was learnt that members of the new PDP has been waiting for the governor to travel to Abuja or any overseas trip to open the new PDP office in the state.

    But Suswam has not embarked on any trip outside the state in the last two weeks.

    His presence is said to have stalled the plan for opening the new PDP office in Makurdi.

    To checkmate the aggrieved new PDP members from operating, the governor allegedly ordered a ward congress, which was held last Saturday, and has since held meetings with PDP chairmen and other key members of the ruling party, apparently to prevent the new PDP members from having their way.

  • Procedural error stalls House of Reps’ plenary

    Confusion trailed yesterday’s sitting in the House of Representatives, as four bills were shelved due to the faulty procedures of the House.

    In the plenary headed by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, members expressed dissatisfaction that amendments were brought before the House without members having copies of the Principal Act, which would enable them contribute to the piece of legislation being considered on the floor.

    The affected bills are: ‘A bill for an Act to amend the National Directorate of Employment Act, Cap. N28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, by creating specific functions and objectives for the Directorate to specifically cater for unemployed graduates of tertiary institutions and related matters’.

    ‘A bill for an Act to amend the Federal Road Safety Commission Act (National Road Traffic Regulation) Cap.F19 LFN 2004 to further regulate and prohibit the covering of vehicle identification number plates and for related matters thereto.

    ‘A bill for an Act to amend the Consumer Protection Council Act, Cap. C25 LFN 2004 to modify its composition, widen the scope of its functions and powers to provide for a broader and more effective council and for related matters, (and a similar attached bill.

    The fourth one was: ‘A bill for an Act to Amend the Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (Establishment, etc.) Act, 2010, which were meant for second reading yesterday, were shelved.

    The Minority Leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, said it was a sad issue that amendment bills were not accompanied by the Principal Act, adding that it was time for the leadership of the House to take a firm stand and make a final pronouncement on the issue. According to him, as a legislature, it was embarrassing for the members to make laws that are based on ignorance.

    The Deputy Leader, Leo Ogor, said it was not right for a member presenting a bill to use his resources to make copies of the bill for the use of members and chamber officials, adding that it was a great stress on such a member and wrong procedurally.

    Another member, Friday Itulah, said standing orders of the House state that notices of bills and motions should be availed to members before the bill or motion comes up.

    He said in a situation whereby such was not done, it undermines members’ contribution to the proposed legislation on the floor.

    He noted that important bills were being stood down because copies of the Principal acts were not made available to members.

  • Lagos community gets market stalls

    Lagos community gets market stalls

    The Odoragunshin community of Eredo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Epe, a Lagos suburb, celebrated in grand style on September 7, when BHL Investment and Technology Ltd handed over 12 market lock-up stalls to the community at an event attended by Vice Chairman, Eredo LCDA, Chief (Mrs) Olayinka Olusanya, Board member and founder of Pro Natura-International (PNI) a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Mr. Phill Hall (OBE), representative of BHL Investment and Technology Ltd, Mr. Guus Hak, The Aladegunsebi of Odoragunshin, Oba Olawale Olagoke Ogunsanya and members of the Odoragunshin community.

    Speaking at the event, PNI’s Acting Executive Director, Mrs. Nike Olaoye, noted that the handing over of the market lock-up stalls in Odoragunshin is one of many community development projects being implemented by PNI in six communities in the Eredo LCDA.

    “These projects were selected as a result of the needs assessment carried out in the area. It was based on the felt needs of the people after holding a series of forums and discussions with various groups.PNI is implementing these projects through the Eredo Community Development Foundation (ErCDF). The ErCDF is a Community Based Foundation that was set-up by PNI in 2010 with the full participation and cooperation from the six communities namely: Odoragunshin; Ibonwon; Ilara; Ijih; Igbonla and Odoshiwola. This was done with the financial and moral support of BHL Investment and Technology Ltd as part of the company’s CSR strategy as it prepares to kick off a bus assembly plant in the Eredo area in 2013,” Mrs. Olaoye said.

    In his remark, Mr. Phill Hall (OBE) commended the Odoragunshin community in accepting to partner with PNI through the ErCDF. He expressed his organisation’s gratitude to Oba Ogunsanya for his cooperation and support for the project which resulted in the lock-up market stalls. He thanked the management of BHL Investment & Technology Ltd for their philanthropist role in the development of rural communities in Eredo LCDA.

    Mr. Guus Hak while responding expressed joy seeing the completion of the stalls. He expressed his gratitude to the people of Odoragunshin for their warm reception and entertainment. He also informed the community on the impending BHL Bus Assembly Plant to be located in Ilara community where the company has acquired land from government. He solicited for their support and explained that it was BHL’s intention to build the capacity and train members of the community to work on the assembly plant once it takes off.

    The Chairman of Eredo LCDA, Honourable S. Adelaja represented by his Vice , Chief (Mrs) Olayinka Olusanya commended the efforts of market leaders for the tireless support given to the PNI and ErCDF staff during the construction of the lock up stalls. She advised Odoragunshin youths to desist from acts of destroying of community development projects. She expressed gratitude to PNI, ErCDF and BHL staff, promising that the community would continue to give more support and co-operation.

    The members of the community expressed their gratitude to all stakeholders of the project, adding that they were originally cynical about the project coming to fruition after the needs assessment exercise was carried out.

    Oba Ogunsanya while declaring the stalls open, praised the management of BHL Investment & Technology Ltd, PNI and ErCDF for their effort in implementing the project as well as promoting peace and harmony among his people. He urged the community to keep the market clean and welcome non indigenes (Hausa’s, Igbo’s, Urobo’s) to join them in the market in order to expand the level of patronage.

     

  • Judge’s transfer stalls Bankole’s trial

    FORMER House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole had his trial stalled yesterday, following the transfer of the presiding judge, Justice Donatus Okorowo to the Federal High Court,Taraba.

    Bankole is facing a 16-count charge of contracts inflation and awards without due process slammed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The contracts financial profile according to the anti-graft agency, is N9 billion.

    Justice Okorowo had adjourned trial till September 24, 25, 26 and 27.

    At the last sitting, the court had admitted some documents tendered against the accused by the EFCC.

    The alleged contracts included: 400 units of 40-inch Samsung TV sets supplied at N525, 000 each instead of N295, 000; 800 units of HP Compaq Desktop Computers at N330, 000 each instead of N160,000; 100 units of Sharp Digital Copier 5316 at N270,000 each instead of N160,000 and 400 units of HP Laserjet at N150,000 instead of N60,000.

    The alleged scam also included: two Range Rover (bullet proof) vehicles, two Range Rover (not bullet proof) vehicles; three Mercedes Benz S-600 cars and 400 DSTV Systems all purchased without due process.

    They included minutes of series of meetings puortedly held in the conference room of the former speaker which contained details the contract scam.

    Bankole, through his counsel, Wale Akoni (SAN), had challenged the document,t saying they were not numbered serially and incomplete.

    The rosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo blamed it on typographical error which he argued did not affect the contents of the documents.

    Admitting the documents as evidence, Justice Okorowo held that since the validity of the documents was not in contention, the court had no option than to rely on it.

    He advised the defence counsel to address the issue in his final address.

    Under cross-examination, a prosecution witness, Adeboye Adeniyi, tendered letters giving details of the contract entered by the House with some companies.

    After he was discharged, the prosecution counsel, Oghenovo Otemu asked for a long adjournment to enable him subpoena other witnesses.

    His prayer was granted by the court despite objection by the defence team.

    The trial was adjourned till September 24, 25,26 and 27.