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Tag: Yinusa

  • Odua names Yinusa GMD

    Odua names Yinusa GMD

    The Odu’a Investments Limited (OIL) has named its Executive Director and Group Chief Financial Officer, Mr Abdulrahman Yinusa as the new Group Managing Director/CEO).

    His appointment takes effect on June 1, 2024 after the retirement of the current GMD, Mr Adewale Raji on May 31.

    Raji will retire after 10 years of two terms as GMD. He was appointed in 2014 succeeding Mr Adebayo Jimoh.

    The 47-year old conglomerate has witnessed many positive changes during the tenure of the retiring GMD.

    In a statement announcing the new appointment by the company’s Public Relations Manager Mr Victor Ayetoro, the conglomerate acknowledged Raji’s landmark achievements.

    “As Group Managing Director, he oversaw the group’s return to a growth and profitability trajectory through strategic restructuring of the operating structure of the group to improve efficiency.

    During his two tenures, the company grew Profit Before Tax (PBT) from N378 million (2013) to a high of N2.2 billion (2021), paid a total of N2.56 billion in dividends so far.

    “The company diversified into agribusiness, oil and gas and other sectors through strategic partnerships, and repositioned the group’s key subsidiaries and assets. He also helped improve the group’s corporate governance framework, and culture of accountability and transparency amongst management and staff.

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    “Prior to his appointment at Odu’a Investment, Mr. Raji was the Managing Director, Distribution Services at PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc where he served for eight years on the Board.”

    Yinusa is a thoroughbred finance professional with over three decades in-depth experience in the financial services industry. He will be responsible for implementing the Group Board’s shared vision and plan, as well as ensure continued execution of existing strategic projects.

    Revealing his competencies and experience, the statement said: “Prior to joining Odu’a Investment, he retired from Diamond Bank (now part of Access Bank) as an Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer. In the course of his over 30-year career, he demonstrated unique leadership skills, versatility and excellence, and developed expertise in several areas including asset management, local and international capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, strategy, treasury and business transformation.

    “Mr. Yinusa graduated with B.Sc. Accounting from the Ahmadu Bello University, and holds both M.Sc. Economics and MBA (Finance) degrees from the University of Lagos. He is also an alumnus of the University of Cambridge, IMD, Switzerland and INSEAD, France where he attended top management programmes.

  • Yinusa is NECA’s new head

    •Olawale is D-G designate

    The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has named Dr. Mohammed Yinusa its new president.

    The change of guard took place at its 61st Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos.

    In a statement by NECA Director-General, Mr Olusegun Oshinowo, said Yinusa, also the DN Tyre & Rubber Plc Managing Director, would head the association for two years.

    Also elected to run the affairs of the association with him were: Group Managing Director of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi (1st Vice President); Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nestle Nigeria Plc Mr. Mauricio Alarcon  (2nd Vice President) and Mr. Vassily Oye Barberopoulos of Metec West Africa Limited (Honourable Treasurer).

    Also, the association’s out-gone President, Mr. Larry Ettah, informed the meeting that Oshinowo had served the the notice of his retirement, after 19 years of meritorious and selfless service to the body. It will take effect from December 31, 2018. It would mark the end of another epoch in the evolution of the Association.

    However, NECA’s Director of Membership Services Mr. Timothy Olawale has been designated as Oshinowo’s successor effective from January 1st, 2019.

    Before his appointment as D-G Designate, Olawale has served as Executive Secretary, Hotel and Personal Services Association for five  years before joining NECA in April, 2011.

    The new officers were given the onerous responsibility of maintaining the enviable tradition of excellence, which the Association is known for.

    In his acceptance speech, Dr. Yinusa expressed appreciation to members of the association for the confidence reposed in them, promising that his team would do all  necessary to keep the tradition of the association and take it to greater height.

  • UPDATE: Ese Oruru: court grants Yunusa bail

    Yunusa Dahiru, alias Yellow, accused of abducting and forcefully marrying a 14-year-old Ese Oruru from Bayelsa State, was on Monday granted bail by the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa.

    Yunusa, who hails from Kano State, is standing trial on five-count of abduction, illicit sex and unlawful canal knowledge of Ese.

    The court presided over by Justice H.A Ngajiwa resumed in Yenagoa to rule on a bail application filed by Yunusa’s five-man team of lawyers led by Mr. Kayode Olaosebikan.

    The court was congested as persons from different walks of life came to hear the matter and to catch a glimpse of the slim tall Yunusa.

    Seats were not enough as many observers especially journalists stood up while the proceeding lasted.

    Clad in white t-shirt and cream shorts, Yunusa, who was in the dock looked emaciated and bowed his head throughout the period of the proceeding.

    Ese’s parents, Charles and Rose; Chairman and members of the Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO), Chief Nengi James, Ankio Briggs, Alagoa Morris and State Coordinator, Women of Excellence, Mrs. Tariere Gita, were present in court for the matter.

    The judge ruled that the felonies committed by Yunusa were bailable and asked the suspect to provide N3million, two sureties resident within the court’s jurisdiction and write an undertaking that he would not jump bail.

    As part of the conditions for the bail, one of the sureties must be a renowned title holder and a public servant on grade level 12 who must provide first appointment and promotion letters.

    The judge further ordered that the sureties must provide their tax clearance certificates.

    Ngajiwa’s verdict was based on application deposed by the defendant and supported by a seven-paragraph affidavit in line with the rules of the court on whether or not Yunusa was entitled to bail.

    The judge said the application averred that the grounds for bail were within the discretion of the court and in exercising that discretion the court must act judicially and judiciously.

    He said that Yunusa’s lawyers in the application argued that the accused person is innocent until proven guilty adding that Yunusa had no records of criminal behaviour and was not likely to jump bail.

    The lawyers argued that since the offence was bailable and there were people who were ready to stand surety for the suspect, Yunusa was entitled to bail.

    Ngajiwa also faulted a 10-paragraph application opposing the bail filed by the prosecution.

    He said the argument of the prosecution that the accused person would not come for trial since he is not resident in the state was defective and would not stop the granting of bail.

    He cited sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act  and Section 36 (5) of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999 as amended, and insisted that the felonies committed by Yunusa were bailable.

    He said: “In Section 36 (5), every person charged with criminal offence is innocent until proven guilty. Investigations had been concluded and the accused person denied committing the offence. He was living in Yenagoa till August 2015. The offence is bailable and the court has discretion to grant the bail”.

    He added: “The offences charged are serious felonies but no matter how felonious, it will not stop the court from granting bail. The court will impose such conditions that will force the accused person to come for his trial.”

    Speaking after the proceedings, the Ankio Briggs who is the founder of Agape Rights Organisation (ARO) said they were doubtful the state would ensure diligent prosecution of the case.

    She said beyond rhetoric, the Delta, Bayelsa states and all the governors in the Niger Delta region had not shown commitment to the matter.

    She further said they were yet to see the team of lawyers that the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, promised he was going to constitute to help in the prosecution of the case.

    She said: “This thing happened in the Niger Delta. It has been going on and we believe it will continue to go on. If we say that justice is for everybody then justice should be seen to be carried out so that everybody is satisfied.

    “How can somebody carry a child from Bayelsa to Kano state, keep her for eight months, impregnate her, change her region; what are they saying? Is he the father of the child?

    “Who is the father of the child? Is she going to have the baby? These are so many things that are personal. The circumstance in which she got pregnant is very offensive.

    “With all due respect, this case is a very volatile case, it is very serious case. I am not satisfied with the handling of the case by the Delta and Bayelsa state government. Maybe, because the parents are poor”.

    She further described as offensive the claims of Yunusa’s lawyers that his affairs with Ese was that of Romeo and Juliet.

    She said: “Which kind Romeo and Juliet? Ok, all these people who are calling it Romeo and Juliet, let a Keke Napep driver kidnap their 13 years old daughter and then say they are in love.

    “What type of love is that? What sort of Romeo and Juliet is that? The law say that a 13 years old girl has no right to find herself in a position of Romeo and Juliet, full stop and that is what the law says”.

  • Ese , Yinusa and the tragedy of a divided nation

    We may not have been together if not for the 1914 amalgamation. But since the artificial wedding took place over a century ago, it is quite surprising how and why we remain divided in the face of various integration plans and programs to keep us united.

    Few weeks ago when the Ese Oruru saga broke out, it again showed to the world how divided a nation amalgamated over a hundred years ago is. The Ese Oruru saga, prove once again that we have only been struggling to live in harmony with one another and always looking for the slightest opportunity to go against each other.

    Worse as our division is, we are not only divided along regional or ethnical line, but we are so divided along numerous lines and that only calls for concerns for a nation dreaming of development and prosperity. One wonders how we have managed to stay together as a nation in the midst of these divisions all these years.

    The Ese Oruru saga was a crime committed by one man, but instead for the culprits to be condemned and cautioned, the criticism and blame came on his region, his religion and his people. A fallacy that was borne out of bigotry and hate.

    While a few people directly condemned the criminal act committed by one Mr. Yinusa Dahiru, who is alleged to have abducted Ese, forcefully converted her to Islam, possibly hypnotized her and assaulted her sexually, a huge number of people took advantage of Mr. Yinusa`s action and descended mercilessly on his region and religion. Hence, the northern region came under attack alongside the Islamic religion.

    It is my belief that no religion supports violence. People are violent but hide under the guise of one form of religion, region or the others to justify their criminality. But a nation divided along these lines will not consider it that way. It will rather take advantage of the act and attack the whole region or religion involved.

    A country that is so desirous of making any form of progress in this tough and competiveness world cannot stay divided and expect any form of progress. The point is; a divided nation will continue to grasp for development and prosperity in the face of abundant opportunities.

    We cannot as a nation hope to achieve the founding dreams and aspirations of our founding fathers while we stay divided. Not possible! If we must achieve greatness, we can only achieve it together.

    Change comes with numerous responsibility- one of which is to be united. No divided nation has attained that which they wish and dream of.

    Either child marriage, abduction, baby factories, rituals, vandalism and the likes, a crime is a crime- we must stay united to condemn it outrightly without tagging any region or religion.

    There is no justification for doing the wrong thing and perpetrating evil. Evil is evil. It has no other name but evil. People choose to do evil and sort for justification for it. Those who do evil should be seen as evil and not their religion or region.

    Men will always want to justify is criminality, but it does not make evil less evil. Don`t conform to that! If evil is perpetrated by someone in the North/South/Middle-Belt by Christian/Muslim/Pagan, condemn it. Evil has no religion or region!

    You can not condemn the whole north or a particular religion because of Ese saga and other related crimes. Likewise can you not condemn the whole south or a particular religion for baby factories, vandalism, and other related evils.

    When you condemn a crime, do not do it with an intention to sway a religion/region- that also is evil. Just condemn it outrightly!

    If one from or not from your religion or region derives pleasure in crime, condemn it. Not his/her religion or region.  If we unanimously condemn evil irrespective of who is involved and not tag it, in no time far from now, we would have a saner society. But if those in the North/South/Middle-Belt, Christian/Muslim/Pagan keep defending the evil perpetrated by one of their own, we would continue to live in a society where evil works and reigns. At the end, when evil reigns, the people suffer!

    God Bless Nigeria.

    – Ogundana Michael Rotimi is a Nigerian Biochemist, Socio-economic & Political Commentator, and Public Speaker. He tweets @MickeySunny.

  • Police arraign Yinusa for abducting Ese

    The police on Tuesday arraigned Yinusa Dahiru, the Kano State-born man who abducted the 14-year-old Ese Oruru from Bayelsa State and married her.

    Yinusa was dragged before the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    He was charged with abduction, illicit sex and unlawful canal knowledge among others.

  • My son has not committed any crime, Yinusa’s father cries out

    Alhaji Dahiru Bala, father of the 25-year-old Inuwa Dahiru Bala (otherwise known as Yunusa, aka Yellow), who is accused of abducting 14-year-old Ese Rita Oruru, has said his son did not commit any crime.

    He spoke at his Tofa, Kura Local Government Area of Kano State home yesterday, insisting that his is innocent and should be set free.

    Bala said Ese followed Yinusa voluntarily out of love .

    “The girl fell in love with my son and followed him. Let them release my son because he has not committed any crime by following his heart.”

    But the village head, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, berated Yinusa for keeping Ese after the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Muhammad 11, directed that she be released. He described the action as unislamic.

    “Tofa people are not happy with this development and we condemn Yinusa’s action. It was wrong for him to have kept the girl after the Emir gave the order that she be taken back to her people. It is not in our character to do this kind of thing.

    “Reuniting the girl with her parents is the best option and the people of Tofa align themselves with this decision.