Technical manager of Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt, Stanley Eguma has been hit with a one match suspension.
Eguma was suspended for reporting eighteen (18) minutes after kick off to the venue of Wednesday’s NPFL game between Rivers United and Plateau United. The match ended goalless.
Following this development, Eguma will not be part of the United team for this weekend’s NPFL game against Gombe United in Gombe.
The Southeast Zone of All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended Ebonyi State Chairman Ben Nwaobosi.
In a statement by its Southeast Publicity Secretary, Hyacinth Ngwu, the party said: “Following the report of the Fact-finding/Disciplinary Committee set up pursuant to APC Constitution/Article 21B (II) by the Southeast Zonal Committee to mediate on chairmanship crisis in Ebonyi State and pursuant to the committee’s recommendation submitted to the zonal Executive on October 14, the zonal executive committee met on October 27 and resolved to sustain the suspension of Nwaobosi as Ebonyi State chairman.”
According to the statement, the resolution was signed by 14 of 15 members of the zonal executive committee members.
Relying on Article 21 D (vi) of the party’s Constitution (of October 2014, as amended), the state APC Executive Committee had passed a vote of no-confidence in Nwaobasi and suspended him from office.
The witch cried yesterday and the child died today — who does not know the witch killed the child?
That may not be scientific, or even logical. But it is deep-rooted in a people’s universe of beliefs, that often times borders on raw faith.
Well, the University of Lagos (Unilag), after a students protest against dirty hostel environment, alleged racketeering on the enforced sale of Unilag bottled water on campus, and allied complaints, just announced the suspension of 17 union leaders, who allegedly led the demonstration. The sentences range from two semesters (one year) to four semesters (two years).
Among the suspended, according to a report in The Nation, are Muhammed Olaniyan (President, University of Lagos Students’ Union), Adeniyan Adenipekun (Speaker, Unilag Student’s Representatives Council), Emmanuel Afolabi (General Secretary), Ojo Oluwatobi (Financial Secretary), Akinnubi Damilola Pedro (Chief Whip) and Jumai Fabuyi (Public Relations Officer).
The suspension of union activities and student leaders would appear to have castrated the entire formal student leadership. You don’t kill a snake without neatly chopping off its head, do you?
But is this wisdom or paranoia? That question is key: for suspending university students’ union activities, because the union mobilised its members to protest, was the panic button the military czars used to press with relish. It is rather ridiculous that in democratic Nigeria, the Unilag authorities are resorting to same old ham-fisted — and often hare-brained — tactics.
But how does the witch aphorism come into all this? Well, Toyin Adebule, Unilag’s deputy information officer, just explained that the suspension had nothing to do with the protests, per se, but with “specific acts of misconducts.”
Well, the university can tell that to the marines!
True, student unionism has degenerated over the years, with not a few so-called union leaders at sea with the high ideals of the pioneers. But it is debatable if the venality of the present did not result from the harsh responses of the past, which seem not to have reformed nothing but deformed everything!
Besides, it’s a moot point if suspension, even if legal, are answers to periodic tensions, over broken down facilities, not entirely the fault of the students.
Students must act more responsibly, just as university managements must be more dutiful in their responsibilities toward students. But rushing to suspend some students over a protest, for which the university authorities were not entirely blameless, doesn’t show much creativity or maturity, in dealing with youths — or even, for that matter, much sense of justice!
Unilag can certainly do better in managing students, even the extremely hot-headed. Besides, suspension, for the last protest, would appear extremely harsh — and dismantling the Students’ Union, an over-kill.
Youths would make mistakes. But you don’t correct them by slaughtering them in a fit of anger!
That is what Unilag has done; and that is why the Unilag authorities should revisit — and reverse — these actions.
A FEDERAL High Court, Abuja yesterday suspended the trial of alleged mastermind of Abuja 2010 Independence Day bombing, Charles Okah, pending his recovery from surgery in the National Hospital.
“In view of the absence of the accused, who had undergone a medical surgery in the National Hospital, Abuja, the trial shall be suspended till March 10 at 11:30 a.m.,”Justice Gabriel Kolawole, ruled.
Kolawole said the suspension would help him to recover and attend his trial.
He, however, ordered that Obi Nwabueze, who is standing trial alongside Okah, be remanded in Kuje prison and produced at the next adjourned date.
At the last sitting, the court ordered the Nigeria Prison Service to provide tight security at hospital during the period Okah was expected to undergo surgery.
The court had ordered that after the surgery, Okah would be produced in court on the next adjourned date to face his trial.
Ondo State government said yesterday that its suspension order on the operation of commercial motorcyclists, otherwise known as Okada, in the state capital, Akure, and the ban on ticketing by the operators are still in force.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Information Kayode Akinmade said the “suspension order stands until government is done with its reformation process on the operation of the commercial motorcycle operators”.
“The clarification came following reports that the order is being flouted by some commercial motorcycle operators in the capital city, where activities of the okada riders have been suspended,” Akinmade said.
The statement added that the ban on ticketing activities by the operators was still in force, warning that operators should guide against falling prey to the activities of illegal ticket handlers who have been duping unsuspecting motorcycle operators under the guise of working for outlawed bodies.
It enjoined the operators to maintain the peace and cooperate with government in its determination to ensure they have a regularised and effective mode of operation.
Champions Kano Pillars will be without skipper Rabiu Ali and Moses Ekpai for today’s epic Nigeria league clash at Enyimba as they are suspended following an accumulation of bookings.
“Both Rabiu and Ekpai are not available for the match as they each got their second bookings in our last game against Shooting Stars. They are suspended for a match each,” disclosed Pillars spokesman Idris Malikawa.
Nigeria ‘B’ international midfielder Rabiu has been Pillars most consistent performer this season, while Ekpai was man of the match against 3SC at the weekend and was the match winner in the first round of the league when both teams clashed in Kano.
However, there could be debuts for Flying Eagles defender Zaharadeen Bello and Emmanuel Olowo.
Bello, who has usually played in central defence, may be drafted to right fullback for Bala Zakka, who posted a great debut against Shooting Stars, but will miss Wednesday’s encounter because a clause in his transfer stipulated he should not play against his former club Enyimba.
Barely two months after he was sworn, Students Union Government (SUG) President of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Omotayo Akande, has been suspended by the Students Representative Council (SRC), the legislative arm of the union.
The union leader was served a four-week suspension for not “following due procedure” in his request letter to the management for sponsorship to attend an international conference for students’ leaders organised by the United Nations in New York, United States (U.S.).
Omotayo made a request of N500,000 to the management to facilitate his trip. He was suspended by the parliament after a mid-night sitting on Saturday. Members of the parliament said the embattled union president did not inform the house of his plans to travel. They also said Omotayo’s letter of sponsor did not carry the signature of the union’s General Secretary.
A member of the parliament, Oladapo Adewale, faulted the timing of the union president’s trip, saying the pulse on the campus does not support such request.
He said: “Going for an international leadership conference is a good idea, but this is not an appropriate time for such trip. The union is still looking for way to deliver welfare programmes to students, who elected us, yet somebody is seeking sponsorship for a conference that students believe would not improve their conditions.”
He said members agreed that the president should go source for fund outside the school.
Fasasi Lukmon, a 300-Level Management and Accounting student, described the union president’s move as “aberration”, saying Omotayo displayed a total disrespect to the feelings of students.
“I support the position of the parliament, and I think students’ leaders would learn from this,” Lukmon said.
The trip will not be supported, Mayowa Sikemi, another student, said. She said N500,000 could be used to solve many problems on the campus.
Another student, Bayo Ade, said there was nothing wrong in Omotayo’s request. He said the suspension was in bad faith, describing members of the parliament as disgruntled.
Bayo said: “I can understand the reason students are complaining about Omotayo’s trip to the U.S. To me, some students in that parliament are disgruntled and enemies of progress. That is why they suspended the president. I am against such unconstitutional move from our parliamentarians. They should be careful in the discharge of their duties.”
Following Omotayo’s suspension, the union’s Vice President, Opeyemi Oladunjoye, will assume leadership in acting capacity. All efforts to reach the embattled president were futile, as his mobile phone was switched off at the time of this report.
Governor wrongly advised –Sacked workers
Delta State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has explained the reason behind the suspension of the 2014/2015 civil service recruitment exercise.
In his maiden address to the State House of Assembly on Thursday, Okowa explained that the exercise “violated established rules and regulations in the civil service,” adding that “it was not logical that a state struggling to meet its payroll obligation should employ more persons.”
Okowa recalled that the previous administration “underscored the failure of the recruitment process when it suspended the chairman and members of the Board of the State Civil Service Commission.
“In essence, if the process was faulty as they found out, the end result (the recruitment) could not have been otherwise.”
Okowa described the suspension order as “painful and agonising” for him and pleaded with the House members to “explain to their constituents who were affected by the suspension order to be patient and understand that we do not mean them any harm. We just want to ensure that the right thing is done.”
While sympathizing with those affected, Okowa said, “you have my highest assurance that in the long term, this decision is for the benefit of everybody”, stressing that, “ sometimes, things have to get worse before they can get better.”
Governor Okowa had in a reference letter, number GHA16 Vol. VI/154 of 1st June, 2015, placed all employment carried out since January 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015 on hold.
But the sacked workers, under the aegis of the congress of newly employed civil servants, debunked insinuations that the state was broke and could not pay its workers saying, “We request the Delta State Accountant General and Head of Service to provide answers to high numbers of ghost workers under their watch and account for the Internally Generated revenue of Delta State (IGR), which is over seven billion naira monthly.”
Its chairman, Mr Regha Obukohwo demanded for the holistic probe of the state civil service with the intent of flushing out corrupt management staff and ghost workers from the system and open employment opportunities for the people of the state.
Obukohwo urged Governor Okowa to reconsider its decision and reverse the suspension placed on their employment.
• For gross indiscipline, anti-federation activities
• Five-Man Committee to investigate allegations
•Decisions sent to ICC
The former President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), who is the current President of the Africa Cricket Association, Kwesi Sagoe has been suspended indefinitely by the Congress of the Nigeria Cricket Federation at its Annual General Meeting held at the Media Center of the Abuja National Stadium on Saturday, March 14, 2015.
Making his submissions for moving a motion for the indefinite suspension of a board member of the NFC, Kwesi Sagoe, who is also the incumbent President/outgoing President of the Africa Cricket Association (ACA), the Chairman of the Edo State Cricket Association, Barrister Oviawe Ighagbon reeled out his submissions for moving the motion:
“My pleading is very simple and beyond an issue; we must be seen taking steps forward and such steps forward must be critical and must give some persons lessons. This game does not belong to one man. Until we free ourselves from the hands of a cabal which has taken our game to the Golgotha of crucifixion, cricket in Nigeria will not survive. Mr. President (Mr. Emeka Onyeama), I want to move to the hearing of the house certain areas which were corroborated, sending e-mails that went through persons here and there and also a newspaper publication has made the country (Nigeria) to be exposed to ridicule.
“Mr. President I want to specifically indict in this my analysis Mr. Kwesi Sagoe and whichever board member that addressed the issue one after the other because my heart bleeds when I see these issues. His response identifying Nigeria as hypocritical, to me that statement is wicked, that statement is callous, that statement does not depict the personality of a man who was appointed and not elected by the government to represent its interest on the international stage. I think this AGM must not always be seen to have the capacity to bark but also the capacity to bite.
“In the light of the aforementioned I want to move a motion for the immediate suspension of Mr. Kwesi Sagoe from the (NCF) Board subject to a committee that will be set up to investigate the veracity and the truth and activities of this man. Thank you.”
There were no objections to the motion moved by Ighagbon and the motion was seconded by Mc Farlane Ejah and Kwesi Sagoe was suspended at the NCF’s Annual General Meeting held at the Media Center of the Abuja National Stadium on Saturday, March 14, 2015.
A board member of the NCF, Olisa Egwuatu, after the suspension of Sagoe, alleged: “My only grouse is that Mr (Kwesi) Sagoe has damaged the nation and what we are going through at NCF level particularly our condition in which we get our funding. Mr Sagoe is the architect of that system that stalled every move we made and economically strangled it all. If the committee wants me to give evidence I will gladly do that. All I am saying is that Kwesi Sagoe is number one trouble of Nigerian cricket.”
Immediately after the suspension of the ACA President from the NCF Board, a five-Man committee to investigate the allegations levelled against Kwesi Sagoe was announced with the members as follows: Barrister Oviawe Ighagbon, Mr. Oludare Davis Emmanuel- Secretary, Mr. Oklusegun Akinyemi, Mr. Mc Farlane Ejah and a Representative from the National Sports Commission.
The Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the NCF, Kayode Adeniyi also told SportingLife yesterday that the “decisions at the NCF AGM was also sent to the International Cricket Council Saturday night while three standing committees were named during a Board Meeting that was held at Ibro Hotel, Abuja, same Saturday, which included Marketing, League and Ground Committees.
“The Vice President of the NCF, Mr. Soki Dakoru who allegedly endorsed the nomination of Mr. Kwesi Sagoe for the second term in office of the ACA was asked to write to South Africa a letter of withdrawal since the letter was not authorised by the entire Board of NCF and was not duly signed by its President, Mr. Emeka Onyeama which Mr. Soki Dakoru duly complied with,” Mr. Adeniyi also disclosed.
• For gross indiscipline, anti-federation activities • Five-Man Committee to investigate allegations • Decisions sent to ICC
The former President ofthe Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), who is the current President of the Africa Cricket Association, Kwesi Sagoe has been suspended indefinitely by the Congress of the Nigeria Cricket Federation at its Annual General Meeting held at the Media Center of the Abuja National Stadium on Saturday, March 14, 2015.
Making his submissions for moving a motion for the indefinite suspension of a board member of the NFC, Kwesi Sagoe, who is also the incumbent President/outgoing President of the Africa Cricket Association (ACA), the Chairman of the Edo State Cricket Association, Barrister Oviawe Ighagbon reeled out his submissions for moving the motion:
“My pleading is very simple and beyond an issue; we must be seen taking steps forward and such steps forward must be critical and must give some persons lessons. This game does not belong to one man. Until we free ourselves from the hands of a cabal which has taken our game to the Golgotha of crucifixion, cricket in Nigeria will not survive. Mr. President (Mr. Emeka Onyeama), I want to move to the hearing of the house certain areas which were corroborated, sending e-mails that went through persons here and there and also a newspaper publication has made the country (Nigeria) to be exposed to ridicule.
“Mr. President I want to specifically indict in this my analysis Mr. Kwesi Sagoe and whichever board member that addressed the issue one after the other because my heart bleeds when I see these issues. His response identifying Nigeria as hypocritical, to me that statement is wicked, that statement is callous, that statement does not depict the personality of a man who was appointed and not elected by the government to represent its interest on the international stage. I think this AGM must not always be seen to have the capacity to bark but also the capacity to bite.
“In the light of the aforementioned I want to move a motion for the immediate suspension of Mr. Kwesi Sagoe from the (NCF) Board subject to a committee that will be set up to investigate the veracity and the truth and activities of this man. Thank you.”
There were no objections to the motion moved by Ighagbon and the motion was seconded by Mc Farlane Ejah and Kwesi Sagoe was suspended at the NCF’s Annual General Meeting held at the Media Center of the Abuja National Stadium on Saturday, March 14, 2015.
A board member of the NCF, Olisa Egwuatu, after the suspension of Sagoe, alleged: “My only grouse is that Mr (Kwesi) Sagoe has damaged the nation and what we are going through at NCF level particularly our condition in which we get our funding. Mr Sagoe is the architect of that system that stalled every move we made and economically strangled it all. If the committee wants me to give evidence I will gladly do that. All I am saying is that Kwesi Sagoe is number one trouble of Nigerian cricket.”
Immediately after the suspension of the ACA President from the NCF Board, a five-Man committee to investigate the allegations levelled against Kwesi Sagoe was announced with the members as follows: Barrister Oviawe Ighagbon, Mr. Oludare Davis Emmanuel- Secretary, Mr. Oklusegun Akinyemi, Mr. Mc Farlane Ejah and a Representative from the National Sports Commission.
The Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the NCF, Kayode Adeniyi also told SportingLife yesterday that the “decisions at the NCF AGM was also sent to the International Cricket Council Saturday night while three standing committees were named during a Board Meeting that was held at Ibro Hotel, Abuja, same Saturday, which included Marketing, League and Ground Committees.
“The Vice President of the NCF, Mr. Soki Dakoru who allegedly endorsed the nomination of Mr. Kwesi Sagoe for the second term in office of the ACA was asked to write to South Africa a letter of withdrawal since the letter was not authorised by the entire Board of NCF and was not duly signed by its President, Mr. Emeka Onyeama which Mr. Soki Dakoru duly complied with,” Mr. Adeniyi also disclosed.