The Nation Newspaper

Tag: today

  • Today is Int’l Day of Charity

    SIR, today Monday September 5, the global community commemorates the 2016 International Day of Charity. In recognition of the key role of charity in alleviating humanitarian crises and human suffering, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 2012 designated September 5 of every year as the International Day of Charity. The date was chosen to mark the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa whose life and good works for some of the poorest of the poor and the downtrodden while on earth inspired several people across the world.

    No doubt, charity contributes to the promotion of dialogue, solidarity and mutual understanding among people regardless of their respective affiliations. Hence, it is the duty of all and sundry to live toward its uplift since it helps to foster a society filled with peace and harmony. And, it is worth noting that no meaningful development can take place in a society that lacks peace and mutual understanding.

    Indeed, the day is a day to remember those who are less advantaged, and to take appropriate actions to help them. However, charity isn’t only deserved by less-advantaged individuals; anyone irrespective of status could be in need of charity at a given circumstance. Therefore, charity ought to be seen as an interwoven gesture at all times.

    So, as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the fourth annual International Day of Charity as well as the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa, I enjoin every individual and organizations in the country to use this opportunity to promote their own projects and encourage charitable activities in their respective communities or societies, bearing in mind that this is the only way we can boast of a meaningful development in our various societies.

     

    • Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

    Owerri, Imo State.

  • Today and Now

    Some people are obsessed with the past; they can’t take their eyes off their failures or even their successes. Some others only care about now; their philosophy is “live, eat and enjoy all you can today because no one knows tomorrow”. Yet, some live in dread or hope of the future and they waste their present. There’s got to be a balance somewhere. Interestingly, yesterday, today and tomorrow have something in common-they are made up of time. For yesterday, time had passed, today, time is passing by and tomorrow, time is going to pass. One way or the other, we can’t keep time from passing.

    What you do with your time is what determines whether you are wise or not. Your time is your asset; you will become rich in whatever you invest it into. When you administer your time wisely, you will build your wealth gradually. As time passes without much formality, so will your wealth grow without much publicity. You should have a proper disposition towards time. Let yesterday teach you, let tomorrow motivate you, but don’t let today pass you by.

    Don’t worry unnecessarily about things you can’t control, just focus on what is within your reach.  Don’t worry about yesterday, it is gone. Don’t worry about tomorrow, it is out of reach. Don’t worry about today, it’s a whole lot of time. Focus your attention on “now” because it is the meeting point between yesterday, today and tomorrow. You never do anything yesterday- by now you must have done it, otherwise, it’s too late. You never do anything tomorrow- it is always a future projection that is constantly ahead. You never do anything today- today is just an illusion that makes you think you have a lot of time until it passes you by. You only do things now. Yesterday had a “now” that passed already. Today is full of “now” that are passing as you read this article. Tomorrow’s “now” is useless until it comes to the present.

    How much of your day do you invest in profitable activities? I’m not trying to judge you; I’ve gone through the evaluation myself. Try out these suggestions:

    • Mind your own business: if you know what other people are doing, the time they are doing it, why they do it and probably why they shouldn’t be doing it (unless it is your job to know), watch out! You are probably doing nothing yourself! Protect your time as much as you can. Avoid whatever does not help you to achieve your goals. Shut out every distraction and focus. You don’t need to know any information that will not add anything to you. Miss the gossip and gain some value.
    • Avoid time wasters: there are some people who are gifted in consuming other people’s time. If they visit you while you are preparing to attend an event, you may end up going late or not going at all. After making your plans for the day, all you need is to meet them and your plans go out of the window. I’m not being unkind, it is just the fact. Once you identify such people, find a strategy to manage your relationship with them.
    • Plan with time: any plan that is not set to time is no plan at all. At the beginning of everyday, make a list of what you want to achieve and assign time to each of them. This will give you a sense of mission. Even if you cannot follow through completely, you will have a sense of accomplishment when you evaluate your activities at the end of the day.
    • Trade busyness for productivity: have you ever been so busy that you hardly had a breathing space, yet by the end of the day, you hadn’t achieved much? It happens all the time. What happens is that we tend to spend our time on things that are urgent but we ignore things that are important. Why not do an evaluation of your day? Determine the activities that add to you and the ones that drain you? Find out the things you invest most of your time on that bring little or no dividend? Try to reduce the time you allot to them. On the other hand, when you discover the activities you spend little time on that end up being productive, increase the time allotted to them. If you do this, you will multiply your success.
    • Delegate responsibilities: I know you think no one can measure up to your standards or do things exactly the way you want them done. Nevertheless, unless you desire to wear yourself out quickly, you need help. If a leader feels that subordinates can’t perform tasks to his/her taste, it is a clear sign of leadership failure. If you train them well, they will take a lot of burden off you and you will do more productive things with your time.
  • Release of cash for projects begins today, says govt

    Release of cash for projects begins today, says govt

    • Minister explains budget plans

    • No VAT increase

    The Federal Government will begin the implementation of the 2016 budget today with the part disbursement of approved funds for some items in the budget.

    Minister of Budget and National Planning Senator Udoma Udo-Udoma who spoke yesterday in Abuja at the breakdown of the 2016 budget, said funding for some of the items in the budget will be released today.

    Udo-Udoma rated budget 2015 performance as poor, stating that “the capital spending was lower than budgeted due to funding challenges. In any case if all the funds allocated for capital projects was released, it would not have made a major impact because the percentage of the 2015 budget allocated to capital was only about 11per cent, this may partly explain why the performance of the economy in 2015 was so poor,” he stated.

    For 2016, Udoma said the budget is anchored on six pillars of economic reforms, infrastructure, social development, governance and security, environment as well as states/regional development.

    He said the key objectives of the budget are ensuring a stable macro-economic environment for real sector development; investments in critical infrastructure, science, technology and innovations that will enhance productivity and lower costs of doing business. Others are creating a significant number of jobs to reduce unemployment and underemployment especially among the youth; protecting the poor and vulnerable by special intervention programmes  and building an economy that is less vulnerable to oil price shocks by vigorously pursuing diversification.

    Budget 2016 he explained would rely on non-oil revenue for funding stressing that “the 2016 budget envisages a net distributable revenue of N5.72 trillion comprising of main federation account revenue of N4.303 trillion and N1.416 trillion from the Value Added Tax (VAT) pool account.”

    Of this revenue, Udoma said “net oil receipts amount to N1.48 trillion or 25 per cent while net non-oil receipts accounts for the balance of N4.22 trillion or 75 per cent.”

    The Federal Government budgeted revenue the minister said is projected at N3.855 trillion largely contributed by its internally generated revenue (IGR) of N1.51 trillion which is 35 per cent increase over the N2.855 trillion for 2015.

    The growth in the Federal Government revenue he said would be mainly derived from the growth in non-oil resources namely: Corporate Tax; VAT and dividend from government corporations and independent revenue. Government he said has projected that Corporate Tax will fetch it N1.88 trillion this year from N1.42trillion last year and VAT collection will fetch N1.48 trillion this year as against N1.28 trillion the previous year. Udoma was quick to explain that increase in projected VAT revenue will not be as result of an increase in the five per cent currently charged but by broadening the coverage so that there will be an aggressive drive to collect VAT from all those expected to pay rather than the rumoured increase from five per cent to ten percent.

    Highlights of major projects contained in the 2016 budget are:

    Road, bridge projects

    Over 40 projects spread across the geo-political zones, including:

    • N13billion for dualisation of Kano-Maiduguri road (Section I-V)
    • N8.7billion reconstruction and pavement strengthening of sections of Benin-Sagamu expressway
    • N14.2billion for the construction of Oju/Loko Oweto Bridge to link Loko and Oweto with approach Roads and Oshegbudu-Oweto road
    • N13 billion for concession of second Niger Bridge
    • N6billion for dualisation Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.
    • N4.8 billionfor rehabilitation of Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Bokani road
    • N8.8 billion for rehabilitation of Sokot-Tambuwal Kotangora-Makira road
    • N40 billion for Lagos-Ibadan expressway (Section I)
    • N2.8 billion for completion of Gombe-Numan –Yola road phase II
    • N5 billion for the rehabilitation of Apapa-Oshodi-Oworoshoki road
    • N2.6 billion for dualization of Kano-Katsina road phase I
    • N6 billion for dualisation of Ibadan-Ilorin section II
    • N5.5billion for rehabilation of Enugu-Onitsha road
    • N2billion for dualization of Sapele-Agbor-Ewu road (Section I)

    Power projects

    Several projects designed to optimise and deliver consistently 7,000Mw of power, highlights of which are:

    • N5.5 billion for construction of 215Mw Gas Power Plant
    • N1.2 billion for construction of 2X60MVA Connection of Gurara to National Grid
    • N235.7 million for coal to power development in Enugu, Benue, Gombe and Kogi
    • N303.9 million for the completion of ongoing construction of ITC/TDN and installation of injection and distribution substations
    • N305.3 million for completion of small scale renewable energy power plants development
    • N1.1 billion for the generation of 700Mw from Zungeru hydro power project
    • N324.2 million for completion of rural electrification scheme in 23 communities in Ondo
    • N250.7million for completion of ongoing electrification project in Kano state

     Railway projects

    Several projects with a view to building a national rail network to move goods/people across the country, among which are:

    • N8.5 billion for the completion of Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri 326Km Rail Track and structures
    • N18.3 billion for the completion of Abuja (Idu) – Kaduna 186.5Km Single Track Rail line
    • N60 billion counterpart funding for Lagos-Kano standard Guage Rail line
    • N60 billion counterpart funding for Calabar –Lagos Standard Guage rail line
    • N3.2 billion for provision of power, water, station building, fence, etc for rail lines

    Aviation projects

    Several projects designed to improve the security of our airports and airspace, including:

    • N432.5 million for procurement and illumination of Thales Navigational Aids at Kano, Jos, Minna, Maiduguri and Port Harcourt
    • N865 million for procurement and installation of Airfeild Lightening system at Port Harcourt, Knao, Lagos, Kaduna, Sokoto, Yobe, Akure
    • N1.06 billion for Airside rehabilitation of Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja
    • N497.5 million for construction of terminal building at Enugu airport
    • N2 billion for purchase of calibration aircraft and equipment
    • N870.4 million for procurement, illumination and flood lightening of 16 airports

    Water projects

    Several projects designed to improve water supply for agriculture, power, drinking and sanitation nationwide, highlights of which are:

    • N232.1 million for construction of Hadejia valley irrigation projects
    • N204.2 million for supply/installation of pressurised/centre pivot irrigation system nationwide
    • N232.13 million for rehabilitation of Adani irrigation project
    • N100 million for World Bank Assisted Urban water sector reform project
    • N200 million for AfDB assisted rural water supply/sanitation initiatives
    • N1.2 billion for construction of dam embankment, spillway, inlet and outlet structures at Jare Earth dam
    • N1.5 billion construction of dam embankment at Kashimbila Dam
    • N989.46 million for construction of dam embankment at Adada river dam
    • N1 billion for construction of dam embankment at Ile-Ife
    • N500 million for construction of dam embankment at Galma dam
    • N1 billion for construction of 200 solae mortorised boreholes nationwide

    Housing projects

    • N35.6 billion for construction of 1,973 blocks of 7,068 Housing units in 6 geo-political zones and FCT

    Agriculture projects

    Several projects in pursuit of the nation’s goal of self-sufficiency/food security, including:

    • N1.3 billion for construction of rehabilitation of rural roads
    • N1.3 billion for support to 187,500 farmers
    • N939.7 million for extension services
    • N940 million for development for strategic grazing reserves
    • N940 million for price stabilisation/buy-back/price guarantee scheme

     Education projects

    Several initiatives towards improving standards and access to education nationwide, including:

    • N342.1 million secondary schoold quality assurances programme across 6 geo-political zones
    • N817.1 milluon for statutory visitation and monitoring of 90 federal tertiary institutions
    • N2.1 billion for servicing ongoing and new local and foreign scholarships

    Health projects

    Several programmes/projects designed to significantly improve health indices across the nation, highlights of which are:

    • N12.6 billion for vaccines, devices and operations programmes for polio, measles, yellow fever etc
    • N1.3 billion conter-part contribution for porcuremnet and distribution of Antiretroviral drugs and contraceptive commodities

    Special intervention

    N500billion social intervention projects in five areas namely:

    • Job creation: 500,000 teachers and 100,000 artisans – N191.5 billion
    • School feeding: 5.5 million children for 200 school days – N93.1 billion
    • Conditional cash transfer: 5,000/month for 1 month beneficiaries – N68.7 billion
    • Enterprise programme: support for one million market women; 460,000 artisans and 200,000 agric workers – N140.3 billion
    • STEM Education Grant for 100,000 students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics – N5.8 billion, among others.
  • Budget panel to conclude work today

    Budget panel to conclude work today

    The Presidency may have to wait till today or tomorrow for the finetuned 2016 budget.

    The 20-man committee working on the document may resolve the grey areas and clean it up today.

    President Muhammadu Buhari was said to be “anxiously awaiting” the budget last night.

    According to sources, the 20-man team from the National Assembly and  the Federal Executive Council will hold final round of consultations on the grey areas today in Abuja.

    The committee will shun the public holiday to consider the National Assembly’s review of the budget.

    Members of the committee from the National Assembly are House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Lasun Yusuf, Senate Leader Ali Ndume, Sen. Danjuma Goje( Chairman, Senate Committee on Apprporiation), Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin( Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation) Sen. Biodun Olujimi,

    From the Executive are the Minister of Budget and National Planning Udo Udoma, Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola, the Minister of Transportation  Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Labour and Productivity Chris Ngige, Minister of Agriculture  Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, and Minister of Health Isaac Adewole,

    A source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said the National Assembly was working round the clock with the Executive to finish the job today.

    The issues, which the committee will finalize discussions on are as follows:

    • need for National Assembly to concede to the retention of the bulk of the proposals from the presidency;
    • restoration of priority projects, such as the rehabilitation of the  Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (N60billion voted); completion of Kano-Maiduguri Expressway(N16b voted but its liability is N20b); Lagos-Calabar rail project;
    • even spread of turnkey projects across the six geopolitical zones to avoid hurting any zone;

    *•Significant reduction or cancellation or spread  of projects hitherto arbitrarily awarded by the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin; and

    • establishing a principle that it is not the business of the National Assembly to tamper with the budget.

    The source said: “The National Assembly has conceded to the Executive to retain the bulk of the priority projects in their review of the budget.

    “In the first two meetings we had, there was tension but the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives tried to calm everybody down. He was very reasonable about it in conducting the session on the review of the budget.

    “When we meet on Monday, we will know whether the review is acceptable to us or not.

    “We are working assiduously to finalise consultations on the budget on Monday, irrespective of the holiday.”

    A member of the National Assembly in the committee said: “We are working , we are struggling. By tomorrow or Tuesday latest, the budget should be ready.

    “What we are trying to guide against is to avoid a misrepresentation or the hurting of any zone. We want all projects allocated with fairness to the six geopolitical zones. We hope the Executive will appreciate our position.”

    All efforts to get Udoma’s reaction were unsuccessful last night but a top government official  said: “We are optimistic that they will send in the report very soon. We know everybody is working hard to get the budget ready.”

    A source in the Presidency said: “The National Assembly is yet to submit the reviewed budget to President Muhammadu Buhari. He is eager or anxious to get  the document.”

  • Black Friday: best deals are on today

    Black Friday, the biggest discount bonanza for shoppers, is here again. The bonanza, introduced by online shop Jumia two years ago, offers great deals to shoppers with Jumia selling double awoof vouchers which offer customers double items for their money. It  completely sold out all items way ahead of the day, an evidence that Black Friday cannot be avoided.

    Also last year, all online shopping platforms operated the Black Friday campaign and recorded positive customer reactions. This year, they have again jumped at the chance to participate again and are offering more discounts this year.

    This year’s Black Friday aims to offer more value to customers who have been amazing with extensive selection of products from top brands at best prices. On Carmudi Nigeria website, car buyers will be able to enjoy discount on a large range of cars. Managing Director, Carmudi Nigeria, Amy Muoneke, said shoppers should expect very affordable cars and discounts on items they buy. “At Carmudi Nigeria, we will be rewarding car dealers with discount advertising and car buyers with affordable cars. The aim of Black Friday is to make affordable cars available to car buyers. From today, individual car sellers who want to see their cars through the Carmudi website will pay a discounted fee of 2,000 only for as long as that particular car is available for sale”

    Jovago Nigeria, an online hotel booking platform promises unbelievable discounts of up to 50 per cent on selected hotel rooms on offer. Its Head of Public Relations, Ohaedoghasi Rita told The Nation Shopping that every customer who books with them will get the best price on every room.

    On the Jumia website, there are vouchers, special deals to say thank you to esteemed customers for their loyalty. Supermart.ng offers up to 30percent discount on hundreds of grocery items when customers buy items worth N10,000.

    The Communications Officer of Supermart, Tayo Alofun said, “hundreds of grocery and everyday essential items have been discounted to rock bottom prices for our customers. Customers can select these and more online and receive delivery to their homes and offices across Lagos”.

    To access the deal, customers will simply have to log on to supermart.ng, select various desired items from the widest range of groceries in Nigeria and enter the voucher code SUPERDEAL to receive their instant N3,000 discount.

    Easy taxi will be giving out better ride in terms of ease, reliability, comfort and safety. Shoppers can get N2000 off Taxi Ride today by downloading the Easy Taxi app on android or iPhone, and use the code ETBlackFriday.  Senior Public Relation & Communications Associate, Tracy E. Oyekanmi said “Over the last six months, we’ve worked hard to gather feedback and listen to our customer’s concerns and needs, and we’ve revamped the entire Easy Taxi experience. And our aim is to allow more people in Lagos experience a ride on Easy Taxi at a lower risk to attract prospective customers.”

    On Kaymu.com, shoppers who patronise the Kaymu’s Black Friday Store access to items at prices they never imagined possible. In addition Kaymu has thrown in free delivery on purchases within Lagos to ensure people enjoy the best possible shopping experience this Black Friday.

    Tomiwa Oladele, Head PR & Offline Marketing said: “As a brand which is passionate about fulfilling our customers desires, Black Friday gives us the opportunity to connect our community of buyers and sellers  in an exciting shopping experience. Through this campaign we hope to add value to our customers by giving them the opportunity to fulfill their wish list within their budget and position Kaymu as a brand where people can get affordable items all year round.”

    She added: “We are fulfilled at the knowledge that through the Black Friday campaign we will be able to provide value to our new and existing customers by giving them the opportunity to shop massive discounts as well as provide revenue for our community of sellers who are expected to triple their sales during this period.”

    Hellofood. com, will double its volume of orders and  empower its consumers with great savings. The online food store will offer its consumers via its partner’s restaurants an entire day of tremendously low price food deals with up to 50per cent discount as well as free delivery on all food orders from any restaurant.

    Its Public Relations Executive, Kike Ojo said: “Consumers’ will be able to order from over 250 restaurants on the hellofood platform, there will be new cuisines at  reduced price and fast food delivery at no extra cost.

    At Yudala, there will be location-specific sales which will kick off from 8:00 am today at Ikeja, Festac and Surulere, 9:00 am at Lekki and 10:00 am at Apapa while the online sales starts by 12 midnight. The mega-fest will continue with the Yudala Cyber Monday on November 30 where shoppers can shop non-stop at eye-popping prices.

    Autogenious is giving out whopping discounts on insurance and AA rescue products.

    They are giving out 10 percent of car insurance premium for a year.

  • Lecture holds today

    The Ninth Jire Olanlokun Memorial Lecture comes up today at the Julius Berger Hall of the University of Lagos, Akoka.

    This year’s guest lecturer is Dr Rilwan Abdu Salami, president, Nigerian Library Association. He is expected to proffer solutions to the problem of library services in  schools.

    The event, to be chaired by the Registrar of Librarians Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN), Dr Victoria Okojie, in line with the objectives of the foundation to proffer solutions to the problems militating against establishment of good library services.

     

  • Today and Now

    Some people who are obsessed with the past; they can’t take their eyes off their failures or even their successes. Some others only care about now; their philosophy is “live, eat and enjoy all you can today because no one knows tomorrow”. Yet, some live in dread or hope of the future and they waste their present. There’s got to be a balance somewhere. Interestingly, yesterday, today and tomorrow have something in common- they are made up of time. For yesterday, time had passed, today, time is passing by and tomorrow, time is going to pass. One way or the other, we can’t keep time from passing.

    What you do with your time is what determines whether you are wise or not. Your time is your asset; you will become rich in whatever you invest it into. When you administer your time wisely, you will build your wealth gradually. As time passes without much formality, so will your wealth grow without much publicity. You should have a proper disposition towards time. Let yesterday teach you, let tomorrow motivate you, but don’t let today pass you by.

    Don’t worry unnecessarily about things you can’t control, just focus on what is within your reach.  Don’t worry about yesterday, it is gone. Don’t worry about tomorrow, it is out of reach. Don’t worry about today, it’s a whole lot of time. Focus your attention on “now” because it is the meeting point between yesterday, today and tomorrow. You never do anything yesterday- by now you must have done it, otherwise, it’s too late. You never do anything tomorrow- it is always a future projection that is constantly ahead. You never do anything today- today is just an illusion that makes you think you have a lot of time until it passes you by. You only do things now. Yesterday had a “now” that passed already. Today is full of “now” that are passing as you read this article. Tomorrow’s “now” is useless until it comes to the present.

    How much of your day do you invest in profitable activities? I’m not trying to judge you; I’ve gone through the evaluation myself. Try out these suggestions:

    • Mind your own business: if you know what people are doing, the time they are doing it, why they do it and probably why they shouldn’t be doing it (unless it is your job to know), watch out! You are probably doing nothing yourself! Protect your time as much as you can. Avoid whatever does not help you to achieve your goals. Shut out every distraction and focus. You don’t need to know any information that will not add anything to you. Miss the gossip and gain some value.
    • Avoid time wasters: there are some people who are gifted in consuming other people’s time. If they visit you while you are preparing to attend an event, you may end up going late or not going at all. After making your plans for the day, all you need is to meet them and your plans go out of the window. I’m not being unkind, it is just the fact. Once you identify such people, find a strategy to manage your relationship with them.
    • Plan with time: any plan that is not set to time is no plan at all. At the beginning of everyday, make a list of what you want to achieve and assign time to each of them. This will give you a sense of mission. Even if you cannot follow through completely, you will have a sense of accomplishment when you evaluate your activities at the end of the day.
    • Trade busyness for productivity: have you ever been so busy that you hardly had a breathing space, yet by the end of the day, you hadn’t achieved much? It happens all the time. What happens is that we tend to spend our time on things that are urgent but we ignore things that are important. Why not do an evaluation of your day? Determine the activities that add to you and the ones that drain you? Find out the things you invest most of your time on and they bring little or no dividend? Try to reduce the time you allot to them. On the other hand, when you discover the activities you spend little time on that end up being productive, increase the time allotted to them. If you do this, you will multiply your success.
    • Delegate responsibilities: I know you think no one can measure up to your standards or do things exactly the way you want them done. Nevertheless, unless you desire to wear yourself out quickly, you need help. If a leader feels that subordinates can’t perform tasks to his/her taste, it is a clear sign of leadership failure. If you train them well, they will take a lot of burden off you and you will do more productive things with your time.

  • Money-laundering: Fani-Kayode knows fate today

    Judgment will be delivered today in the trial of a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.

    The former Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign is accused of money laundering.

    Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia decided not to deliver the verdict on June 18 because the prosecution counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, was absent.

    Fani-Kayode, while serving as minister of Culture and Tourism, was accused of making a transaction exceeding N500,000 on September 20, 2006, which was not done through a financial institution.

    He was accused of accepting N2.1 million in cash, which was paid into his personal bank account by his aide, Supo Agbaje.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the alleged offence, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said contravened the Money Laundering Act.

    The judge had, last November 17, directed Fani-Kayode to defend two of the 40-count charges.

    The judge held that the commission did not prove the other counts sufficiently and partially upheld Fani-Kayode’s no-case submission.

    She discharged and acquitted him of the rest of the 38 counts on the grounds that the prosecution failed to prove “elements” of the allegations.

    Fani-Kayode, therefore, defended counts 25 and 26.

     

  • Evelle drops new single today

    Evelle drops new single today

    Winner of Nigerian Idol, Season 4, Evelle Zibili, will drop her latest single titled, Kilimanjaro today.

    Guests at the grand finale of the Nigerian Idol Season 5 on Saturday, however, had the privilege of listening to the song when she performed it.

    According to Evelle, she did the song with ACI Entertainment before she participated in the Nigerian Idol competition.

    “It is an inspirational song which explains my music journey and the agony I felt before my recent achievements,” she said on her website.

    Evelle who gained national limelight after winning the Nigerian Idol is currently signed to Universal Music Company, a South Africa-based recording company, part of the perks she got for winning the competition.

    Evelle who already has a single, ‘I’m Naughty’ said that she has been perfecting her new status as a professional musician and that her album will be out later in the year.

  • Federal courts resume today

    Federal courts resume today

    The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has agreed to a partial suspension of its strike.

    The JUSUN NEC, which met at the Supreme Court Complex in Abuja yesterday, agreed to allow court activities resume today in federal courts.

    The meeting, which saw temper rising among members, lasted between 3pm and 7.30pm.

    The state courts are to await the outcome of a meeting between representatives of the executive (both at state and federal levels), the judiciary, JUSUN and other stakeholders, scheduled to hold in Abuja today.

    The Federal courts include the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the Federal High Court, the National Industrial Court (NIC) and federal capital territory courts.

    Others are the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).

    JUSUN President Marwan Adamu confirmed the agreement.

    He said a statement would be issued later on the NEC’s resolution.

    He added that the NEC decided to allow a partial resumption in the interest of the larger society.

    The strike by JUSUN is to compel the executive to obey a January 13 judgment by the Federal High Court, Abuja, which, among others, affirmed fiscal autonomy for the judiciary and prohibited the piecemeal release of budgetary allocation to the arm of government.

    At a meeting on January 12 at the instance of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke, was said to have argued that the judgment over which JUSUN had gone on strike, was not enforceable on the grounds that it was only the three tiers of government that could have their funds deducted from the Federation Account (FA).

    The AGF, Attorneys-General of states and others were said to have suggested that there was need to work out an alternative measure of ensuring proper funding of the judiciary through the Consolidated Revenue Fund.