The Nation Newspaper

Tag: storm

  • Kwara Utd storm Shagamu

    Kwara Utd storm Shagamu

    NPL side, Kwara United will on Sunday commence two-week pre-season closed camping at Shagamu, Ogun State.

    The closed camping exercise will afford the new manager, Samson Unuanel opportunity to examine the players available for the 2012/2013 league season.

    Supersport.com learnt that the team will engage local sides in tune-up matches which will assist Unuanel to decide the players to be laid off. Forty three players will be involved in the exercise made of 23 old and 20 new players.

    An official of the side, Ola Ajide said the exercise is to put the Afonja Warriors in good shape for the planned kick off of the new season on Saturday, December 1.

    “Everything being equal we’ll move into a two-week closed camping in Shagamu on Sunday and the team will play warm-up matches with selected sides. The exercise will give the new manager ample time to examine the players and decide on those to be asked to go.

    “Kwara United want to hit it big next season and won’t leave any stone unturned to realising their target.

    “The new technical adviser is alive to his mandate and want to make an indelible mark come next season. He has the support of everybody,” Ajide said to supersport.com.

  • Politicians storm Ondo town for last minute campaign

    Politicians storm Ondo town for last minute campaign

    Ondo town was agog yesterday as politicians rounded off their campaigns for tomorrow’s election.

    Members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) thronged the Yaba headquarters of the party to conclude their campaign.

    At the rally, ACN’s standard bearer, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, was described as a man that would bring the desired change to Ondo State and work for the progress of the Southwest.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held its final campaign at its Akure Road headquarters. Members were confident that their candidate, Olusola Oke, would emerge victorious in the election.

    Soldiers and policemen patrolled the town yesterday. A chieftain of the ACN, Mr. Bola Ilori, said Governor Olusegun Mimiko should be rejected at the polls because he has not performed.

  • Liberia storm Calabar with dance troupe

    Liberia storm Calabar with dance troupe

    The headship of Liberia’s Kolakeh Dance Troupe, dubbed “The Children of Ellen Dance Troupe” has revealed their excitement following their inclusion to “cheer” the Lone Star to victory against Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Saturday, October 13, 2012 in Calabar.

    Kolakeh is a Mano vernacular, which means “We will do it” have members who are dominantly of the Kru ethnic group and is comprised three artists: drummers, singers and dancers.

    The group’s Deputy Director Joseph Tarplah told reporters in an interview via mobile, that the Liberia football chief Musa Bility guaranteed their inclusion.

    He said the best three drummers and four dancers, who are also singers, were selected from their membership, and have vowed to perform their duty, to cheer, chant, sing and dance during the football game to excite the crowd.

    The group, based in New Kru Town, on Bushrod Island in Monrovia, also vowed to raise the players’ spirit for victory.

    “We thank the football house, for the privilege given us and we are confident to excite the crowd, most especially our Liberian Lone Star…we perfect all the Lone Star songs and we are going to cheer them up,” Tarplah said.

    When contacted the LFA President Musa Bility confirmed the inclusion of seven members of the Kolakeh Dance Troupe for Nigeria.

    He said the LFA is responsible for the airfare, local transportation, game tickets, hotel accommodation as well as per diem for the dance group at the cost of about US$12,000 (about N2m).

    “We expect the troupe to offer offensive, defensive, and general cheers and chants to raise the crowd’s spirits during the Liberia and Nigeria’s football match,” he said.

  • EFCC operatives storm Imo to probe Ohakim, Okorocha

    EFCC operatives storm Imo to probe Ohakim, Okorocha

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has deployed a team of operatives in Imo State as part of the ongoing probe of former Governor Ikedi Ohakim for alleged mismanagement of N18.5billion out of the N40bilion bond secured in June, 2007.

    The team is also probing Governor Rochas Okorocha over alleged abuse of the Joint state and Local Government Account.

    The details of the allegations against Okorocha have not been made available.

    The EFCC has so far quizzed three former commissioners and two special advisers in the Ohakim administration.

    According to a top EFCC source, the operatives have been in Imo State since Monday, looking into the records of the past and present administration.

    It was learnt that out of the bond sum, N201m was spent on Christmas Rice in 2007 by the Ohakim administration.

    The investigation weighs heavily on Ohakim’s administration because of the inability of some state officials to account for N18.5billion out of the N40billion bond applied for the state under the ex-governor.

    The source said: “The EFCC stormed Owerri as investigation into the case of conspiracy, abuse of office, misappropriation of funds and money laundering against Former Governor Ohakim.

    “The operatives of the anti- graft agency have been poring through files and had by yesterday quizzed some ranking officers of the Ohakim administration and carted away vital documents.

    “Among those quizzed are former permanent secretaries of the ministries of finance and Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs as well as a former Chairman of the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (IMOPADEC).

    “Apart from these officials, other officials of the Ohakim administration have been quizzed in the last few months by the anti-graft agency and released on administrative bail.

    “Some of those earlier quizzed are former Commissioner of Finance, George Irechukwu; former Special Adviser to Ohakim on Project Monitoring and Implementation; Ben Ekwueme; former Commissioner for Works, Ralph Nwosu Obioha; and former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ogaziechi Kezie.

    “They are being probed for their alleged roles in the mismanagement of the N18.5billion secured out of the N40bilion bond applied for by the Imo State Government in June 2009. The bond was supposedly secured to finance the following projects: (1) Rehabilitation of 37 water scheme at a cost of N1.3bilion; (2) Construction of 16 critical roads at a cost of N3.7billion; and (3) Cconstruction of Phase 1 of the Imo Wonder Lake Resort and Conference Centre, Oguta at a cost of N12.5billion.

    “From preliminary findings, we have a strong lead that the proceeds of the bond were misappropriated as the Ohakim administration and the lead Issuing House (UBA Capital) never bothered to file the mandatory quarterly report on utilization of the bond proceeds to SEC. This prompted the capital market regulator to slam a fine of N1.2million on the state. The fine was paid by the Okorocha administration.

    “The Ohakim Government in July 2007 had secured a loan of N10billion from UBA as a bridging facility prior to floating the bond but did not disclose this information to SEC. “From this money, N1.6billion was diverted and misappropriated through mundane expenditure such as the N201m paid for Christmas Rice in 2007, N50m for SSG as logistics for festival, N500m for purchase of Zenith Bank shares, N55m as DTA to Permanent Secretary Governor’s Office, N50m as professional fees to Nwoko

    “Some of the water projects listed for execution with the Bond proceed had been funded and executed under the State’s Millennium Development Goals, MDG

    “The Ohakim administration also allegedly withdrew N6.7billion from the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) Escrow Account without the approval of members of the Committee

    “Above all, in March 2011, barely two months before his exit from Government House Owerri, Ohakim took another loan of N6billion from UBA Plc Mbari Branch Owerri and disbursed it within four weeks.

    “Records available to the EFCC have shown that the disbursement was supervised by the ex- governor’s brother and Chief of Staff, Emmanuel Ohakim.

    “Some of the suspects have made useful statements and volunteered document that will assist the ongoing investigation.

    “Governor Okorocha, Ohakim’s successor, is equally being probed by the EFCC over allegation bordering on abuse of the Joint state and local government account.”

  • EMENIKE, AHMED MUSA STORM EAGLES CAMP TODAY

    EMENIKE, AHMED MUSA STORM EAGLES CAMP TODAY

    NIGERIA strikers Emmanuel Emenike and Ahmed Musa have confirmed their today’s arrival at Super Eagles camp ahead of this weekend’s African Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia in Calabar.

    CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa revealed he reached that decision with Emenike after scoring once to help his Russian club to a 2-0 derby victory over Emenike’s Spartak Moscow at the weekend.

    “After the game, I went to Emenike and we both agreed to reach camp on Tuesday (today). We hope to the part of the team’s Tuesday evening’s training session,” said Musa, whose birthday comes 24 hours after the October 13th crucial battle against Lone Star.

    “Liberia cannot stop us from playing at the Nations Cup finals in South Africa next year. We would do our best to win well. My birthday is October 14, celebration will start on October 13 and a victory will serve as a perfect birthday present,” he added.

    None of the invited foreign-based players had reached the team’s camp by Monday morning. But the seven local players who made the cut Monday departed Abuja for Calabar, where they will be joined by the 15 foreign counterparts.

    However, Super Eagles and Maccabi Tel Aviv first choice Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Real Betis midfielder Nosa Igiebor, who scored in the first leg in Monrovia, were expected at the team’s Calabar camp on later on Monday.

    All invited 15 foreign-based players have been given today as deadline to report in camp by Stephen Keshi, who said he has not given any player permission to report a day later.

    Super Eagles rounded off preparations at Abuja with a stalemated 1-1 friendly with FC Abuja at the weekend. Apparently trying to avoid injury, the home-based Eagles team took the lead before FC Abuja restored parity.

    Speaking after the encounter, head coach of FC Abuja, Friday Christopher said Super Eagles should not be judged by the result of the match, explaining the Stephen Keshi’s charges tried to avert injury that could mar their performance against Liberia.

    Meanwhile, Liberia are expected to arrive the country on Wednesday from Ghana, where they have been training intensively for the duel.

     

  • Police storm Ondo over alleged murder threat

    Police storm Ondo over alleged murder threat

    DETECTIVES from Zone X1, Osogbo, Osun State, at the weekend stormed Akure, the Ondo State capital, to investigate the alleged plan by some Labour Party (LP) chieftains to kill leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    Sources said they met Police Commissioner Danladi Mshelbwala and the lawmaker representing Akure North/ South Federal Constituency, Ifedayo Abegunde over the allegation.

    Abegunde, who is also the Director of Mobilisation for the Independent Campaign Network (ICN) and Director, Aketi Campaign Organisation (ACO) in the constituency and Mr. Saka Yusuf Ogunleye have been invited to the Zone X1 Command by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG).

    The two ACN chieftains were in Osogbo to brief the police on their “SOS” letter to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) over alleged threat and plan to kill them.

    They alleged in the petition that the LP chieftains and close associates of Governor Olusegun Mimiko including Soji Bello, Ige Akinji and the Chief of Staff (COS), Dr. Kola Ademujimi, have connived with LP supporters such as Ojo Adewole, Ayo Falaye, Jimoh Obabi and Funso Adu to murder them.

    According to the petition, “we were attacked with dangerous weapons and they are still planning to attack us.

    “For example, one of the accused persons, Ojo Adewole, the Chairman of the Taxi Unit of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ondo State, who last Thursday led the hoodlums to attack ACN members at Ward Seven, Ibikunle Lane, has been arrested by the officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

  • Sambo, Tinubu, Akande storm Ondo tomorrow

    Sambo, Tinubu, Akande storm Ondo tomorrow

    Leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN] led by its National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as other bigwigs including Chief Segun Osoba, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Alhaji Lam Adesina and the National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, among others will tomorrow be in Ikare Akoko, for a big rally tagged: “Redemption Rally.”

    Vice-President Namadi Sambo and other leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party[PDP] are also billed for Akure for the party’s mega rally.

    The Director-General of the Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation, Dare Bada, said the essence of the rally was to show the seriousness of the party in winning the forthcoming election.

    Other notable PDP leaders expected at the rally, according to him, are former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senate President David Mark, National Chairman of the party, Bamanga Tukur, Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal, PDP governors and other leaders of the party across the country.

    Bada said the rally would be used to clear the air on the speculation that the national leadership of the PDP would support another party’s candidate against its own governorship standard bearer.

    Spokesman for the Redemption of the ACN, Ademola Adetula, said the rallies would be held tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday.

    He said they would be held in the three senatorial districts namely, Ikare Akoko (Ondo North) tomorrow, Ondo (Ondo Central) on Wednesday and Ore (Ondo South) on Thursday.

    According to him, the rallies would be the biggest in the history of the state.

    Adetula said it would enable the governorship candidate of the party, Rotimi Akeredolu [SAN], to inform the people of his development-oriented programmes.

    He urged them to troop out en masse to welcome the party’s standard bearer in the forthcoming election, Akeredolu and his running mate, Paul Akintelure, at the rallies, assuring that measures had been put in place to forestall breach of security.

    Other leaders expected at the rallies are ACN governors, national and state lawmakers and state and national leaders.

  • Sambo, Obasanjo, Mark storm Ondo for Oke October 2

    Sambo, Obasanjo, Mark storm Ondo for Oke October 2

    Vice-President Namadi Sambo will on Tuesday lead top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to Akure, the Ondo State capital, for a rally to garner support for the party’s governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke.

    Others expected at the rally are former President Olusegun Obasanjo; PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; Senate President Davis Mark; House of Reprsentatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal; as well as the Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    Sambo, who is also the Presidential Campaign Committee Chairman for the election, is expected to rally support for Oke in the October 20 election.

    Addressing reporters at Oke’s campaign office in Akure, the Director-General of the campaign organisation, Dare Bada, urged members of the party to welcome the party’s national leaders.

    Bada said the rally would enable the PDP to show its seriousness and the commitment of its national secretariat as well as the Presidency for the PDP to win the poll.

    He said: “It is important to mention that the theme of the Presidential Campaign Committee is ‘win your ward, win your local government’. This is to emphasise the fact that the party implores all members in the state, irrespective of status and class, to join hands in the task to succeed in every polling unit on the Election Day. I want to restate that this is a message that all party members in Ondo State have imbibed and is responsible for the success that continues to characterise our state-wide campaigns.

    “It is also important to underscore the fact that puerile speculations, to the effect that a particular party is an appendage of the PDP and enjoys Abuja’s support, is all ruse. It is an unwise manner to hoodwink and confuse the good people of this state.”