The Nation Newspaper

Tag: The Nation newspaper

  • Tribunal judgment validates Ihedioha’s victory – AA

    The Action Alliance (AA) says the victory of Gov. Emeka Ihedioha of Imo at the Imo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal affirms the governor’s election.

    The party also congratulated People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in a statement issued by Mr James Vernimbe, the National Secretary of the party.

    “Action Alliance across Nigeria and beyond congratulates you on your well-deserved victory at the Imo governorship election petition tribunal which affirmed your election as the duly elected governor of Imo state.

    “Our great party is indeed satisfied with the judgment and we congratulate you and urge you to continue with the good works in Imo state,” he said.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the tribunal on Sept. 21, dismissed all three petitions challenging the states governorship election where Ihedioha emerged as winner.

    Read Also: Imo: Can Ihedioha meet the expectations?

    The petitioners challenged the emergence of the PDP candidate as winner of the March 9 governorship election on the grounds that the election was marred with irregularities.

    However the tribunal held that candidate of the Action Alliance Uche Nwosu, Ifeanyi Ararume of the All Progressive Grand Alliance and Senator Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress, failed to establish their petitions against Ihedioha.

    The three-man tribunal held that the petitioners having failed to discharge the burden of proof placed on them by the law, their petitions were liable to be dismissed.

    Earlier, the Action Alliance party on Sept. 7, during its special convention, withdrew the party’s name from the election tribunal, saying it was for the overall interests of the party and the state.

  • ‘Reps will ensure accountability in security spending’

    The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson, has said that his Committee will work to ensure accountability and prudence in government spending in the area of security.

    Benson also assured all security agencies of his Committee’s readiness to work with them and support them.

    According to him, this has become necessary because of the enormous tasks before both his Committee and the security agencies under him.

    In a statement he personally signed in Abuja on Sunday, Hon. Benson, who represents Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, said the security agencies in the country must live up to the expectations of Nigerians to protect their lives and property.

    He said the committee is ready to give them the necessary support¸ especially following the decision of the House to provide special fund to be approved by the National Assembly outside the national budget for the Federal Government to continue the fight against insecurity.

    He said, this decision followed revelations from a security meeting between the leadership of the House and the service chiefs, held on Tuesday, September 23 2019.

    Benson, appointed in July as the chairman of the House Committee on Defence, said his Committee will ensure robust engagements with security agencies in the next four years of the 9th House, which will result in achieving set goals.

    Read Also; FG to carry out national control of Swine Fever across states

    His words: “I want to call on the security agencies to be ready to cooperate with us as a committee. We are here to work for Nigerians, to ensure the protection of their lives and property. Of course, the security of the people is paramount, that is why we call on the security agencies to cooperate with us.

    “On our part, we will work assiduously to ensure that all the operational needs of the security agencies are met through adequate budgetary provisions. This is a new era, and Nigerians will not accept anything less than good results from us all.

    “We will also ensure adequate and attentive oversight, especially of the 2019 budget so that we can evaluate the progress of work for ourselves and come up with the necessary ways of improving things as we prepare to receive the 2020 budget.

    “I therefore enjoin all the security agencies under the House Committee on Defence to be up and doing. They should be as open as possible to us as parliamentarians, and we would do the same to them.

    “We are not unmindful of the enormous tasks ahead of us and the high expectations of Nigerians on us. We have no reason not to deliver. We must get things right as far as security is concerned in this country.

    “We acknowledge that the military needs the support of every sector of the society and we all, from traditional rulers, the media, and citizens, have a critical role to play in assisting the country achieve a secured society,” Hon. Benson said.

  • BEDC begins costumers’ metering

    The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) on Monday launched the Edo State Meter Asset Provider scheme with a target of providing 10,000 units of meters monthly.

    It said a total of 190,000 meters would he rolled out in Edo State within the next two years.

    The metering of its customers in Edo State began in the Government Reservation Area in Benin City and Okpella axis in Edo North.

    Speaking to reporters in Benin City, BEDC Executive Director, Commercial, Mr. Abu Ejoor, said the roll out of meters in Edo State would be carried out by three of its MAP parties namely, FLT, G-Unit Engineering and Turbo Energy.

    Abu stated that meters would be roll out street by street, location by location, route by route and emphasized the need for customers to be enumerated before they would be provided meters.

    He enjoined customers to complete the customer’s data and survey form after which the MAP officials would assess the customer’s premises in readiness for metering.

    Abu stated that the BEDC received 86,061MW monthly out of which 14 percent is lost to poor network infrastructure, 36 percent lost to energy theft and non-payment of bills and 30 percent wasted due to inefficient management of use.

    Read Also; Insecurity: Two dead as armed robbers raid Niger community

    Speaking on challenges of providing adequate electricity, Abu listed transmission bottlenecks, limitations in rearranging distribution network to improve supply, network and equipment vandalisation including violation of safe distance from high and low tension electrical lines requirement.

    Abu also condemned the October 1 planned protest by the Edo State Civil Organisation to dissuade the Federal Government from the renewal of BEDC licence in December.

    He described the protest as a disturbance of public peace after the BEDC instituted court cases against some of its members for energy theft and illegal tampering with power equipment.

    His words, “Our customers should discountenance such deliberate misrepresentation as there is no expiration of the licence of BEDC in December.

    “It is our utmost belief that the MAP scheme will assist in reducing customers’ complaints on metering, wrong and estimated billings which currently accounts for over 60 percent of complaints.”

  • Video: Sowore dragged out of court

    The operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday dragged Omoyele Sowore out of the courtroom of a federal high court in Abuja.

     

  • Ex-bank director claims forfeited N9.08bn ‘Diezani loot’

    A former bank director, Dauda Lawal, has asked the Court of Appeal in Lagos to order the Federal Government to return to him the N9.08 billion he forfeited to it on February 16, 2017.

    Mr Lawal told the court that the Federal High Court, Lagos which ordered the forfeiture of the money had no jurisdiction to do so.

    According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the N9.08 billion was part of the forfeited N23.4 billion and $5 million (about N34 billion in total) linked to former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    The anti-graft agency alleged that the sums were stolen by Mrs Alison-Madueke and several accomplices from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and stashed in three banks.

    Justice Muslim Hassan, on February 16, 2017, ordered the final forfeiture of the funds after no one showed up to make legitimate claims to the funds.

    The judge said he was satisfied with the EFCC’s argument that the monies were proceeds of illegal activity.

    Lawal is the sole applicant in the appeal, while the EFCC is the respondent.

    Read Also; Court forfeits Diezani’s N14.4bn jewellery to Fed Govt

    The applicant was represented by his counsel P.I.N Ikwueto SAN while Kufre Uduak represented the EFCC.

    When the matter came up for mention last Thursday, September 29, the court adjourned further proceedings, after informing both parties that a date for hearing will be communicated to them.

    In his notice of appeal in the suit marked CA/LA/PRE/RA/CU/394MI/2019, Lawal contended that the judge erred in law.

    He is seeking four reliefs, including an order to:

    “To set aside the judgment dated 16 February 2017 for being without jurisdiction and thereby a nullity. “An order setting aside the forfeiture of the sum of N9,080,000,000 which the respondent (EFCC) obtained from the appellant while the appellant was under the detention of the respondent (EFCC).

    “An order returning the sum of N9,080,000,000 to the appellant.”

    In his March 29 affidavit in support of his application, Lawal averred that the forfeited N9.08bn was not found in his possession as required by Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.

    According to him, the money was borrowed on his behalf by family/friends whilst he was in EFCC custody and given to the government.

    He further averred that his failure to appeal within time was due to his “apprehension that if he challenged the Judgment dated 16 February 20 whilst the investigation was ongoing, the appellant will be further detained by the EFCC.

    “The Appellant has now been charged along with others following the conclusion of the investigation by the EFCC.”

  • FG to carry out national control of Swine Fever across states

    The Federal Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Monday said that it will carry out national control of African Swine Fever (ASF) across pig producing states in the country.

    This is contained in a statement by Animal Health and Clinical Services, Federal Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

    A delegation led by Head of Animal Health and Clinics service of the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Ezenwa Nwakonobi, also said the starting point is to determine the actual status of the disease as an evidence-based planning tool.

    This, he said is important to change the narrative in order to protect the national pig industry resource and to determine the actual status of the diseases as an evidence-based planning tool.

    According to him, a baseline survey in four selected pig producing states namely Lagos, Anambra, Imo and Kaduna is being conducted as well as sensitisation of pig farmers on basic disease prevention and control that would increase the productivity, production and profitability of pig farming business.

    Read Also; Biafra was not defeated, Igbo groups disagree with Nwodo

    Nwakonobi who explained that the objective of the project is to determine the sero-prevalence of African Swine Fever in four selected states in Nigeria said it would assess on-farm husbandry methods and biosecurity standards in pig farms.

    He further said the objective would also make recommendations on how to prevent the disease in Nigeria.

    “Pigs play a major role in the socio-economic life of the people of Nigeria. They not only serve as a source of income especially for the rural populace but also fulfill an important role in culture and food security.

    “There is no cure for African Swine Fever and there is no vaccine yet developed against the disease. To further complicate the situation, the current global village status of the world with faster means of transportation between countries, it takes just a matter of few minutes and hours for persons, live animals and animal products to move between countries including Nigeria,” he said.

  • Edo inducts over 1,000 newly recruited civil servants

    In line with Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki’s vision to reposition the state’s civil service for optimal performance, the state government has commenced a 3-day orientation programme for over 1,000 civil servants who were recently recruited into the state civil service.

    While declaring the orientation programme open at Imaguero College in Benin City, the State’s Head of Service, Mr. Isaac Ehiozuwa, said the programme was organised by the state government for officers on Grade level 07 and above who were appointed into the mainstream of the state’s civil service between 2017 and 2018.

    According to him, “These officers were absorbed into the mainstream of the civil service in 2017. They also include those recruited in 2018 by the Edo State Civil Service Commission.

    “The main thrust of the exercise is to develop their capacity on rules guiding the civil service and train them on how to conduct themselves as civil servants while discharging their duties.”

    Read Also: Edo to invest N2.1b Azura power proceeds in industrial park

    Ehiozuwa urged the participants to take advantage of the programme to understand what is required of them in the discharge of their duties, adding, “Edo State government, under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki, is committed to ensuring training and re-training of every category of staff in the state public service to achieve efficiency and ensure effective service delivery to taxpayers.”

    He said civil servants must continue to represent government positively and show respect for constituted authority, noting, “These are sacrosanct in the service, as the government rewards hard work. There is also a mechanism that exists in the service designed to call erring staff to order.”

    Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Establishments, Training and Manpower Services in the office of Head of Service, Mrs Deborah Enakhimion, said the purpose of the programme is to formally acquaint participants with necessary guidelines for conduct in the civil service, including financial instruments and other government regulations.

    Enakhimion noted that over 1000 participants from different state ministries are scheduled to partake in the programme, which has been spread for a three-day duration to accommodate everyone.

    In a lecture entitled ‘Rules and Ethical Principles of Civil Service,’ a retired Permanent Secretary, Barr. Steve Omorodion urged the new civil servants to acquaint themselves with the civil service rules, other regulations and extant circulars so as to provide optimal service to Edo people.

  • JUST IN: Osinbajo, Ortom meet over Benue/Ebonyi land crisis

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday met behind closed doors with Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom and Ebonyi State Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe, over the land crisis between the two states.

    The meeting was attended by the Acting Director General of the National Boundary Commission, Adaji Adamu.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Ortom said “We came at the instance of the vice president to discuss the lingering problem between Benue and Ebonyi states in particular between Agila in Benue and Ngbo in Ebonyi.

    “We are also here with the acting DG, National boundary commission and we had taken far-reaching decisions to ensure that we demarcate the boundary between these two states so that we can hold our people responsible.

    “As it is now its difficult to identify the criminal elements who are creating tension and creating more of these problems.

    Read Also: Osinbajo and the hounds

    “So I believe that very soon the boundary commission would be coming out with a program that both Benue and Ebonyi will team up together to provide the necessary logistics and security to ensure that the boundary is demarcated.

    “Well, it’s a border crisis because we are talking about two states. We should know the limits of each states. It’s a border problem more like communal problem.” he said

    On TIV/Jukun crisis, he said, “Well, I know that there is a spillover. This is largely TIV and Jukum in Taraba. I have Jukun in Benue state. We are not fighting. There were issues in the past and I decided to set up a judicial commission of enquiry which is still sitting to look at the remote and immediate causes of this strife so that we will find a lasting solution to it.

    “This other one is more of a problem in Taraba but because there are TIV people in Benue and we are talking about TIV people so each time people are displaying some run back to Benue so that’s the spirit of it.

    “But I think that the governor of Taraba state is doing well. Recently they met and they agreed that there should be ceasefire even though I saw in the press that there were some issues with that peace agreement but you know each time there are efforts to try to solve problems, criminal elements will come in and I think that the steps that the governor took by inviting two sides, both the TIV and the Jukum to sit together and find means of how they can resolve this matter is the best approach.

    “And I believe that once that problem is sorted out in Taraba state, we will not have anything in Benue state.” he said

  • Biafra was not defeated, Igbo groups disagree with Nwodo

    Two pan Igbo groups have disagreed with the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Chief Nnia Nwodo that the stillborn Republic of Biafra was defeated.

    Nwodo was said to have stated at the just concluded Dr Michael Okpara leadership and Good Governance lecture at Umuahia in Abia state that Biafra was defeated at the civil war.

    The disagreeing groups, Igbo Peoples Congress and Igbo Aborigenes, however, argued that the war ended on a “no victor, no vanquished” note.

    Spokesmen for the groups Obisiike Chidi and Okey Colbert noted that both sides of the war got tired and weak of the battle and itched for its end.

    “Though Biafra was in bad shape then due to immense food shortages and ammunition, the spirit to fight on was in the Biafran troops. Infact several Biafran troops in the trenches were shocked to hear that the war had ended when they were ready to launch attacks on the enemy then. But they had to lay down their arms on hearing the message on Biafra radio from Gen Philip Effiong. Ojukwu’s deputy. Even though Uli Airport had fallen into the hands of federal troops then, Biafra’s other airports in the bushes were still functional then and they were ready to go into guerilla warfare.

    Read Also: IPOB threatens protest against Buhari at UNGA

    “In fact some Biafran guerillas in Gabon and SaoTome and the Biafran Rangers that later turned into Rangers international football club at the end of the war were ready to recover all lost Biafran territory when the war ended. So Nwodo was wrong in his comment,” the groups asserted.

    But in a sharp reaction, the deputy spokesman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chuks Ibegbu noted that Chief Nwodo was misquoted.

    “Nwodo did not say that Biafra was defeated. He could not have said so. He was misquoted. What he said was that Igbo Youths and Easterners should emulate the virtues of Dr Michael Okpara who made the old Eastern region the fastest growing economy in the developing world in the 60s and avoid anything that would lead into another civil war in Nigeria.

    “He did not say that Biafra was defeated. Don’t forget that Nwodo fought as a lieutenant in that war and saw the bravery of Biafran troops despite all odds.
    I know also that the war ended in a stalemate. Nobody defeated anybody as both sides got tired and simply ended hostilities. The activities of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the then Ivorian President Houphet Boigny, France and USA led to Ojukwu’s journey to the then Ivory Coast in search of Peace and his second in command Gen Philip
    Effiong simply halted hostility and announced the end of the war to Biafrans.
    You Know some Biafran units had not tested battle then and were itching to be engaged when the war ended so Nwodo was misquoted,” Ibegbu defended.

  • Poly rector warns students against cultism, indecent dressing

    Graceland Polytechnic in Offa, Offa local government area of Kwara state has warned students of the institution against cultism, anti-social behaviour and indecent dressing.

    Rector of the private polytechnic, John Oyeleke made this charge in Offa at the maiden matriculation ceremonies of the school, where 96 students took oath of allegiance.

    Mr. Oyeleke added the institution has zero-tolerance for misconduct, adding the authorities would not hesitate to sanction anyone caught, tried and found guilty of misbehaviour.

    Said he: “I implore you to show respect to your colleagues and members of staff in the polytechnic to make your stay fruitful and productive; be modest and decent in your dressing and approach to issues and adhere strictly to the rules and regulation enshrined in the students’
    handbook.

    “I wish to assure you of adequate security on the campus. We, we however, plead with you not to hesitate to report any suspicious activity to the Director of Students Affairs, security officers or
    indeed any staff of the polytechnic for immediate response.

    “I charge you to make the most of the opportunity afforded you by your parents/guardians, ensure that you attend classes, shun all forms of deviant behaviours and other vices and focus on why you are here.”

    He added that the new students were admitted into seven accredited departments of accountancy, business administration, computer science, computer engineering electrical electronics and laboratory technology and statistics/mathematics.

    In a remark proprietress of the institution Princess Ayodele Oyeleke told the students that irresponsible dressing, hairstyles and outlook would not be tolerated under the school’s watch.

    “We expect students to take good advantage of the standard being laid down and continue with the hard work we expect from them. You are expected to be presentable at any time within and outside the polytechnic. You should focus on proper dressing to reflect your discipline.

    “In as much as we allow wearing of shoulder length hijab, long and purdah styles of hijabs are not allowed within the campus. There is need for all students to be seen and recognized at all times,” Prince Oyeleke who is also the Chairman, Governing Council of the polytechnic
    added.