The Nation Newspaper

Tag: threatens

  • Default at your own risk, CAC threatens companies

    Companies and businesses defaulting in compliance with the provision of the companies and Allied Matters Act, CAMA, will soon face severe sanctions.

    In a statement by the Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Churchill Williams, the CAC has set up a special enforcement committee which had commenced crack down on the operation of some companies.

    He said: “The special enforcement committee had completed the first phase of on-site examination exercise in the Federal Capital Territory and had visited various markets, shopping malls and held collaborative meeting with relevant organisations to sensitise the public on the post incorporation obligation of registered companies and the consequences of operating unregistered businesses.

    “A total of 474 were penalised for non compliance during the exercise in the FCT. The next phase of the enforcement will be carried out in the 36 states of the federation.

    “Under the provision of the companies and Allied Matters Act, CAMA, every company, business name and incorporated association, nongovernmental organisation (NGO), are required to file annual returns every year which informs the commission of the status of a registered entity.”

    Williams said, under section 548 of CAMA, all companies are required to display their registered names and registration number at their offices. Under section 553 of CAMA, every banking or insurance company or deposit, provident or benefit society is required to prepare and display in a conspicuous manner their statement of affairs twice in a year.

    Companies complying with the provision of CAMA stand the benefit of enjoying unhindered treatment of their post registration filling with the commission whereas filings from defaulting companies are rejected out rightly until they update their record.

  • APC threatens to boycott Niger East by-election

    APC threatens to boycott Niger East by-election

    TheAll Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State said yesterday that it would boycott the August 16 by-election in Niger East Senatorial Zone, if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fails to redeploy the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo.

    The party alleged that the REC was demanding money from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government.

    APC accused the REC of being a card-carrying member of the ruling party in Kogi State.

    State Publicity Secretary Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, in a statement in Minna, said last week, APC exposed a proposal by the REC to the state government, requesting N44,375,850 for a National Inter-Agency Advisory Committee on Voter Education and Publicity.

    Although the REC denied the allegation, Secretary to the State Government Saidu Ndako Idris confirmed that a proposal with the same amount was brought before the government by the REC.

    Idris said N28.7 million was approved by the Executive Council.

    The statement said the party “strongly believes that this is enough reason for INEC to redeploy Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo before the August 16 by-election to guarantee a free, fair and credible election.”

    APC said that “If he is allowed to preside over the election,it means that INEC has prepared the ground for rigging in the election”.

    The party also claimed that Onucheyo is a card-carrying member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP, having contested as PDP governorship aspirant in Kogi State at the 2003 elections.

    “There is no doubt that as a PDP card-carrying member, Dr. Onucheyo cannot conduct a free and fair election under this circumstance” the statement said.

  • AGGRIEVED!: Boris Johnson threatens to pull out of £160,000 Tory tennis

    AGGRIEVED!: Boris Johnson threatens to pull out of £160,000 Tory tennis

    Boris Johnson today signalled he will pull out of a Tory party tennis match if it emerges it was won at auction by a ‘crony’ of Vladimir Putin.

    Banker Lubov Chernukhin bid £160,000 for the chance to play the ‘ultimate tennis match’ against Mr Johnson and David Cameron.

    She is married to billionaire oligarch Vladimir Chernukhin, who was Russia’s deputy finance minister during Putin’s first term as Russian President.

    As a political row grows, Mr Johnson said that the Tories were now carrying out checks on Mr Chernukhin to ‘make sure that this is not somebody who is an intimate of Putin or a crony’.

    Mr Cameron has called for tougher sanctions against Moscow in response to the shooting down of a Malaysian Airlines flight by pro-Russian separatists over eastern Ukraine.

    But the Tories have been embarrassed by the revelation that they have received money from someone who has served in the Putin regime.

    In an angry statement to MPs on Monday, the Prime Minister said Mr Putin’s ‘cronies’ should be isolated because of their country’s involvement in the Flight MH17 atrocity.

  • Panic In Iran’s camp: Queiroz threatens to resign ahead of Eagles tie

    Panic In Iran’s camp: Queiroz threatens to resign ahead of Eagles tie

    Palpable crisis appears to be brewing in the camp of Iran few hours to their opening group F game against the Super Eagles of Nigeria following reports that coach Carlos Queiroz may have tendered his resignation to the Iranian football authorities.

    The Portuguese coach is understood to have been having a running battle with the Asian country’s football federation over issues bordering on wages and how proceeds from the World Cup friendly matches were allegedly diverted by Queiroz.

    Last Saturday,the former Bafana Bafana of South Africa coach was visibly absent when Iran held a 15-minute open session with journalists covering the FIFA World Cup in Brazil,lending credence to the resignation story.

    When he was asked if Queiroz has resigned his appointment as coach of Iran because the country’s FA has refused to meet his demands to sign a new contract before Monday’s game against Nigeria,assistant coach Dan Gaspar who stood in for his boss tactically evaded the question.

    “I do not want to answer that question. I want to focus on my players and our next foes, Nigeria,”he said

  • APCON’s directives threatens NBL’s multi-million World Cup campaign

    Indications emerged at the weekend that Nigeria Breweries  (NB)Plc may have incurred the wrath of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) over what industry watchers called ‘infringement of advertising codes’.

    An industry source revealed that the regulatory body, APCON may sanction Nigeria Breweries Plc over the violation of its guidelines and standards.

    Under chapter Three (special provisions) in the APCON alcoholic beverages regulations, Article 32 (b) 33(b) 34(b) 35(b) clearly states that “children, sportsmen/women and pregnant women shall not be used as models” in advertising alcoholic beverages.”

    Nigeria Breweries is said to have violated the above rule by using its popular brand, Star to endorse ex-super Eagles Internationals as its sport brand ambassadors, thereby showcasing advertising communications with these models.

    This advertisement is said to have been carried out without any agreement with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) which is the property owner of the Super Eagles legends by virtue of their status as ex-super Eagles players.

    Earlier, a letter to Nigeria Breweries Plc, the NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu, decried the fact that Nigeria Breweries had “launched communication materials across Nigeria featuring ex-players of the Super Eagles, giving the impression that you are an official sponsor of the team.” The NFF added that it was only Guinness Nigeria Plc that has such right since it was its official sponsors.

    Amadu added: “We have equally noticed other outdoor materials with un-named faces in green and white jerseys all in an attempt to associate with the Super Eagles’ participation at the forthcoming FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil, and gain undue advantage”.

    “We declare that this is nothing but blatant market ambushing and this is not only uncalled –for, but highly unprofessional.”

    The Federation went ahead to issue Nigerian Breweries Plc a seven-day ultimatum within which to remove the said materials on billboards and other outdoor creatives, “failing which the NFF and Guinness will take legal action against NB PLC and seek appropriate damages.”

    Less than a year ago, there was an outcry on the seemingly double standards in regulatory approval in the alcoholic beverage industry involving the two brewing giants.

    Analysts have queried why Nigeria Breweries was allowed to advertise its premium lager beer on UEFA Champions League matches broadcast before 8.p.m while Guinness Nigeria was sanctioned on the same and instructed to withdraw the advertisement its brand during English Premiership League. It is also understood that some materials exposed during UEFA & La Liga matches before 10:00pm also have bottle packs of their products Star & Heineken, which hitherto was not acceptable.

  • Kidney failure threatens man’s life

    A 38-year-old man, who is down  with kidney problem, is looking for N8million to treat himself. Bernard Owoicho’s trouble began on December 10, last year, after he took an analgesic drug for his headache.

    He left for work after taking the drug, but 10 days later, his condition worsened.

    He experiencedstomach pains and started stooling blood.

    Thinking it was pile, Owoicho administered some drugs, to no avail. Suspecting poisoning, his relations advised him to take native herbs; he did, but his trouble would not go. Unknown to him, his kidney had failed.

    “Initially, I thought it was pile and some close relations advised me to take some herbs which I did, but I didn’t get any result. I later went to a hospital where I was given some drugs which doctors said would stop the stool; yet, it did not work,” he said.

    Owoicho, 38, a father of two from Otukpa in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, was moved from one hospital to the other in Lagos by his wife and relations in desperate bid to find out what the problem was, but all their efforts failed.

    Family members in Abuja took him there for better medical attention. He spent a month at the Abuja University Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, and later, the National Hospital, Central Area, Abuja, where he was told that his two kidneys had failed.  He has since been undergoing dialysis and other treatments at the hospital.

    Owoicho, who is a chorister at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ojota, lived with his wife and two children at 80, Alhaja Amoo Street before his illness started. He also worked at the Nigerian Ball-Point Pen Industries Plc, Ikeja.

    Owoicho is appealing to well-meaning Nigerians to come to his aid for him to live well again. “I don’t know how to say this, but I beg good-spirited Nigerians not to allow me die. I do not know how I got to this point, but only God can heal. I have spent over N800, 000 already and still spending,” he said, sobbing at the hospital on Tuesday.

    “I need to go for kidney transplant in India. The trip, including the transplant, according to a medical advice, would cost N8 million. I believe God will use my fellow countrymen to make it happen,” he added.

    Owoicho gave his bank accounts’ details as: Access Bank; account number, 0065186699 and First Bank, with account number, 2021113439.

  • Union threatens strike over aviation agencies’ merger

    Union threatens strike over aviation agencies’ merger

    Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Service Employees (AUPCTRE) has threatened to embark on strike if the Federal Government fails to reverse its decision to merge the aviation industry.

    AUPCTRE said the white paper that was drawn by the government on the report of the Presidential Committee on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies will affect the workers of these sectors.

    They have rejected the merger of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) into the new body of the Federal Civil Aviation Authority (FCAA) saying that the merger will reduce the efficiency of NCAA.

    National President AUPCTRE, Comrade Solomon Adelegan said this yesterday at a press conference in Abuja.

    He said that the merging of the sectors will not do the economy well.

    Adelegan also added that, they will resist the merger and will not condone with anything that affects their workers, saying that the union in this sector have promised to fight back with all that is in their disposal.

    His words, “If the Federal government refuses to reverse its decision we will end up calling for strike.

    “We believe from our end and convinced that the merging of this sector will not do the economy any good and we are ready for the Federal Government to sit with us on a round table.

    “This merger will affect our workers in the different sectors because there is no way that this will come on that our workers will not be affected, all these sectors have their administrative, accounting departments and commercial departments by the time the sectors are merged, what happens to some of them?

    “Each sector covers several other subsectors but merging them together now won’t give them enough room. We will not condone whatever will affect our workers”

  • Rivers community threatens showdown with govt, Shell

    Fourteen communities which make up Kula Kingdom in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State have decried alleged plans by the government to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shell Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) to access the ecological fund of their kingdom.

    The communities’ monarch, led by the ruler of Opu-kula, Hope Opusingi, told reporters in Port Harcourt that the fund was about N1.6billion.

    Opusingi, who is also the chairman of Kula Kingdom council of traditional rulers, threatened to stop Shell’s operations in Kula, if the government signs the MoU without the people’s knowledge.

    The monarch said: “If the government goes ahead with its plans, all the 14 communities will mobilise our citizens and we will go to their flow stations in our territories and shut them down.

     

  • MEND threatens to kill ex-militant leaders

    The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) yesterday said its fighters attacked two police gunboats at Peremabiri, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, because they were escorting a former militant leader, Mr. Eris Paul, popularly known as Ogunboss.

    The militant group said Ogunboss, other ex-militant leaders and their “ill-gotten property” had been penciled down for destruction.

    “They are now persona non grata in the creeks, and their lives and ill-gotten properties have become subject to legitimate targets for destruction,” MEND said.

    MEND in a statement by its spokesman, Gbomo Jomo, said the attack that occurred at the weekend was carried out in a style reminiscent of the maiden operation of its campaign, Hurricane Exodus, which killed 15 policemen in April, last year.

    Police gunboats came under attack on Saturday by gunmen initially thought to be youths from the community and led to an exchange of gunfire that lasted for over 30 minutes.

    But MEND after claiming responsibility for the incident in which two persons were feared dead, described Ogunboss and other ex-creek warlords as traitors.

    The militant group said Ogunboss and other ex-militant leaders “now hiding in the cities”, sold their birthright for contracts and political appointments to the detriment of a just cause.

    The group said its action was predicated on the words of “our hero, the great Madiba, Nelson Mandela who said, ‘No self-respecting freedom fighter would take orders from a government he is fighting against or jettison a long time ally in the interest of pleasing an antagonist’.”

    The group also said it was not yet uhuru for the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which recently announced the completion of repairs on the Escravos-Lagos gas pipeline, which MEND said it attacked by Hurricane Exodus.

    It asked Nigerians not to expect improvement in power availability through gas pipelines, until the issues that led to militancy in the Niger Delta had been addressed or discussed.

    The group further said it learnt from a reliable source in the National Hospital, Abuja that the last paragraph concluding the psychiatric evaluation report on Charles Okah was doctored.

    It alleged that the paragraph concluded that Okah was happy with the judge and was fit for his trial.

    It said the statement contradicted the body of the report, which reported that Okah suffered many serious mental conditions, such as memory loss, psychotic depression, auditory and visual hallucinations.

    It said the body of the report mentioned that Okah could not recall the number of children he had and imagined he was in the judge’s chamber instead of a physician’s consulting room.

    The group said Okah, according to the report, exhibited a wide range of symptoms relating to the side effect of the drug, epilim sodium valproate, which it said was prescribed by the National Hospital and forcefully administered on him by prison officials.

    MEND alleged that the government prosecutor, Dr Alex Iziyon (SAN), the State Security Service (SSS), National Hospital Medical Director and Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, inserted the paragraph into the space that was deliberately created between the original last paragraph and the signature.

    It insisted that the paragraph was inserted after the document had been signed.

  • NUPENG threatens strike over refineries

    The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has said it will embark on a nationwide strike if the Federal Government goes ahead with its plan to sell the four refineries next year.

    This decision was taken at the weekend during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of NUPENG in Okrika, Rivers State.

    The union decried a statement credited to the Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison–Madueke, about the proposed sale of the refineries.

    The National President of NUPENG, Comrade Igwe Achese, who disclosed this to reporters, described the decision to sell the refineries as unfortunate, wondering why Nigeria, the sixth largest oil producing country in the world, is in a hurry to sell its refineries, thereby mortgaging the future of its citizens.

    He said what the Federal Government should do is to repair the refineries and stop the high cost of petroleum products.

    Achese queried the condition of the refineries, which he said had obsolete equipment because “in the past 15 years they have not undergone Turn Around Maintenance (TAM). Therefore, the equipment have not been replaced.”

    He said NUPENG has talked about TAM for the refineries for several years, yet nothing has been done.

    “We keep talking about TAM for the refineries and bringing them up to work optimally. Year in year out we keep talking about TAM.

    Up till now, workers are being trained to prepare themselves for TAM for the refineries.”

    The NUPENG president urged “the Federal Government to reconsider the sale of the refineries because as a union, we will resist it.” He added: “Privatisation is not the solution to the high cost of petroleum products in the country as other Sub-Saharan African countries have discovered oil and this will affect the price of petroleum products in Nigeria.”

    Achese said: “If we must sell the refineries, we must sit down at a table to cross the Ts and dot the Is, otherwise we will resist it as a union.”

    Lamenting the poor state of the refineries, he said while it might be safe to say that the refineries were not working, which was why they were being sustained through the importation of petroleum products, “but you begin to ask, what of the crude oil allocated to the refineries that are no more coming to the refineries for refining due to a breakdown of equipment at the refineries?”