₦airaland Forum

Pope Francis will on Saturday meet five Chilean priests who were sexually abused by another priest, Fernando Karadima, in an effort to heal their wounds and those of the church, the Vatican said.

In a letter to Chileans issued last week, the pope had voiced his “shame” that the Catholic church had failed “to listen and react in time” to allegations of sexual abuse by Chilean clergy.

Several members of the Chilean church hierarchy are accused by victims of ignoring and covering up child abuse by Karadima during the 1980s and 1990s.

In a statement Saturday, the Vatican said the pope would meet the five Chilean priests shortly as part of efforts to heal them and the Church.

“With the help of the five priests, the pope will try to find a solution to the internal fracture of the community of the faithful.

“In this way, it will be possible to begin to rebuild a healthy relationship between the faithful and their priests, once everyone has come to terms with their own wounds,” it said.

Last month, all 34 Chilean bishops announced their resignation over the scandal after Francis summoned them.

Since 2000, about 80 Roman Catholic priests have been reported to authorities in Chile for alleged sexual abuse.

The pope has apologised to the victims.The Vatican suspended Karadima in 2011, requiring him to live a life of penitence for the harm caused.

The Special Assistant on Media to Hon. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (M.O.B.), Ahmed Salami has said there was no truth in story making the round that he had been in coma since Friday evening when he was hit by bullets at the rally organized for Dr Kayode Fayemi, by the party.

Bamidele and six others were hit by bullets and sustained various degrees of injuries through gunshots fired by a policeman drafted to maintain orderliness in the rally attended by mammoth crowd of party adherents and admirers of the governorship candidate of the party.

In a statement in Ado Ekiti by Salami on Saturday, said though Bamidele immediately fell and passed out due to the trauma he suffered when the bullets suddenly pierced his abdominal region and leg.

“We appreciate his supporters and APC members across the state, said he had since regained consciousness. “The way he fell in the full glare of the crowd and party supporters fueled the insinuation that he is still in coma. “Let me assure our supporters in Ekiti and other concerned Nigerians that Bamidele not in coma.

He has regained consciousness and fast recuperating due to prompt and intensive medical treatments he received thereafter. Its true that Bamidele has passed through major surgeries and the bullets have been removed from his abdominal region and leg. We implore our supporters to be calm and be law abiding whilst the situation is under control.

“We appreciate our people for the outpouring of affections since the incident occurred and this underscored the strong bond of unity among the APC members and Ekiti people in general.

“We want to say that the shooting was very unfortunate and unwarranted in view of the decorous and peaceful ways our people comported themselves from Akure, Ondo State capital via Ikere and to Ado Ekiti. “We charge the police authorities to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the shooting and bring whoever that was complicit to justice for a country that has respect for the sanctity of human lives to be attainable,” he said.

“We specially appreciate the governor of Ondo State, Barrister Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his wife Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Senator Ayo Arise and other party bigwigs for the quick responses in saving Bamidele’s life and that of other victims”.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja Branch, Mr. Adesina Ogunlana and two other members of the Branch have been accused of corruption in the running of their offices as the Executive and past Executives of the branch.

In a five pages petition addressed to the National President of the NBA Mr. A.B Mahmoud SAN, the petitioners who call themselves the solicitors and concerned members of the branch alleged that Mr. Ogunlana conspired with the immediate past Chairman, Mr. Yinka Farounbi and the immediate past Treasurer Mrs. Derin Kappo to among other things, withdraw monies from the account of the branch without proper approval from the members and in violation of the provisions of the NBA Bye Laws.

The petition which was signed by four of the said concerned members also alleged that the seizure of property belonging to the branch by the Chairman and members of the past executives.

The allegation against the Chairman as highlighted in the letter dated 23rd May, 2018 are both weighty and scandalous. While the NBA National President is expected to set up machinery to investigate the allegations, many have expressed concerned over the turn of event in the once volatile NBA branch.

Curiously, the Petition is coming on the heels of a recent allegation by Mr. Adesina Ogunlana that some elders of the Branch are attempting to foist candidates on the branch without proper election.

At least 34 ‘unapproved’ projects, costing N11, 507, 937, 773, has so far been funded by the Ministry of Finance this fiscal year, in breach of a presidential order that they should not be executed, PREMIUM TIMES and UDEME can report today.

The projects, spreading across ministries, are part of appropriated items the presidency requested the National Assembly to remove from the 2017 budget.

Documents reviewed by this newspaper show that the funding of these projects by the finance ministry is a direct flouting of an order by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The projects were among those federal lawmakers smuggled into the 2017 budgets, while deleting key infrastructural projects proposed by ministries.

The executive had insisted the projects could not be funded at the expense of key developmental projects and should be removed.

SMUGGLING PROJECTS INTO 2017 BUDGET
Controversy over these projects started after the passage of the 2017 budget when some ministers raised the alarm that lawmakers deleted their key signature projects and then channeled the funds allocated to them to frivolous projects from which they planned to enrich themselves.

Babatunde Fashola, the minister of power, works and housing, said it was unfair to the Executive arm for lawmakers to unilaterally and arbitrarily insert such projects after public hearings and defence sessions on the fiscal estimates had been finalised.

“What I have in my budget now is primary healthcare centres, boreholes,’’ he said at an interactive session with editors in Lagos. “That was the meeting we had with the Acting President (Osinbajo) and that was the reason why the budget was not signed on time.”

The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, as well as his counterpart in the health ministry, Isaac Adewole, a professor, had similar complaints.

After accusations and counter accusations by the two arms of government, a meeting between the leadership of the National Assembly and the then Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, was convened to resolve the issue.

Mr. Buhari was away in London for medical treatment at the time but he was in constant touch with his deputy over the matter, the presidency said at the time.

The meeting between the leadership of the National Assembly and the Executive, led by the then acting president, resolved that Mr. Osinbajo should proceed to sign the budget while also submitting a virement proposal to the National Assembly.

The lawmakers promised to favourably and urgently consider the request.

So, on July 18, 2017, Mr Osinbajo wrote to the National Assembly seeking the removal of projects inserted by lawmakers.

Yemi-Osinbajo-2
He also demanded that the frivolous projects be replaced with ‘some critical priority items.’

The letter reads, “You will recall that the 2017 appropriation bill was signed into law on 12 June 2017.

“However, prior to the signing, discussions and consultations were held between the executive and the leadership of the National Assembly on some critical priority items for which adequate provisions had not been made in the 2017 appropriation act.

“You would also recall that it was agreed that the executive should submit a virement proposal to the National Assembly for your consideration. The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to forward the virement proposal.”

The then acting president then requested that N136 billion worth of projects be vired from 15 ministries. The projects were majorly those the federal lawmakers unilaterally smuggled into the budget.

He then implored the National Assembly to urgently consider his proposal to support the administration’s efforts towards improving the well-being of citizens.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that after submitting the virement request, Mr. Osinbajo pressured the National Assembly for months. But it should became clear to the Presidency that the lawmakers had made up their minds to renege on the agreement reached.

In frustration, the presidency gave up on the virement request.

FINANCE MINISTRY FLOUTS ORDER, FUNDS PROJECTS
Mr Osinbajo’s letter was delivered to the National Assembly alongside a document tagged Schedule 2, containing mostly self-enriching projects smuggled into the budget of ministries by lawmakers.

Mrs. Adeosun was part of the Executive’s negotiation with the National Assembly on the matter, and was aware of the acting president’s letter to the lawmakers.

But, in what appears a betrayal of the presidency, the finance minister ignored the preference of her bosses and proceeded to collude with federal lawmakers to fund some of the frivolous projects that were the subject of Mr. Osinbajo’s virement request.

A review of documents indicating cash release by the ministry of finance revealed that Mrs Adeosun approved funding for at least 34 of the controversial projects.

The funding, running into N11.51billion cut across five ministries and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment had 14 projects, at N2.58billion

All the projects were stuffed into the budget of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and cash released for same.

SMEDAN has in recent years provided itself as a fertile land for pushing illegal projects by federal lawmakers.

An examination of the capital allocation for SMEDAN between 2013 and 2017 indicates a geometric rise.

In 2013, SMEDAN had a budget of N960 million but this tripled to N2.7 billion the following year. The budgetary allocation stood at N778 million in 2015 and N1.8 billion in 2016.

Worthy of note is the agency’s budget for 2017. While SMEDAN proposed N2.18 billion for capital projects that year, the lawmakers increased it to N9.52 billion, more than the allocation for the previous six years.

The reasons for this are becoming gradually clear. First, the lawmakers lodged most of their constituency projects in the budget of the agency and secondly, that was made possible due to the nature of SMEDAN’s mandate.

The agency is saddled with the responsibility of promoting and facilitating developmental programmes, and support services to accelerate the development and modernization of MSME operations, especially in rural areas.

With this kind of mandate, the agency carries out projects like trainings, sensitisation, youth and women empowerment, supply of materials, among others. The non-quantitative nature of some of these projects makes them difficult to measure or track, thereby creating a colossus corruption ground for lawmakers.

For instance, one of the 14 projects — conditional grant scheme for micro-finance enterprises in six states of the federation — (with unique number SAMED21028088) was funded at N2 billion. Experts say such projects are difficult to track.

All other 13 projects concern training of women, youth or both.

Next is the Ministry of Works, Power and Housing. Despite the loud complaints by Mr Fashola, the finance ministry still proceeded to fund frivolous projects introduced into the budget of the ministry. Thirteen projects — at N2, 195, 693, 773 — was funded in the three-arm super ministry.

Eleven of them were for the construction of solar/motorised boreholes or rural electrification projects across constituencies. The remaining two projects were for drainage construction in Jigawa and Dawaki in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

At the Ministry of Communication, four projects were funded at N684 million. Three of the projects were to be executed in Oyo State for N664 million, while the remaining N20 million was earmarked for the construction of a community hall in Kebbi State.

Other agencies with at least one unapproved project funded are Ministry Science and Technology (N50 million), Ministry of Agriculture (N1billion) and the SGF (N5million).

Attempts by PREMIUM TIMES to get reactions from the Ministry of Finance during the course of this report were not successful. On Wednesday, Oluyinka Akintunde, an aide to Minister Adeosun, told this reporter that enquiries about the spending would be directed to the minister who he said was travelling abroad. But as at 4:30 PM on Friday, Mr Oluyinka was yet to revert.

The House of Representatives spokesperson, Abdulrasak Namdas, did not reply calls and text messages on Thursday after agreeing to have a meeting with this reporter the previous day. He was not in his office two times this reporter visited.

Similarly, Senate Spokesperson, Sabi Abdullahi, did not answer calls and text messages sent to him.

Laolu Akande, the spokesperson to Vice President Osinbajo, said the presidency was unaware that the finance ministry was funding projects opposed by his boss and President Buhari.

“This is news to us,” he said. “We will need further details to enable us to comment appropriately.”

PREMIUM TIMES had on April 25 reported how Mrs. Adeosun approved N120billion for the funding of self-enriching projects smuggled into the 2017 budgets by federal lawmakers.

Ten billion of the amount was specifically given to the lawmakers to purportedly offset some liabilities. The lawmakers then proceeded to spend a huge chunk of the largesse on exotic cars.

Contracts were also awarded to some unregistered companies from which some lawmakers were said to have received kickbacks.

Culled: PREMIUM TIMES

Justice Chizoba Oji of FCT High Court, Apo, on Friday, granted N50 million bail to Victor Onofiok, ex-Commissioner of Police, docked on a 21-count charge bordering on fraud to the tune of N1.9 billion.

Oji also ordered the defendant to provide two sureties with landed property and resident in the FCT.

She adjourned the case until October 4 and 16 for definite hearing.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), docked the former commissioner of police, for alleged money laundering and illegal diversion of police funds, offences he denied committing.

When the case came up on Wednesday, May 23, Oji adjourned the case until June1, to rule on Onofiok’s bail application, as he denied committing the alleged offences.

The prosecutor, Deborah Eteh, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offences between 2008 and 2009; and 2011.

She said that Onofiok, while served as the CP, in charge of Works, Logistics and Supply of the Nigeria Police Force, abused his office.

She alleged that the defendant awarded contracts for the construction and rehabilitation of police facilities across the country to his personal companies.

Eteh said that the defendant, while serving as CP Force Headquarters, between 2008 and 2009 at Abuja, unlawfully used his office and position to corruptly confer undue advantage upon himself by using companies registered in his name.

She listed them as: Faksene International, Dutse Allah Construction Ventures, Nne-Edak Technical Ventures, Puristic Adherent Company, and Quality Watch Construction Company.

The prosecutor also said that in 2011, the defendant used his position to secure contract for the construction of Police quarters, at Victoria Island and Ikorodu, worth N95.67million

The offences contravened the provisions of Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000.

Apochi Suleiman is a JTF Commander in the Niger Delta region, but now known as Commander of Bunkering in Nigeria, CBN

Before his gallantry is noted, some background about ‘illegal bunkering’ and loss of Nigerians’ commonwealth is imperative. The level of poverty is frightening in Nigeria. It is now a cliché that many Nigerians live on or earn less than $2 a day. But it is not a cliché that some individuals are bent to ensure that Nigerians remain poor and the petrol-economy remain opaque and drain the national treasury in spite of the fact that Nigeria is one of the largest oil-producing nations in the world.

At a time, when crude oil prices are on the rise again –when Nigeria should be making a kill in petro-dollars, its uniformed agents are flunking every efforts of the government to benefit from its resources. Suleiman is a recurring decimal under the circumstance.

To situate the scenario: The nation loses over $1billion monthly to activities of oil thieves in the Niger Delta region. Various experts have estimated the volume of oil theft at between 100,000 and 250,000 barrels per day or as much as 91 million barrels yearly or billions of dollars in lost revenue.

For years now, the Federal Government has stationed various military personnel –including the Navy, the Nigerian Army and the Air Force –otherwise known as the JTF to prevent further illegal activities –often referred to as ‘illegal bunkering’ from emasculating the oil earnings that should accrue to the government and its people.

However, those charged with the responsibility of securing the national assets in terms of oil facilities –the JTF – have been fingered in theft and conspiracy against Nigeria. It is said that some JTF members are brains behind colossal oil theft. It is reported that officers and enlisted personnel allegedly pay large premiums for the opportunity to serve in the JTF because the huge amount of money they make from protecting or participating in ‘illegal bunkering’ is too fabulous to ignore.

This is an open secret: interested Navy officers are said to cough up to $30,000 to serve in the Niger Delta. It is little wonder that some military officers are so successful that they have bought multimillion-dollar homes in high-end neighbourhoods in Lagos. Proceeds from ‘illegal bunkering’ became high enough in the last several years to enable both JTF members and ‘militants’ to operate on the same turf.

The JTF Commander Suleman is said not to be working alone –he has a worthy lieutenant in the person of one Dagogo Gilbert. The duo is a Siamese twin that a source said: “Dagogo Gilbert is the key man that collects money for Apochi Suleman –if this man is arrested everything about him (Suleman) will be exposed. This information is very real. Suleman is the JTF commander.”

Repeated allegations have been made against this JTF Commander and certain individuals that collect money on his behalf. But the government has yet to give sufficient scrutiny to these allegations. The government should think: without the active connivance of the JTF how can some illegal oil merchants steal Nigeria’s crude oil without resistance and sell it at the country’s expense when Nigeria should making huge profits given the increase in the price of oil.

The federal government is therefore urged to take another look at the JTF, its supposed activities bordering on patrol boats to the structure of the force and the topmost hierarchy of its establishment.

The government should take seriously the call for help by the “Concerned Citizen of Bony, Nembe, Kula and Bille Communities, Rivers State”. In recent statements published by the communities and signed by Mr Ebi George and Comrade Preye Dumbraye, they noted: “We the indigenes of Bony, Nembe, Kula and Bille communities are forced to cry out again after the publication of May 15, 2018 in the Vanguard newspaper on page 22. Since that publication the activities of oil bunkering has increased ten folds in our communities. Oil bunkering vessels come in every two days to load crude oil from Bony, Nembe, Kula and Bille under military escorts who pilot them in and out of our communities.

“We commend the efforts of the General Officer Commanding (GOC) and Commanding Officer 29 Battalion Port Harcourt for his efforts to combat oil bunkering activities. But the bad eggs in the Army and the Navy are actively involved in oil bunkering in Bony, Nembe, Kula, and Bille communities in Rivers and Bayelsa states.”

The statement further said: “We call on the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Naval Staff to direct their field officers and commanders to stop their men from collaborating with oil bunkerers and pipeline vandals in Bony and Nembe axis and Kula and Bille –both in Rivers and Bayelsa who operate in broad daylight under the escort of Army and Navy personnel from Port Harcourt to Bayelsa. The brazen manner in which vessels come in and out of Bonny and Nembe is very alarming. Kula and Bille are not left out. The ongoing battle by the GOC and Commanding Officer of 29 Battalion in Kula and Bille to combat pipeline vandals and oil bunkerers should be extended to Bony and Nembe.”

In yet another statement, they urged President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the saboteurs from ruining the efforts of his administration to fight corruption and provide succour for the masses.

“We commend President Buhari for his doggedness and resilience in spite of all the distraction by detractors and enemies of progress. We want to draw the attention of Mr President to the activities of oil thieves in the Niger Delta, especially in Rivers and Bayelsa states. We have raised the alarm on the increased activities of oil thieves (crude oil theft) and illegal refinery in Bony, Nembe, Kula, and Bille communities in Rivers and Bayelsa in two separate publications in the Vanguard newspaper of May 15 and 24, 2018 which were swept under the carpet.

“Mr President, it is worrisome that the central command of the Navy and Army charged with the responsibility of ensuring that these illegal activities do not take place in the Niger Delta region are directly collaborating with oil thieves and illegal refineries in Rivers and Bayelsa to sabotage the Nigerian economy. How best can we describe the situation where naval and army personnel escort barges of oil bunkers to the open sea for business with foreign nationals waiting with huge ships to buy the stolen products? We urge Mr President to put a halt to this and direct all service chiefs –the Navy, Army and Air Force to bring the culprits to book. Rivers and Bayelsa states are the gateway of illegal oil theft in Nigeria,” the group said.

The embattled Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, attended the Senate plenary on Wednesday after some weeks absence.

Mr Melaye has been bed-ridden since he landed in the hospital after a failed attempt to evade being taken to Kogi State by the Nigerian police.

The lawmaker, raising a point of order on Wednesday, thanked his colleagues, members of the House of Representatives, his constituents and the Nigerian populace for standing by him during his travails with the police.

He also took his time to thank the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for their support.

“Specially, I appreciate the Peoples Democratic Party for making statement during my recall exercise and asking everyone to stay aback. Politics has been shown not to be individualistic but to be about issues and purpose. To the National Chairman and executives of PDP in Kogi State, I salute you.”

Mr Melaye, who attended the chamber with a neck support, also asked the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to mandate the sergeant-at-arms to create a seat for him at the opposition wing of the chamber.

Thereafter, he announced he would sit beside former Senate President, David Mark, pending the time a seat will be allocated to him.

“I have a special request to you Mr President,” he said. “Because of the trauma I went through and I’m still going through, I want to seek your indulgence that you will call on the Sergeant-at-arms to look for a comfortable seat for me on this side of the divide (pointing to the opposition wing) because I am no longer comfortable sitting here. So, I want to ask the Senate President that you mandate the sergeant-at-arms tomorrow to look for a seat for me on this other divide of the chamber.

“Before you do that today, through the help of my walking stick I will take a comfortable seat close to Papa, General Senator David Mark pending when you get me a comfortable seat on this side.”

He did not state categorically that he was decamping, but his colleagues perceived a suspicion that he had concluded plans to move to the PDP.

Mr Melaye thereafter moved to the opposition side to sit beside Mr Mark.

Mr Melaye’s movement was greeted by rowdiness among lawmakers at the Senate floor with those who spoke later expressing mixed reactions. The PDP senators spoke in favour of his move while APC senators tried to prevent his movement.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, granted his immediate prayer of sitting beside Mr Mark for the day while noting that his request for a permanent seat at the opposition wing will be looked into. But the decision didn’t go down well with APC senators.

First to oppose was the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, who said Mr Melaye’s movement without proper allocation negates Order 56 (3) of the Senate.

“Senator Dino Melaye remains one of our senators of the APC stock. I sat there for eight years and I know how the seats there are. I have sat here for the last three years and I know the difference. We have the best seat to give him at this side. If there is any difficulty with his seat, we’ll find any other one for him.”

He requested the chief whip to bring Mr Melaye back to the APC wing of the chamber.

Next was the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who argued that Mr Melaye’s action was borne out of his welfare and right to exercise freedom. He urged APC senators to respect the action.

Godswill Akpabio, the Senate Minority Leader, said the movement is not about party allegiance. He said the PDP is willing to accept any APC senator who wishes to cross.

“Where we are now is the Nigerian Senate. Whether to the left or the right. At any point in time that any senator on the left feels that his or her seat is not comfortable. He is welcomed here. I want to welcome Senator Dino here. We are the ones that should have complained, but we are not complaining. We must be our brothers’ keepers,” he said.

Amidst rowdiness still, Barau Jibrin (Kano-APC) said the National Assembly is empowered to regulate its proceedings according to section 60 of the constitution. He prevailed on the Chief Whip to return Mr Melaye to his seat pending the time he is allocated another seat in accordance with Senate rule.

“The order of the Senate clearly specifies that every senator shall sit on a seat that has been assigned to him by the Senate President. Therefore, the position canvassed by the Deputy Senate President does not hold here because it is against the Nigerian constitution.

“In this regard, the Senate Leader or the Chief Whip should as a matter of urgency, due to the health situation of Senator Dino, have a seat that is OK for him. Sitting in a seat different from what is assigned to him is against the constitution.”

Also in defence of APC senators, the Chief Whip, Olusola Adeyeye, urged Mr Saraki to avoid setting a bad precedent by allowing the change of seat.

“The qualification of any member of the National Assembly is that he be a member of a political party. In the Senate, seats are assigned based on membership of a political party.

“We are setting a bad precedent. We are beginning to institutionalise chaos if we use any excuse to transfer any member across the aisle. On the basis of the constitution, I will take Dino across this place and any seat he wants, we will give to him.”

Mr Saraki however defended his position noting that Mr Melaye did not at any time mention that he wanted to defect to another party.

“I don’t think at any time in his contribution the issue of change of allegiance or party ever came up. It’s not an issue that has come up today at all. He talked about his state of mind and comfort. None of us has been through what he has been through neither do I think the rules have ever foresaw this kind of situation. As part of our spirit of giving support, we will accommodate his request and make sure that seat is comfortable so that you can come back.”

Mr Saraki’s statement on party affiliation clarifies the current official situation as regards Mr Melaye’s political party. To decamp officially, Mr Melaye would have to write the Senate president of his decision to leave his party and join the opposition. The letter would then be read during Senate plenary.

Shortly after the senate president’s ruling, Kabir Marafa (Zamfara-APC) rose to speak against the ruling. He urged Mr Saraki to reverse his position.

“Mr President, I respect your rulings and I agree with your rulings,” he said. “However, on this matter, we are setting a bad precedent.”

Mr Saraki ruled him out of order.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday assured Nigerians that the ‘Not too Young to Run Bill’ will be signed into law in a few days’ time.

The president disclosed this in his Democracy Day speech which aired Tuesday at 7:00 a.m.

“In few days to come, I will be joined by many promising young Nigerians to sign into law the “Not Too Young to Run” Bill,” Mr Buhari said.

The president’s comments would relieve proponents of the revolutionary new law which is aimed at relaxing some of the stringent and discriminatory provisions of the Constitution.

The bill was passed by the National Assembly last year to alter Sections 65, 106, 131, 177 of the Constitution to reduce the age qualification for president from 40 to 30; governor from 35 to 30; senator from 35 to 30; House of Representatives membership from 30 to 25 and State House of Assembly membership from 30 to 25.

Lawmakers also approved independent candidature in the new law. It was part of a wider constitutional amendment process which the National Assembly carried out last year.

Since its passage in July 2017 by the National Assembly, about 25 states, representing more than two-thirds of the country’s 36 states, had adopted the bill as at March ending.

It was the outcome of relentless efforts by a coalition of more than 40 youth-based initiatives across the country.

There were initial fears that Mr Buhari may not sign the bill because it was not politically expedient, but administration officials repeatedly pushed back against this assertion, saying the president is open to any initiative that would further the interest of the younger generation.

Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, Monday, said Visionscape Sanitation Solution, introduced by the state government, was a ghost as far as the state House of Assembly was concerned.

Newly acquired trucks by Visionscape for waste management in Lagos Obasa spoke while responding to questions raised by one of the stakeholders at the 3rd edition of Lagos State House of Assembly media and civil society organizations parley.

According to him, “There are heaps of refuse all over the state and we are worried by this on a daily basis. Visionscape is a ghost and we are not bound to embrace it. We will say no where it is necessary and where we are to say yes, we will say so in multiple.”

He lamented that the way heaps of refuse are scattered all over the streets and major roads across the city, could lead to outbreak of epidemic among residents. Reacting, Visionscape’s Group Head, Communications, Ms Motunrayo Ellias, in a statement said:

“The company is not aware of any formal communication or announcement made concerning our contract with Lagos State Government.

“Visionscape continues to focus on our infrastructure remit which is a top priority in the environmental remediation plans of the state.

“Backbone infrastructure is essential to building significant capacity in the effective management of waste beyond disposal and delivering on that for the people of Lagos is our primary focus.

“Visionscape will continue to keep all stakeholders informed of further developments should the need arise.”

The bill It will be recalled that in February 2017, the House passed the executive bill, which has 251 sections entitled,

“A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Management, Protection and Sustainable Development of the Environment in Lagos State and for other Connected Purposes” into law.

President Muhammadu Buhari says the achievements of his administration is in line with its set goals.

Buhari said this in his democracy day lecture delivered at the International Conference Center (ICC) , Abuja.

The president said the theme of the programme, ‘Peace Building and Good Governance for Sustainable Development’ was “carefully selected to reflect our current opportunities and challenges.”

He called on Nigerians to have faith in his government, while reeling out the progress it has recorded in its third years in power.

“Our economy is on the mend. We have achieved a good number of our set objectives, notably increased food production and food security; increased economic diversification into sectors that were hitherto neglected or under-explored,” Buhari said.

“We have experienced rough times, but through good governance we have not allowed ourselves to be overawed by the existing of challenges.

“Overall, we are on track. I thank and commend all who have worked so hard with us to achieve these successes.

“A government elected by the people, must continually be in touch with the aspirations of the people, and work for their highest possible good.

“I assure you that our people will continue to see and experience more progress, more prosperity and greater security.

“Finally, I call on Nigerians to remain steadfast and to keep faith with this Administration, as we remain committed to peace building and good governance, to deliver the best of dividends of democracy to the Nigerian people.”

The Grand Masters of Data, Globacom, has enjoined Nigerians to show more patriotism and love on the occasion of this year’s Democracy Day which is a day set aside for commemorating the restoration of democracy in the country.

The company in a statement released to congratulate Nigerians on the occasion, said citizens should reflect on noble virtues which will further strengthen the geographical entity called Nigeria with a view to contributing their quota to its enhanced growth and development.

According to Globacom, patriotism encompasses loyalty and service to fatherland, love and goodwill towards fellow compatriots, spreading of peace and laying of emphasis on the virtues that unite us rather than the vices that divide us.

“Patriotism is also an avowed commitment to making the country work in our daily endeavours and a readiness to make sacrifices for its defence”, the company stressed.

Quoting a Greek proverb which says “If a man does not boast about his house, it will fall on him”, Globacom reaffirmed that all Nigerians must work towards preserving the country’s identity as a nation of progressive, conscientious and God-fearing people who have interest in its wellness and continued existence.

The company commended Nigerians for unbroken sustenance of democracy in the last nineteen years, adding that citizens should endeavour to keep all centrifugal forces at bay especially as the country enters another election year.

Globacom assured its customers of its voice and data services which carry an array of benefits, saying the services will be available during and after the public holiday.

Mr. Ken Chibueze Onu (an engineer) has narrated how Pastor Benedict Mgdire of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, Georgia, United States of America (USA) branch, defrauded him of $38,000.

This was even as Onu claimed that his son, who attends the Chosen International Secondary School, was chased out of the school for not paying his fees. Onu, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Kenglobal Trade and Industry Limited, said that he was also a member of the church.

He said: “I singlehandedly financed the opening of the Mbaitolu and Ikeduru branches of the church in Imo State. What is happening between Pastor Mgdire and I is quite unfortunate.

My son, who is schooling in the church’s school, located at Mgbidi Oru West, Local Government Area, Imo State, was sent out of the school because we couldn’t pay his school fees.”

Recollecting the genesis of his troubles, Onu said that after Mgdire returned from the U.S., he engaged him in discussions. He said: “I told him that I have a car park space on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

He also told me that he had his own car showroom in the U.S. He told me that he used to import vehicles into the country and spare parts. One day, he came to borrow money from me.

By then, exchange rate was N500 per dollar.” Onu and Mgdire reached an agreement; rather than refund the money, Mgdire should ship vehicles to Onu. Onu said that he sourced most of the money from his banks and other means.

The money was later wired to Mgdire. He said: “I didn’t receive any vehicle. I called him several times, but he wouldn’t pick my calls. I suspected a foul play and reported to our General Overseer, Pastor Lazarus Muoka. Our GO told me that, if it was Mgdire, I shouldn’t worry. Other church ministers I complained to about him, said Mgdire was reliable.

I was so disturbed, because this was a breach of trust. He duped me! He lured me into his business and deceived me, using the name of God. He told me that if I could send a certain amount of money, he would supply me cars of my choice at a good rate.” When Onu realised that he was about to lose his money, his blood pressure jumped. He said that he almost died, but for God and his doctor.

He said: “My problem is that most of the money was borrowed from banks and the interest was galloping every day. At a point, I could no longer sleep. The pastor refused to pick my calls or do anything about our business deal.” Onu said that he tried to report the matter to as many pastors in the church as possible, but at a point, they all allegedly stopped picking his calls.

He decided to seek the intervention of their Public Relations Officer (PRO). The man allegedly told him to exercise patience, that the matter was an in-house one.

Onu said that eight months after, the bank loans and Mgdire’s inability to fulfil his part of the deal grounded his business and caused his son to be sent out of school.

He said: “Financially, my situation was getting worst. I could no longer take care of my family. I went to our GO and asked that the church should assist me; at least for my son to be allowed to continue his studies.” Onu was directed to the church education director, who after listening to him, replied that he was not in a position to do anything.

Onu was further pained after his boy was not allowed to sit for his examination. He added: “I called our GO several times until he picked. He told me that a lot of people had problems, just as I do. He said that if I couldn’t pay my son’s school fees, he shouldn’t come back to school.

I appealed to him to understand my predicament. I was into importation before now; and if not for what happened to me, I wouldn’t go to the GO to seek assistance for my son to continue his education.

Some of the buses the church is using, I assisted to buy them from the U.S. Until now, I have never gone to the church to seek help.” Thinking that his GO’s wife might be able to help, Onu sent several text messages to her, explaining his situation and that of his son. He said: “But my GO’s wife, Mrs. Joy Muoka, didn’t bother to reply my messages.

I was surprised because she used to be very nice to my family and I. I don’t know what went wrong. I don’t know my offence against the church. I don’t understand why the church and ministers abandoned my family and I. My financial situation was so bad that my landlord issued me a quit notice because I couldn’t pay my rent.” When everyone, especially his church failed him, Onu started making moves himself.

He tried to get information on when Mgdire might come into the country. In the course of probing, he discovered that Mgdire had been to Nigeria several times with consignments, but usually leaves immediately after selling them. Onu had to report the matter to the police. When our correspondent called Muoka about the matter, he said that he was not aware of it.

He added: “If there is any issue of such in the church, the people involved should settle the matter.” But Onu said he later recovered a container valued at $20,000 from Mgdire.

He said: “We were able to track the container from the U.S., while monitoring his activities. We got information recently from a reliable source that Mgdire shipped in goods, which included vehicles and spare parts in a container.

We went to the terminal at Apapa, Lagos, where the container was cleared. Later, we learnt that he moved the container into the country through Ghana. I heard that he has been shipping containers full of goods into the country through Ghana. After selling the whole things, he would travel back to the U.S. without bothering to see me; me that he collected money from for over two years.”

On the day that Mgdire entered Landipo Market to contact people to buy some of the cars and parts he shipped into Nigeria, Onu got the information and alerted the police. Mgdire was arrested and moved to the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti, Yaba. Reacting to allegation levelled against him, Mgdire said: “Onu is like a brother to me. What happened between the two of us was a mere misunderstanding. Onu got police to lock me; he’s just suffering my body, not my soul.”

Mgdire’s brother-in-law, Dr. Tony Onwuka, who took his bail and stood surety, said that he couldn’t speak with our correspondent until he had contacted his lawyer.

Onwuka, however, said: “I believe that the issue between my brother-inlaw and Onu can be settled without going to press or making it public knowledge.”

Mgdire’s lawyer, Arthur, said that the two parties involved had agreed to resolve the matter amicably because they were brothers. He disclosed that Mgdire had earlier sent a car and $1,500 to Onu as part of money owed him. The Lagos Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Chike Oti, said that the matter was still under investigation.

Alex Iwobi’s father, Chuka, has stated that former Eagles captain, Austin Okocha did not make his son a star.

The Arsenal and Eagles forward had stated several times that players like Okocha and Thiery Henry were his role models who influenced his rise to stardom.

Reacting, Iwobi’s father told Sports Vanguard that it was incorrect to say Okocha made Iwobi to become a star.

He added: “Its just like any other father, you support your child in whatever he or she wants to do.

“There was no plan for Alex to become a footballer, not to talk of a star. He took it up on himself and as a good parent, we only had to support, because ultimately it was down to him”

Alex Iwobi and other players are in Super Eagles pre-World Cup training camp opened in Uyo.

Super Eagles are expected to trade tackles with Leopards of Congo DR next Monday in Port Harcourt before proceeding to London, where they will play the Three Lions of England at the Wembley Stadium on June 2.

The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State is far from over as stakeholders of the party in the state have told Governor Rochas Okorocha that not even President Muhammad Buhari will save him from losing the party structure in the state.

On Thursday, Governor Okorocha accompanied by former governor of Edo State and prospective National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole paid a visit to President Buhari at the Aso rock villa, Abuja.

Speculations are rife that Okorocha’s latest meeting with Buhari after an earlier one with him in Daura may still not be unconnected with the controversial primaries held in the state.
But reacting to the development, the state chairman of the APC, Hillary Ekeh who has refused to acknowledge the suspension order on him by the State exco asserted that Governor Okorocha’s visits to the President are meaningless, insisting that the party’s stand on the congresses is final.

He insisted that all the congresses held in the state were duly conducted in accordance with the provisions of the constitutions of the party, reaffirming that the governor’s visit will be of no impact.
Ekeh said: “it is not possible, we do not need to go to Abuja to visit the president; the national, both the congress committee have already written their reports which is the final journey and they did that in accordance with the congress guidelines; it is not Kalu and Kalu Nigeria Ltd, this is APC.

“The party has a constitution, Oshiomole is an aspirant, if he wins, he will also come in to be sworn in to guide and defend the constitution of the party, even if he wants to amend the constitution of the party, it is the NEC that would that. So Okorocha’s visits do not have any influence; maybe Oshiomole is going to solicit for the President’s support for himself.”

On why the state congress election was held in another venue, Ekeh alleged that the invasion of the state party secretariat earlier by thugs, caused the relocation of the congress election to another venue the national leadership of the party was already aware of.

On the congress held at night, Ekeh said: “it is only a novice who does not know that election can enter into the nights; this is a congress where government thugs set the party office on fire and the congress guidelines say that the congress must take place at the party secretariat and if the party secretariat is not convenient for the congress to take place there, that the chairman of the congress committee would choose another public venue that is not a residential house by himself and inform the state chairman of the party who in turn will inform the delegates of the new venue, and the chairman can see that the place was burnt and besieged by thugs and police, then he went round to choose another place after writing to the national party, so there is no guideline that says the party can not hold at night.”

Meanwhile, Governor Okorocha has said that his visit to President Buhari with Oshiomole should not warrant raising an eyebrow.

The governor who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo said that as the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and leader of the party in the state, he does not need anybody’s permission to visit the President.

He said: “Do not forget that aside being governor of Imo and indeed, of APC extraction, he is also, by the grace of God, the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum. So, from time to time, there could be reasons to warrant his going to see President Muhammadu Buhari. In other words, his visit to Mr. President at any time shouldn’t raise any eyebrow”
He noted that visiting the President with Oshiomhole and frontline aspirant to the National Chairmanship of APC should also not be seen as unusual.

“Yes, the governor had gone to complain of the bad politics played with the party’s congresses in Imo. The stealing of the sensitive materials for the congresses which were later found in a hotel in Abuja with the aides of those who made away with the congress materials. The ugly incident had a lot of security challenges which the culprits were obviously not mindful of. The disappearance of the congress materials could have led to major security challenges in the state if not the statesman’s way the governor handled the whole situation.”

It is also wrong for anybody to begin to link every visit of the governor to the President with the issues arising from the aborted Congresses in Imo. The governor visits the President and will continue to do so whenever the need arises” Governor Okorocha stated.
Leader of the Imo APC Stakeholders Forum, Chief Okey Ikoro has advised Okorocha to stop disturbing president Muhammadu Buhari and embrace the new state executives of the party who were duly elected through a valid state congress.

He noted that Okorocha’s constant meetings with President Buhari over a party issue is an indication the governor does not know that political parties operate on a constitution and rules, stressing that the president would not be able to help him upturn a validly held ward, local government and state congresses which were conducted according to the constitutional guidelines of the party.

The Director-General of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Dr Muhtari Aminu-Kano, raised the alarm on Saturday that erosion may soon wipe off the Lekki Conservation Centre in Lagos.

Aminu-Kano said that sand filling, dredging and land reclamation activities in various communities in the area had directly threatened the existence of the park.

According to him, the development has endangered various animal and plant species in the reserve, requiring urgent intervention of the Lagos and Federal Government to save the reserve.

“Our problem is that with recent developments, we have become an island.

“This is one of the only few places where you have dense population of trees and animals and what that means is that all the buildings around us have raised the land above us so, we are now in a depression.

“When the rains come, all the water drains into this reserve. So we have a lot of flooding and areas that are not normally flooded are now flooded.

“We have, however, done a study and we are trying to improve the drainage without disturbing the natural ecosystem.

“But another problem we have is that of shoreline erosion.’’

He noted that with the ongoing protection of the Bar Beach shoreline and land reclamation activities around Maroko and Lekki, water was finding its level back on the conservation area.

“It means this reserve is under threat. The erosion is now eating up the area. What used to be Bar Beach erosion before is now coming to our part of Lagos.

“That is why we are asking the authorities, both Lagos State and the Federal Government, especially the Ecological Funds Office to do something urgently.

“Our appeal is not just for us alone but all the communities around us living or deriving their livelihoods from this area.’’

He said that the NCF was also speaking to researchers and other interests on ways to explore the bio-diversity of the reserve.

Aminu-Kano, however, lauded Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for providing some facilities and constructing a major perimeter road to facilitate access to the park.

He appealed for more support to boost tourism at the park, lamenting that forests and game reserves in the country were facing deforestation, due to human activities.

A correspondent, who visited the park reports that some portions of the reserve, having low fence have collapsed while some other facilities have dilapidated. (NAN)

It was fun at the Radisson Blu hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, as Evolve, an Indian firm with the mission of enhancing people’s live by helping them evolve personally and professionally, held a life-changing wellness programme to educate the people and uplift those around them.

The firm, which aims at instilling and amplifying the values of confidence and success that should transcend throughout Nigeria, acts as a catalyst for real change by enabling people to master the tools to living a healthy and fulfilling life.

According to the founder, Ravina Kirpalani, the big plan is to use a four pronged approach to wellness including motivational events, one-on-one coaching, corporate workshops and wellness retreats.

He noted that Evolve is committed to contributing to the greater society, a percentage of its earnings to various charitable groups and NGOs to help the underprivileged and disabled.

At the occasion that kicked started with a full day event, five major international speakers, with several years of experience in the wellness and healing space were featured.

The day-long was a huge success and created a lasting impression on those who attended as the participants learned different concepts that they tend to ignore in the hustle and bustle of everyday life; things that we really should not overlook if we are seeking a happy and fulfilling life.

“I was so pleased to see something like this in Lagos because we experience so many stresses in today’s society, making it important to take a pause and give ourselves some much needed time for ourselves,” said one of the participants, Mrs. Mercy Jones.

Speaking on “Be Your Greatest Self,” Ravina Kirpalani taught the audience on how to feel energetic on daily basis in order to make life a joyful experience, especially when loss of strength is involved.

On her own, Ruchi Khanna, thrilled the participants with teachings on ‘Human Astrology,’ the real truth about who we are and how we could tap into our lives’ purpose in order to achieve innate greatest potential.

Ronak Gajjar, who spoke on how to include meditation and yoga into our day to bring more peace and love into our lives, said this is would go a long way to shut the noise in our inner minds to experience the supernatural peace and love.

Hamisha Daryani Ahuja, also thrilled the participants with the popular Law of Attraction, showing some simple techniques to help one create abundance in all aspects of one’s life.

More so, Sarah Boulos demonstrated the brain dance, which triggers both sides of our brain, boosting our energy levels and activating our senses, an enlightening experience that left the audience wanting more.

However, it was a whole week of and participants had the chance of attending yoga sessions including blindfolded yoga and partner yoga; mediation sessions; as well as other workshops on Health, stress relief, energy flow and attraction rituals.

Also, therapists, who came in from India were also available for private sessions to help people on an individual basis. Each workshop gave the attendees simple practices, which they could include in their day to live for the life they envision for themselves. It was a well-received appreciation of its launch event.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Hotels Plc, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, has lamented the neglect of the Nigeria’s tourism sector by governments at all levels.

Ozigbo revealed that this was demonstrated by the abysmal marketing of the sector by relevant ministries and agencies of government.

Speaking at a national tourism transport summit and expo in Abuja, yesterday, he advised the relevant ministries and agencies of government at the federal and state levels to spearhead the marketing of the tourism sector in Nigeria, saying doing so would help in leapfrogging the sector into a major revenue earner.

He said: “If well harnessed, the tourism sector, with its vast potential, could displace oil as the nation’s highest revenue earner.”

Ozigbo, who was a panel discussant in one of the sessions of the event on “Marketing Destinations in Nigeria: What Role for the Transportation and Tourism Sectors”, stated that everywhere in the world, governments play the critical role of enablers and marketers of the tourism sector while the private sector acts as the driver.

According to him, with the kind of symbiotic relationship between the government and the private sector in the tourism business, the former should spearhead the marketing role while the latter drives the process.

He noted that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, for instance was expected to be the chief marketing officer of the tourism potential in the nation’s capital.

According to him, doing so would equipped the minister with the challenges in the sector and propel him to seek solutions with a view to boosting it.

He also explained that with the absence of a potent marketing of the tourism potential in the FCT, Transcorp Hotels Plc had gone out of the way to market and ensure that its customers are availed of the pleasure of visiting some tourism sites in the FCT.

“In Transcorp, we’re not only serving our customers, but selling the city. We’ve been putting together tourism destinations. Our job will be made easier when the government plays their role,” he said.

He also recalled the strides of a former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke in marketing the tourism potential of that state, which eventually etched the Obudu Resort and other sites in the state on the global map.

Catholic faithful in Akwa Ibom state on Tuesday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to resign over the gruesome murder of 2 Catholic priests and 17 parishioners by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Benue state.

This is as members of the church who trooped out in the hundreds stormed the streets of Uyo, the state capital in protest and solidarity with victims and families of the Catholic massacre in Benue.

The placard-carrying catholic leaders, priests, women, youths and children marched from the Uyo Diocesan headquarters at Brook Street with placards to the Government House, where they registered their complaints before governor Udom Emmanuel.

Some inscriptions on the placards read, “No to religious terrorism”; “Live and let’s live”; “No weapon fashion against Christians shall prosper”; “Say no to terrorism in places of worship”, Christian lives matter”; “No to ethnic cleansing”; “Human life is sacred”, etc.

Addressing Journalists, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Uyo, Most Rev. John Aya, lamented over the collapse of security architecture in the country, noting that such lapses led to the invasion of the Catholic Church in Benue, where two Priests and 17 parishioners were killed by armed herdsmen.

He, therefore, urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to resign in line with the resolution of the Catholic Bishops Conference (CBC), noting that “any government that fails to secure lives and properties of citizens has failed and should resign”.

“The killings portray lack of security in the country and Buhari should know that there have been too many killings in the country. We should not continue to live in fear in the country.

In the same vein, the Vicar General in-charge of administration in the Diocese, Donatus Udoette, urged Christians to remain calm in the face of these unprovoked attacks and admonished adherents to continue to rely on prayers, mass and rosary as their spiritual weapons.

“We want to live in peace. Catholics can’t carry arms for self-protection because our only weapons are prayers, rosary and mass. Therefore, we are asking Christians not to take up arms, but fight the battle with prayers and peaceful protest”.

However, Governor Emmanuel commended their peaceful protest over killing of Christians in the country and appealed to the Federal Government to step security in the country to forestall further killings of citizens some parts of the country.

Pan-African Financial Services Institution, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc will be rewarding its loyal customers who refer friends and family to the bank in its new diaspora campaign.

The campaign is designed to reward customers of the bank who refer their Diaspora friends/relatives to open a UBA account.

Specifically, this campaign will last for three months and the bank will be rewarding any customer who refers other customers with the reward of N5,000 for every successfully opened new and funded account.

For instance, new and existing customers who refer friends and relatives in the Diaspora to open new UBA accounts will be eligible to grab the reward for as many times as the number of people they refer.

According to the campaign managers, the referrer who must have an account with UBA, will have his/her account number inputted in the provided field by the referred. The account number is expected to serve as a reference code for paying the reward, and once the new Diaspora account is funded with a minimum of $100, $100, £100, €100 or N50,000, for a one-month period, the reward sum of N5,000 will be automatically credited into the Referrer’s account.

The statement further explained that the campaign which kicks-off on May 22, 2018, involves no raffle draws, customers just refer, and redeem their cash prizes after successful funding of the new account.

The Divisional Police Office, Lion Building, Campell Street at the Lagos Island has declared eight persons, who were of the banking profession, wanted over charges bordering on fraudulent theft of millions of Naira from a new generation bank.

After securing an arrest warrant from a Magistrate Court in Lagos, the police division stated that the suspects, if seen, should be arrested and brought to its station or the nearest police station, even as it gave 08033068667 and 08182465467 as numbers that can be reached by anyone who comes across the wanted persons.

The names of the bankers as declared in the official gazette are: Linda Natufe Chekwube, Matthew Akpan Benny, Juwon Faromoh, Oluwasoji Ajetumobi, Ogunlaja Olasukanmi Ganiyu, Oshiojum Chibuzor Wilson, Akanaga Christian Chika and Nelson Omuzagha.

In the main, the names and offences for which the bankers are on the wanted list can be seen and read in the special police gazette bulletin published below…

Ecobank Nigeria has commenced a youth engagement program in tertiary institutions across Nigeria as part of efforts to deepen financial inclusion by banking the youth.

The initiative, themed ‘Ecobank Xpress Campus Storm’ will avail students of tertiary institutions the opportunity to open the Ecobank Xpress account, a digital account that requires no documentation, minimum balance or paperwork, simply by downloading the Ecobank Mobile app.

With the Ecobank Xpress account, students will be able to access financial services such as airtime top up, funds transfer and bill payments from their mobile devices. Parents and Guardians will also be able to transfer money to their children or wards‘Xpress accounts which they can withdraw without a card at any Ecobank ATM or Xpress Point.

The first phase of this initiative will cover 24 universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.

Flagging off the program, Carol Oyedeji, Executive Director Consumer Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, said the initiative is to empower young people by offering them convenient, affordable and accessible financial services anytime, anywhere from their mobile.

She reiterated that it was in line with the bank’s strategy to make banking available to the hitherto unbanked and underbanked in support of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s financial inclusive drive.

According to Mrs. Oyedeji: “This initiative is one of the ways we are connecting with the youth segment. We will set up free WiFicentres tagged the ‘Xpress Corner’ across these campuses and there are opportunities for the students to win exciting prizes during the activation. We will also hold concerts with major artistes as a means of infusing fun into the program”

Institutions listed for the campus storm include University of Lagos, Akoka; Yaba College of Technology, Yaba; University of Benin, Benin City; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; ObafemiAwolowo University, Ile-Ife; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; MoshoodAbiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta; University of Abuja and University of Uyo, AkwaIbom, among others.

Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode on Tuesday distanced herself from the criminal activities of a certain individual posing as her representative to extort money from unsuspecting members of the public.

Mrs. Ambode, in a statement signed by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Mrs. Folashade Kadiri said the unknown individual has been utilizing social media platforms to disguise as her representative to defraud people, alerting Nigerians to be wary of such entreaties from any person.

The statement read; “The attention of Her Excellency, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, wife of the Governor of Lagos State, has been drawn to the criminal activities of a certain individual, masquerading as her representative, for the purpose of exhorting money from unsuspecting persons, using the social media platform.

“Her Excellency wishes to state very emphatically, that she has no links whatsoever with such fraudulent element, neither has she authorized anyone to act on her behalf in questionable circumstances.”

She also urged members of the public to be vigilant and avoid dealings with shadowy figures, purporting to be representing her, for motives that are self-serving and clearly dubious, while calling on them to report to the law enforcement agencies to ensure that the unscrupulous individual behind such nefarious act could be arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.

By: Nurudeen ‘Mayor’ Dawodu

There is a sense of desperation in how Fouad Oki wants to draw attention to himself; and perhaps, in a more subtle way, to his godfathers and apparent financiers.

Until last Saturday’s consensus-driven successful congress of the All Progressives Party in Lagos State removed him from relevance, he was one of the three gadflys superintending over the affairs of the party in the three senatorial districts of the state as a deputy chairman.

But his actual romance with power started with the opportunity to have served as the Director General of the campaign organisation that prosecuted the governorship elections in the last four polls since 2003.

For one whose previous sojourn abroad was less than enviable, having the opportunity to have ‘installed ‘ three governors is an accomplishment, but if allowed to get into his head could be misconstrued as personal wizardry and therefore subject him to delusion of grandeur.

But there’s yet another claim to fame that is perculiar to Ogbeni Oki. His idol worship; Godlessness; his atheistic disbelief in anything God or Godliness and the penchant to attribute personal success and collective achievements to ritualistic submissiveness to dark powers.

It must thus be his fetish belief in powers of dark forces that probably galvanized this self-confessed chief wizard to begin to fancy himself as an enfant terrible who can be a torn in the flesh of our party.

No!

Ebora Oki is only getting high on the smoke of his burnt offerings to small gods that Lagosians have rejected.

If he has been a good student of political history, he ought to know that you can’t assume ownership of a home that you were never part of its foundation, especially when the owners and builders are still alive and kicking.

He should be reminded how his so-called broom revolution failed woefully last year, when he attempted to create a crack on the wall of the party where he and his faceless sponsors have fed fat for nearly two decades.

Watch him carefully and you will see a worse variant of the same type of excesses that he and his cohorts now appear displeased with. There was nothing wrong with the party when they were the favourite beneficiaries. But once new kids on the bloc appear with better management of men and resources, they start to throw tantrums and shout imposition.

His infantile attempt to hold a parallel congress last Saturday was simply what it was: an ‘orita-meta’ ritual dance that was hidden, odious and of no consequence.

And what sort of democracy was at play where Fouad as the sole convener and proxy-financier purportedly emerged as the Party Chairman of an illegal congress?

This joke is no longer funny. It is dark humour that must be consigned to purgatory. It has no place in a smart Lagos.

Thankfully, the national party has rejected any puerile attempt to create undue spasm within the party. No parallel congress will be recognised. Don’t bother to come to Abuja for the national convention of the party if you are a splinter group like Fouad’s.

And like the Constituted Authority said from the city of seven hills, only the genuinely repentant ones should be reabsorbed into the fold of the faithful.

The gods have rejected the soiled offerings of Fouad and his like in the holy month of Ramadan. He probably would require a rebirth through seven astaghfirulla for him to be cleansed of the occultic yoke weighing him down.

Now that his intention is clear by seeking to pronounce himself the chairman of an imaginary faction, Fouad and his paymasters need not reinvent the wheel. They should brave the odds and allow this unholy alliance of their unbelieving few matamorphose into a party and then test their popularity among the God-fearing majority in Lagos who see the hand of the Almighty in how the affairs of government is currently being run in the state.

Maybe the foul reality of losing his constituency at the 2015 poll will now once again confront him with a stench far more debilitating in its intensity.

Ultimately, Lagosians will have to decide for themselves whether they want an idol worshipper as their new “revolutionary” or not.

For us in Surulere who believe in party supremacy and the unchangeable will of Almighty Allah, we can’t wait for the game to begin so as to finally separate the boys from the real men once and for all.

*Dawodu is a Surulere, Lagos-based politician and analyst

Mikel Arteta has agreed to become the new Arsenal manager, taking over from Arsene Wenger, according to reports.

The Manchester City coach, 36, coach is set to be named new Gunners chief in the coming days after agreeing a deal in principle with the club, say Goal.

Arteta’s arrival is set to spark a massive backroom staff overhaul as Arsenal embark on a brave new era.

The former Gunners midfielder has been the runaway favourite after Massimiliano Allegri revealed he would stay at Juventus for at least one more season.

In fact, betting has been suspended at a number of bookmakers after a flurry of flutters on Arteta.

It has been suggested Man City coach Arteta could be installed as Gunners chief as early as next week.

Chief executive Ivan Gazidis is said to be a strong supporter of the City coach, fitting perfectly into the club’s proposed new management structure.

In that scenario, Sven Mislintat would continue his role taking the lead on transfer activity, as he began to under Wenger.

Arteta has most recently been working as assistant manager to Pep Guardiola at champions Man City – picking up invaluable experience along the way.

Other names considered by Arsenal in recent weeks have been Hoffenheim’s Julian Nagelsmann and Monaco’s Leonardo Jardim.

The Lagos high court has ruled that marriages conducted by Federal Registry, Ikoyi is not legally binding.

Chuka Austine Obiozor, a justice, issued a restraining order to the Ikoyi registry from conducting marriages, saying it is unconstitutional for the federal government to perform the duties of the state and local governments.

The judgement delivered on Suit No: FHC/L/CS/1760/16 said marriage registries in the local government and local council development areas of Lagos state are the authentic and legally-binding government divisions established to carry out such functions.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Muslim Folami, the Lagos state commissioner for local government and community affairs, said the judgement will be communicated to all stakeholders, including embassies.

He said the decision of the court is supreme and is legally binding on all and that all marriages conducted and registered in any of the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas are valid and in accordance with the marriage act.

According to him, the judgment will put a stop to the perception of superiority of Ikoyi Marriage Registry over the local government registries.

“We are going to use every available platform in the five divisions across the state to sensitize our people and inform them about this latest development; From Epe to Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja and Lagos Island,” he said.

In his remarks, Deji Sokeye, the president of the marriage registrars in all the local government and local council development areas, said the responsibilities of the LGAs/LCDAs has come back to them by the virtue of the law and as provided for in section 30 (1) of the marriage act and section 7 (5) of the 1999 constitution.

He said the judgement would restore confidence in the certificates already issued and those that will be awarded in future by the registries.

For most foreigners who have heard about the exploit of Nollywood as the second largest producer of home video in the world, it was an opportunity to know how the film industry evolved from the pre colonial era to what today, has become the leading motion picture industry in Africa.
A documentary produced by Golden Effects for the Lagos Tourism tells it all in six minutes, to visitors at the Lagos State Pavilion, located at the Pantiero-Side, at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival in France.

Tagged ‘Lagos and Cinema’, the documentary captured the huge impact that Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria and economic nerve of the country plays in the journey of Nollywood, a generic name for film industries from the Eastern, Southern, Northern and Western parts of Nigeria.
Ahead of the showcase at 4pm on Saturday, a video presentation by filmmaker Kunle Afolayan and Celebrity politician, Desmond Elliot went viral, attracting producers, directors and fans of Nollywood to the pavilion.
This came a day after the second edition of the ‘Lagos in Cinema’ journal was unveiled with pomp at the festival.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Fola Adeyemi, opened the floor with a brief introduction. He noted that Lagos, for decades, has not been rivaled by any other state in Nigeria, as the most profitable home for film business in Nigeria, saying; “It is the roles and potential of Lagos as the base of the film world and tourism hub that we are bringing out. Lagos is the seat of Nollywood. Every great movie in Nigeria is usually shot in Lagos.”
Thus, the television remote key set the mood for the six minutes narration, aptly and professionally pieced together.

Voiced by Bimbo Manuel, the documentary features stakeholders like the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Steve Ayorinde; filmmakers Tade Ogidan and Kunle Afolayan among others, providing an insider’s account.

From the colonial era when film was majorly a tool for government’s activities and propaganda, guests at the pavilion were transported to the historic moments of the Yoruba traveling theatre, followed by the home video era that christened the industry Nollywood. Then, guests saw a return to the cinema tradition, and what today is called the New Nollywood.
The documentary captures film legends like Adeyemi Afolayan, aka Ade Love, Moses Olaiya, aka Band Sala, Hubert Ogunde, Ola Balogun and many others with their classic productions.

Shedding lights on the documentary, Afolayan and Elliot took the floor as the credits roll.
According to Elliot, Lagos State has complimented its natural tourism endowment by providing skills to filmmakers to grow in their art. He said this has become easier today, as most young people, unlike before, get their parents’ support to train as actors or filmmakers.
This was just as Afolayan explained that New Nollywood has had more opportunities to expand the industry. He said that skills and modern equipments used have brought back the cinema culture, and provided a somewhat escape from the problems associated with piracy.

Giving the vote of thanks, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Mr. Dele Balogun urged the guests to consider using a Lagos location for their next film projects.
One of the guests, Jean-Antonio Duprat, a professor with the Institute d’urbanisme et d’amenagement de la Sorbonne, France, confirmed that indeed, Nollywood is going global, just as another guest, Monorom Youk, a French producer, noted that Africa is famous for Nollywood.

The Lagos outing at the prestigious festival continues on Monday, with a Roundtable Session and a Lagos Day, where, as usual, networkings will blend with fun.

United Bank for Africa, a leading pan-African financial institution with operations in 20 African countries has assured the players in the private and public sectors in East Africa’s largest economy that its Kenyan franchise is ready and committed to finance key projects and business transactions capable of galvanising the economic development of the country and upscale the standard of living of its people.

The Group’s Executive Director and newly appointed CEO for East and Southern Africa, Emeke E. Iweriebor said this while addressing a press conference at the Intercontinental Hotel in Nairobi on Thursday.

According to him, with the realignment of the Group’s strategy on the region, UBA with an asset base worth over $12 billion and presence in key financial capitals, London, New York and Paris is capacitated to support its customers and their businesses across the world, especially those from Kenya. “UBA Group has strong confidence in Kenya and East Africa as their economies have great potential for growth and development. Consequently, we in UBA Group are convinced that it’s imperative that we dedicate resources, manpower and time to our operations in Kenya, and East African and Southern Africa. That is why we created the region, with the regional office, in Nairobi,” Iweriebor said.

Iweriebor while outlining areas of possible interventions by the Bank said that UBA Group and its Kenyan franchise are ready to help the Governments of Kenya in its Big Four Agenda, especially as it concerns infrastructural development, health facilities and housing and increasing the manufacturing base of the country. He also indicated the Bank’s readiness to support SMEs, which according to him is the catalyst to a sustainable economic development and eradication of poverty. “UBA wants to replicate the interventions we have undertaken in some African countries, in provision of financial support to power and energy sectors, road infrastructure, agriculture, small, medium and large enterprises and entrepreneurship,” Iweriebor said.

He added that UBA, leads innovation in banking in Africa and utilizes digital solutions to support financial inclusion and business activities of individual, SMEs and corporates, highlighting that currently more than 80% of the bank’s transactions are processed through digital and electronic channels.

Also speaking at the media event, Managing Director/CEO, UBA Kenya, Isaac Mwige corroborated Iweriebor, saying that UBA Kenya, leveraging on the Group’s pre-eminence financial standings has capabilities to finance transactions in Kenya, saying he is encouraged by the recent engagements with both private and public sectors in Kenya.

“UBA Kenya wants to become more involved in the lives of individuals and businesses of people of Kenya by providing tailor-made products and services that are targeted at all segments of Kenyan economy,” Just recently, UBA Group signed agreements with some international institutions to support Macro and small-scale businesses across Africa, we want to see businesses in Kenya taking advantage of such opportunities,” Isaac said

An Edo High Court in Benin on Tuesday fixed June 28 for continued hearing in a suit filed by Prof. Ernest Izevbigie, against the Nigerian Breweries Plc over alleged deception.
Justice Esohe Ikpomwen, the Chief Judge of the state, adjourned the case till the date for the defendant to open his case.
Izevbigie, a professor of Biochemistry, had accused the company of allegedly inscribing misleading information, “low sugar,” on the can of one of its non-alcoholic drinks, Amstel Malt.
The case was filed through the claimant’s lawyer, Mr. Okonkwo Emmanuel, of Henry Idahagbon and Co. (Trinity Chambers).
Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Okonkwo Emmanuel, said that a laboratory investigation revealed that the product contained more sugar than the company claimed in the inscription on the brand.
He urged the court to order the company to tender a written apology to his client as he had been injured by the alleged deception.
Izevbigie prayed the court to pronounce that the inscription on the product is misleading to the public.
According to him, during a medical check-up he recently undertook it was discovered that he had an increase in his blood sugar level.
The claimant said that the increase in his blood sugar level was traced to his regular intake of the malt drink.
Izevbigie, during cross-examination by Mr L. O. Ogiefere, counsel to the defendant, told the court that Amstel Malta did not merit the “low sugar” label, as proved by a clinical research.
According to him, the drink contained 10 cubes of sugar as against the 10 and a half to 10 and one-quarter cubes contained in other malt drinks.

A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Thursday, dismissed an application seeking to unfreeze a Unity Bank account with a balance of N1.9 billion belonging to Bola Shagaya.

Mrs Shagaya is a Nigerian businesswoman and fashion enthusiast. She is believed to be one of the richest women in Africa. She is also the ex-wife of the father of Seun Bakare, who wedded the daughter of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, early this year.

Judge, Oluremi Oguntoyinbo, in a judgment on Thursday, threw out Mrs Shagaya’s application, declaring that it lacked merit and that the said account was validly secured by the EFCC.

Mrs Oguntoyinbo faulted Mrs Shagaya’s claims that she was not availed the opportunity to defend herself before the order was secured.

According to the judge, the order was made through an ex-parte motion (without notice to other parties) and as such, there was no way the court would have listened to her own side of the story.

“The interim order was made based on an ex-parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; an ex-parte application has no respondent and the court is not expected to hear from the other party.

“Even when the other party is around, it can only be seen and not heard; therefore, the failure of Justice Hassan to hear the applicant cannot invalidate the order.

“The granting of the interim order of attachment is not unconstitutional and does not constitute an infringement on the applicant’s rights to own property,” the court held.

The court further noted that the failure of the applicant to controvert an averment contained in the counter-affidavit of the EFCC regarding her refusal to honour its invitation was fatal to her case.

The judge said the claim by the applicant that the order was made in perpetuity had no bearing as there was no evidence that the EFCC has either concluded its investigation of the matter or filed any charge against the applicant.

The court, therefore, held that it was erroneous to claim that the interim order had become permanent or in perpetuity, since the said order is meant to last until the conclusion of investigations by the EFCC.

She held that there was no evidence to show that the respondent had concluded its investigations, and accordingly dismissed the applicant’s suit.

Justice Muslim Hassan of the same court had on December 29, 2016, issued an interim order, attaching the account, following an ex-parte application by the EFCC.

Mr Hassan had held that the order would subsist, pending conclusion of investigations by the commission.

Dissatisfied, Mrs Shagaya, through her lawyer, filed a motion before another judge, Oguntoyinbo, seeking to unfreeze the account.

She claimed that the EFCC’s action violates her rights to own property, adding that she was never afforded an opportunity before the order was made.

NAN reports that in its counter affidavit, the anti-graft agency claimed that the N1.9 billion represents the balance of a total of N3.3 billion, which Mrs Shagaya received as “founder fees” on behalf of an organisation named “Women for Change”.

According to the commission, the organisation is spearheaded by a former First Lady, Patience Jonathan.

The EFCC claimed that the N3.3 billion was realised from Mrs Shagaya’s “alleged fraudulent activities in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC), where she allegedly influenced an allocation of Dual Purpose Kerosene to a company, Index Petrolube Africa Ltd., with the aid of the former First Lady.

EFCC claimed that out of the N3.3billion, Mrs Shagaya had “paid a cumulative sum of N1.2 billion to the former First Lady, through her account, ‘Women for Change Initiative’, to which she (Patience) is sole signatory.

The commission said that after paying N1.2billion to Mrs Jonathan, Mrs Shagaya warehoused the balance of N1.9 billion in her account.

The EFCC said it was on this basis that it secured an interim order to attach the said account.

National Telecommunications Company, Globacom has launched a new promo packaged exclusively for the enjoyment of millions of its subscribers across the country.

Titled “GO Russia”, the promo will offer 22 lucky winners that will be selected through raffle draws, the opportunity of travelling to Russia.

The promo which will run between 16 May and 8 July, 2018 is open to all the new and existing Prepaid/Postpaid customers on the Glo network nationwide.

Globacom, in a statement issued in Lagos said GO Russia promo is another golden opportunity to appreciate and reward our amazing subscribers who have stood solidly behind the brand over the years. Their patronage and support have been overwhelming and we have lined up the promo to appreciate them.”

The company which added that 22 lucky winners will enjoy all expenses paid trip to Russia also enjoined Nigerians to make utmost use of the opportunity provided by the promo to be part of the trip.

Under the promo, a subscriber who uses N3, 000 on Voice calls or a minimum of N5, 000 on Voice and Data will qualify for a draw. The more the airtime used by subscribers, the higher the chances of winning.

Winners will be contacted by Glo customer care.

Interested customers can participate in the promo by sending GO to 240 on the Glo network.

…Say action violates law, offenders risk 5-year jail term

The Lagos State Police Command on Wednesday warned hospitals and doctors to henceforth desist from rejecting gunshot victims, saying such act constitutes a flagrant violation of an existing law.

Reacting to a media report on the refusal of an hospital to treat a victim who was shot and wounded by armed robbers, the police said it must be noted that doctors who do so are criminally liable on account of the provision of the Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims Of Gunshot Act, 2017.

In a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti, the police said it would henceforth arrest and prosecute any medical practitioner who rejects gunshot victims on the ground of police report.

“The attention of the Nigeria Police, Lagos State Command, has been drawn to the Punch Newspapers publication of Monday, May 14, 2018, captioned ” Hospital rejects victim over bullet injuries.”

“The story goes that one Engr. Adebayo Akinwunmi, a senior engineer with an Information and Communications Technology company, was shot and wounded by armed robbers in his house at Ofada-Mokoloki, Ogun state and was brought to Reddington hospital, Ikeja for treatment only to be refused admission on the unlawful and inexcusable grounds that there was no police report.

“The Command considers the action of the hospital as cruel; perhaps, an indication that the hospital management may be ignorant of the “Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims Of Gunshot Act, 2017,” Oti said.

He said the Act demands that every hospital in Nigeria whether public or private ‘shall accept or receive for immediate and adequate treatment with or without police clearance any person with a gunshot wounds.’

“The Act, however requires the hospital treating such a patient to report the fact to the nearest police station within two (2) hours of commencement of treatment,” Oti clarified.

He said the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal was saddened by the allegation against the said hospital, and had henceforth directed the arrest and prosecution of any medical practitioner who violates the law.

“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Imohimi Edgal, saddened by the allegation against the Reddington Hospital, has directed all Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers in Lagos State to henceforth arrest and diligently prosecute any medical practitioner who rejects a gunshot victim on the ground of no police report.

“The CP wants doctors to note that the Act recommends a 5-year-jail term for any person, hospital or authority who stands by or omits to do his bit which results in the unnecessary death of any person with bullet wounds,” Oti said.