The Nation Newspaper

Tag: The Nation newspaper

  • EdoGIS to deploy GIS data in resolving land, boundary disputes

    The Edo Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS) Agency has disclosed plans to kick start the deployment of its Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data in resolving inter-community boundary disputes.

    The Managing Director, EdoGIS, Arch. Francis Evbuomwan disclosed this during a tour of the agency’s office by a delegation of the World Bank led by Senior Social Development Specialist, West Africa Social Development, World Bank Group, Ms. Edda Ivan-Smith.

    He said the agency’s databank would be deployed for a pilot scheme in addressing community percolation, to put an end to reoccurring inter-community conflicts over land sale and boundary disputes.

    READ ALSO: Don hails Obaseki on Edo-GIS, Innovation hub

    According to him, “EdoGIS plans to engage in systematic titling to help the agency register every piece of property in the state, as it would enable agriculturists, industrialists and residents know their respective land sizes.”

    Ms. Ivan-Smith, on her part, said the team was on a mission to collect relevant geographic information data on the state, adding that they were impressed with the organization and seamless operations of EdoGIS, as it relates to documentation of lands, management of geo-mapping as well as surveys.

    “We are impressed by EDOGIS and think the agency is a very well organised and managed. The World Bank is very keen to support the state government to ensure local communities, small and medium businesses, including farmers are able to benefit from private sector development in terms of shared benefits, and perhaps in preferential treatment in terms of employment opportunities,” she said.

    Ms. Ivan-Smith added that the Bank is already working with Edo State on an economic transformation project, which will soon come on stream.

  • C/River election tribunal warns against personal visits

    The chairman of the three-man panel presiding over the Election Petition Tribunal in Cross River State, Hon Justice Vincent Agbata, has warned against personal visits.

    Speaking at the inaugural sitting of the Tribunal in Calabar on Monday, Agbata also warned the Tribunal has no representative outside the court.

    He said the panel, which also includes Hon Justices Ishaku Kunda and Abubakar Bello, was out to serve and would have an open door policy.

    He said any person, who deals with anyone, that claims to be a representative of the Tribunal, would do so at his or her own risk.

    “We would maintain an open door policy and we are approachable in the sense that we are ever willing to assist you. But every such application should be in court. Please don’t try to reach any of us privately. There would be no private visits. Please visit us in court and say whatever you want to say and we would be willing to assist if it is within the law,” Ishaku.

    Attorney General of the state, Mr Joe Abang, said it was necessary for those who feel aggrieved about the elections to complain for adjudication.

    Read Also: Enugu election tribunal receives three petitions

    “Election is a democratic process of choosing leaders, but of course in Nigeria, as you all have come to see, elections have become rancorous and controversial such that it is only the election tribunal and indeed the judiciary that remains the hope of the common man. It is necessary that those who feel that the aggrieved to complain for adjudication,” he said.

    Chairman of the Calabar Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Dr Emmanuel Idaka, represented by Daniel Edet, called on the Tribunal to be just to all parties.

    He charged that everything should be done by the rules.

    He called on lawyers to avoid unnecessary applications, as the Tribunal has a time frame.

    It was also gathered Senator representing Cross River Central, John Owan-Enoh and Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Usani Usani, had filed separate petitions as candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the victory of the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Owan-Enoh and Usani have been in a protracted battle over who is the governors candidate of the APC in the state.

    Secretary of the Tribunal, Mrs Josephine Ekperobe, disclosed that the Tribunal so far has received two petitions for the governorship elections, as mentioned above; four for the senatorial elections; eight for the House of Representatives polls; and 16 for the State House of Assembly.

     

  • Rainstorm wreaks havoc in Ondo Community

    The almost one-hour downpour on Sunday evening accompanied by heavy rainstorm in Ugbe, Akoko Northeast has destroyed many houses and properties worth millions of Naira.

    Residents were counting their losses even though they had earlier been praying to God to send down the rain, as many deep wells had dried up.

    Valuables like vehicles, residential buildings and shops were affected.

    It was learnt that the personal car of the Area Commander for Ikare-Akoko, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Razak Rauf was one of those vehicles damaged.

    A roof of a building blown off by rainstorm reportedly landed on the vehicle and two others within the same compound.

    Read Also: Ondo govt. seals illegal hospital

    A resident of Ugbe Akoko, Chief Ladi Bello described the rainstorm as too destructive as it rendered many people homeless.

    Bello urged National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) and Ondo state government to provide relief materials for the victims.

    A victim, Mrs Funke Ajayi lamented that the roof of her shop was completely removed such that her items including rice and beans were drenched in water.

    The Chairman, Akoko Northeast local government, Rafiu Eniayewu sympathised with the victims, stressing that government and NEMA would access the losses for possible assistance.

    He urged residents to cultivate the habit of planting trees as wind breaker.

     

  • Fintiri to transition committee: I want small, cost-effective cabinet

    The Adamawa State Governor-elect, Ahmadu Umar Fintiri, has inaugurated a 65-member transition committee, asking it to design for him a lean, cost effective cabinet and other structure of governance.

    Inaugurating the committee at the state capital, Yola, on Monday, Fintiri asked the committee to recommend a functional cost-effective structure and composition of the incoming government.

    “The recommendations should avoid making the administration top heavy with political appointments at the expense of a modest size cabinet to enable us deliver prompt socio-economic services to the people of the state,” he said.

    He told the committee to be fast in its work as he intends to be quick in carrying out the responsibilities of his office to Adamawa people as soon as he assumes office.

    He said, “We hope to receive as soon as possible the interim report so that we can set the ball rolling. Our people expect so much from us and we will not delay in doing whatever we can to meet their expectations.”

    Read Also: Let’s run Adamawa together, Fintiri tells Bindow, others

    He mandated the committee to suggest a detailed description of the structure of government: its institutions, the number of the workforce, those on the pension roaster, names of political office holders, including commissioners and special advisers; among others.

    He also asked the committee to obtain detailed information on the assets and liabilities of Adamawa State, including ongoing contracts, level of execution, amount of money expended, outstanding balance, among others, to guide his government on decisions to be made as soon as it takes effect.

    The transition committee is headed by a former federal permanent secretary at the Ministry of Defence, Alhaji Aliyu Ismaila. In his speech, the committee chairman assured that the committee would be prompt and fast in discharging its briefs.

    The committee would be expected to work with a parallel committee to be set up by the outgoing governor of the state, Sen. Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow.

     

  • 20 planes registered as collateral, says NCR

    Twenty privately owned planes have been registered as movable collateral to be seized from their owners in the event they default in meeting their loan obligations to their creditor institutions.

    Addressing Finance Correspondents on the activities of the NCR in Abuja, the Registrar of the National Collateral Registry (NCR) Alhaji Mohammed Mainasara disclosed that these 20 planes form part of the 65,370 registered moveable assets on the NCR’s portal as at 20th March, 2019.

    Other items registered are 17,657 documents of title/negotiable instruments; 100 boats;13 intellectual properties; two minerals (undisclosed); 417 plants and machinery; 218 securities; 13,425 motor vehicles; 1,582 farm products; 1,166 deposit accounts; 10,579 consumer/household goods among others.

    Alhaji Mainasara also revealed that the number of registered financial institutions on the NCR portal has grown to 630 as at 20th March, 2019. According to him, 21 deposit money banks (DMBs); 552 Microfinance banks; four Merchant banks; four Development Finance Institutions (DFIs); 34 finance companies; one non-interest bank and 14 non-bank financial institutions have all been registered on the portal.

    As at 20th March, 2019, Mainasara stated that 165,456 debtors have been registered by the Registry comprising of 157,077 individuals; 735 large businesses; 2,279 medium businesses; 3,457 micro businesses and 1,908 small businesses all with a financing value of N1.26 trillion.

    Two of the registered Development Finance Institutions he said have the largest number of borrowers registered on the NCR portal with 114,894 borrowers on their list with financing statement of N54, 131,619,397.13. 21,144 debtors or borrowers as they are referred to are owing six non-bank financial institutions N84, 651,140,385.17.

    A total of 24,318 women have been registered on the NCR portal with a combined registered value of financial statements against them standing at N45,183,001,039.92.

    Read Also: Air Peace orders 10 737 MAX planes from Boeing 

    The need for collateral registry Mainasara said has become necessary because of the N7.4 trillion financing gap plaguing MSMEs. According to him, N10.1 trillion capital is required by MSMEs but only N2.7 trillion has been raised so far. This comprises “the total capital base/seed fund of DBN, BoI, BoA, NMBM, NEXIM, NIRSAL, Agriculture Credit Guaranteed Scheme. (ACGS), Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS), Re-discounting and Refinancing Facility (RRF), DMBs and MFBs.”

    A collateral registry is a financial infrastructure for Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) lending, warehousing “a notice board registry for collaterals with a publicly available database of security interest in moveable assets registered for the purpose of being used as collateral to obtain facilities from financial institutions.

    A collateral registry allows borrowers to provide their creditworthiness and lenders to assess their priority interest in potential claims against particular collateral. A collateral registry is expected to improve both access to finance and induce prompt repayment by providing a win-win for the borrower and lender simultaneously.

    However, Alhaji Mainasara lamented that the NCR is faced with the twin challenges of “lack of funds to implement nationwide awareness campaign strategy on NCR and low usage of the NCR portal as a result of reluctance of financial institutions to appreciate the benefits of moveable assets-based lending.”

     

     

  • Five IPOB members nabbed for burning Anambra police station

    Five persons suspected to be members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) have been arrested for allegedly burning a police station and injuring an officer in Ajali,  of Anambra state.

    Commissioner of Police in the state, Mustapha Dandaura, made the disclosure on Monday while parading the suspects at the Command headquarters in Amawbia.

    He said the suspects were apprehended following an aggressive manhunt by the Command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

    He gave the names of the suspects as Abuchi Nwogwu (21) Okwudili Nwanne (42) Maduabuchi Obia (22) Chukwuedozie Orah (30) and Ekechi Chukwuemeka (30), all of Ndikelionwu in Orumba North local government area of the state.

    Dandaura recalled how the suspects, on February 15, at about 2am, attacked the division, burning down the station, three police patrol vehicles and other exhibits.

    He said the suspects’ also carted away 3 AK 47 rifles from the Division armory and injured the DCO who was on visit to the area.

    READ ALSO: Updated: Court orders arrest of IPOB leader, Kanu

    “Upon interrogation, the suspects took operatives to their criminal hideout and one of the AK 47 rifle with breech number KO 358792 carted away was recovered,” he said.

    Also paraded was a 25-year man, Chimaobi Amauwa, arrested for allegedly terrorizing Onitsha and environs.

    The commissioner said the suspect, of Ihechiowa in Abia State, was arrested at Upper Iweka area of the commercial city of the state.

    He said, “Preliminary investigation revealed that suspect belonged to a one chance robbery syndicate terrorizing Onitsha and environs using a commercial bus in order to deceive their victims.

    “Exhibits recovered from the suspect include one recovered one locally made pistol and the operational vehicle L300 bus with REG. No. DRK 85 XA.”

    The commissioner assured that effort was on to apprehend other accomplices.

    “The suspects would be charged to Court after investigations were concluded,” he added.

  • Septuagenarian drags son to court over threat to life, assault

    A 79-year-old woman, Mrs Caroline Olowojebutu, on Monday dragged her son, Adeyemi Olowojebutu to an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, accusing him of assaulting her and threatening her life.

    According to the Prosecutor, Sgt. Lucky Ihiehie, the complainant, residing at Plot 215A Ajao St., Ajao Estate, Lagos, told the police that the defendant was always intimidating and annoying her and making life unbearable for her.

    Ihiehie said that the woman also accused the defendant of threatening to deal with her because she cautioned him to stop beating his wife.

    However, when the plea of the defendant was taken, he pleaded not guilty.

    Ihiehie told the court that the offence was committed on March 9 at about 7 p.m. at Plot 215A Ajao St., Ajao Estate.

    The Magistrate, Mrs E. Kubeinje, granted the defendant bail in the sum N100, 000 with two sureties, who must be blood related to the defendant.

    She adjourned the case until May 13 for mention.

  • CJN’s trial: Onnoghen opens defence, calls driver as 1st witness

    The suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen opened his defence on Monday by calling his driver, Lawal Busari, as his first defence witness.

    Onnoghen is being tried on a six count charge in which he is accused of breaching the code of conduct for public officers for allegedly failing to declare his assets.

    Led in evidence by lead defence lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), Busari gave details of how he drove his boss, the defendant, to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) office on July 28, 2010, to obtain the assets declaration form and how he paid N200 for the defendants’ assets declaration on November 3, 2010.

    When Awomolo moved to tender the receipt issued Busari for the N200, lead prosecution lawyer, Aliyu Umar (SAN), objected to it being admitted by the tribunal.

    Read Also: Onnoghen: CCT summons CCB’s director

    Umar doubted the authenticity of the receipt on the grounds that the “revenue number did not appear on it.” He added that since the witnesses was not the maker of the document, he was not the proper person to tender it.

    The defence said, by the testimony of the witness, it sought to puncture the prosecution’s charge that the defendant did not declare his assets from 2005 and 2016.

    Busari, who said he is 60 years old, described himself as the Chief Driver/Mechanic at the Supreme Court.
    He said, while with Onnoghen at the CCB office on July 28, 2010, the suspended CJN also asked him to obtain his own assets declaration form, which he did.

    Details shortly.

  • Group backs Lawan, Gbajabiamila for NASS leadership

    A pro Buhari group, Initiative for Demonstrating Change in Nigeria has called on all members elect of the National Assembly to support the decision of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC to elect Senator Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila as Senate President and Speaker of the Federal House Representatives of the National Assembly respectively.

    Speaking to journalists in Abakaliki, the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Chinedu Ogah noted that the contributions of Lawan as the Majority Leader of the Senate for the unity of the country projected him as a core APC loyalist and man of the people.

    Ogah who delivered his Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi state with the highest votes in the South East to president Buhari called on all members of APC to imbibe the Party’s discipline to sustain the Adams Oshiomhole’s legacies in the party.

    Read Also: Gbajabiamila opposes Senate over Onnoghen

    He maintained that the choices of Lawan and Gbajabiamila are square pegs in square holes for the legislative fortunes of the country.

    The group urged members elect of the APC in the two Chambers of the national Assembly to display total loyalty to the supremacy of the party, to avoid the repeat of the scenario of the 8th Assembly.

    Ogah also called on members elect of other political parties to put the interest of the country above Party politics and forge a common front that would promote cohesion and unity in the nation’s legislative arm.

    He said: “Ahmed Lawan has displayed maturity as the true leader that will unite the national Assembly. He is a lover, intelligent, humble and believer in one Nigeria. We should elect him as the Senate President because he has displayed love that he does not put party interest above national interest”.

    “We are also supporting Femi Gbajabiamila for the speakership of the House of Representatives because despite his lost for the position in the outgoing Assembly, he was never antagonistic to the leadership of the green chamber. He displayed love and loyalty in the service of this country”.

    “The two candidates are God-fearing leaders who believe in the unity of Nigeria. We, the Initiative of Demonstrating Change in Nigeria strongly support the position of the National leadership of APC on the choices already adopted to avoid the aberration which led to the crises in the outgoing Assembly”, Ogah said.

    The group further congratulated the President elect, Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the President would consolidate on his war against corruption and as well improve on the shortcomings of his first term.

     

  • 48 prisoners regain freedom in Delta

    The Delta state Chief Judge, Justice Marshal Umukoro has ordered the released 48 awaiting trial inmates from Kwale and Ugwashi-Uku prisons after a routine visit.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the state high court, Mr Timothy Agbaragu on Monday in Asaba.

    Umukoro said the released inmates were among the 561 remand warrants reviewed from the two prisons.

    He said their release was based on ill health, unjustified long detention in prison and want of diligent prosecution.

    “The purpose of the prison visit is to reiterate government desire to ensure that persons awaiting trial do not spend their whole lives in prison.

    Read Also: Delta monarchs hail Okowa’s reelection

    “The health of inmates should be considered, that is the reason why Emmanuel Chukwudi, 22, who has a cancerous growth on half of his face was released.

    “The health and age of suspects should be looked at because we do not want to support or be part of the process where juveniles are brought here.

    `Juveniles will be released if found in prison and will be sent to remand home in Sapele,’’ he said.

    The chief Judge said the exercise is not meant to throw the prison doors open for persons awaiting trial, especially those who were involved in violent crimes like kidnapping, armed robbery and rape.

    The released Chukwudi, said he has been in Kwale prison since 2016 on the alleged offense of house breaking and stealing, which he claimed to be innocent of.

    NAN