₦airaland Forum

The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Suleiman Balarabe has been removed by force headquarters.

His replacement is Ahmad Abdurahamn who is yet to report to the state.

The removal of the CP, Balarabe might be related to the continuous protest following the current state of security in the state.

Full report at https://www.akelicious.net/enugu-state-commissioner-of-police-removed/

West Africa led the entries for the 2019 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) with 38 percent.

Nigeria News Agency reports that Nigerian artists David ‘Davido’ Adeleke and Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy were nominated for the award.

, to Aug. 14.

They screened, assessed, graded and selected nominees into the 36 different Regional and Continental awarding categories of AFRIMA.

Speaking on the release of the final Nominees’ List, Mr Delani Makhalima, a member of the International Jury of AFRIMA representing Southern Africa, said the entries were impressive.

He said, “as with each year, the musicians never cease to amaze us with their incredible talent. As jurors, we are impressed with the quality of work being produced.

“We are confident that the nominees’ list presented this year is a true reflection of world-class African talent and each year it gets harder and harder to judge and grade the standard.

“All regions on the African continent continue to surprise us by what we see and hear.

“It is encouraging to also see how the music lovers and fans are growing in record numbers to support the music.

“We are enthusiastic to see this wave of appreciation transcend across the border and overseas.

“We would like to encourage more musicians, songwriters, and producers to keep submitting and spreading the word of AFRIMA.

“This is so that we can celebrate together the progress and pinnacles of where African music is reaching”, he added.

The 2019 main awards event scheduled for Nov. 20 to Nov. 23 will span four days, packed with activities which include the Welcome Soiree and Music Business Summit (AMBS).

It will also feature the 6th AFRIMA Music Village, a Guided Tour of the Host City, the exclusive 6th AFRIMA Nominees Party and the 6th AFRIMA Main Awards ceremony.

https://www.akelicious.net/afrima-2019-west-africa-leads-with-38-entries/

A Kenyan model and socialite, Huddah Monroe has warned Kenyan women from dating Nigerian men. In her Instagram story, the controversial Kenyan with 1.7m followers said Nigerian men are scammers, who will milk women dry and disappear without a trace.

Huddah Monroe, according to mpasho.co.ke also said that these Nigerians take off after impregnating women, hence the reason why there are so many single mothers in Kenya.

https://www.akelicious.net/avoid-nigerian-men-kenyan-model-monroe-warns-kenyan-women/

Kwara state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Sunday lamented the death of 17 students in an auto crash on their way back to the state from Kano, describing the incident as a painful one that could have been prevented. According to the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor commiserated with the parents and families of the students and prayed to God to avert such calamity in the future.

“We, however, believe that we can avoid this calamity in the future. We reiterate our calls on the drivers to always check their speed, respect other road users, and put their vehicles in the best condition. Most accidents occur because our drivers often fail these three basic tests of safe driving.

“Besides, we call on our tertiary institutions which still require students to travel long distance for their post-UTME examination to please consider holding such test online to avert the necessity of travel.

“This will not only reduce travel and attendant risks, but also encourage students to embrace and excel in computer literacy, a sine qua non for success in the 21st century,” he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/kwara-govt-mourns-17-admission-seekers-involved-in-auto-crash/

Adeyanju Deji, human right activist has asked the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to come back to Nigeria and stop instigating his group members to attack Nigerian leaders.

Disclosing this via his facebook handle, Deji frowned at those defending Kanu, and called Kanu a coward that disappeared and abandoned his members when soldiers allegedly came to his house in Abia state.

Displaying how strong and fearless he has become, Deji said he was arrested nine times and imprisoned thrice under Buhari’s administration.

He took out time to educate Nnamdi Kanu, noting that respite all his tribulations he (Deji) is still living and criticizing Buhari and his administration in Nigeria. His words, “Some of the miscreants defending coward Nnamdi Kanu make me laugh. Small intimidation by Buhari, he compromised, collected money and ran away. If he’s man enough, he should come back. I have been arrested 9 times under Buhari; imprisoned thrice but still here. “You can’t be saying you want Biafra and you are running away from ordinary Buhari, come back. Come back and confront Buhari like many of us are doing here. Abi, you want to achieve Biafra on Facebook?

https://www.akelicious.net/if-you-are-man-enough-come-back-to-nigeria-and-challenge-buhari-deji-tells-nnamdi-kanu/

National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) says though the reality show Big Brother Nigeria (BBNaija) platform has united and empowered youths, its erotic content is inimical to the Nigerian culture.

Runsewe in an interview with Nigeria News Agency on Sunday in Abuja frowned at sexual scenes aired on the show, saying it undermines values that define the culture of Nigerian people.

According to him, the BBN platform has united and empowered youths from different background, but its erotic contents are alien and inimical, especially to young Nigerians.

He said: “Big Brother Naija is Okay, but the content needs to be looked into because it does not reflect the culture of us as a people.

“There is nothing wrong with Big Brother Naija, it is a good product where so many Nigerians meet, youths in particular, so we are happy for it.

“But the content is wrong; you cannot be making love, with our children, our youths watching, on air.

“We will not because of the money Nigerians will win to destroy our tomorrow because of some economic strategy.

“We are not claiming to be saints, but even the British Police have condemned their own person who was involved in the act.

“We want to build a Nigeria with better tomorrow, and make our environment to be seen as culturally friendly, not to promote nudity and immorality, “he said

The DG however debunks reports that the NCAC was prevailing on the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to shut down the BBN programme and replace it with another one that would be broadcast by Startimes.

He explained that the council as a custodian and promoter of Nigerian culture was planning to work with relevant stakeholders to present a reality program that will promote Nigerian rich culture and values.

He however added that it was not an initiative being conceived to rival the Big Brother Naija brand.

“What I said is, if they don’t change the content of Big Brother Naija, I will make a formal report to NBC, and I have done that.

“I have respect for constituted authority and I will do the right thing the way it should be done by following due process.

“We are not planning to replace big Brother, we want to have something that reflects Nigeria to the world culturally.

“It will showcase Nigerian food, Nigerian cloth and all that represent whom will are as a people positively,” he said.

The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), established in 1975 is charged with the responsibility of coordination, development and promotion of the Living Arts and Culture of Nigeria at national and international fora.

It coordinates, preserves, promotes and presents the best of our Crafts, Textiles, Cuisines, Traditional Dance, Drama, Opera, and Cinema, and Photography to deploy them as tool for forging national unity and identity.

reports that Big Brother Naija, formerly known as Big Brother Nigeria, is a Nigerian scripted version of the Big Brother reality competition television franchise.

The first season of the show aired on DStv Channel 37 in 2006, a second edition premiered on January in 2017, a third season premiered in 2018 and a fourth season started on June 30, 2019 in Nigeria.

https://www.akelicious.net/ncac-says-bbnaija-has-empowered-united-youths-but/

If he was not attacked by members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), the former Deputy Senate President, Prof Ike Ekweremadu, would have told his kinsmen in Nurnberg, Germany, to endeavour to bring their investments home.

He had prepared a goodwill message he was to deliver in Germany during the 2nd Annual Cultural Festival and Convention of Ndigbo Germany, but for the attack by IPOB last weekend.

In the goodwill message made available to Akelicious, Ekweremadu asked Ndigbo in Germany and others living in the Diaspora to think home and invest in Igbo land so as not only to guarantee their investment, but also to create employment that would help develop the Southeast.

“All we need do now is to look inwards and homewards, investing our God-given resources and brainpower in developing Igbo land,” he said.

He pointed out that the reality on the ground is that Ndigbo is disadvantaged in the political distribution in the land, adding that their creativity, industry and inventive nature would always secure a laudable place for them that cannot be ignored.

“The Igbo are obviously not counted in the scheme of things in the distribution of political opportunities in Nigeria today, but the good thing is that we have never really been known to totally depend on government patronage as a people.

“So, while those who control the reins of power today may deny us political opportunities, they cannot take away our ingenuity, industry, and capacity to develop Igbo land. Indeed, Ndigbo flourish more in times of challenges. All we need do now is to look inwards and homewards, investing our God-given resources and brainpower in developing Igbo land,” the senator said.

He urged Ndigbo in the Diaspora to be their brother’s keeper and keep the flag of Igbo culture high where ever they live.

“Culture is life. A people’s culture is also their identity and holds the key to their social, economic, and political prosperity. I am proud of our culture and history. But I am particularly proud of our spirit of the collective.

“I am also proud of so many things that our fathers taught us. To instill in us the virtue of making a home out of any part of the world we find ourselves and add value to our host communities, they made us to understand that ‘Ebe onye bi ka o na-awachi’. That is why no other ethnic group in Nigeria rivals us in developing places other than our native homes. However, our fathers did not stop at that. They also taught us that whatever fortunes we acquire amount to next to nothing until they make meaningful impact back home. As we say, ‘Aku ruo ulo, amara onye kpara ya.’’’

https://www.akelicious.net/read-the-message-ipob-didnt-allow-ekweremadu-deliver-in-germany/

Many may not consider popular actor, John Okafor, aka Mr Ibu, to be a romantic man, but he has said he is not a novice in that area.

In a chat with Sunday Scoop, the Police Recruit actor explained what romance means to him.



He said, “When you talk about romance, the average man thinks of making love to a woman but it is not so. If you are romantic, it constitutes everything that transpires between you and a woman, whether she is your girlfriend or not. I believe that when you are romantic, it means you are caring to an extent that a woman would be willing to stay and play with you even without making love to you, and that is nice. If you are the type of person that has money and you go out to buy something for a lady you stay around, I believe that can be considered romantic. Or if you are invited to a party and you go with a lady, even if you are not married, that can also be considered romantic. Also, if you feel like having sexual intercourse and it’s the same woman that comes to your mind, she may be willing to have it with you. But not that you force her and you think you are being romantic.”

On the most romantic gesture he had ever expressed to a woman, Okafor said, “There was something I did (some time ago) that made people suspect me. I bought a vehicle for a lady and people thought we were intimate. However, there was nothing like that. The girl was actually instrumental to a big deal I was working on which seemed impossible until I got her involved. I don’t even think the car was enough for her, compared to what she did for me.”

Mr Ibu also maintained that his wife had no reservations about his car gift to the said lady. “Of course, I was married with children at that time, and I did not even know the colour of her pant. Usually, I tell my wife whatever I want to do and she understands,” he said.

On what he’s working on at the moment, the actor said he was just recovering from the effects of the poison he was forced to ingest some months ago.

“For the moment, I am not working on anything because I’m still recovering from the poison I was given during the last Christmas in Nnewi, Anambra State. The people who gave me the poison held me down on the floor as if they were handling a cow and forcefully put it in my mouth. I think they were sent by someone.” he said.

Meanwhile, Ibu said he had forgiven those behind the dastardly act. He added, “The perpetrators did not wear masks, so I saw their faces. One of the boys involved in the act tried to run away but I told him not to. I have forgiven them because God has cured me. I decided not to make a case out of it because of the number of people that came to apologise to me, and gave me money for treatment.”

https://www.akelicious.net/romance-not-all-about-sex-mr-ibu/

Nigerians living in the United States who were recently charged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for a $46 million fraud have been told to give themselves up to the law enforcement agency or face extradition according to international treaty between both countries.

The FBI had on Thursday, announced a massive bust of online fraudsters who are mostly Nigerians. According to the FBI, a total of 80 suspects have been apprehended for cyber crime and money laundering, with 57 more being hunted globally in investigations which began since 2016. It said the suspects were involved in schemes resulting in the fraudulent transfer of at least $6 million in fraudulently obtained funds and the overall conspiracy was responsible for the attempted theft of at least an additional $40 million. Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, gave the advice yesterday, while condemning the action of the indicted Nigerians. She said the indicted Nigerians should be given the opportunity to defend themselves as every suspect remains innocent until proven guilty. Dabiri- Erewa said while the alleged involvement of these Nigerians ultimately have negative effect on the image of the country, the actions of a few Nigerians involved in criminal activities must not be the measure of what the majority of Nigerians represent.

The statement read as follows: “The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission is deeply concerned about the news of the court indictment of 80 persons, mainly Nigerians, in various parts of the US, being accused in separate FBI cases of massive email fraud and money laundering. “Prior to the court indictment of these eighty persons, of which Valentine Iro and Chukwudi Christogunis Igbokwe, are lead suspects, Obinwanne Okeke had earlier been arrested in Virginia.


“We acknowledge the fact that accusation does not mean guilt, and we hope that all the accused will be given fair and speedy trial. “We also ask those accused in Nigeria to voluntarily turn themselves in, to American authorities to clear their names, without which the Nigerian government should extradite them if relevant international treaties between the two governments are invoked. “While such actions ultimately have negative effect on the image of the country, the Commission however reiterates as it has always done, that the actions of a few Nigerians involved in criminal activities is not and can never be what the majority of Nigerians represent.

https://www.akelicious.net/fg-on-alleged-46m-frudwe-ll-surrender-indicted-nigerians-to-u-s-if/

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, has said that the ruling party, having demonstrated purposeful leadership to win the heart of Nigerians will rule the country beyond 2023.
Oshiomhole stated this Friday during the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting with the governors elected on the platform of the party, where he stressed the importance of synergy between the NWC and the governors.
According to him, We believe our party has made a lot of progress in the three key areas that were reflected in our manifesto but there is a lot to be done.
“And I am sure working together at both the executive, state and federal by the special grace of God, we will do better in this second term. As to merit, our party will continue to govern the country post 2023.”
Oshiomhole who admitted that the task of leading the party had been challenging, also added the party had gained grounds and would achieve better in the second term of President Buhari.
The chairman stated: “It is quite a challenging experience for me. I try to compare myself as a governor and now as chairman of a party. And coming in at the eve of primaries and dealing with fall out of the previous congresses. And then proceeding to conduct elections. Then conduct primaries and campaigns across the 36 states and the FCT. And working hard to ensure that we secure as many votes aa we can for our president.
“As well as support our states, particularly where we didn’t have state governors to ensure that we are able to lend a helping hand. I am happy to say that at the end of the day even though we lost some states we also gained some states.
”We gained Kwara, which for us is extremely important. And, we also gained Gombe state which is also very strategic among others. Of course, we have a clear majority in the National Assembly. We have more Senators elected on our platform, we also have more of House of Representatives elected on our platform.”
The chairman expressed confidence that the party would win its cases in court.
“Because we believe that a lot of our cases in court have merit. We hope that there will be justice and they are resolved in our favor.”
The Progressives Governors Forum Chairman and governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, led the APC governors’ delegation, which included Governors Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Abdulrazaq Abdurrahman (Kwara), Idi Gubana (Deputy Governor of Yobe) who represented Governor Mai Mala Buni, and Ahmed Mohammed (Deputy Governor Niger), who represented Governor Abubakar Bello.
Responding, Bagudu said the governors would appreciate vibrant relationship among different organs of the party.
“We are happy to cooperate and participate in whatever way we can to strengthen our party. Mr. President led Nigeria to recover from recession at the quickest time. He funded states to pay salary deficits, he paid retirees and established different social reinvestment programme. This is despite the drop in income.”
Bagudu added that budget performance under president Buhari had reached 80 per cent compared with 20 per cent in 2013 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, saying, “this is a great credit to visionary leadership of the president.”
He said, ”We also want to congratulate you for having been reelected. Sometimes it is easier to be elected the first time. But, to be reelected imply a huge vote of confidence by the people of your respective states. And. Looking at things from here I know a lot went into trying to seize the deliberate attempt by the opposition to discredit the good ones.”

https://www.akelicious.net/apc-will-be-in-power-beyond-2023-oshiomhole/

The Lagos State Government has denounced a report in a section of the media alleging that the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has abolished the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment.

A statement issued by the Public Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment stated that the Ministry was created via an Executive Order (No. EO/AA.OI.2015) of June 17, 2015, to create sustainable wealth for Lagos citizens as well as promote and sustain entrepreneurship, through effective use of strategies and resources, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

The press release referred to Governor Sanwo-Olu’s speech at the inauguration which alluded to the importance of sustainable wealth for Lagosians, saying, “great opportunities for employment and wealth creation can only be realised sustainably if we are able to enhance governance with creativity, innovation and technology while embracing collaboration with the private sector and continual dialogue and partnership with all relevant stakeholders”.

According to the statement, the authors of the news story failed to take cognisance of the rejection of three nominees during the screening by the House of Assembly, noting that the proposed portfolios for the disqualified persons remain vacant until the conclusion of the process by the Screening Committee of the legislative arm of Government.

The statement urged newsmen to always remain professional by balancing their stories and leveraging on the harmonious relationship between the Lagos State Government and the media to always verify facts from government spokespersons whenever in doubt.

The release reiterated that the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment has created numerous entrepreneurs since its inception and had carried out diverse programmes to reduce the unemployment rate in the State, through the provision of funding for graduates and non-graduates with initiatives that have made them self-employed as well as employers of labour.

While emphasising the importance of the informal sector due to its contribution to the economic growth of Lagos State, the statement affirmed that the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment will continue to collaborate with the Lagos State Vocational and Technical Board to re-skill and equip tradesmen and artisans with modern techniques and tools to give them competitive advantage.

https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/08/22/sanwo-olu-didnt-abolish-wealth-creation-ministry-lasg/amp/

Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun on Thursday urged corps members to shun and abstain from social vices like drug abuse, advanced fee fraud, kidnapping, robbery, cultism and violent crimes, capable of undermining their potential as future leaders.

Oyetola gave this admonition at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Camp in Ede, Osun, during the swearing-in ceremony of 2019 Batch B Stream II prospective corps members posted to the state.

The governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji, said that celebration of youth corp members was a worthy event, taking cognisance of the positive role they played in society.

Oyetola said that NYSC had been grooming and moulding graduate youths to fit in with aspirations and blueprint of the nation toward total emancipation and economic expansion.

He said youths constituted the most productive segment of the population and society, urging them to see themselves as leading light for the present and future.

The governor said that their mandatory service would afford them the opportunity to be a blessing to the nation by impacting positively lives of people in their immediate environment.

“I want you to complement the gestures of NYSC and government by being good ambassadors and advocate of peaceful co-existence and corporate existence of our nation.

“I want you to comport yourselves in the most noble way worthy of your calling into the national service, remember that you are the greatest asset of our nation.

“As future leaders and key determiners of peace and stability of our nation, I want you to channel your energy, vigour and drive toward the achievements of lofty ideals and aspirations and abstain from vices.

“Vices and crimes will undermine you and hinder you from being a ray of hope for your generation and the nation,” he said.

In his remarks, Mr Adegoke Adewale, the Coordinator of NYSC in Osun, congratulated the corps members on the successful completion of their studies from their various institutions and their mobilisation for national service.

Adewale told them not to see their deployment to Osun as waste of time, but to explore the richness in the culture and diversity of people of the state.

He implored them to strive to build and maintain quality friendship during their orientation course in the camp and after leaving the camp.

The coordinator charged them to participate in the camp activities, saying it was mandatory and also regimented, adding that only those with health challenges were exempted.

He said their success during the service year would be determined, to a large extent, through internalising the ideals of the scheme which they would be exposed to during the course of their orientation exercise.

Justice Jacob Ogunleye administered the national pledge and Oath of allegiance on the 1,800 (1037 males and 763 females) corp members posted to the state.

https://www.akelicious.net/abstain-from-drugs-abuse-fraud-kidnapping-gov-oyetola-urges-corp-members/

A human rights activist, KeneChukwu Okeke and the Chief Ombudsman for the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) has instituted a N50 billion fundamental rights action on behalf of tricycle riders against the Anambra State Government, Inspector-General of Police, and the Anambra State Commissioner of Police.

Okeke is praying the National Industrial Court of Nigeria to interpret or apply the fundamental rights of tricycle workers in Anambra State guaranteed under Articles 2, 5, 10, and 22 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and Sections 34, 40, 42 & 44 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)
as it relates to freedom of association and to sanction the Anambra State Government, Police, and other non-state actors for so infringing upon the fundamental rights of the Applicants.

According to him, the Anambra State Government (1st Respondent) had on the 5th day of July arbitrarily, maliciously, without any justification and in ‘excess of jurisdiction’ proscribed the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) from operating in Anambra vide a letter addressed to the Commissioner of Police (6th Respondent) without affording the 1st Applicant an opportunity to make representations before the issuance of the proscription order which doth violence to Sections 36 (1), (2) & 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

In the case marked NICN/AWK/33/2019 filed at the Registry of the National Industrial Court, Awka Judicial Division on behalf of the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN), August 19, Okeke told the court that not only that the fundamental rights inherent in the 2nd Applicants as members of a trade union was violently breached, but the fundamental rights which infers in the 1st Applicant itself, as a registered trade union, persona ficta corpus corporatum was contravened by the Respondents.

The activist insisted that the actions of the Anambra State Government and the Police was malafide, politically orchestrated, ill-conceived, with the sole aim to “cause maximum damage” to the Applicants. It was further submitted the fundamental right to freedom of association cannot be abridged or circumscribed, save through a procedure permitted by law. Furthermore, it was said that the 10th to 33rd Respondents invaded and forcefully took-over all the tricycle parks belonging to the 1st Applicant in Anambra State at the instance of the 1st to 4th Respondents, using the instrumentality of the police therein named as the 5th to 8th Respondents. And that members of the 1st Applicant refusing to be lurched or compelling to renouncing the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) or refusing to be coerced to joining the 10th and 11th Respondents being an athwart labour association are arrested, detained, assaulted, shackled and have their tricycles (tools of trade) distrained.

Okeke stated under oath that whenever the 5th to 8th Respondents see any commercial tricycle bearing the colour code, emblem or stickers of the 1st Applicant, the 5th to 33rd Respondents working in cahoots, would arrest, impound or distrain such tricycles, and compel or lurch such tricycle workers (members of the 1st Applicant) to renounce the membership or any association with the 1st Applicant, and thence coerced to subscribing to the membership of the 10th and 11th Respondents but not after parting with levies and fines imposed collectively by the 5th to 33rd Respondents at various Police Stations.

He also said that the fundamental right to freedom from any form of discrimination vide Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) is absolute, and cannot therefore be abridged or circumscribed by any person, group of persons or authority; and that the 1st to 4th Respondents arbitrarily, maliciously and in ‘excess of jurisdiction’ proscribed the 1st Applicant, so as to confer advantages on the 10th to 33rd Respondents and to subjecting the Applicants to disabilities or restrictions to which other associations are not made subject to. And that the 5th to 8th Respondents have taken the membership or any association with the 1st Applicant as grounds for arrests, detention and discriminating persecutions.

“As at the material time of this deposition, majority of the members of the 1st Applicants vis-a-vis 2nd Applicants are still under forced hiding or disappearance for fear of state-sponsored violent attacks on their persons. Many are gone with a trace.” Okeke averred.

He told the court that by the malafide actions of the Respondents, the Applicants are “subjected to an undeserved outrageous and unwarranted contempt, cruelty, insolence, malice, oppression, humiliation, molestation, embarrassment, degradation, and inconveniences vide the infringement of their fundamental rights as guaranteed under Articles 2, 5, 10, & 22 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and Sections 34, 40, 42 & 44 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”

He said that the proscription order issued by the Anambra State Government is “most opprobrious and denigrating” albeit misleading, baseless, malicious and totally bereft of any foundation in common law howsoever.

It will be recalled that Anambra State Government had in a letter dated June 13, proscribed the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) from operating from Anambra State. Kenechukwu Okeke, MCSD condemned the purported proscription and demanded for an immediate reversal. He also threatened legal action against the State and non-State actors should the Anambra State Government fail to reverse the said proscription within 30 days.

However, Okeke said he had no choice than to seek legal redress, since the Anambra State Government rather than mitigate the plight of hapless workers is insensitive nay aggravates the pains of the poor masses.

“The Applicants are still at a loss as to why the Nigeria Police Force under the overall command of the 5th Respondent have stooped so low or denigrated itself to the extent of liaising or working in cahoots with touts and revenue racketeers named as the 10th to 33rd Respondents to arresting, detaining, harassing, intimidating, extorting, assaulting, lurching nay compelling the members of the 1st Applicant to renounce any form of association with the 1st Applicant and forcing the members of the 1st Applicant to sign or subscribe to the membership forms and levies of the 10th and 11th Respondents as a condition for their bail,” Okeke Asserted.

The Applicants said the “purported proscription” was also published by several newspapers nationwide, international news platforms and on several social media news.

Consequently, the Applicants sought fifteen(15) reliefs from the National Industrial Court, thus:

1. A DECLARATION that the freedom of association guaranteed under Article 10 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (amended) is not merely a bundle of individual fundamental rights inherent in the 2nd Applicants as natural members of the 1st Applicant but the collective rights which inhere in the 1st Applicant itself as a registered trade union, persona ficta corpus corporatum.

2. A DECLARATION that the proscription of the 1st Applicant, as contained in the letter dated 13th June, 2019 vide AN/MOT/130/71 issued by the 3rd Respondent on behalf of the 1st and 2nd Respondents without affording the 1st Applicant the opportunity to be heard or make prior representations before the decision contained in the letter was made, thereof violated the fundamental rights of the Applicants and contravened Articles 2, 5, 10 & 22 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and Sections 36(1), (2), & 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (amended) having impugned on the Applicants’ right to fair hearing and freedom of association.

3. A DECLARATION that the proscription of the 1st Applicant by the 3rd Respondent acting on behalf of the 1st and 2nd Respondents, on the ground of being ‘strange to Anambra State Government’, enforcement of same being carried out by the 5th to 8th Respondents and the subsequent acts of violence unleashed against the members of the 1st Applicant by the 10th to 33rd Respondents in pursuance to the said proscription is discriminatory; and therefore constituted a violation to the fundamental rights of the Applicants to associate freely, and freedom from any form of discrimination, as enshrined under Sections 34 (1), 40 & 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (amended) but not limited to the express provisions, as ensconced in Articles 2, 5, 10 & 22 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

4. A DECLARATION that the compulsion of the 2nd Applicants by the Respondents to renounce their membership or association with the 1st Applicant or coercion into joining the 10th and 11th Respondents, being an athwart labour or anti-trade union associations operating severally under the names and styles of ‘KKAWAAPU Amalgamated Tricycle Union of Anambra State’; or ‘Unified Tricycle Owners and Riders Association of Anambra, UTORAAS’ contravened the fundamental rights of the Applicants, as it relates to freedom of association by virtue of Articles 2, 5, 10 & 22 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and Sections 40 and 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (amended).

5. A DECLARATION that the threats by the Respondents to arrest, detain, harass, torture, molest or assault members of the 1st Applicant or the 2nd Applicants for their refusal to be lurched or compelled to renounce the 1st Applicant or coerced to joining the 10th and 11th Respondents, being an athwart labour or anti-trade union associations operating severally under the names and styles of ‘KKAWAAPU Amalgamated Tricycle Union of Anambra State’ or ‘Unified Tricycle Owners and Riders Association of Anambra, UTORAAS’ is unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional, and doth violence to the fundamental rights of the Applicants as enshrined under Articles 2, 5, 10 & 22 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (amended), relating to freedom of association.

6. A DECLARATION that the actual victimization, discrimination, arrest, detention, forceful distrainment of tricycles, or assault by the respondents unleashed against the members of the 1st Applicant or the 2nd Applicants for their refusal to be lurched or compelled to renounce the 1st Applicant or coerced to joining the 10th and 11th Respondents, being an athwart labour or anti-trade union associations operating severally under the names and styles of ‘KKAWAAPU Amalgamated Tricycle Union of Anambra State’ or ‘Unified Tricycle Owners and Riders Association of Anambra, UTORAAS’ is unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional, null, void, and doth violence to the fundamental rights of the Applicants as enshrined under Articles 2, 5, 10 & 22 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (amended), relating to freedom of association.

7. A DECLARATION that the continued victimization, discrimination, arrest, harassment, detention, forceful distrainment of tricycles, torture, intimidation, molestation or assault by the Respondents unleashed against the members of the 1st Applicant or 2nd Applicants for their refusal to be lurched or compelled to renouncing the 1st Applicant or coerced to joining the 10th and 11th Respondents, being an athwart labour or anti-trade union associations operating severally under the names and styles of ‘KKAWAAPU Amalgamated Tricycle Union of Anambra State’ or ‘Unified Tricycle Owners and Riders Association of Anambra State, UTORAAS’ is unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional, null, void, and constitutes a gross infringement on the fundamental rights of the Applicants as enshrined under Articles 2, 5, 10 & 22 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and Section 40 & 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (amended), relating to freedom of association.

8. A DECLARATION that the unlawful invasion and forceful take-over but not limited to both civil and criminal forfeitures made against the properties of the 1st Applicant and 2nd Applicants respectively by the 10th to 33rd Respondents at the behest of the 1st to 4th Respondents vide the instrumentality of the 5th to 8th Respondents smacks of victimization, deprivation, discrimination and grossly contumacious to the fundamental rights of the Applicants enshrined under Articles 2, 5, 10 & 22 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and Section 44 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (amended), relating to compulsory acquisition of property.

9. AN ORDER OF MANDATORY INJUNCTION directing the Respondents to issue a public apologia to the Applicants via publications or ‘public announcements’ in the print and electronic media, for so infringing on the fundamental rights of the Applicants; and for the undeserved, outrageous and unwarranted contempt, cruelty, insolence, malice, oppression, humiliation, assault, molestation, embarrassment, degradation and inconveniences to which the Applicants was subjected to by the Respondents, viz.

a. 5 Printed Newspapers published in Nigeria id est.
i. Vanguard,
ii. The Punch,
iii. The Nation,
iv. Guardian, and
v. Thisday;

b. 5 Printed Newspapers published in the Swiss Confederation id est.
i. Tamedia AG;
ii. Basler Zeitung Medien;
iii. Grupo;
iv. Fondazione per il Corriere del Ticino; and
v. Société Neuchâteloise de Presse SA;

c. 5 Printed Newspapers published in Belgium id est.
i. Het Belang van Limburg,
ii. De Tijd,
iii. De Morgen,
iv. Grenz-Echo, and
v. L’Avenir;

d. 20 Internet Media Platforms as prescribed in the Second Schedule.

e. 20 Terrestrial Radio Stations as prescribed in the Second Schedule.

f. 5 Terrestrial Television Stations as prescribed in the Second Schedule

10. AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the Respondents either by themselves, their agents, privies, assigns, servants, police officers or other security agencies (within the purview of the National Security Agencies Act) from intermeddling with the activities of the 1st Applicant or interlarding with the fundamental rights of the 1st Applicant to accept as members, tricycle workers or employers who freely, voluntarily and willingly applied to become members of the 1st Applicant without victimization, discrimination, arrest, harassment, detention, forceful distrainment of tricycles, torture, molestation or assault.

11. AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUCTION restraining the Respondents either by themselves, their agents, privies, assigns, servants, police officers or other security agencies (within the purview of the National Security Agencies Act) from lurching or compelling the Applicants to join the 10th and 11th Respondents, being an athwart labour or anti-trade union associations operating severally under the names and styles of ‘KKAWAAPU Amalgamated Tricycle Union of Anambra State’ or ‘Unified Tricycle Owners and Riders Association of Anambra, UTORAAS’ and from any further threats to victimize, arrest, harass, torture, or assault members of the 1st Applicant or the 2nd Applicants, or the actual victimization, arrests, harassment, torture, intimidation, molestation, or assault of members of the 1st Applicant or the 2nd Applicants.

12. AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the Respondents either by themselves, their agents, privies, assigns, servants, police officers or other security agencies (within the purview of the National Security Agencies Act) from harassing intimidating, threatening, victimizing, arresting, torturing, intimidating, or assaulting or howsoever to bringing to an end the lawful activities of the Applicants or visiting any form or manner of disadvantage or punishment on members of the 1st Applicant or 2nd Applicants operating in Anambra State or any part thereof, on account of their refusal to be lurched or compelled to joining the 10th and 11th Respondents, being an athwart labour or anti-trade union associations operating severally under the names and styles of ‘KKAWAAPU Amalgamated Tricycle Union of Anambra State’ or ‘Unified Tricycle Owners and Riders Association of Anambra, UTORAAS’.

13. AN AWARD OF GENERAL DAMAGES in the sum of 10, 000, 000, 000 NGN (Ten Billion Naira only) against the Respondents jointly and severally for the violation of Applicants’ fundamental rights as guaranteed under and Articles 2, 5, 10 & 22 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and Section 44 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (amended),; and Sections 34, 40, 42 & 44 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

14. AN AWARD OF AGGRAVATED AND EXEMPLARY DAMAGES in the sum of 40, 000, 000, 000 NGN Only (Forty Billion Naira Only) against the 1st to 4th Respondents jointly and severally for the undeserved outrageous and unwarranted contempt, cruelty, insolence, malice, oppression, humiliation, molestation, embarrassment, degradation and inconveniences to which the 1st Applicant was subjected to by the Respondent vide the infringement of the Applicants’ fundamental rights as guaranteed under Articles 2, 5, 10 & 22 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and Sections 34, 40, 42 & 44 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

15. AND FOR SUCH FURTHER ORDERS as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case

https://www.akelicious.net/activist-drags-anambra-govt-igp-to-court-over-ban-of-tricycle-demands-n50bn/

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The Abia State government has said that public servants in the state service must henceforth mandatorily take their yearly leave within the leave year or face sanctions that include forfeiting their leave entitlements.

A circular released yesterday by the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Establishments and Pensions, Mr. Okechukwu Ihedioha, stated that the policy affects all public servants no matter their cadre, level or office.

The circular titled “Annual Leave, A Must For All Public Servants,” stated that except there is a written approval from his office for deferred leave, it is mandatory for all the government workers to go on annual leave within the leave year.”

https://www.akelicious.net/abia-state-government-compels-annual-leave-for-workers/

Afropop star, David Adeleke ‘Davido’ stunned crowd at the ‘Tycoon Party’ in New Jersey where he shared the stage with American superstar, 50 Cent.

Curtis James Jackson III, known professionally as 50 Cent, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, television producer, entrepreneur and investor.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that Davido performed at the 50 Cent party alongside music heavyweights, Trey Songz, Fabulous, Snoop, Camila and Jacques.

The singer sang a medley of his popular songs and controlled the stage with 50 Cent by his side, as the crowd sang along.

Davido, who is currently on an international tour, had earlier announced the festival on August 10 via his Instagram page @davidoofficial.

NAN reports that in 2015, Davido had shared a stage briefly with 50 Cent at a Las Vegas party while the latter was performing at a party.

In July, Davido became the most viewed Nigerian artist on the streaming platform, YouTube.

The ‘Aye’ singer amassed over 500 million views across all his uploads on the platform to achieve this feat.

In January, Davido’s hit song, ‘Fall’ beat out Yemi Alade’s ‘Johnny’ to become the most viewed Nigerian music video on YouTube.

He then became the first Nigerian artist to reach over 100 million views on YouTube racing ahead of Yemi Alade and Tekno.

In 2017, Davido had an unprecedented career resurgence with his row of hits including ‘If’, ‘Fall’, ‘Fia’ and ‘Like Dat’.

Davido was the first Nigerian artist to reach one million, two million, five million and nine million followers on Instagram and now one of the most bankable Nigerian on the platform.

NAN reports that he recently sold out London’s O2 Arena and recorded the longest-charting Nigerian single in Billboard history.

His recent collaboration with Chris Brown, ‘Blow My Mind’ has amassed 10 million views in less than two weeks.

https://www.akelicious.net/davido-pulls-stunning-performance-with-50-cent/

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), yesterday, disclosed that the $9 billion British Court Judgment in a Gas Sales Purchase Agreement (GSPA) deal involving Nigeria and Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) would have impact on monetary policy

This was even as the apex Bank assured that it will move strongly to defend the country’s reserves as the judgment would have some impact on monetary policy.

the development would not put pressure of the nation’s reserves.

“It is important for me to use this opportunity to assure our friends, local and foreign investors who called to expressed solidarity with us, not to express concern but to say that there is no need for anybody to worry. We know that the implication of that judgment has some impact on monetary policy and that is why the CBN is going to step forward and very strongly too to ensure that we defend the country and defend the reserves of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, stated this on Monday, while fielding questions from journalists before the commencement of the presidential retreat for ministers-designate at the State House Conference Centre.

https://www.akelicious.net/gspa-deal-9bn-judgmentll-have-impact-on-monetary-policy-cbn/

The All Progressives Congress (APC) said the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and other ‘cheerleaders’ of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB), owe Nigeria an apology, after the show of shame by members of the group in Nuremberg Germany on Saturday.

Some of the members of IPOB attacked former deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who was in town to celebrate the New Yam Festival.

The ruling party excoriated the PDP and others for raising their voices now, when in the past they had supported the actions of the group, in the name of politics.

The APC condemned the attack and said those involved in the despicable actions and the organisation they represent are unworthy in character, according to a statement by publicity secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu.

“No Nigerian should be assaulted in the manner Senator Ekweremadu was. It is an indecent action and it is below the acceptable standard of behaviour expected of our citizens whether in Nigeria or abroad”, the party said.

“It is however regrettable that some of the people and organisations who had offered these irresponsible elements open support in the past are raising their voices now”, Issa-Onilu said.

“It would be recalled that the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its leaders chose to play politics over a matter that called for collective patriotic actions when IPOB raised a terror group in the South East.

“It is clear that PDP and its other shortsighted co-travellers who were the main cheerleaders of IPOB owe this country an apology. IPOB hid under regional identity to perpetrate criminality having recruited some misguided elements and miscreants.

“Are we surprised by the PDP’s hypocritical reaction to the unfortunate attack on Senator Ekweremadu? No! The PDP and their leaders have acted true to type. This is what happens when politicians become myopic and allow narrow sentiments becloud their sense of judgement.

“We all have a responsibility to collectively rise against evil wherever we find it and in whatever guise it appears. We hope lessons have been learnt from this unfortunate incident”.

https://www.akelicious.net/ekweremadu-attack-pdp-others-owe-nigeria-apology-for-backing-ipob-apc/

The Kaduna State University (KASU) has said that its Faculty of Pharmacy will induct its first batch of Pharmacy graduates next Friday after its full accreditation by the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN).

Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Prof. Ben Ahmed Chindo, who in a statement described the development as uncommon for a seven-year old Pharmacy Faculty in Nigeria, said: “I am glad to announce that my faculty has attended full accreditation after the NUC carried out a diligent assessment of our course contents, quality of learning facilities, lecturers and related parameters.

“We scored 100 per cent in the course content and very high marks in other areas.”

https://www.akelicious.net/kaduna-varsity-produces-first-batch-of-pharmacists-after-accreditation/

Shehu Sani, immediate past Kaduna Central Senator, has condemned the attack on the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, in Nuremberg Germany.

Senator Ekweremadu, who was attending the 2nd Annual Igbo Cultural Festival as a speaker and special guest of honour in an event organised by the Ndi-Igbo Germany community, was beaten up and publicly humiliated by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

Reacting, Sani condemned the attack.

The former lawmaker noted that the agenda of those that attacked Ekweremadu cannot be achieved through violence or assault.

Sani on his Twitter page wrote: “The attack on Senator Ekweremadu in Germany stands unreservedly condemned.

“Whatever is the political or philosophical agenda of the people that attacked him, the strategy of physical assault or violence cannot lead them to success.”

Meanwhile, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB had owned up on the attack on the former Deputy Senate President.

IPOB said the attack serves as a warning to Nnia Nwodo, Dave Umahi, Okezie Ikpeazu, Willie Obiano and others to stay away from any public event abroad unless they want to be humiliated.

https://www.akelicious.net/shehu-sani-reacts-as-ipob-members-attack-ekweremadu-in-germany/

Barely five months to the 2020 deadline announced by the Federal Government to end gas flaring in the Niger Delta, government has said the projection may remain elusive.

Programme Manager, Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP), Justice Derefaka, who spoke in Abuja at the unveiling of a documentary, produced by Africa Initiative for Transparency, Accountability and Responsible Leadership on the impact of the country’s corruption and growing conflict on investment on the nation’s economy, said not all gas flare sites would go next year.

While the former Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Dr. Maikanti Baru, had announced that the nation would achieve zero gas faring next year, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, insisted Federal Government’s target to ensure Nigeria exits the practice of flaring gas next year remained.


As the projected time draws near, Derefaka admitted that the government was experiencing slips, requesting a change of timeline, as directed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

“We have gone back to the drawing board to come up with a robust timeline, where we will actualise some of it. Federal Government has said it would end gas flaring by 2020, but the United Nations’ deadline is 2030. Not all the flare sites will go by 2020. Some will go next year and the rest after.

“The reason is that we are not looking to construct long pipelines. But we are looking at scalable technology that can be used to harness flare…” he said.

Derefaka disclosed that the government’s gas commercialisation plan would sustainably create value around gas flaring to save lives, the environment and enable the government to generate revenue.

He said the government is looking at investment hovering around $3.5bn, as well as 300, 000 direct and indirect jobs through the gas commercialisation plan.

Meanwhile, other stakeholders that gathered at the event expressed worry over the grave impact of the country’s corruption and growing conflict on investment. They said the challenges in the nation’s economic indexes and dangers facing the oil-producing region may persist unless urgent measures were taken.

https://www.akelicious.net/zero-gas-flaring-by-2020-no-longer-possible-says-fg/

The Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, says she weeps over women plights and marginalisation not only in Nigeria but in the entire Africa.

Sanwo-Olu expressed the concern on Saturday at a one-day seminar and inauguration of the Lagos State Chapter of SHE COOPS Nigeria, an international NGO for women empowerment and participation in cooperatives.

The News Agency Agency of Nigeria reports that the NGO was initiated in the state by Dr Appolonia Eke, the Executive Director, Amazing Care Foundation, who is also the state coordinator of SHE COOPS.

Sanwo-Olu was represented at the event by Mrs Roseline Idimogu, the wife of a Lagos State lawmaker, Mr Jude Idimogu, representing Oshodi-Isolo II.

She said that women must be empowered for the society to move forward.

” I have seen the plights of women especially the underprivileged ones; if you go to the remote areas, you will see what women are going through.

“When we go to some parts of Africa, where women are going through serious marganisation, I weep.

“The specie, called woman, has passed through torture by humanity, and being a woman, I feel like I have to contribute to improve their lot.

“They are a unique set of people, who when armed with skills and abilities, can change the world. I will like to see every woman in Nigeria have a voice,” Sanwo-Olu said.

Sanwo-Olu called for education of the girl-child and other women, saying their education would reduce poverty in the country.

She described women as a pillar of the home and society, hence the need to give attention to their empowerment.

Mrs Grace Adeola, the Country Programme Manager of SHE COOPS, said that the motive of the inauguration was to build a better world for every woman.

Adeola urged women “to come together as a cooperative “.

She called for massive empowerment of women to bring real change to the world.

According to her, when women are developed, enlightened and trained, families, societies and the world at large will be better.

She said that the major challenge of women empowerment remained funding for skills acquisition.

She said that the NGO had sought for funds internationally from those whose goals and ambitions were to develop women.

In a goodwill message, the Lagos State Coordinator of SHE COOPS, Eze, said that the hidden treasures in most women had not been discovered because the society had yet to encourage them enough to exhibit what they had.

“I dream of a Nigeria where a woman will be a leader, I dream of a Nigeria where 45 per cent of women will occupy the parliament, I dream of a Nigeria where we would have 35 per cent of professionals being women.

“From my dealings with women of low, middle and high classes, I got to know that women are unique species and agent of change.

“If they are empowered, the whole nation is empowered. There are many hindering factors debarring women access to empowerments; that gap is SHE COOPs is out to bridge,” she said.



Eke commended the Lagos Government’s investment in women empowerment programmes over the years.

The Kano State SHE COOPS Coordinator, Mrs Grace Jokayemi, urged women not to be liability but asset to the society in order to make impact, saying that the NGO was out to provide them with basic empowerments.

NAN reports that women numbering about 2,000 were divided into 85 groups to showcase skills in the production of several items which included spices, liquid soap, purses, plantain chips and bags.

Others are yam flour, plantain floor, beads, cream, bean flour, bread, custard, snacks, bleach, coconut milk, detergents, activated coconut charcoal, antiseptic, pop-corn, coconut oil, fruit juice, perfume and organic beauty soap.

https://www.akelicious.net/i-weep-over-women-marginalisation-dr-ibijoke-sanwo-olu/

The Nigeria Army University, Biu, has called on the Borno government to rehabilitate the road linking Abogo Largema Barracks, Biu, to the main road to ease the movement of motorists in the area.

Prof. David Malgwi, Vice-Chancellor of the University, made the appeal on Saturday during the inauguration of a two kilometre road connecting the student’s Hostel to the second gate of the Barracks.

He said the road would ease the movement of students, staff and to improve the socioeconomic development of the community.

“I seize this opportunity to request for the urgent intervention of the Executive Governor of Borno State through the Chairman Biu Local Government as well as his counterparts of Kwaya kusar, Bayo and Hawul LGAs to graciously assist the university in the rehabilitation of the road linking this gate through Birma Jikwal and Galdimare to the main road,” he said.

He observed that the road would not only assist the staff and students but bring development to the Barrack and the communities.

Col. Rames Gwon (retired), Director physical planning, said the inaugurated road have undergone a lot of engineering works, which included an excavation of up to six meters deep before putting another sand and the inter-locks.

He said the project, which had concrete culverts was purely sponsored by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai through direct labour.

He assured the people that the road would last for up to 50 years before any maintenance work would take place.

In his remarks, Ali Dikwa, LG Chairman of Biu assured of government’s readiness to rehabilitate the road as requested.

He said the council will soon do something to make the road passable for vehicles.

https://www.akelicious.net/army-university-tasks-borno-govt-on-road-rehabilitation/

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Lagos State has appointed Mr Olufemi Olaniyi, popularly known as Ferrari, as its acting Chairman.

The party’s state Publicity Secretary, Lekan Adebiyi, said in a statement issued on Friday in Lagos that the appointment was sequel to the suspension of the chairman, Chief Tunde Onakoya, for alleged anti-party activities.

He said that Olaniyi’s appointment was ratified at an appraisal meeting held by the new executive members, party leaders and elders from the South-West, local government chairmen and other party faithful.

Adebiyi said that the party also appointed him as the new publicity secretary at the meeting held at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

He said that the acting chairman, in his remarks, charged all party leaders to contribute their quota towards rebuilding the party in the state.

He quoted Olaniyi as pledging to ensure reconciliation between leaders and aggrieved members and that members should stop the blame game and accept the challenge of rebranding the party.

“The party will improve on the existing structures and generate new ideas to improve efficiency and effectiveness. We shall work in synergy with our national leaders to ensure that the party attain greater heights,” he further quoted him as saying.

https://www.akelicious.net/lagos-sdp-gets-acting-chairman-publicity-secretary/

Transactions on the floor of Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) declined profile on Friday with crucial market indicators dropping by 0.47 per cent.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the All-Share Index lost 127.64 points or 0.47 per cent to close at 26,925.29 from 27,052.93 recorded on Thursday.

Also, the market capitalisation shed N62 billion or 0.47 per cent to close at N13.121 trillion compared with N13.183 trillion on Thursday.

Nestle topped the losers’ table, dropping by N127 to close at N1,143 per share.

Okomu Oil trailed with a loss of N3 to close at N49, while NASCON dropped by N1.40 to close at N12.60 per share.

Stanbic IBTC was down by N1.30 to close at N33, while Unilever dropped by 90k to close at N27.90 per share.

On the other hand, Dangote Cement led the gainers’ table, increasing by N2 to close at N164 per share.

Flour Mills followed with a gain of N1 to close at N13.80, while BOC Gases appreciated by 55k to close at N8.12 per share.

Custodian and Allied grew by 40k to close at N6, while Zenith Bank rose by 35k to close at N16.60 per share.

A breakdown of the activity chart showed that Guaranty Trust Bank was the most active stock, having accounted for 67.86 million shares worth N1.76 billion.

Transcorp followed with an exchange of 25.66 million shares valued at N23.06 million, while Sterling Bank traded 25.02 million shares valued at N55.48 million.

Fidelity Bank sold 23.68 million shares worth N33.60 million, while Zenith Bank traded a total of 19.35 million shares valued at N321.18 million.

In all, investors traded 258.29 milliin shares valued at N3.531 billion transacted in 4,662 deals.

This was in contrast with a turnover of 233.19 million shares worth N3.64 billion in 4,331 deals. (NAN)

https://www.akelicious.net/nse-market-indicators-dip-further-by-0-47/

The Nigerian equity market is offering long-term investors opportunities to invest as most of the stock prices have declined significantly below their opening values, Akelicious’s investigation has revealed.

Akelicious checks showed that the bear run in the stock market, which has depressed the benchmark Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) by 13.1 per cent so far, has cut the prices of many stocks by over 25 per cent.



The price reduction, according to analysts, is an entry opportunity for investors considering the fact that the price declines are not necessary as a result of weak fundamentals of the stocks.

The stock market has been fluctuating since the beginning of the year following negative reactions by investors to political risks that characterised the general election in the first quarter of the year.

There were expectations that the market would rebound after the successful elections.

However, the delay in the composition of the federal cabinet that will show economic direction of the Buhari administration and those to drive it, has kept the market under the pressure of bears.

Foreign investors are reluctant to take advantage of the low valuations as they appear to be more interested in seeing the economic policy direction of President Muhammadu Buhari in his second term, while domestic investors are also waiting for foreign investors to move first, as usual, before increasing their stakes in the market.

Consequently, all the sectoral indices are in negative, safe for the Premium Index that gained 3.3 per cent year-to-date.
Similarly, most stocks have dipped to their two-year low, thereby offering investors an opportunity to buy the stocks at very attractive prices.

For instance, Okomu Oil Palm Plc is selling 32 per cent below its year’s opening price, while Presco Plc is trading 30.9 per cent lower than its opening price.

Transcorp Plc is selling 44 per cent lower than the price it was at the beginning of the year, while UAC of Nigeria Plc offers 44 per cent discount below its opening price.

Guinness Nigeria Plc is 42 price lower, just as International Breweries Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc and Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc are 60 per cent, 42 per cent and 35 per cent lower respectively.

PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc is 50 per cent lower than its opening price, while Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, Fidelity Bank Plc, Jaiz Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, Unity Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc are 48.2 per cent; 26.1 per cent; 23.1 per cent; 27.9 per cent; 40 per cent; and 29.1 per cent in that order.

Investors buying the shares of FBN Holdings Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc and United Capital Plc will do so at a rate that is 37.7 per cent, 20.5 per cent and 32.6 per cent cheaper respectively.

Other stocks depressed by the bears are: Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc(21 per cent); Goldlink Insurance Plc (62.2 per cent); Law Union & Rock Insurance Plc (35 per cent); Linkage Assurance Plc (27.7 per cent); NEM Insurance Plc(25.5 per cent); Glaxosmithkline Consumer Nigeria Plc (42 per cent); Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc(27.8 per cent); Conoil Plc (24.1 per cent); Eterna Plc (44.6 per cent); Forte Oil Plc (40.7 per cent); Total Nigeria Plc (43.4 per cent).

Commenting on the low prices, a stockbroker and Chief Executive Officer of Sofunix Investment and Communications, Mr. Sola Oni, said many shares were trading below their intrinsic values, describing it as a buy signal for any investor that wants to take position and beef up portfolio.

He said: “This is a buyers’ market where investors should contact their stockbrokers for informed investment advice. Market has never been static, hence, bull run is at the back of the door. As ministers commence operations, there will be activities in all facets of the economy and this is expected to impact positively on the capital market. Informed investors are quietly taking advantage of the current bearish run to increase their holdings. No time to buy stocks is better than this moment. Investors buy into future of companies. The current results of many of our quoted companies are heart- warming but they are historical. Expectation of every buyer is that the company will performance better and churn out higher returns,” he stated.

On their part, analysts at United Capital Plc said in second half of the year, policy uncertainties would remain one of the biggest concerns for investors.

“This position is buttressed by several factors. For instance, President Buhari is unlikely to form his cabinet until the end of Q3, 2019, if the experience from 2015 is anything to go by. This is likely to slow investment planning as important decision in the strategic sectors of the economy as well as policy formulation across the sectors, have to wait for the ministers to settle in,” the analysts said.

https://www.akelicious.net/stock-prices-free-fall-widens-investment-opportunities/

Alhaji Mohammed Audu, son of the late former Gov. Abubakar Audu of Kogi, says he is on a rescue mission to bring development to the state.

Audu said this on Thursday at a news conference shortly after picking expression of interest and nomination forms at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretariat in Abuja.

“Today is a day of dissatisfaction with the current system of governance in Kogi.

“We have approached the party to offer ourselves for service in order for the state to get a new list of life.

“We have seen from the media, particularly negative things that have been said about our state in the recent past,” he said.

He said that the dividend of democracy that the APC promised the residents of Kogi during campaign tour between 2014 and 2015 had no been delivered.

“As at today, our unemployment rate is one of the highest in the country and in Kogi, security is a problem because the rate of kidnapping and armed robbery has increased.

According to him, there is no doubt when such a situation arises, the best option for everyone to consider is the option of change.

“That is why we have come here today to tell you that we are offering ourselves for service to change the current administration in Kogi,” he said.

Similarly, Dr Frankland Briyai, a governorship aspirant on the platform of APC in Bayelsa picked expression of interest and nomination forms preparatory to Nov. 16. governorship election in the state.

Briyai, a former lecturer and Resident Electoral Commissioner in Cross River, said that he would use his experiences to reactivate or restructure infrastructure in the state.

https://www.akelicious.net/im-on-a-rescue-mission-in-kogi-says-audu/

Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, has broken the silence on the subject of swearing allegiance in joining IPOB.

In his broadcast on August 10, 2019, on Radio Biafra, the IPOB leader said that swearing allegiance is ensuring that one does not sabotage the struggle for Biafra.

According to Nnamdi Kanu, those who are afraid of swearing allegiance to IPOB in the struggle for Biafra are those who have the mission of sabotaging the struggle for Biafra.

He said: “Regarding taking of oath, YOU MUST TAKE IT. If you can take oath to serve the zoo called Nigeria, why won’t you take oath to be in Biafra. Because without sabotage, we are the largest mass movement in the whole world because we are disciplined. Because we are under oath, solemn oath not to betray Biafra. Then what are you afraid of?

“When you are in America, you swear allegiance to America. I am sure before you get German citizenship you swear allegiance to Germany, don’t you? So why won’t you swear allegiance to Biafra? That is what it is.

“You Must because first and foremost if you practice Judaism, Christianity, Ome Na Ala, Odi Na Ala, anything you call it, first and foremost you are a Biafran and your allegiance lie to Biafra not to any religion. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN BUILD THAT VERY LAND OF OURS.”

Speaking about religion, the IPOB leader said: “ If you want to worship doll baby, please go ahead and do so. Onye na chi ya. As for me and my household, we will worship Chiukwu Okike Abiama, Elohim. Whatever you like you can worship; that is your business.

“Religion is a personal business between you and your God.”

https://www.akelicious.net/you-must-swear-allegiance-before-joining-ipob-nnamdi-kanu/

The President of the Republic of Guinea, Prof. Alpha Conde, has solicited closer and stronger economic ties between Kano and Guinea.

Conde made the call in Kano during a special business session with Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje and the Kano business community at the Government House, Kano, on Wednesday.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Abba Anwar.

The president assured the business community that they would always be ready to welcome Kano businessmen for investment opportunities in his country.

“Being brothers coming from Africa, you would surely have no problem at all in harnessing the abundant investment opportunities in our dear country,” the statement said.

According to the statement, Conde who said that his country has effective ease of doing business environment, assured that since his assumption as President of the Republic in 2010, he has been doing his best to see that all odds against transparent, smoother and healthier economy were eliminated.

Earlier, Ganduje assured the Guinean president that Kano State Government was ready and determined to work closely with the Republic of Guinea to leverage each other’s strength to mutual benefits.

The statement quoted Ganduje as saying that the door of his government are always opened to the great country of Guinea.

“We welcome your new innovations and suggestions on how we can partner with Guinea in all facets of development especially investment opportunities in both countries.

“I am indeed particularly delighted by Your Excellency’s passion and expressed commitment to hold discussions between your delegation and members of our business community in Kano on various investment opportunities in the Republic of Guinea among other related issues.

“The strength and relevance of Kano business community in economic development, both within and outside Nigeria, today constitutes an important and unique force in Nigeria and the World in general.

“In the past couple of decades, it has grown into an energetic and confident community that has accorded Nigeria a good stand-in many parts of the World.

“It is our pride to state that today, the richest black man in the World is a native of Kano in the person of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON,” the statement read in part.

The Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II, while appreciating the move for such economic ties between Kano and Guinea, encouraged the economic integration.

The first class traditional ruler noted that such collaboration could help in preventing Africans from migrating to other parts of the world, particularly Europe and other developed states in search of greener pasture.

“We must, as people try and see that this and similar initiatives see the light of the day. Emphasis should be more on Africa to Africa investment, than Africa to other places. Through this, we can make a significant impact on fighting poverty,” the statement quoted Sanusi saying.

Those who attended the forum were representative of Dangote Group of Companies, Mr Mansur Ahmed; Alhaji Tajuddeen Dantata represented Dantata Group of Companies, and Alhaji Nafi’u Isyaka Rabi’u represented BUA Group of Companies.

Also in attendance were the Chairman Azman Air, Alhaji Abdulmanafi Sarina; the Executive Chairman of Ultimate Gas, Alhaji Auwalu Ilu; Executive Vice Chairman of Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Dambatta; and the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Ahmed Idris.

Ministers designate from Kano state, retired Gen. Bashir Salihi Magashi and Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono, among other dignitaries, witnessed the event.

https://www.akelicious.net/guinea-seeks-stronger-economic-ties-with-kano-govt/

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in collaboration with Health Policy Plus, an (NGO), on Wednesday sensitised residents of Bwari Area Council on how to enrol for free medical care.

Mr Peter Osagie, Leader, Health Policy Plus, told the Nigeria News Agency on the sideline of a town hall meeting of health stakeholders in Abuja that the enrolment of the healthcare had commenced.

According to him, Health Policy Plus is supporting the FCTA in key healthcare, one of which is the roll out of basic healthcare funds.

He said that the meeting was organised to enlighten the public on what has been provided, how to get involved and participate in accessing the free service.

The service, Osagie explained, was for all Nigerians but targets mostly the vulnerable, pregnant women, children under the ages of five and old people who are 85 years old and above.

Osagie said that the services would be provided in one selected Primary Health Centre each, of the 62 Wards of the six area councils in the FCT.

He said: “The pregnant women will enjoy free ante-natal service, delivery service including Caesarean Section (CS) where necessary and postnatal services.

“Also, children under-5 years old will be treated of dysentery, diarrhoea, pneumonia, malaria and other non-communicable diseases.

“This will reduce mother and child mortality rate in the country. Also, adults can access free screening for hypertension, diabetes and treatment of malaria, irrespective of age.

“We may not have all the diseases covered but the major ones will be addressed for now and with more funds, more diseases such as cancer may be included in the service,” he said.

Osagie said that enrolment for the service was the only way one could benefit, while urging all to locate the designated facility in their wards to ensure they were enrolled.

He added that beneficiaries would need a passport photograph and a valid identification card like the voter’s card to enrol.

Another card, he said, with a unique identification number would be provided for the benefactor to access the free service at all times.

Osagie encouraged community and religious leaders, market associations and youths in the area to transmit the information to all and sundry so that all could benefit from the government provisions.

“All hands must be on deck as everybody must play their roles effectively, so that we can have an effective health system.

“If the people know their rights and how they can exercise it, they will be able to hold the health providers responsible over the Federal Government’s provisions.

“They can also give feedback on their challenges so that at the end, we have a working health system.”

Earlier, Mr Sunday Goji, Head of Department of Health in the council, said that the service was provided to address the health challenges in the council as it affects the less privileged.

He said that it would help those who could not access medical needs due to financial and economic challenges.

He urged the participants to ensure that they take the information to the grassroots so that all could participate and enjoy the intervention.

NAN reports that the programme was organised by the FCTA Health and Human Services Secretariat in collaboration with Health Policy Plus.

NAN also reports that various stakeholders from all fields were represented at the meeting.

https://www.akelicious.net/fcta-sensitises-bwari-residents-on-fg-free-healthcare-enrolment/

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is set to host the Conference of African Telecommunications Regulators on Consumer Affairs (CATCO) in Abuja from Aug. 20 to Aug. 22.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by Mr Henry Nkemadu, the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs.

Danbatta said the 3-day conference with the theme: “Empowering the Telecom Consumer in an Era of Technological Evolution’’ is geared towards pursuing a continuous collaboration between African telecommunications regulatory Agency of individual country and their regional body.

He said the conference would look at how regulatory activities of the 54-member nations of African Union (AU) could be integrated for seamless connectivity to boost customers’ satisfaction.

Danbatta said bodies such as West Africa Telecommunication Regulatory Association (WATRA), East African Communications Organisation (EACO) among others would participate in the conference..

According to the EVC, the conference will provide the platform for Africa to establish unity, solidarity, collective self-reliance in the ICT sector.

“It will build on the principle of pan-Africanism within the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) space; and sustaining a robust collaborative regulatory environment where current and future challenges are addressed,’’ he said.

Danbatta noted that participants are expected to provide varying and fresh perspectives to burning issues affecting telecoms consumers and service delivery in Africa.

He said that vital discussions would focus on the current state of telecom industry in the continent, ways to improve it and how to sustain a healthy telecom industry.

The EVC said that other areas that will be looked into are; challenges confronting African telecoms regulators, international best practices, emerging technologies and their applications for the benefits of consumers.

He said stakeholders from various African countries, Legislators and Government officials, Consumer Advocacy Groups, African Telecommunication Regulators and Regional bodies are all expected to be at the event.

“This year’s conference will advance on the gains of CATCO 2013 because it has been specially designed and tailored towards improving Africa telecommunications Industry in the 21st century.

The Nigeria News Agency recalls that NCC hosted the first edition in 2013, in Lagos with the theme, “Harnessing Regulatory Policies to Protect Telecom Consumers in Africa’’.

No fewer than 15 African countries participated in the 2013 CATCO conference.

https://www.akelicious.net/ncc-hosts-african-telecoms-regulators-in-abuja/

The Federal Government has promised to bring sanity into the social lives of citizens and stop the debasement of humanity and the pride of Nigerian women by making scapegoats of some persons.

The government was reacting to the controversial music video by a popular musician, Augustine Kelechi, aka Tekno, with scenes of four semi-nude women dancing in a moving van on the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge in Lagos.



The artiste, in the four-minute video, was seen throwing money suspected to be dollars at the young women.

The government expressed disappointment that despite ongoing investigations into the anomaly, Tekno went ahead to release the offensive video.

In the official music video for the song, ‘Agege,’ which was released on Thursday, Tekno was seen in the moving van performing to the camera with the half-clad women dancing seductively.

A statement on Sunday by the Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Segun Runsewe, said Tekno would be made a scapegoat “to teach others a serious lesson.”

According to him, the NCAC is committed to exposing proponents of such kind of offensive sights and videos in Nigeria, while security agencies will be briefed to place Tekno on their watch list, “because his conduct is a threat to national security.”

Runsewe said he got hundreds of telephone calls and SMS from Nigerians, both at home and in the Diaspora, who queried why such immorality would be allowed in the country.

He stated, “We commend the police for arresting Tekno for the shameful misconduct. The same person, who was granted bail on health grounds has gone ahead to release the controversial video. We are now warning him to desist from this shameful conduct, which is not part of our culture.

“No single person is bigger than Nigeria; whether he likes it or not, we are going to use him as a scapegoat to send strong signals that this government does not tolerate nonsense and immorality, but discipline, which is our moral principle.



“Since the offensive Tekno scam video came to the limelight, I have received hundreds of telephone calls and SMS from Nigerians at home and others in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and other parts of the world querying why such anomalies would be tolerated in Nigeria.

“Now that he has released the shameful video when investigation is still ongoing, we are going to inform security agencies to place him on their watch list, because his action is a threat to national security and a bad influence on Nigerian youths.

“We are committed to exposing proponents of this kind of offensive sights and videos. We warn that nudity is not part of our culture and should not be tolerated. The Federal Government will henceforth fish out clubs for nude dancers across the country for their promoters to face prosecution.”

Akelicious had reported that Section 134 (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, stipulated that an indecent act in a public place would make both parties engaging in the act liable to imprisonment for two years.

Section 136 also states that any person, who commits any act of gross indecency with another person in public, commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to three years imprisonment.

https://www.akelicious.net/we-will-make-tekno-a-scapegoat-says-fg/