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  • 103 senior Military, para-military officers inducted into NIM

    No fewer than one hundred and three senior Military officers including paramilitary officers have been inducted into the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).

    The event took place at the National Defense College, Abuja.

    President/Chairman of the Council, Nigerian Institute of Management, Prof. Olukunle Iyanda said that the specially designed Executive Training for Membership and Upgrade Programme (ETMUP) of the Institute will keep officers who undergo the programme abreast of best international professional management practices.

    Speaking in Abuja at the induction ceremony, Prof. Iyanda said, “For the Armed Forces to be on top of their responsibility of safeguarding the territorial integrity of nations, it behooves every nation to ensure that its military is well trained, equipped and ready at all times. The Nigerian Armed Forces has been called to task in recent years in the battle against terrorism, insurgency and banditry which has ravaged the country.

    “There is no doubt that the specially designed Executive Training for Membership and Upgrade Programme (ETMUP) of the Institute which this apex military institution subscribed to is one of the means of keeping the officers who undergo the programme abreast of best international professional management practice. We believe that this programme will continue to impact positively on the professional life of the beneficiaries especially the way they tackle and manage their daily challenges.

    “This is the fifth time we are having the induction of the highest echelon of the armed forces. As members of the Institute, we have the overall responsibility to start the change from ourselves and radiate this change in our families, organizations and the nation.”

    The Commandant, National Defense College Rear Admiral Makanju Kadiri adviced the inductees to use the knowledge gained to find creative ways to handle situations they are faced with.

    Read Also: Nigeria needs result-oriented managers, says NIM

    His words, “I want to particularly note the professional manner in which the Institute has been conducting this Programme since its inception in 2015. It clearly (indicates the high quality and focus of the leadership and other’ staff of the organization. It also signifies that the Institute is driven by the desire and passion to impart knowledge to the members of the Armed Forces so that they could contribute more in their noble tasks of defending the territorial integrity of our dear nation among others. The NDC appreciates your contribution to nation building and we cherish the collaboration that has nurtured this programme.

    “I will therefore implore you to apply the knowledge gained appropriately in all your endeavours whether in your private or official dealings. You should realize that we are passing through difficult times as a country because of the numerous security challenges facing us. In addition, budgetary constraints arising from other competing demands in a country just coming out of recession suggests that you cannot get all that you require to address the security challenges.

    “Gentlemen, you must therefore think out of the box and judiciously manage resources at your disposal, including your men, time and even situations. To achieve this you need to employ your managerial skills that will enable you to be creative, imaginative and innovative. To handle complex tasks, you have been given the necessary tools and it is now left to you to use them appropriately to achieve your goals.”

     

  • Oblak signs Atletico contract extension to 2023

    Goalkeeper as signed a contract extension with Atletico Madrid, which will keep him at the club until 2023.

    The 26-year-old is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world and has kept 115 clean sheets in 203 appearances since joining the club in 2014.

    “I am very happy to have signed a contract extension and to be here,” Oblak said.

    “I’m going to defend these colours to the best of my abilities and continue working hard.”

    READ ALSO: Spartan fighting spirit

    Oblak joined as a replacement for Thibaut Courtois, who returned to Chelsea following his loan spell in the Spanish capital and helped the club win the Spanish Super Cup in his first season.

    The Slovenia international has since added the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup — while his penalty save in the 2016 Champions League semifinal win over Bayern Munich helped Atletico reach a second final in three years.

    “The agreement certainly is great news for the Atleti Family, as we ensure the continuity of one of the world’s finest goalkeepers,” the club wrote on their website.

  • DPR vows to stop petrol diversion

    The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Sokoto State has restated its commitment to checkmate hoarding, diversion and selling of petroleum products above the control price.

    Mr Muhammad Makera, the Zonal Operation Controller in-charge of Sokoto and Kebbi States, made this pledge in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.

    Makera said the department would continue to intensify its surveillance on illegal petroleum activities.

    He said that he had led officials on a monitoring exercise to fuel stations in Sokoto and Kebbi States, noting that from Sunday, no fewer than six petrol stations were sealed off  for various offences.

    The controller said that no fewer than 20 trucks were supplied to Sokoto State out of which 12 were for Sokoto metropolis.

    “There is no need of panic buying which may have resulted in the queues noticed in some petrol stations.

    “We noticed that there ought not to be scarcity, especially with the quantity of products being pushed out, so we have intensified surveillance.

    The controller added that the DPR would ensure that petroleum products distributed to fuel stations were sold to the public.

    He noted that any station found wanting is being sanctioned, adding that each pump machine sealed would attract N100, 000 fine as penalty beside other punishments.

    “Apart from ensuring that hoarding does not work, we shall ensure that sharp practices such as pump adjustment is stamped out,” he said.

    Read Also: FEC approves N1.4b for DPR building design

    NAN reports that there were queues in some fuel stations in Sokoto metropolis, as consumers spent some time before obtaining the products while some stations were locked.

    Mallam Abdulrahman Muhammad, the manager of Total fuel station at Fodio road in Sokoto, who spoke with NAN said the product, which was available in his station, was being sold to customers accordingly.

    Muhammad said the interruption in the supply, which was unusual to marketers, might have been the reason for some stations not getting the products as at when due, as well as reasons for queues in some places.

  • Barcelona set to sign De Ligt as Ajax agreement nears – sources

    Barcelona are close to reaching an agreement to sign defender Matthijs de Ligt from Ajax, club sources have told ESPN FC.

    The La Liga leaders have the situation “under control,” according to the sources, and not getting the deal over the line now would provide similar levels of disappointment to last summer when they were turned down by Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann at the last minute.

    Juventus and Bayern Munich are also keen on De Ligt but one source has said the Netherlands international “only wants to listen to Barcelona.”

    The same source added that “as was the case with Frenkie de Jong, Ajax will warn [Barca] if any other clubs make a serious move for [De Ligt].”

    De Ligt’s agent Mino Raiola is in regular contact with Barca, who value the signing of De Ligt on the same level as the arrival of his Ajax teammate De Jong, who will join the Catalans for €75 million in June.

    Barca, though, remain keen to respect the protocol put in place by Ajax, who still have a lot to play for this season and want their players to remain focused on sporting objectives.

    Ajax are level with PSV Eindhoven at the top of the Eredivisie table and will face Willem II in the Cup final.

    They also qualified for the Champions League semifinals for first time since 1997 with De Ligt scoring the winning goal as they knocked out Juventus in Turin.

    Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu told ESPN FC in an exclusive interview he knows what will happen with De Ligt in the summer “but now is not the moment to talk about it.”

    Read Also: Barcelona set to hand Messi fresh £175million deal

    The club are expecting to pay somewhere close to €80m to get the deal over the line, which sources have said is possible even though they have to be careful with how they manage their finances this summer.

    A number of players will leave Camp Nou in the postseason to fund the moves for De Jong, De Ligt and potentially another forward and a left-back. Sources have told ESPN FC the club are looking to make as much as €300 million in sales.

    The Spanish champions are well covered in the centre-back positions.

    Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet have been in great form this season while Samuel Umtiti has just returned from injury.

    Jean-Clair Tobido, a January signing, is also tipped to have a big future in the game.

    Thomas Vermaelen, though, will leave for free in the summer and Barca do not plan on exercising an option to make Jeison Murillo’s loan deal permanent, creating space for one new defender.

  • Group to critics: SGF can’t be distracted from state matters

    A group in Adamawa State has said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, is currently busy with state matters and should not be distracted, but that he is within his rights to aspire to any position in the land come 2023 if he pleases.

    The position of the pro-SGF group was a response to a claim by some Adamawa politicians that Boss Mustapha was obsessed with political ambition towards 2023, a claim against which the counter-set of prominent Adamawa politicians speaking for Boss Mustapha, argued that the SGF was currently too occupied with important state issues, including functioning as the Chairman of the Presidential Inauguration Committee, and cannot indulge personal political ambitions.

    The pioneer Northeast National Vice Chairman of the APC, Umar Duhu, who anchored the SGF defense group, said, “Mustapha’s focus at this material time is to coordinate the winding up of President Muhammadu Buhari’s first term and to set the tone for the second term.

    “The people accusing Boss Mustapha of plans to forge a joint presidential ticket in 2023 should know they are only jumping the gun for now, and are wasting their time given that he is too busy with stabilizing national affairs.”

    Read Also: Ex-SGF Lawal, brother, others get N50m bail

    Umar Duhu added however that Mustapha was qualified and free to seek the highest office in the land as his critics had suggested, reiterating to journalists in Yola that the SGF stood tall among northern politicians to run or deputise for anybody in line with APC’s power-shift arrangement.

    Taking a swipe at the self-styled ‘Adamawa APC bigwigs’ which questioned Boss Mustapha’s perceived ambition, Umar Duhu said the group was trying to create disharmony within the APC fold, but stressed that it was dangerous for someone to think that some other people were not entitled to certain positions.

    He said Boss Mustapha was a politician of reckon with a long history as he was presented to run along with late M.K.O Abiola by the Babagana Kingibe group in 1993.

    “Mustapha’s intimidating credentials are there. 30 years ago, the Kingibe group within the Social Democratic Party (SDP) actually presented him initially to Abiola for consideration as presidential running mate.

    It is therefore ridiculous for some spent force politicians to think they can cow such a formidable democratic icon into silence,” he asserted.

  • Police wardens dismissed over death of NSCDC staff

    Two traffic wardens TW GII Idoko Sunday and TW GII Katdel Dabit have been dismissed and charged to court for complicity in the death of a staff of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), ASC Ogah Jumbo.

    Their arraignment followed investigation, which indicted them for assault and excessive use of force on the deceased after his arrest.

    A statement by the Force Spokesman, DCP Frank Mba in Abuja on Wednesday also noted forensic analysis by a pathologist as seen in the autopsy report clearly traced the cause of death to injuries inflicted on the deceased during his encounter with the traffic wardens.

    Details of the update into the cause of death of Ogar read: “In keeping with the assurances by the Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu, to ensure a transparent, accountable, comprehensive and speedy investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the late ASC Ogar Jumbo, an Assistant Superintendent of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Police have today arraigned in Court the two Traffic Wardens – TW GII Idoko Sunday and TW GII Katdel Dabit for complicity in the unfortunate death of the NSCDC Officer.

    “The arraignment of the erstwhile Traffic Wardens is sequel to the outcome of investigation into the case of alleged discreditable conduct and unlawful exercise of authority reported against them on 20th March, 2019.

    “The former Traffic Wardens had earlier been subjected to the internal disciplinary procedures of the Force – tried in an Orderly Room, and dismissed before the arraignment.

    “Police investigations positively indicted them for assault and excessive use of force on the deceased after his arrest.”

    On the outcome of the autopsy, Mba said: ​”For avoidance of doubt, the autopsy report states in part that the death was due to blunt force injury to the head, multiple skin and soft tissue injuries on the fore head and face, and that there was no natural disease in the body to sufficiently explain the sudden death.”

    He also stated that the two traffic wardens have been remanded in Kuje Prisons pending the next adjournment of the case.

    The IGP warned that like the indicted traffic wardens, any police officer found wanting for unlawful use of force and other sundry offences, will be publicly named, shamed and brought to book to serve as deterrence to others.

  • Again, Oni loses bid to sack Fayemi

    It was a third consecutive loss for ex-Governor Segun Oni in his bid to sack Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State as the Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the appeal he filed.

    The appeal was against an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the decision of a Federal High Court, dismissing Oni’s suit challenging Fayemi’s eligibility to contest the last governorship election held in the state on June 14, 2018.

    The Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment of a five-man panel, held on Wednesday, that the appeal by Oni was statute barred and therefore, incompetent.

    Justice Amiru Sanusi, in the lead judgment, held that the case, being a pre-election one, was not commenced at the trial court, within the time provided under Section 285 of the Constitution.

    Justice Sanusi said the case was not commenced in accordance with the provision of Section 285 of the Constitution, requiring all pre-election cases to be initiated within 14 days of the occurrence of the cause of action.

    He noted that from the record before the court Oni filed his suit at the trial court – the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti, 42 days after the cause of action arose.

    Justice Sanusi said the development robbed the court of the jurisdiction to hear the appeal, while he said was incompetent and had become an academic exercise.

    Another member of the panel, Justice John Okoro faulted the attitude exhibited by the appellant and advised politicians to always act decently.

    Justice Okoro wondered why Oni, who had conceded defeat, on emerging second in the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made a sudden u-turn and chose to challenge the outcome of the primary in court.

    Read Also: Fayemi appoints new Head of Service

    The judge, who noted that, even among the mafias, there are rules, came down hard on Nigerian politicians, who he observed, act without honour.

    Oni had, upon emerging second behind Fayemi in the primary held by the APC to select its candidate for last governorship election in Ekiti State, sued, challenging Fayemi’s eligibility to contest the election.

    He prayed the court to declare that Fayemi was not eligible to contest the election on the grounds that he was not validly nominated, having allegedly failed to resign his position as Minister of Mines and Steel Development 30 days before the primary election.

    Oni also asked the court to declare Fayemi ineligible for the election given that he was indicted by the Justice Silas Oyewole-led commission of inquiry set up by former Governor Ayo Fayose to investigate his first tenure between 2010 and 2014.

    He equally sought the withdrawal of the certificate of return issued to Fayemi, upon winning the election, and to declare him (Oni) as the duly nominated APC candidate and duly elected governor.

    The case, which was initially filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, was transferred by Justice Babatunde Quadri to the court’s division in Ado-Ekiti, on grounds of jurisdiction.

    In a judgment on December 10, 2018, Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti, dismissed Oni’s case for lacking in merit.

    Oni suffered a similar fate at the Court of Appeal, when the appellate court, in a judgment on February 12, 2019 dismissed his appeal for being unmeritorious.

    The Court of Appeal, among others, said Fayemi’s failure to resign as the then Minister of Solid Minerals to contest the May 12, 2018 governorship primary where he emerged as the candidate of APC was not enough to disqualify him.

    The court also held that Fayemi’s indictment by Justice Silas Oyewole led judicial panel of inquiry was not enough to bar him from participating in the election.

    The Court of Appeal held that it was only a conviction by a competent court of law that could bar an aspirant from a primary or general election and not mere indictment by a panel.

    It was also noted that the said indictment and the white paper issued by the state government had been set aside by a judgment by Justice Musa Othman of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Bwari, Abuja.

     

  • May 29: Ebonyi sets up 16-man transition committee

    The Ebonyi State Government on Wednesday set up a 16-man transition committee to ensure a smooth ceremony for Gov. David Umahi’s second term in office.

    Sen. Emmanuel Onwe, Commissioner for Information and Orientation disclosed this to newsmen after the State Executive Meeting on Wednesday in Abakaliki.

    According to Onwe, the committee is headed by Chief Austin Umahi, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Vice Chairman for the South East Zone, who is also the governor’s elder brother.

    Read Also: Eight killed in resumed Ebonyi boundary crisis

    “Dr Hyginus Nwokwu, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) will serve as  co-chairman, while the state’s PDP Chairman, Mr Onyekachi Nwebonyi and the Commissioner for Information will co-serve as Secretaries,” he said.

    The commissioner said that the committee also included the governor’s principal secretary, commissioners, special assistants, among other top government officials.

    “The Speaker of the State House of Assembly and the State Chief Judge will also have a nominee each,” he said.

    NAN

  • Breaking: Golden Eaglets qualify for World Cup

    Nigeria’s U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets have qualified for the World Cup holding later in the year in Brazil.

    The Manu Garba-tutored boys defeated Angola 1-0 in Tanzania at the ongoing Africa qualifiers.

    The only goal was scored in the first half through a penalty.

    The Golden Eaglets dominated the game but lost many goal-scoring opportunities in both halves.

    When their Angolan counterparts were reduced to 10 men following a red card to the captain, the Golden Eaglets couldn’t capitalize on the advantage.

    Read Also: Golden Eaglets off to Tanzania

    They went on to lose more open chances to increase the tally.

    At the end, it didn’t hurt as they held on to the slim lead.

    Nigeria qualified having defeated host Tanzania 5-4 in the opening game of the tournament.

  • Ohaneze youths condemn killings in Anambra community

    Youth wing of Ohaneze Ndigbo has condemned the alleged killings of six farmers in Mmiata Anam in Anambra West local government area of Anambra state.

    National leader of the group, Amb. Dr. Arthur Obiorah Uchena, stated this on Wednesday while briefing newsmen in Awka, Anambra State.

    He asked South East government to move in unisom to condemn the invasion of farmers involved in the ill-fated early morning herdsmen attacks.

    He regretted that victims were youths who died in their prime, while their hunters have been living without being brought to justice.

    Read Also: Police nab 151 suspected cultists in Anambra

    Uchena warned that urgent steps must be taken by relevant security authorities to prevent a repeat of such carnage on Igbo youths in their land.

    He said, ‘’When I read about the killings of these six innocent Igbo farmers in Anambra state, I felt shocked to my bone marrow.

    “How would someone be in his ancestral land and would be slaughtered by foreigners with the intent to have access to their land for grazing.

    “I am sad and mourning as I am speaking with you all now. I urge our leaders to intervene speedily to forestall a repeat of such unsolicited carnage on our land.

    “We are not ready to lose the lives of any Igbo man again to any Fulani herdsmen clash and their host community that is much I can say about that for now.”