Kokun Foundation Founder, Adepeju Olukokun, Sentenced to Kirikiri Maximum Prison

Adepeju Olukokun, the prominent philanthropist and founder of the Kokun Foundation, has found himself in a dire situation as he has been remanded to Kirikiri Maximum Prison for alleged tax evasion. Justice Oshodi of the Lagos High Court handed down the ruling, sending shockwaves through the humanitarian community.

However, it appears that Olukokun's charitable endeavors have been overshadowed by accusations of tax evasion. The court found him guilty of failing to pay taxes on income generated from his foundation's activities, leading to his incarceration in Kirikiri Prison.

Olukokun remains in Kirikiri Prison, awaiting further legal proceedings. Olukokun sits behind bars, his fate of the Kokun Foundation remains uncertain as its founder navigates this challenging chapter in his life.

The humanitarian community watches with bated breath, hoping for a resolution that will allow Olukokun to continue his important work in serving those less fortunate.

Olukokun, who is well-known for his charitable work through the Kokun Foundation, has been a beacon of hope for many underprivileged individuals in Nigeria. His foundation has provided food, shelter, and medical assistance to countless people in need, earning him praise and admiration from the public.



https://www.airwavesreport.com/society/kokun-foundation-founder-adepeju-olukokun-sentenced-to-kirikiri-maximum-prison

LOVE IS IN THE AIR: WHAT’S YOUR LOVE LANGUAGE?

We are in the month of love people! (sorry single pringles). Cupid has already started moving about with his bow and arrow looking for hearts to shoot down. Everywhere you turn in the month of February screams L.O.V.E. It’s in your face, ears, mouth... You can feel it, touch it, even smell it. Ah, love! The sweet aroma of roses, the sound of heartbeats syncing, the heart-shaped gifts, the warmth of shared laughter—I could go on and on. Help! I think I’ve been hit by Cupid!
Love is the most beautiful feeling in the world. To love and be loved in return is wonderful but have you ever wondered what sails your love boat? What gives you affirmation that someone loves you or is in love with you and vice versa? Let’s take a look at the 5 love languages to see which one does it for you.

Acts of Service
For those who speak the language of acts of service, actions speak louder than words. Vacuuming the house, washing the dishes, or surprising your partner with breakfast in bed are all gestures that scream, "I love you!" If you find joy in rolling up your sleeves to help your loved ones, acts of service might just be your love language.
Words of Affirmation
Is your heart aflutter when you hear sweet nothings whispered in your ear? If so, then I think you just found your love language. Whether it's a heartfelt compliment or an "I love you" text, words carry weight in this language. And remember, even a well-timed "You're amazing!" can be the arrow that pierces through the heart.
Quality Time
I remember when I was in the university and my idea of a date was taking long walks around the school. Some of my friends thought I was weird but that, for me, was how a date was supposed to be. People who love quality time thrive on undivided attention. It's not just about being physically present but truly engaging in the moment. So, put down that smartphone, turn off the TV, take a break from Al Gore’s internet and let the bonding begin. Whether it's a cosy night in or a spontaneous road trip, quality time lovers revel in the cherished minutes spent together.
Physical Touch
Clingy much? If you're a fan of holding hands, cuddling, or stealing a kiss in the moonlight or cinema, your love language might be physical touch. Physical intimacy is the heartstring that connects you to your loved ones. From a warm embrace to a gentle pat on the back, the power of touch transcends words.
Receiving Gifts
Do you like your love wrapped in a bow? If you find joy in giving and receiving thoughtful presents, then receiving gifts is your love language. For some, it's the thought that counts, but for others, it's the actual gift that steals the show. It's not about the price tag but the sentiment behind the gesture. So, who said diamonds were a girl's best friend? Errm... they are mine but if your pocket is screaming, ABORT MISSION! Not to worry, the UBA prepaid card is a perfect gift that I’d equally cherish.

Since Cupid’s got you in a chokehold and you’ve found out what gives your heart the tingles, what if I told you UBA cards could help you speak your love language even better? Whatever activity you want to do this Valentine’s—eat some good food and desserts, go to the cinemas, enjoy a pleasant date night or get a well thought out gift, do it with your debit card to enjoy special offers for a more memorable time. It gets even better. If it’s a prepaid card, you get N50k or its equivalent in your local currency preloaded on it. Now tell me if this isn’t one sweet Valentine’s.

Everyone deserves love. So, spread it this Valentine’s season with a UBA card. Share your beautiful moments with UBA by tagging them on your socials and using #LoveForAll.

[url] https://www.airwavesreport.com/society/love-is-in-the-air-what-s-your-love-language[/url]

The swearing in of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the 16th president of Nigeria on May 29th, 2023, brought a ray of hope that things would change for the better very soon. Nigerians were waiting with bated breathe to see whether or not the new administration would be a marked departure from what they had become used to – dashed hopes.

Happily, there are great signs that there is light at the end of the tunnel after all. In fact, the way it is going, we may not wait to get to the end of the tunnel to see the light, as there have already been flickers since the inception of the Tinubu administration, a very clear indication that things are turning around for good.

Putting it succinctly, going by the appointments so far announced by the Presidency, it is quite clear that Nigeria is on the march again. Square pegs are readily being fitted into the square holes, and round pegs are equally settling into the round holes.

A pattern is beginning to emerge in Mr. President’s choice of men to work with. He seems to be going for the best in their class. And this started with the list of the highly cerebral and internationally exposed special advisers, which include the likes of Mr. Wale Edun, Mr. Yau Darazo, Mr. Dele Alake and Nuhu Ribadu who has since resumed as National Security Adviser.

We saw yesterday what appears to be a monumental win for Nigeria if indeed Dr. Ali Pate is joining this government. Dr. Ali Pate is a world-renowned medical doctor and public health expert who has garnered awards and accolades from almost every health organization in the world, top of the pack being Harvard health leader, awarded him in 2012.

Dr. Pate had earlier served Nigeria in the capacity of minister state for Health. He was also the global director for Health, Nutrition and Population and Director of the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents (GFF) at the World Bank Group.

These are great signs of things to come and we are here, ready and eagerly anxious to celebrate our nation’s rebirth. Well done Mr. President.

- Prince Adelabu is an Abuja-based businessman.

Rejoinder to Reuben Abati’s ‘Stranded in Sudan’ Article By Musa Ilallah

Reading Reuben Abati’s May 2 article (originally published in his ThisDay column, and widely syndicated) about Nigerians in Sudan, drove home again for me the fact that many Nigerian journalists need a masterclass in how not to denigrate their country falsely and needlessly; how not to downplay its positive attributes and commendable actions.

So much of that article feels like a desperate attempt to denigrate Nigeria by unfairly and inaccurately comparing her with other countries, who all happen to be stuck in the same situation as Nigeria, and have been struggling in the same way to figure out what to do about evacuations in a war situation filled with so much uncertainty and tension.

A senior journalist of his calibre, especially someone with high-level government experience, needs to do much better in terms of research and realism. It is not enough to be led by emotions, especially when those emotions are coloured by partisanship.

Abati has very uncomplimentary words for his country, words that are not rooted in fact, or in any reasonable assessment of the situation. He claimed, and I quote: “While the Sudanese are fighting, Nigerians are staging a backward drama of their own… the Nigerian government always disappoints, and that is precisely what they are doing in Sudan.”

None of the thousands of Nigerians who were safely evacuated from Ukraine, or the already close to 1,500 who have been safely evacuated from Sudan, will share this grossly exaggerated sentiment from Abati, especially not now that they are safely back home.

The random incidents he is holding on to can be explained easily in the context of a war. Drivers stopping in the middle of the desert and asking for more money is exactly the kind of opportunistic and exploitative behavior that happens in war zones and other times of crisis.

The fault here is human capacity to take advantage of the vulnerability of others, nothing else. We saw it during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, when basic masks and hand sanitizers were being unscrupulously sold at multiples of their normal price.

A bus catching fire in Sudan is also not out of place, considering its one of the hottest countries in the world, with temperatures regularly in the 40s (degrees centigrade). A simple online search would have revealed this, and prevented Abati from exposing his ignorance in this way.

Abati also went on and on complaining about the Nigerian Air Force Hercules C-130, claiming they were “stranded”. This was clearly a hatchet piece by a man who has decided that he will not and is not capable of seeing anything good about anything Nigeria is doing to bring her citizens back home.

He then goes ahead to downplay President Buhari’s direct personal intervention with the Egyptian Government, which finally helped resolve the obstacles being posed by the Egyptians.

He also said: “Nigeria is being snubbed by Egypt… Or are we so hated diplomatically in Africa that nobody would offer our people easy passage […] Every African country treats us shabbily, especially the North African countries.”

On this point, it is very necessary to remind Abati that the last time Nigeria was deeply disrespected as a nation was back when he (Abati) served in Government. That was the era when Chad complained about Nigeria being absent in the fight against Boko Haram, and Morocco embarrassed the Nigerian Government by proving that an official claim that President Jonathan spoke by phone with the Moroccan King was false.

That was also the era when the US could not be convinced to approve critical arms sales for the country, because nobody in the international community trusted that government Abati served.

Under President Buhari, all of that has since changed for the better: one of Nigeria’s biggest agricultural deals has been with Morocco, the US has approved for Nigeria the largest US arms deal ever done in sub-Saharan Africa, and Nigeria has been the major funder and enabler of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

As for the question Abati asked, “Do we have a functioning Naval vessel that can provide transportation from Port Sudan to Nigeria, or do we need to hire Navy transportation?”

The answer is a very proud YES. A year ago, Nigeria took delivery of the NNS KADA, a brand-new Landing Ship Tank (LST) that has the capacity to do the needed evacuation work in the Sudan. Abati should be reminded that it is under President Buhari that the Navy is acquiring these important new vessels that were last purchased in the 1970s and 1980s.

It should also be noted that NNS KADA has been on standby just in case it is required. But so far, this has not been necessary – the Air Force supported by local airlines are up to the task, and flying is in these circumstances more efficient than sailing.

For Nigeria to deploy a ship, it is a journey that will go around the northern or southern coast of Africa, covering thousands of nautical miles, and that will take over three weeks to complete. This is why the air option was settled on as the most ideal for Nigeria. In the time that the Navy’s NNS KADA will take to sail to Sudan, the Air Force C-130 would be able to do several trips.

When Abati praises Somalia for being able to “rescue its nationals from Sudan,” and goes on to attack Nigeria, Abati is exposing his shocking ignorance of basic African geography. By reason of geography, countries like Kenya and Somalia will definitely find it much easier and quicker to evacuate their people, ahead of Nigeria, which is in a different region entirely.

I wonder if Abati knows that the US, UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, China, and Saudi Arabia maintain permanent Military Bases in Djibouti, right there at the mouth of the Red Sea, and a much shorter sailing distance to Sudan than from West Africa. Which means their deployment time is much less than for countries that do not have bases in the region.

Abati said “my own country is busy telling Moonlight tales.” If anybody is telling moonlight tales here, it is this senior journalist who should know better, but is instead allowing partisan bias and a tendency to believe the worst of his country, to overpower and mislead him.

Just to remind Abati again, as of Monday May 8, 2023, there have been five daily batches of evacuations of Nigerians in Sudan, as follows: 129 on May 8, 834 on May 7, 131 on May 6, 130 on May 5, and 380 on May 3. Making a total of 1,604 so far, with the flights scheduled to continue into the week. Nigeria is doing right for its citizens, despite obstacles, and it should not be a crime to be honest in acknowledging this.

With all of these in mind, the least one expects from Abati, as a responsible and respected journalist, is a more honest and more responsibly-framed update to that hatchet job article.

Musa Ilallah writes from Abuja, Nigeria

Protest Against Epileptic Power Supply in Olanrewaju Nialowo Street by EKDP officials.


1) How long are we going to fold our arms when we are paying for electricity we don't use.

2) We are being charged as high-end users (areas where electricity supply is more than 12 hrs) but we barely have 5 hrs supply of electricity in 24 hrs.

This is an act of collecting money under pretence.

Let us come out and stage a peaceful protest to the house of EKDC official in Lekki where he is enjoying 24hrs supply of electricity and the rest of us are suffering in silence.

It's your right to stage a peaceful protest, come out and exercise your right.

Date: Sunday 31st January, 2021

Venue: Pavillion Building beside Farm City
Lekki Phase 1.
Time :2 pm

Theme: Enough is Enough.

Contact person: Aare Wole Arisekola
Chairman, Association of Online Media Practitioners of Nigera and Publisher of The Street Journa Magazine.

Victor Osuagwu, Ngozi Ezeonu, Francis Odega Vincent Opurum, others storm Favour Oma's movies launch

All roads lead to the pristine town of Amorka in Ihiala local government area in Anambra State, tomorrow, Saturday, January 9 as Nollwood actress, Favour Oma brings Nollywood closer in her two movies launch in her hometown.


In the grand launch of her
Tapam & Ochiuwa movies, she brings an array of Nollywood stars
to her beautiful country home. The actors include Victor Osuagwu, Ngozi Ezeonu, Francis Odega, Vincent Opurum, Pope Stanley, Chinwe Isaac, Fred Anele, Abigail Nebechi, Chris Okorondu, Odira Nwobu, Nkechi Nweje, Nikki Laz, Amarachi Igidimbah and Chris Okorondu.

According to the delectable actress, the event organised by Dontel Communication Nig Ltd will also attract distinguished people like the Anambra State Commissioners for Information and Culture.

Favour Oma is an actress and producer with an excellent touch on whatever she invests in. She has featured in numerous movies and produced her own.


The movies to be launched, TAPAM is about a young man, Collins who fell in love with a young village girl TAPAM (Añuli) but his mother preferred her twin Sister instead and refused him getting married to Añuli. But nature couldn't be changed. The movie is out on YouTube and other platfotms.

The other movie, OCHIUWA is about a village trouble maker who refused to learn, but was convinced over a scholarship that will come with so much money if she is educated.


https://www.airwavesreport.com/entertainment/5799-nollywood-actress-favour-oma-premieres-tapam-ochiuwa-in-amorka-anambra

Richest Civil Servant in Nigeria, Inuwa Waya veers into politics, says I Did Not Buy My Way to become a Governorship candidate

As several political aspirants in the northern part of the country begin to jostle for the Kano State governorship seat ahead of the 2023 gubernatorial elections, one of the prospective candidates, Barrister Abdulkadir Inuwa Waya, who has been in the civil service of the country at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for almost three decades recently showed interest in politics, as his campaign posters and other sundry campaign items have been flying around the streets of Kano. However, he has debunked claims that he plans to buy his way into the government house with money.

Barrister Abdulkadir Inuwa Waya is a Director NNPC trading and he was in charge of exporting and importing crude oil and Petrol to the country for good eight years.

During his tenure as MD of Duke Oil, a subsidiary of NNPC, the Duke Oil office was closed down in the UK and relocated to UAE.

Barr. Waya is not a poor civil servant, he worked closely with former GMD, Late Maikanti Baru and late Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari.

No wonder, when the UK detectives commenced an investigation of his activities as MD of Duke Oil, the UK office of Duke oil was hurriedly closed down just to protect him.

Money is not a problem with Barr. Waya, he has beautiful mansions all over the world.

His mansion in Dubai is a sight to behold and when you arrive Abuja, provided you are born with money, you will appreciate his heaven on earth edifice.

Inuwa Waya is married to three wives with the last wife being from Sudan.

He flies all over the country with private jets courtesy of marketers in his industry.

Barr. Waya, in an audio broadcast that has circulated on social media, said he is not forcing his way as a Kano gubernatorial aspirant with a huge chunk of money.

According to Barr. Waya, such negative rumours are being peddled by political adversaries who have started defaming his image in the eyes of the general public and other Kano electorates.

After making an impact as a legal expert before venturing into politics, Barr. Inuwa has said that his adversaries have taken to various social media platforms to says that he is meant to be a civil servant and not a politician, thus he urged his followers not to respond to naysayers but play by the rules of the game.

To Barr. Inuwa, these criticisms from political opponents have shown that he and his supporters are playing politics in the right way without maligning the image of anybody.

In conclusion, he advised his supporters to desist from engaging in verbal attacks with any of his opponents because he is playing politics without any form of bitterness; adding that he prays God Almighty grants President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje a successful leadership.

Thanks

Zipopo:


If you can send me your email address or phone number or anyone we can reach each other

Okay can you call me — I get something for you to write ...

Zipopo:


Okay...i can't read your mail sent

Send me direct message. Thanks and I love this.

Zipopo:
I salute the strenght of a WOMAN
● changes her name
● changes her home
● leaves her family
● moves in with you
● builds a home with you
● gets pregnant for you
● pregnancy changes her body
● she gets fat
● almost gives up in the labour room due to the
unbearable
pain of child birth
● even the kids she delivers bear your name
till the day she dies... everything she does...
cooking,
cleaning your house, taking care of your parents,
bringing
up your children, earning, advising you, ensuring
you can be
relaxed, maintaining all family relations,
everything that u
benefit from..... sometimes at the cost of her own
health,
hobbies and beauty.
So who is really doing whom a favour?
Dear men, appreciate the women in your lives
always,
because it is not easy to be a woman.
*Being a woman is priceless*
Happy women's week!
Pass this to every woman in your contact to
make her feel
proud of herself.
Rock the world ladies!
Salute to you ladies!
MY DEFINITION OF A WOMAN WOULD BE:-
W ➖ WONDERFUL MOTHER
O ➖ OUTSTANDING FRIEND
M ➖ MARVELLOUS DAUGHTER
A ➖ ADORABLE SISTER
N ➖ NICEST GIFT TO MEN FROM GOD.
Pass to every man to know the value of women
&
Pass to every woman to feel proud!

Rains Expose Lagos’ Crumbling Roads, Bridges as Sanwo Olu’s COVID Focus Neglects Infrastructure

It is no longer news that Nigeria is still trying to grapple with the effects of COVID 19 which hit the world early on in January and took a hefty toll sometime in February.

A good number of countries like Germany, New Zealand, South Africa have put plans in motion to overcome recession with stimulus packages ranging from Germany’s 160 billion euros to South Africa’s R500 billion and have also accelerated spending’s on infrastructure and the economy as a whole.

Nigeria on its part seems to be focused more on fighting COVID 19 while Infrastructure and Security have been relegated to the background by almost all state governments leaving the economy in dire straits.

Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital for example has recorded impressive results in the fight against COVID-19.

Its Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu of Lagos has however persistently ignored calls to fix dilapidated roads which have now become death traps as the rains fall in full force or likewise check the growing spate of insecurity across the state.

The port city of Apapa continues to experience crushing gridlock with billions of revenue lost monthly by importers and exporters using the port facilities at Apapa and Tin Can ports.

In the case of the roads which are fast becoming death traps to Lagosians with gullies and craters littered around Lagos, former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, stated in the past that the state recorded a whooping loss of N250 billion to traffic annually.

This is besides the pains businesses and families who often spend four or more hours for a 30 minutes’ journey are exposed to daily due to the excruciating traffic jam.

Despite this revelation by the former governor, he did little or nothing to salvage the challenge.

A resident of Lagos, Segun Akanbi, lamented, “the current Governor came in with a lot of promise, performed fairly but has now diverted focus to the fight against COVID 19 to the detriment of other aspects especially roads.”

There is almost no area in the state that is spared of bad roads, but the worst-hit places are: Mile 2, Abule Ado, Alakija, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway up to Ikeja Along, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Oworosoki- Oshodi Expressway, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Ikorodu Road, Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Funsho-Wiliams Avenue, by Costain area, which has been closed to traffic for construction work on the Costain bridge.

Others are: Kirikiri Road, Apapa, which has worsened traffic gridlock caused by truck operators who have taken over the road leaving little or no space for other road users. Satellite Town Road, Oriade LCDA, Otto-Wharf Bandary Road, Ajegunle, In Ajeromi- Ifekodun LGA. Chivita-Canoe Road, Oshodi-Isolo LGA, Isheri-Osun, LCDA, Ishawo, Road, Idimu Pipeline, Ikorodu, among others.

These days, it is a dreadful experience for commuters and motorists to navigate through Lagos-Badagry Expressway. Plying the international road has been hectic due to several failed portions on both sides of the highway, worsened by persistent rainfall which has forced motorists to spend valuable hours maneuvering the road.

In the case of the Ports, stakeholders and residents also continue to appeal to both state and the Federal Govt that a lasting solution be found to solve the gridlock and the infrastructure decay on the Apapa port and Tin Can Island access road to no avail.

President, Muhammadu’s Buhari, gave an ultimatum that made no impact as it is still business as usual with a lot of loss to Nigeria, stakeholders and residents.

Even the visit of Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo brought no respite.

A recent study indicates that at least three of every ten years spent in Lagos is lost to traffic. It means Lagosians spend an average of seven hours 20 minutes in traffic every day.

An economic analyst, Kolapo Oluwo averred that the long hours spent daily in traffic with its attendant economic as well as health, emotional and relational costs is colossal.

“For a potential megacity and the economic hub of the country it shows the incapacity and lack of visionary leadership, despite media campaigns and allusions to the contrary.”

He noted that: “Lagos is the commercial, economic, as well as financial capital of Nigeria accounting for over 50 percent of the industrial and commercial establishments, as well as 70 percent of manufacturing activities. In addition, it has the most active stock exchange in West Africa; its four ports collectively handle about 75 and 90 percent of the country’s imports and non-oil exports by weight respectively. Even more, its international airport handles about 80 percent of airborne exports and imports and 80 percent of passenger movements in and out of the country.”

Oluwo Further said, “the state’s population has continued to grow rapidly – put at between six to eight percent per annum – and is a dragnet for school leavers and other economic migrants from other parts of the country. It is projected that the population of the city will grow to 36 million by 2050.”

A public Analyst, Emeka Ohanyere buttressed this saying despite its huge population and importance, road is the city’s most common and available means of transport. Rail and water transportation are meanwhile relatively under-developed in Lagos.

“Years of military rule, underinvestment and poor maintenance of existing transport infrastructure has seen Lagos lag behind other major global cities in the utilisation of efficient public transportation system such as urban rail system and modern high capacity buses.”

As at 2006, it was estimated that the city’s transport infrastructure and services were at levels that supported a population of six million.

In 2006, the government developed a transport master plan to integrate road, water, rail, and cable-car transport to provide one of the most efficient systems of transportation in a megacity.

Shortly after, in 2008, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) was launched as a stop-gap measure while seven train lines were planned to link all parts of the states and even Ogun state with light rail.

However, due to paucity of funds, only the contract for the blue line (the 27-kilometre Badagry line running from Okokomaiko to Marina via Iddo) was awarded at the colossal cost of $1.2 billion (compared to similar projects in other parts of Africa awarded for just a fraction of that amount) to be completed in 2011.

It was projected others will be awarded subsequently and the entire master plan will be completed in 2020.

Analysts have however argued that as governments grapple with the health care challenges associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, the economic toll must also be considered.

Economist, Muyiwa Akintemi says this is a central question that should preoccupy the government as rescue packages amounting to trillions of dollars are announced around the world.

“One critical step government can take is to earmark part of the stimulus spending for infrastructure. During a crisis of near unprecedented scale, paying people’s wages, supporting the most vulnerable and keeping businesses afloat are important priorities in the immediate term. But these measures alone will not bring long-lasting results. By contrast, investment in new infrastructure, such as hospitals, schools, renewable energy and digital networks, will create jobs and deliver tangible assets that will fuel long-term economic growth.

“We have seen in the past; infrastructure spending is one of the key levers that government can pull to stimulate the economy. Spending on concrete and steel, when well directed, boosts both short-term demand and long-term productivity, especially in a time of economic crisis. According to a 2014 study by the IMF, an increase in capital spending of 1.0% of GDP leads to a 0.4% uplift in output that same year, and a 1.5% rise four years later.”

He noted that this economic dividend occurs because building new infrastructure lays the groundwork for future economic growth, whether that’s an improved transport network to move goods, a digital backbone to power a new economy or education facilities to train a skilled workforce for the future.

“Moreover, countries that spend on new capital stock tend to attract more private investment – as we have seen time and again, the availability of reliable underlying infrastructure boosts productive capacity and enables sustained economic activity,” Akintemi concluded.

Source : https://moneycentral.com.ng/exclusive/article/rains-expose-lagos-crumbling-roads-bridges-as-sanwo-olus-covid-focus-neglects-infrastructure/

Coronavirus Can’t Stop Zenith, First, Access Bank Directors from Pocketing N14.89bn Dividends

The directors of some of Nigeria’s largest banks including Zenith, First and Access Bank will take home a combined N14.64 billion in final dividends even as the economy reels from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.
While the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently advised banks not to pay out dividends due to the economic impact of the pandemic analysts told MoneyCentral that most firms have decided not to cut back on already declared dividends for the 2019 financial year.
The bank directors are investors and they will not want to short change themselves, analysts told MoneyCentral. A breakdown of the payment shows president and founder of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia, is set to receive dividends of N12.64 billion as gleaned from the lender’s 2019 audited financial statement.
The billionaire is the single major shareholder of Zenith Bank, Nigeria’s largest bank by Asset Base, owning directly and indirectly (Institutional investors Ltd, Lurot Burca Ltd, Jovis Nigeria Ltd, Veritas Registrars Ltd, Zenith General Insurance Ltd, Zenith Securities Ltd) about 5,059,336,405 shares out of the 31,396,493,787 ordinary shares available. This gives him a 16 percent stake in the bank.
Zenith Bank Plc had declared a final dividend of ₦2.50 per share for 2019.
Urum Kalu Eke Group MD of FBN Holdings (owners of First Bank of Nigeria) with direct holdings of 65. 1 million shares will receive dividends of N24.77 million. This comes after the bank declared final dividends of N0.38 share for 2019.
MoneyCentral had earlier reported how the Eke increased his stake in FBNH by purchasing 5 million new shares of the bank at an aggregate price of N5.67 per share for a total consideration of about N85 million.
Segun Agbaje, the Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc will get N104 million in dividends.
The captain of the largest lender by market value in Africa’s largest economy has direct holding of 32,146,651 shares and indirect holdings of 9,481,350 shares for a total of 41.6 million shares. GTB announced a final dividend of N2.5 per share.
Hebert Wigwe, CEO Access Bank had direct holdings of 201.2 million shares and 1.24 billion indirect shares through (United Alliance Company of Nig., Ltd, Trust and Capital Limited) for a total of 1.441 billion shares.
Wigwe will receive N576 million after Access Bank declared final dividend of N0.40 per share. Wigwe recently spent N46.2 million to purchase 6.8 million ordinary shares of Access Bank in the open market.
Ifeoma Esiri, a director in Stanbic IBTC Holdings; Ramesh Rajapur, director in Sterling, and Ladi Balogun, Group CEO of First City Monument Bank, will pocket a combined N1.55 billion in dividends.
For regular investors there were proxies who represented them during Annual General Meetings (AGM), amid the coronavirus Pandemic according to Boniface Okezie, Chairman-Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria-PSAN.
“What Federal Government should be doing is to give companies more tax incentives,” said Okezie.
Some of the Banks have announced donations for the coronavirus crises in the range of N1 billion, including Access, GTB and Zenith Bank, much less than some directors received in dividend payments.

Perm Sec Admits Buying Uncompleted Building for N7bn, Fingers Minister, others

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr Mohammed Bello, has admitted buying what the Federal Government described as an “uncompleted carcass” building for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for N7 billion.
Bello, who was responding to the query by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC have cleared him of any wrongdoing.
Yemi-Esan said she issued the query on the order of the President Muhammadu Buhari, who she said had been briefed about Bello’s conduct.
However, Bello who claimed that the purchase of the building was approved by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, claimed that he has been cleared by the anti-graft agencies.
“Kindly note that we have been invited, interrogated and cleared by the EFCC and ICPC on this particular matter after glaring facts were presented to them,” he said.

The Query
In a leaked query, obtained by The Street Journal, Bello was asked by the presidency to explain how budgetary funds in billions of naira was misappropriated while he was overseeing the affairs of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
In a preliminary letter/query issued on 11th May, 2020 and signed by Dr. Yemi-Esan, Bello was alleged to have use his position as Permanent Secretary and Accounting Officer, to involve in some shady transactions as well as holding on to budgetary allocation meant for contractors and other activities of government, among other allegations.
The allegations were said to be acts of serious misconduct as provided in PSR 030401 and 030402, which, if proven, could lead to dismissal from service.
According to the letter, in spite of the budgetary release of the N98, 405,763,678.68 in 2018 (which represents 99.44 of 2018 appropriation) to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bello as Perm Sec did not take necessary action to pay the eligible contractors which led to the Ministry having an outstanding contractual liability in the sum of N48,429,543,895.72.
In the same manner, the letter stated that under Bello’s watch, the Ministry procured seven drilling rigs for borehole at an average cost of N300,000,000.00, without recourse to the Federal Executive Council or Head of Service of the Federation.
However, in April 2019, the embattled Permanent Secretary was said to have given out the seven rigs procured at N1.3 billion to some individuals under fraudulent arrangement, without the approval of the minister, and one of the rigs linked to him, was yet to be returned despite several written reminders as at the time the query was issued.
Bello was also alleged to have misapplied the intervention funds approved for the purchase of strategic grains and the establishment of the rural grazing areas settlements in violation of financial regulations.
The letter gave two of such misappropriations to include the use of N2,026,838,775.25 to pay contractors and execute programmes from the funds released for emergency procurement of strategic grains which was unrelated to the purpose of the funds.
Bello was also accused of using N3,527,300,419.06 for the payment of questionable contracts awarded under the 2018 appropriation, from the rural grazing area settlement scheme which was also said not to be related to the purpose of the funds.
She, therefore, gave the embattled permanent secretary a 72-hour ultimatum to respond to the allegations if he so desires.

Agric Minister approved purchase
Bello in his response dated 14th May, 2020, said that the approval for the building was granted by the Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, who he accused of conspiring with the current Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Mu’azu Abdulkadir, of alleging that the purchased office building was unfit for use.
He also claimed that due process was followed to the latter in the purchase of the said building.
He noted that the processes that were followed include expression of interest to sell the property forwarded by the company to the Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, among others.
“After submission of the recommendation to the Hon. Minister of Agriculture; He approved that Council Meme is made to that effect. We then sent the Memo to the Secretary to Government of the Federation when then scheduled it for Federal Executive Council Approval. Consequently, the Federal Executive Council approved (vide Council Extract) the purchase of the building,” he noted in his response.
Bello claimed that Dr. AbdulKadir awarded and executed projects worth N3bn in his locality in complete disregard for due process.
“It is worthy of note at this point that it is the current Permanent Secretary FMARD who is actually guilty of vehement as since after the approval of the above contracts has refused to sign and release letters of award of the contract to the respective contractors but instead diverted and vire the funds to other projects in his locality that were never part of the appropriation, neither advertised nor bided for. This is a case of unequivocal vehement.
” The project in his locality that he awarded and executed in complete disregard for due process is estimated at over N3,000,000,000,” he added.


https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/perm-sec-admits-buying-uncompleted-building-for-n7bn-fingers-minister-others/

Parents Condemn Illegal Tuition fee Introduced by Redeemed Church Primary School

In a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus, all schools were ordered by the federal government to go on an indefinite break, pending when it would be convenient for pupils/students to resume school.

However, some schools have resorted to other measures in order to carry on with educating their students amidst laid down regulations.
Some of these measures have been frowned at by parents of the students.
One such is a parent who complained bitterly about the activities of her ward’s institution; Peace Ville School formerly known as Redeemers University.
The complainant who pleaded anonymity, when granted an interview by The Street Journal said:
“Good morning sir, please I want to confide in you about my kids' school and I want you to be the parents' voice to the Ogun government. My kids attend Peace Ville school in Redeem camp and the school was founded by Mummy GO, Pastor (MRS) Foluke Adenike Adeboye.”
“The school was formerly RUN (Redeemers university) but was later converted to a private school.”

“The school was founded 5 years ago. The issue we parents have with the school and the board is that they impose information and their plans on us and we parents don’t have a voice at all because the board has failed us.”

“The previous Head of School was sacked in Feb 2018 and another new Head of school we got late July 2018 is nothing to write home about.”

“Her name is Mrs Elizabeth Adebayo. She doesn’t care about the parents and how we get money for whatever they impose on us and within two weeks of her resumption, she blocked parents from writing on the Peace Ville school parents and teachers WhatsApp group. All she does is give us information and she doesn’t care about our reply even to the extent of stopping physical parents meeting in school last term.”

“The issue now is that she sent a notice to the WhatsApp group about two weeks ago to inform us parents to open zoom and do 2nd term revision for our kids. She also asked us to come down to school to get our children’s books mentioning that the exam will be done on zoom too.”

“The issue that brought me to speak out is that she sent messages to us that 3rd term resumes online today without consulting the parents and getting our own opinion.”

However, when embittered parents raised complains through their wards’ teachers about network fluctuations not being favourable for zoom and google virtual classes, this was the HOS’s reply:

“Good evening dear valued parents. This particular mini WhatsApp group was set up for the sake of teaching and learning not for parents complaints and concerns.

As no member of board is on this platform, if you have issues concerning your child’s learning, the teachers on this platform can address it.

However, if it has to do with management please speak to the HOS or any member of the board, Thank you.”

“The minster of Education, said no school/parents should do online school but the Peaceville school asked us to resume, and told us to pay school fees within two weeks without considering the parents that lost their jobs due to COVID-19 or parents that got half salary in march and were not paid a penny in April or parents who are Entrepreneurs.”

“Please be our aid and our voice to the minister.” She said.

https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/parents-condemn-illegal-tuition-fee-introduced-by-redeemed-church-primary-school/

Protect Your Bank Details; Don’t Get Scammed; UBA warns Customers

Pan African financial institution, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has called on its customers to exercise utmost caution in their banking transactions and ensure that they do not fall prey to any nefarious activities during the Coronavirus lockdown period.

Specifically, UBA has urged its customers not to divulge any sensitive personal information regarding their bank and or card details.
UBA’s Executive Director, Retail Banking & Payments, Chukwuma Nweke said the bank’s attention has been drawn to some fraudulent messages making the rounds, where customers have been asked to provide their card details for disbursement of funds into their accounts. He emphasized that customers should ignore such requests

“Some of our customers may have received a call or message asking for their card details and Bank Validation Number (BVN) for disbursement of COVID-19 funds. Others may have also received an email informing them of bonuses of between N30,000 and N70,000 upon validation of their bank details online. It is important to note that these emails and messages did not originate from UBA, and we would never at any point in time ask for your account details over the telephone of via SMS, emails, live chat or social media. We advise that you kindly delete these messages and do not entertain calls of this nature. Please also inform the bank of these incidences immediately they occur’.

Nweke further stressed that personal banking details including passwords, usernames, card numbers, security numbers at the back of cards, BVN, OTPs, security answers and other sensitive information should not be shared with anyone as UBA would never ask for them online or through phone calls or text messages.

“Your card is for your personal use alone, do not give out your PIN and do not share any information regarding your card with anybody; if your card is missing or stolen please contact us immediately’ he said

In the event of a doubt, please contact UBA’s Customer Fulfillment Centre which is open 24/7 on 0700 225 5822,+234 1280 8822,+234 1631 9822 or send an email at cfc@ubagroup.com.

Ifeanyi Ubah’s Forged Certificate Saga Gets Messier…as NECO is expected to confirm if Ubah’s certificate was truly forged?

Nigerian lawmaker and owner of Capital Oil and Gas Industries Ltd Ifeanyi Ubah who had been enmeshed in various corruption scandals with the government is now caught in another web of falsehood, forgery and presentation of fake National Examination Council, NECO certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as a candidate of the Young Progressives Party, YPP in the last National Assembly election.

It does not take rocket scientific process to discover that the examination body has just confirmed that Ifeanyi Ubah submitted a forged certificate to INEC.

A news report yesterday that the Examination Council had affirmed the authenticity of the politician’s certificate after he had been previously sacked by a Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, nullifying his election as the senator representing Anambra South.

The court had ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Mr. Ubah and issue a fresh certificate of return to the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP Obinna Uzoh who came second in the election as the senator-elect of the district.

However, a critical look at these two certificates reveals that NECO or someone is trying to assist the controversial business mogul to claim what does not belong to him. The certified copy presented and confirmed by INEC has the serial number; 303865920(note, 3038), while the copy NECO just confirmed as Ifeanyi Ubah’s approved certificate comes with a serial number; 303565920 (note, 3035).

A comparison of these two documents glaringly shows differences in signatures, stamp, logo, typeset font and so on. This means NECO’s supposed affirmation of his certificate has further proved the forgery of the certificate and affirmed the judgment of the court that he submitted a fake NECO certificate to INEC.

Many who have taken a keen interest, in this case, are now wondering how the same certificate would have two different serial numbers, logo, font and signature. If we take the NECO certificate released by the examination body as Ifeanyi Ubah’s certificate, then the initial one he submitted to INEC was indeed forged as declared by the Abuja High Court.

Efforts to reach Ifeanyi Ubah to comment on this controversy have been unsuccessful. On his part, Dr. Obinna Uzoh who the court has ordered to be sworn in as the senator representing Anambra South Senatorial district declined to comment on the issue since the case was likely to go before the Appeal Court. Ifeanyi Ubah has vowed to approach an Appellate Court to set aside the judgment of the High Court based on the supposed validation of his certificate by NECO.

Therefore, it appears Ubah is just trying to buy time after he had been sacked by Honourable Justice Bello Kawu of the Abuja Federal High Court on the 17th of January, 2020.

In his judgment, Justice Bello Kawu discharged his Ex-Parte Order suspending the execution of his Judgement in suit No. CV/3044/2018. The claimant in the suit filed the pre-election matter challenging the nomination of the 1st defendant, Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah, by the second defendant, Young Progressive Party, YPP for the Anambra Senatorial District Election.

Aware of his ousting, Ubah then filed several baseless motions in order to delay the course of justice, seeking to stay the execution of the judgment and set aside the judgment, claiming the court lacks the legal jurisdiction to return Uzoh as duly elected quoting section 285 (13) of the 1999 constitution as amended.

However, it is important to note that, where the primary is not held, any state or FCT high court or FHC has jurisdiction to entertain the case. In the case of Lau v PDP (2018) 4 NWLR (Pt. 1608) 60 at 110-111 and 123, the Supreme Court held thus: The law has moved on since the 1999 Constitution vested the Federal High Court with exclusive jurisdiction over any action for a declaration or injunction affecting the validity of any executive or administrative action or decision of the Federal Government or any of its agencies, which includes INEC. The current position of the electoral act, the Federal High Court and the High Court of a State or the Federal Capital Territory have concurrent jurisdiction to hear and determine disputes arising from the conduct of a party’s primaries.


http://catchnews.com.ng/2020/01/29/ifeanyi-ubahs-forged-certificate-saga-gets-messieras-neco-is-expected-to-confirm-if-ubahs-certificate-was-truly-forged/

One of the leading groups of journalists and media practitioners; AMPON (Association of Online Media Practitioners of Nigeria) has assured Nigerians that their optimism on the emergence of a better Nigeria is not in any way misplaced. This was contained in a Christmas message.
In the association goodwill message, made available said that every citizen of the great nation, Nigeria needs to imbibe the lessons of harmonious coexistence to engender development across the states of the nation.

In the statement, signed on behalf of its Chairman, Wole Arisekola by the Acting Secretary, Olugbenga Bada, the Association urged the Federal Government to reflect on the Christmas season and provide Nigerians with the kind of selfless leadership that Christ exemplified. “What Nigerians need from the government at all levels is selfless leadership as exemplified by Jesus Christ, who loved his friends so much that he gave his life for them”.

The statement also read in part; “our leaders should use the end of the year as a period of introspection. The same court orders that could not be obeyed for reasons known to the Major General Buhari administration were eventually obeyed after the United States waded in. Sadly, barely days before then, Major General Buhari’s handlers had given reasons for not obeying the order and had gone as far as reminding the United States Government that it has not been officially appointed ‘policeman of the world’. While it is shameful that the government refused to yield to the cries of Nigerians to obey the judiciary, which is the last hope of the common man, it is even more painful that it took only a letter from the United States to change the situation and secure the release of Col. Sambo Dasuki after four years in detention”.
The statement went further that “if we don’t give up and we collectively demand our rights, Nigeria will eventually, become a better place and not only will we have the ears of our leaders, we will eventually have a government we can truly be proud of”.

Lending its voice to the debate on the ‘Social Media Bill’, the Association described it as a ploy to gag the media. “Let it be known that AMPON will join Nigerians to resist every move to gag the media and subtly remove the freedom of the press. Nigerians have the right to express themselves and no government will be allowed to take that away from them”.

As every Nigerians look forward to a prosperous 2020, the group; AMPON urged its fellow citizen to let’s all love one another and be brothers keepers, and pray that the Almighty would touch the hearts of some persons who take joy in inflicting pains on the hapless common man.



https://www.airwavesreport.com/society/3350-yuletide-message-don-t-give-up-ampon-tells-nigerians

Nollywood Actor Emmanuel Ikubese Partner with Reach A Hand Uganda on Kyaddala



After over 9 months of production, Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) in conjunction Emmanuel Ikubese Films has released the roadmap for ‘Kyaddala -- It's Real’, long-awaited Pan African edutainment TV show that will target young people from across the continent.
The TV series will be premiered on 27th of September 2019, and it features top actors and actresses from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and Nigeria. The series depicts issues facing young people through a rich storyline that rotates on themes like life skills empowerment for young people (covering education, livelihoods and women empowerment), HIV and its impact on young people, Teenage pregnancy among others.

“Edutainment is one of our strongest channels of communication to young people. We continuously innovate on how we impact change in a language that our target audience understand and Kyaddala is another way that we look forward to creating more impact.”

Humphrey Nabimanya, the Team Leader & Founder of Reach A Hand Uganda said.

The TV series is expected to be aired on NBS Television in October and other international platforms that will see it expand to more young people on the African continent since the challenges that it addresses, are familiar to what many of them face across the continent.

“I have been a peer educator, motivational speaker, an actor and I have used my talent to be a champion among my peers. Through my acting career life, I have taken up responsibilities like Femi in the award-winning TV show MTV Shuga that focuses on HIV and young people. I have used this platform to impact very many young people and I can’t wait to do the same with Kyaddala: It’s real this time round in Uganda but going continental.”

Emmanuel Ikubese, the director and executive producer of ‘Kyaddala – Its real’ stated.

Shot and directed in Kampala, Uganda, Kyaddala brings out risky behaviours , society’s role, and the uphill climb to address the challenges to light through the storyline and characters as elucidated in the 5 main characters Wonny, Eze, Kalungi, Umutoni, and Shamim. The series highlights how young people deal with each of these challenges, based on the limited information they receive from both home and school.

The cast comprises of 28 actors and actresses who were successful after auditions that attracted over 187 emerging and seasoned actors and actresses. Some of the actors and actresses include Martha Kay, Salvador Idring, Harmonie Kyomugisha, Eleanor and Mathew Nabwiso, Anita Fabiola, Kevin Wanjiru (Kenya), Stephen Katusiime, Emmanuel Ikubese and Olumide Oniru (from Nigeria).



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkK4-89abUo

https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/emmanuel-ikubese-releases-trailer-for-new-series-kyaddala/v5525bm

Alakija: Raising VAT Will Hurt EntrepreneursAlakija: Raising VAT Will Hurt EntrepreneursAlakija: Raising VAT Will Hurt EntrepreneursAlakija: Raising VAT Will Hurt EntrepreneursAlakija: Raising VAT Will Hurt EntrepreneursAlakija: Raising VAT Will Hurt EntrepreneursAlakija: Raising VAT Will Hurt EntrepreneursAlakija: Raising VAT Will Hurt EntrepreneursAlakija: Raising VAT Will Hurt Entrepreneurs

Exclusive!!! Real Reasons Why Air Peace Plane Crashed...experts allege sharp practices via faulty Tyres procurement standard

This is obviously a trying moment for Peace airline and it’s simply because of its notoriety for tyre-related aviation accidents in the past two years.

Within this period, the ailine has recorded no fewer than four tyre burst incidents with the latest at Lagos airport last week when its aircraft crash-landed after a damaged tyre burst.

Sources in the aviation industry has placed the course of the incessant problem on sharp practices on the part of the airline’s procurement department and the tyre supplier for the airline.

The source who identified Peace Airline tyre supplier as Airline Management Supports Nigeria Ltd revealed how the company allegedly compromised quality in the industry.

While the company headed by Capt. Ekundayo Olubadewo is a major airline tyre supplier in Nigeria, Arik Air remains the only company that has refused to pateonise it, thus buys directly from the manufacturer.

The company according to investigation has a standing franchise holding with Dunlop Aircraft Tyres Ltd in Birmingham, England as its representative in Nigeria.

However, it was reliably gathered that most of the tyres the company supplies to its customers were often retreaded as they ship worn out tyres to China and then bring them back as new, thereby being used for landing times as new.

“What they do is to collect all the used tyres and send them by container to Dunlop retreading factory in China where they would be re-packaged and ship back for our airlines just like tokunboh tyres. Isn’t it curious that an airline will record similar accidents within months” the source explained.

News of the people exclusively gathered that one David Jones is the go-between the Airline Management Supports and Dunlop, England.

Meanwhile when News of the People contacted Dunlop headquarters in Birmingham, the head of marketing Stuart Hawker confirmed that Airline Management Support (AMS) is Dunlop’s appointed distributor in Nigeria and West Africa of many years standing.

He however declined to speak on incessant accidents involving one its end user saying ‘Dunlop does not comment in public about any aspect of any commercial relationship, between it and either its customers or its operators’ Hawker further explained that the retreading of tyres for aircraft is common practice, and is subject to appropriate airworthiness approvals.

According to a reliable source, the company was allegedly culpable in the 2006 ADC plane crash that killed Sultan of Sokoto and several others as investigations by Nigerian Civil Aviation Control Authority and Accident Investigation Bureau placed the cause of the crash on bad tyres.

It was alleged that the matter was swept under the carpet because of Cornelius O Adebayo intervention who was transportation minister then and a bossom friend of Capt. Olubadewo’s father.

The father was the founder of Gas Airline that also crashed in a curious manner that was never resolved and many victims yet to be compensated till date.

All attempts to get the views of the company located on Oba Akran Ikeja proved abortive as no one was willing to talk on issues bothering on transactions with their clients.

List of incidents as recorded by wikipedia:

On 14 December 2018, an Air Peace Boeing 737 from Lagos to Enugu with 130 passengers and 6 crew suffered a loss of cabin pressure at 31000 feet. Although the oxygen masks deployed, the crew elected to continue the flight after an emergency descent. Two passengers were subsequently treated for complications related to the decompression.

On 15 May 2019, an Air Peace Boeing 737from Port Harcourt to Lagos suffered a hard landing that resulted in damage to the engine pod and the landing gear. The aircraft was grounded, although no injuries were reported.

On 22 June 2019, an Air Peace Boeing 737with 87 passengers and 6 crew from Abujato Port Harcourt exited the runway while landing in heavy rain and came to rest in soft mud.

On 23 July 2019, an Air Peace Boeing 737 with 133 passengers and 6 crew landed on Lagos’ runway 18R but suffered a hard touch down causing both nose wheels to separate from the nose gear strut. The aircraft skidded to a halt on the runway on main wheels and the rest of the nose gear strut. There was one minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage as did the runway.



http://www.newsofthepeople-ng.com/real-reasons-air-peace-plane-crashed/

Senator Akpabio Hits The Ground Running!... As FG to Partner Greece On ShipBuilding, Employment Generation In NIGER DELTA

The Federal government is to partner with the Republic of Greece on the training of Niger Delta youths and others in shipbuilding, fishing, food sufficiency, and employment generation.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Senator Godswill Akpabio disclosed this when the representative of the Greece government in Nigeria, Concept Amadeus Limited paid a working visit to the Ministry on September 3, 2019, in Abuja.

Senator Akpabio said that the Ministry is poised to improving the standard of living of the people of Niger Delta and Nigeria in general. He commended the initiative which according to him, will reduce militancy and crises of unemployment in the country,

The Minister noted that the partnership will empower the youths in the Niger Delta Region, stop the illegal fishing on Nigerian shore and also give Nigerians the opportunity to explore the value chain in the fishing industry.

Senator Akpabio said that the host communities will be involved in the whole process to enable them to own the project and provide the enabling environment for the successful hosting of the dockyard.

He lamented that most areas in the Niger Delta may not be good for fishing because of oil exploration adding that the Maritime University in Okerenkoko, Delta state and the Maritime Academy in Oron, Akwa Ibom State can be used as the training ground for the shipbuilding program.

To ensure that the whole process is domesticated, Senator Akpabio and the Minister of State, Festus Keyamo set up a 5-man committee to work out detailed modalities of the training program adding that any nation that cannot feed itself is yet to start.

Earlier, the Chairman and Chief Executive of Concept Amadeus Limited, Prince Patrick Osabase, the organization representing the Greece government said that the partnership program will create employment for the youths in the Niger Delta region and enhance their potentials in the fishing industry adding that Nigeria lost about $10 billion yearly to untapped resources in the fishing industry.

https://www.airwavesreport.com/politics/3200-senator-akpabio-hits-ground-running-as-fg-to-partner-greece-on-ship-building-employment-generation-in-niger-delta

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Survey Reveals: Senator Akpabio’s election petition is the most widely-publicized!


An election petition survey in Nigeria has revealed that the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio's senatorial election petition is the most widely-reported and keenly-followed by the public in the history of the country.

According to the survey conducted by The Street Journal Magazine, "the history of election petitions in Nigeria started from the Second Republic when the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo had severally approached the tribunal to upturn his opponent's victory in his favour.

The candidate of the then ruling party, Alhaji Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria, (NPN,) was declared the winner. Meanwhile, many politicians had in the past gone to tribunals to reclaim their mandates as well. But that of the immediate past Governor of Osun State, Engr. Rauf Aregbesola remains one of the most-celebrated petitions in Nigeria's political history.

Aregbsola's electoral petition against ex-governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, in 2010, was massively celebrated by the Nigerian media, just like that of the present Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, against former Governor Segun Oni, in 2010. Same was with the former Edo state governor and now APC Chairman, Adams Oshiomohole, who fought it out and won at the election tribunal with the declared winner, Professor Oserhrimen Opubor, ditto the former governor of Ondo state governor, Segun Mimiko, who went the same aisle to reclaim his mandate from the late Chief Olusegun Agagu, who was initially declared the winner.

Interestingly, all went in favour of the petitioners, except that of Chief Awolowo, whose loss was even premeditated, despite glaring and documented shreds of evidence. In the case of Akpabio, Nigerians at home and abroad have been kept abreast with the nuggets of the procedures in the tribunal, thus making it one of the most-widely covered election petitions by media houses in Nigeria, thus going down in history as a phenomenal case that could become a reference point in electoral petitions, all things being equal.

Senator Akpabio is challenging Senator Chris Ekpeyong's victory at the last Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District election. While Akwa Ibomites eagerly await the Election Petitions Tribunal's verdict, which might be delivered any time from now, there might likely and possibly be a repeat of the scenarios that made Oshiomhole, Mimiko, Aregbesola, and Fayemi governors; only that this time around, it will be at the senatorial level,’’ the survey concluded.


https://www.airwavesreport.com/politics/3177-survey-reveals-senator-akpabio-s-election-petition-is-the-most-widely-publicized

Akpabio's Counsel Reveals High Conspiracy in Favour of Ekpenyong, as Tribunal Adjourns for Judgment

At the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Thursday, 8th August 2019, where Minister-designate, Godswill Akpabio is challenging the declaration of Chris Ekpenyong as the winner of the Akwa Ibom North-West (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District.

However, more dramas played out as Akpabio's counsel, Sunday Ameh (SAN), shocked the tribunal during the adoption of his written address that result of February 23, 2019, senatorial election in Ikot Ekpene was prepared even before the election day.

Ameh told the tribunal that the Independent National Electoral Commission's Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mike Igini, falsified Akpabio’s result in favour of the People Democratic Party's candidate, Ekpenyong. Based on the anomalies observed, Ameh urged the tribunal to declare Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the senatorial election.

He submitted that Akpabio is the validly elected senator for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District having scored the majority of the lawful votes cast in the election. Ameh also submitted that Ekpenyong, who was declared winner of the election, was not elected by lawful votes cast as evidence showed that Akpabio had the highest votes scored.

The tribunal was thrown into shock when Ameh exposed how the INEC Returning Officer for Essien Udim Local Government Area, Dr Olosunde William, after recording the result for the Local Government Area took the result to INEC office in Uyo and canceled the votes of Akpabio to give an edge to his opponent.

According to Ameh, the Returning Officer had admitted that he collated the result for 11 Wards of Essien Udim Local Government in Form EC8B1 handed over to him by the various collation officers. He had also stated that the results were compiled by him in Essien Udim and Akpabio scored 61, 329 votes while Ekpenyong scored 9, 050 votes. However, in a curious twist, the Returning Officer without the presence of the party agents and other officials unilaterally reduced the votes of Akpabio to 6, 241 in INEC office in Uyo.

Ameh submitted that the alteration of Akpabio’s votes at INEC office in Uyo was illegal.

“Form EC8C1 which showed the adjustment of the result is dated February 24, 2019. While Form EC8CD1 which showed the result collated by INEC in Essien Udim is dated February 25, 2019. My Lord, that is dishonesty,”

Ameh submitted.

Counsel to Akpabio said the appropriate person to write the report holding or not holding or cancellation of the result is the Presiding Officer at each Polling Units. He posited further that all the Presiding Officers who appeared in court when cross-examined responded that they did not cancel any result and they did not know what Form EC40G which should have been used in event of any cancellation was.

According to Ameh:

"In the absence of any valid report for the cancellation, the respondents cannot impugn the integrity of the result that was collated by INEC in Form EC81 tendered before this tribunal,”

he submitted.

He drew the attention of the tribunal to the submission by PDP witnesses during cross-examination, alleging that APC thugs carted away all electoral materials in some Wards in Essien Udim, however, they had no explanation when shown the card reader reports and voter registers of the same units they claimed were carted away.

Meanwhile, Ekpenyong urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by Akpabio for lacking in merit. The former Deputy Governor also argued that the reliefs sought by Akpabio differed from the grounds of his petition.

Senator Ekpenyong through his counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), in his written address said that out of 10 local government areas that make up the senatorial district, witnesses were called by the petitioner for only two local government areas.

He also argued that the petitioner was unable to substantiate his claims, as the depositions he relied on, had no evidential value.

“My lord, you remember each and every one of his witnesses saying "my deposition is made up of what I saw and what I was told."

“On the authority of Gungiri Vs Nyan, the Supreme Court said, if a witness does not distinguish in his deposition, between what he heard and the things he saw, that such depositions have no evidential value,"

he said.

He insisted that all the witnesses could not differentiate between what they saw and what they heard and that responsibility cannot be that of the court.

“The depositions were chorusing one another. Why would A who was in Jericho have an identical situation with B who was in Jerusalem? Chief Agabi averred further that: “The relief of being declared the winner is only available to a petitioner who pleads majority of lawful votes. In this petition, the petitioners are not seeking nullification of the election, but rather they are seeking to be declared the winner. Reliefs must flow from the grounds, and their ground does not avail them.

Agabi insisted that no single agent was called by the petitioner, yet all the witnesses called by the respondents alleged malpractice at the polling units. He said this could be likened to Algebra where one is expected to show the formula and process he used in arriving at his conclusion.

On his part, Solomon Umoh (SAN), counsel to the PDP told the tribunal to dismiss the petition due to the absence of polling witness to give life to the claims of the petitioner.

Umoh maintained that

“a petitioner who brings his case on fraudulent cancellations, must establish two ingredients, that there were cancelations, alterations or mutilations in the electoral document and that the cancellation, alteration or mutilation were dishonestly made in a view to falsify the result of the election.”

He said that the effective way to unravel the truth was based on the integrity of Form EC8A, the unit result, where votes are generated.

The PDP counsel wondered why the petitioner failed to present any unit witness before the tribunal, thereby making Form EC8As to appear helpless.

Citing various court precedents, Umoh argued further that

“in any matter of this magnitude, Polling Unit agents must be witnesses to how they were produced and must be signatories to them; otherwise it has a doubtful and suspicious origin.”

INEC counsel Robert Emukpoeruo citing the poor foundation of the petition urged the tribunal to dismiss it completely.

The INEC counsel maintained that the petitioner was obliged to bring unit results and not just result from the collation centre because their petition claimed that the first respondent did not win by the majority of lawful votes cast. Emukpoeruo further argued that votes are not cast at the ward or local government collation centres, but at Polling Units and reasoned that the petitioners ought to have led the tribunal to the Polling Units.

On this, Ameh said the respondents completely misunderstood the case of the petitioner.

According to Ameh, the petitioner case are on the grounds that Senator Ekpenyong was not validly elected by the majority of lawful votes cast and his return was not in compliance with the Electoral Act. After listening to the submissions of the parties, Chairman of the tribunal, Justice W. O. Akanbi thanked the parties and counsel for their cooperation throughout the proceedings.

He said the matter was adjourned for judgment on a date to be communicated to the parties concerned.

https://www.airwavesreport.com/politics/3171-akpabio-s-counsel-reveals-high-conspiracy-in-favour-of-ekpenyong-as-tribunal-adjourns-for-judgment