₦airaland Forum

Celebrates season of love with special ‘Love Corner’

Following her successful launch of its exciting Ikeja Mall, leading indigenous retail giant – Hubmart stores limited, is poised to continue in its tradition of bringing satisfaction close to the homes of its teeming customers in Lekki and its environs with the opening of its new outlet situated at the Lenox Mall, beside D’Place, Lekki

Hubmart Stores, which prides itself on its Nigerian Heritage announced that its Lekki Store which will be officially opened to the public on Friday the 9th of February, 2018 has been purposefully designed to create an environment guaranteed to give customers a comprehensive shopping experience and further enhance Hubmart’s burgeoning reputation as one of the best destinations for shoppers in the country.

Speaking, Managing Director of Hubmart, Murat Bektaslar said Hubmart’s third store is a firm statement that it is in the retail business to be accessible to her teeming customers. He pointed out that the success recorded from patronage of its other outlets in Victoria Island and Ikeja is testament to the fact that its customers have wholly embraced all its offerings.

In his words: “We have continuously created an environment where customers can find everything they want under one roof, get the best quality of ultra-fresh produce, and have a delightful, fulfilling and exciting shopping trip. We are creating a movement – a fresh movement and as you can see, our customers are appreciative of the efforts we make to ensure all our products are served fresh. Everyone is invited to come experience the store from 11am on Friday, 9th February 2018 when the tapes are formally cut”

While explaining about the siting of the mall in Lekki, Murat stated that locating the mall in Lekki was imperative because, Lekki has become a key commercial hub in Lagos state. He communicated that the working and residential communities within Lekki and its environs made it imperative for the store to register its presence in the locality. Murat stated that apart from some of the community development efforts embarked upon, the business was poised to engage and positively impact the local community with the array of initiatives in the pipeline.

On opening, the store would provide employment to over 100 Nigerians 60% of which would be sourced from the local community, and serve as a source of livelihood to many more via the extended circle of influence on the local communities (suppliers, engaged vendors, etc.).

Furthermore, the Vice president – marketing Cheng Fuller stated during a chat that in addition, the gift of the store this Valentine’s, Hubmart was also playing up on its mantra of “Happy to Help…always” with its love corner valentine campaign.

He communicated that all the customers had to do was to walk into any of the Hubmart stores in Victoria Island, Ikeja and Lekki upon opening and go to the love corner. Customers could then select items according to their budget from the available items and get them packaged and delivered to whoever they want to show love within Lagos. He stated that this initiative is born with Hubmart’s desire to spread the message of love in line with its commitment to serve.

…N1.5m up for grabs with publishing contracts

Foremost African financial institution, Guaranty Trust Bank plc, has launched the Dusty Manuscript Contest (csr.gtbank.com/dustymanuscript) to give budding writers the opportunity to win publishing deals for their finished, but yet-to-be published, manuscripts. Organized in partnership with publishing houses Okada books and Farafina, the contest is part of the Bank’s YouREAD initiative which is aimed at promoting the culture of reading.

The Dusty Manuscript Contest is the latest in a long line of GTBank initiatives geared towards promoting the appreciation of Art and supporting creative potential. In 2017 the Bank remodelled the old Herbert Macaulay Library, Yaba into a state of the art learning and recreational facility that would give people in the community and beyond the opportunity to build capacity, gain exposure and connect with the world. The remodelled library has been the venue of regular book readings and art expositions organized under the YouREAD initiative.

With the Dusty Manuscript Contest, the Bank is seeking to address the challenges indigenous writers face getting their books published. The top 3 entries in the contest will be rewarded with publishing contracts with Farafinaas well cash rewards. The top 10 entries will get their books e-published by Okadabooks, including book cover design, book editing, and publicity. The top 25 book authors will also get a 2-day boot camp training on writing, marketing and branding. To submit a manuscript, interested writers are to visit csr.gtbank.com/dustymanuscript.

The entries in the Dusty Manuscript Contest will be assessed by a panel of four judges which includes EghosaImasuen, the author of widely acclaimed novel, Fine Boys, and Yejide Kilanko, a poet and therapist in children’s mental health, Dr Ainehi Edoro-Glines, an Assistant Professor of English Language and Toni Kan, a writer and PR executive whose collection of short stories, Nights of a Creaking Bed, won the NDDC/Ken Saro Wiwa prize for literature.

Commenting on the Dusty Manuscript Contest, Mr Segun Agbaje, the Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, said: “At GTBank we see art as not just a medium for creative expression but also as a means of livelihood, and by organizing the Dusty Manuscript Contest we are helping budding writers make a living off their works.

He further added that: “By addressing the major barrier that our indigenous writers face in sharing their stories with the world, we hope to inspire and develop the next generation of award-winning and globally renowned authors.”

GTBank has consistently played a leading role in Africa’s banking industry. The Bank is regarded by industry watchers as one of the best run financial institutions across its subsidiary countries and serves as a role model within the financial service industry due to its bias for world class corporate governance standards, excellent service quality and innovation.

In our fast-paced and evolving digital world, service literally has to be at the speed of thought; the rules of engagement are changing so fast that customer expectations are as diverse as our lifestyles and choices.
It is no longer a question of stepping out to the bank but about the convergence of innovative services, digital technology and omni-channel platforms coming at us at breakneck speed.
Mobile Banking for one isn’t entirely new in the industry, but there is no end to innovation in delivering customer convenience; at Keystone Bank that’s what sets us apart and that shall continue to be our strength.
We therefore invite you to come aboard our New Keystone Mobile App & enjoy the following benefits & self-service options:
Easy Account Opening
Convenient self-booking and liquidation of Fixed Deposits
The Switch Card ON/OFF option – which allows you disable your cards temporarily if missing & re-enable at the click of a button
The Hide Balance Feature – an additional safeguard against third-party viewing
An expanded list of bill-payment options
Easy activation of standing instructions & recurrent future payments
The “Meet Your Relationship Manager Option” – allows you call or email your account officer right within the app
The ChatBOT feature now live on Telegram – to guide you through a whole range of desired transactions step-by-step
Bills Payments and lifestyle maintenance
All these from the convenience of your mobile phone
It’s a whole new world of convenience and unique lifestyle banking
We are determined to be your preferred bank; dependable, responsive and always within reach.

Says Bayo Osinowo has been in Govt since I was in JSS 2, but nothing to show for it

Son of former minister, who is also a PDP chieftain in Lagos state, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, Moyosore, in the last General Elections contested to represent Kosofe Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly , but with a little margin, he lost to APC’s candidate, Bayo Osinowo, who is serving a fourth time in the Assembly. WOLE ADEPOJU engaged the youthful barrister at law turn politician in an interview, in the process, he spoke about how he was able to pull a big one in the election, how he intends to defeat APC in future elections and what he feels is his edges are.

At your first outing, you pulled a very big by coming very close to the winner. Will be right to say it basically about your father’s influence?
First of all, my dad did not even get involved in the election but at the end of the day, there is nothing you can say to Nigerians, they will still say if it was not your father and all that. I pulled the bull by the horn and everything I did was my thing. Of course, there was nothing I could still have done without him because I still had to go to some places through him, but he didn’t get involved. His involvement, I could say was only about ten percent.

So what actually did you got right to pull that?
My campaign team was great. It was a house to house campaign basically and it was a lot of work. And I want to advise Nigerian youth. Politics is not as easy as you think, I have been part of it, I know what it is. It is just strictly business, you have to work hard… serious work, it’s day and night and it takes a lot of things away from you. You can’t do a 9 to 5 kind of job and you say you want to play politics in the real sense …Nigeria politics now is not a social media politics, you have to work hard and that was what helped me. I worked real hard.

Next election is fast approaching, what moves are you making?
For now, I’m just observing, looking at things while I keep my moves to myself. You know anything can happen overnight in politics, so I’m just waiting.

Are you going to be contesting for the same office you tried in last election?
I don’t know. I might be contesting against Governor Ambode and it could be anything. I could contest for Senate; I have the required age to do that by the virtue of the constitution. I am still hoping, I can contest for presidency if I want to, but I’m still watching.

Don’t you think it’s going to be a futile effort contesting again because Lagos and Kosofe, by extension is one of the strongholds of APC?
People say Lagos is APC but to me, I just feel it’s the personality that contest election that matters. I will defeat APC anytime. I can say it all over again. I will defeat them any day; they are not a problem to me. When the time comes, we will play the game but I’m very sure what happened last time can never happen again.

The winner of the election you contested won by eighty seven votes, what did you learn from the election?
There were a lot of irregularities in that election. First of all, on the day of the election, ballot papers were missing, we started protesting at that point, but things turned around and we had to go for the election. We just had the believe we were going to defeat them, which we did at the end of the day and we found out some of the ballot boxes, when we were in court that there were ballot papers from other local governments in the boxes. It was a planned rigged election that is all I would say. It’s gone it’s gone, I have moved on with my life, I’m practicing law and I’m loving it. I have taken the necessary lessons out of the last election and what happened last time can’t happen again. I have played the game, I know their plans…I know practically everything. You know why I like the APC, they have started planning now and that is the problem with PDP, they don’t plan a year to election. APC in Lagos has started planning election now, I’m not talking about the federal, but they plan or they don’t plan, I will defeat them. I know how to defeat APC.

You sound so confident about defeating APC, but let’s look at Obanikoro. He contested for governorship a few times but couldn’t make and now, he’s joined APC. Some say he was frustrated. Are you ruling that out of your case?
Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has his own opinion and I do have mine. I have been hearing a lot of rumor that I want to cross to APC, but to me, for now, I don’t think APC is the best party to join. We never can say anything can happen. If they feel I’m a better candidate and they want me, why not? I will join them but I will defeat them even if I don’t join them.

Why did you say if they want you and not the other way round?
In politics, it’s when they need you that you have value. If they don’t need you and they go to join them, it might boomerang, that is how politics is. Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has gone to the APC now, I’m sure he’s not finding it easy the way he was comfortable in PDP. He met people there who want to vie for office…but he’s good player of the game and I’m sure he will do well in APC. But as for me, I am a PDP member.

One would have expected you to be an APC member since you admire how they prepare before the election. That again makes one to wonder if you are in PDP because to satisfy your father?
I have a different view from my father. My father can be a PDP member for reasons best known to him and I may decide to move to any political party I wish at any future time, but for now, I’m a PDP member and I’m enjoying where I am. I’m enjoying the leadership of PDP, I’m enjoying what is going on at the federal level, we are coming together as a stronger force for 2019 elections. For now, I’m in PDP.

You have repeatedly said you will defeat APC candidate. What would then say it’s your edge?
I’m a young man, full of life. I’m in my early 30s, I have had experiences in different aspects of life, it might not be a enough as they always say but I feel I have a good experiences to do the needful when it comes to legislating. Well, I’m a lawyer by profession as you know and legislating is more or less my job. That is the problem we have in Nigeria, people that can’t read the laws or understand the laws manage our laws and you expect good things out of it. It’s the law of the country that makes the country a better place or the state, a better place. I have a lot of things I could put together that can help the people of Lagos state, that’s one of my plans. My aim in politics is to impact lives, that’s it basically.

But some are of the opinion you might not ever win the seat of Kosofe constituency 1 as long as Bayo Osinowo of APC is still interested because of his popularity?
To me, Osinowo is not popular. He just has a war chest, he has a lot of money and probably that is why. And you know Nigerians get influenced with money, but that didn’t play out in the last election as we all saw, but he was able to manipulate himself and he won. I respect him for that because it’s the person that is on the seat that wins the election. He’s been there for about sixteen years now and that is my point. You can’t be in a place for sixteen years as if there is nobody within the constituency that can do better than you.

But they keep electing him and not by appointment (Cuts in the interviewer)
Yes, but some say he’s in the Assembly to hold it for his political party and I wonder what he’s holding when he’s not the speaker. The point is what have you brought to the constituency in sixteen years? Maybe people in his political party are afraid of him that they can’t ask questions but the truth is that this man has not done anything. You can ask around. I give him just five percent. He’s been there since I was in JSS 2, that’s a long time but nothing to show for it. Even he’s been there for just four years; there is nothing wrong in asking questions. That is the problem Buhari is having now, there is nothing he can point to that he has done.

It’s quite becoming fashionable for children of political wigs to take to partisan politics and some are of the opinion their parents might actually be positioning them for selfish gain. What is your opinion?
Everybody has their own opinion. I am not into politics because my father positioned me, my father never supports anything that has to do with my political career because he knows the game and he knows how tricky the game is. My father always tells me, Moyo, go and engage yourself in your job and not sit down and let’s talk politics. Yes, it’s becoming rampant that Nigeria’s political bigwigs are engaging their children in politics and positions, but to me, if you don’t have anything to offer, you don’t get involved in politics. Its service to the people, you can’t get into a position and lock your gate. It doesn’t work that way. And we all have different backgrounds. I have lived all my life in Nigeria, even when my father was a senator and a minister. Most of these other kids lived all their lives abroad; they are not closer to the people. And that is why they don’t know anybody when they get into the system. But for me, it’s a different thing; I have been here all my life. I didn’t school abroad when my daddy was a senator or minister. That is why we are different and I feel very privileged by the sacrifice my father made then, because it’s a sacrifice that has helped me. I could have also been in Harvard or wherever but I am happy I have always been part of the system.

There are signs Ambode wants to run for second term. What is your assessment of Ambode’s government?
I think he has done well, he has done exceptionally well. But he can do more because anybody can govern Lagos because there is a lot of money that comes in. It’s just about putting two or three together and that’s all. His predecessor, Fasola did well and Ambode too, has done well. They are great guys, I like both of them but I think more can be done….there is actually a lot of things that can be done and I wish him all the best.

…Says Nigeria can stamp out scourge by 2030

Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode on Tuesday urged mothers, fathers and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to continue to voice their concerns, while governments at all levels put in place the right statutes for total eradication of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Nigeria and in Africa by 2030.

Mrs. Ambode spoke to journalists in Alausa, Ikeja in an event to commemorate this year’s International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.

She expressed optimism that Female Genital Mutilation could be stamped out of Africa by 2030, if all individuals and institutions and stakeholders work together towards achieving that purpose.

Mrs. Ambode said that although the practice was well entrenched in the continent, with some countries recording up to ninety per cent prevalence among girls and women, the situation was not hopeless if the current advocacy was sustained or increased.

According to her, “The pace of penetration of awareness seems slow because the practice is an ancient one, deeply rooted in our various cultures but that does not make our efforts fruitless. Though progress may be slow, we are going somewhere as rural women, mothers and young girls, are becoming aware of the severe health implications of the barbaric practice.

“Few years ago, many women, even some educated ones, saw it as a normal and socially acceptable practice but the story is fast changing, as awareness is getting mileage and rural women are now campaigning against it.”

The Governor’s wife implored governments at all levels to fight the practice with direct legislations, in the manner they are doing with some wicked anti-female practices.

She emphasised that FGM constituted an extreme form of discrimination against women and girls, directly violating their rights to health, security and physical integrity, wondering why women should be subjected to such life-threatening dehumanization.

February 6 every year, is set aside by the United Nations, as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation across the world.

If 2017 was the year of blockchain early adoption by mainstream businesses, 2018 to 2027 will be the decade blockchain solutions will be disrupting many industries across the world.

According to Accenture research, by 2025, blockchain will be considered mainstream and integral to the capital market and ecosystem.

Blockchain offers the chance to truly rewrite the way companies and markets operate by delivering greater transparency and trust, removing redundant processes, and revamping inefficient capabilities. Beyond simply automating old processes, blockchain eliminates steps and activities amongst businesses and facilitates the restructuring of traditional value chains.

From financial industry to healthcare, retail, oil and gas, manufacturing, trade, agriculture, blockchain is redefining ways businesses operate and leading us to the ‘Internet of Value’.

Accenture is at the forefront of blockchain innovation and its practical, real world application. We recently demonstrated our innovation in Lagos, Nigeria in December last year. We provided business executives with a view of the blockchain-based technology landscape and its potential business applications. Our global team of experts works with each client to help build and execute smart strategies around effective use-cases and investment.

Blockchain has the potential to drive profound, positive change. We are working closely with leaders from across a broad range of industries, governments, consortia, the academic community and our key technology alliances to move the technology forward so that, ultimately, it can help to improve the way the world lives and works.

In the financial services industry, blockchain technology undermines the ‘middle-man’ business model. It makes it harder for fraud in transactions, and so reduces the value of credibility lent by trusted intermediaries. Therefore, players in this industry will have to re-imagine their business models given this disruption in their value chain.

According to tech experts, the healthcare industry has high hopes for blockchain technology since interoperability, or the ability to securely share medical records across providers and patients, is the driving force behind many technology investments within healthcare. It’s widely believed that blockchain will be the technology that will form the basis of securely creating and sharing medical records that will solve many of healthcare’s current issues of siloed stores of data that lead to the delays and administrative burden of sharing health information.

Every industry must start utilizing blockchain technology as a foundation to explore the convergence of a variety of technological tools to address customer centric needs and social problems that provide excellent business opportunities.

Those that take advantage of this will be rewarded with a resilient and anti-fragile digital infrastructure that enables the cultivation of efficient ecosystems, better products, and services, lower costs at scale, and improved outcomes for all.

By Olaniyi Tayo, Managing Director, Accenture Technology, Nigeria

After months of strategic negotiations with foreign investors Naspers and AB Kinnevik, the Zinox Group, Nigeria’s foremost integrated ICT solutions conglomerate and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), is now the majority shareholder in e-commerce giant, Konga – an unprecedented move that is widely expected to raise the profile of e-commerce in the country.

Naspers is a South Africa-based multinational internet and media group, offering services in more than 130 countries while AB Kinnevik, founded in 1936, is a Swedish investment company investing primarily in digital consumer brands.

The development signifies a remarkable return to e-commerce for the Zinox Group after it pioneered e-commerce in Nigeria with the launch of BuyRight Africa.com which struggled to cope with the absence of credit card and e-payment infrastructure over 12 years ago.

The acquisition is also understood to have passed all regulatory approvals by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Details of the mega deal indicate that the Zinox Group, arguably Africa’s most integrated technology group will assume ownership of the e-commerce group which includes Konga.com, Nigeria’s largest online mall; KongaPay, a CBN-licensed mobile money platform with over 100,000 subscribers and rated as one of the best mobile money channels in the country as well as KOS-Express, a digitally-driven and world class logistics company with advanced delivery capabilities for Konga and other structured companies nationwide.

The landmark acquisition is seen by industry watchers as a major development that could see e-commerce in Nigeria finally unlock the massive revenue potential in the global multi-billion-dollar industry.

In 2017, retail e-commerce sales worldwide amounted to 2.829 trillion US dollars while e-retail revenues are projected to grow to 4.48 trillion US dollars in 2021.

Coming at a time when global e-commerce spending is expected to top previously unheralded levels, the acquisition is widely expected to reposition Konga for a greater share of the e-commerce purse in Nigeria and beyond.

The acquisition is also expected to create employment opportunities for over 5000 Nigerians, both at home and in the Diaspora.

Gideon Ayogu, Head of Corporate Communications at Zinox Group, who confirmed the development, disclosed that the organization is keen to take e-commerce in Nigeria to hitherto-unprecedented heights.

“We have always had an interest in Konga and another big one you know very well but our priority was Konga first because of her integrated nature of four quality companies in one,” he disclosed. “Konga is a world-class, professionally-run company whose landmark strides in the sector has gone a long way in ushering millions of Nigerians into the ease and convenience of online shopping and boosting the conduct of e-commerce in the country. Konga’s integrity is their pride.

“Today, many Nigerians can attribute their first experience of e-commerce to Konga.com and we are excited to be a part of this remarkable story. Many shoppers can also attest to the speed and efficiency in delivery that characterizes Kos-Express, the company’s logistics arm, which is arguably the best in the sector at the moment.

“Our ambition is to up the tempo by revolutionizing e-commerce on the African continent, with Konga at the fore-front of this initiative. In addition to positioning the business on a path of profitability in the short term, our long term plans are focused around seeing Konga well established in other African capitals. Furthermore, we will be unveiling a lot of new initiatives soon and we advise shoppers and merchants alike to look out for these innovations which will radically reshape the average customer experience of e-commerce in Nigeria and on the continent and put more money in their pockets,” he noted.

Led by serial digital entrepreneur, Leo Stan Ekeh, the Zinox Group has grown from a position of strength to become one of the biggest names on the African technology scene. With its headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria and branches all over the country in addition to hubs in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East; the Zinox Group boasts a 360-degree spectrum orientation as an integrated ICT solutions group with advanced competencies in manufacturing, special ICT projects, integrated solutions, e-commerce, retail and after-sales support, among others.

‘Black Elijah’, a movie about fiery cleric, Johnson Suleman of Omega Fire Ministry, will premiere at the Lighthouse Cinemas, Effurun, Delta State on Sunday.

According to his Church’s official Facebook page, the movie is centered around Mr. Suleman’s life experiences.

Stephanie Otobo, the musician who hit public limelight when she claimed to have had an amorous relationship with the cleric was also portrayed in the movie, we understands.

The movie, which was produced by Emma Blaq, features notable actors actors like Jide Kosoko and Esther Audu.

Mr. Johnson is being portrayed as the Black Elijah of the 21st century in the movie.

Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to heed the advice of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo not to seek re-election.

He urged Buhari to allow the Senate President, Bukola Saraki to fly the flag of the All Progressive Congress (APC), in the 2019 Presidential election.

The Primate told Vanguard that Saraki had what it takes to continue with the good job he had done and drive it to a logical and more successful end.

He said: “The President as good-hearted leader should step down for Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki as presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to face whoever would emerge as opposition in the 2019 general election.”

“Buhari should step down for Saraki so that his second term will not come with more dangerous challenges for Nigeria. Bukola Saraki has all that it takes to turn Nigeria around from where Buhari will stop. That is what I have seen and the Lord does not lie,” he said.

He added: “There is no difference in what I said then and what I have just seen now. I had seen and said that Buhari’s second term was dicey and that it would come with challenges but that he however would win if APC presented him as candidate for the 2019.”

Amidst pomp and pageantry, the outgoing Managing Director/CEO of Sterling Bank, Mr. Yemi Adeola, was celebrated by staff, family, friends and well-wishers on the occasion of his 59th birthday at the imposing Sterling Towers edifice on the Marina.

The high octane surprise birthday celebration totally caught the cerebral and amiable Chief Executive Officer unawares. It was indeed a befitting valedictory birthday celebration for the gentleman highly regarded within the Sterling Bank family as a role model, inspirational leader, friend, father figure and big boss.

His office was decorated overnight to ensure that nothing goes wrong as Mr. Adeola is a consistent early bird, leading by example when it comes to punctuality.

The bank also leveraged its first of the type in the banking industry internal radio station, Radio One, to celebrate the banking guru.

Adeola was pleasantly surprised on his way to his office by the heartfelt shout-outs from family, friends and all cadre of the bank’s employee.

It was a show of love for Adeola all the way from the front desk on the ground floor to his 16th Floor office which became a Mecca of sorts for excited employees.

Indeed, it was a remarkable day to remember in the life of the ex-Lecturer turned Banker who has steered the wheel of progress of one of Nigeria’s finest Banking Institutions, Sterling Bank for about 10 years as the wishes and accolades kept pouring in from far and wide.

His ‘backbone’ wife who was actively involved in the surprise party plan, turned up in his office at about the same time with the Nigerian Footballing Legend, Jay jay Okocha, to wish the astute banking icon a very happy birthday. Adeola surely had a birthday to remember.

The ‘Big Boss’ was surprised at the show of love. In his words, “You guys really surprised me, I was not even meant to be at work today as I was scheduled to travel out of Lagos, but my family insisted I do not.”

If there is any lesson for all to learn from Adeola’s tenure at Sterling Bank, it is the fact that there are decent men in the murky waters of the Nigerian banking industry.

Unlike the cut throat politics that characterise boardrooms, Adeola was the rallying point for both management and board of the bank such that his attempt to retire about eight years into his tenure was flatly rejected in 2016.

Though not due for retirement, the cool, calm and exemplary Adeola eventually had his way and has proceeded on early retirement ahead of the expiration of his ten year tenure in 2019. We can only wish one of the few good men we know the best of success in his future endeavours.

Two Nigerian companies, Media Seal Limited (formerly Starcom Media Services Limited) and Bytesize Limited, as well as Mr. Ayo Oluwatosin, have dragged Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited before a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, over allegation of sale of defective automobile.

They are praying the court for an order compelling the automobile company to pay them a total of One Hundred and Sixty-Five Million, Five Hundred and Ninety-Five Naira (165, 595) only as refund of the purchase sum, breach of contract as well as general damages.

The claimants in their Writ of Summons denominated as ID/ADR/629/2017, are seeking a number of reliefs including a declaration that an Hyundai Grand Santa Fe GLS 3.3L AT Arabian Mocha/Black with Chassis number: KMHSN81EDFU097184 and Engine No: G6DFEA34538 sold to the claimants by Hyundai Motors is not fit for the purpose for which it was bought.

They are also praying the court for an order that Hyundai Motors refunds the sum of Fifteen Million Five Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand Naira (15, 595, 000. 00) only being the amount paid for the said car.

The claimants are also praying for an order that they be paid Fifty Million Naira (50,000,000.00) only for breach of contract, and another One Hundred Million Naira (100,000,000.00) only as general damages.

The claimants is also seeking an order compelling the defendant to pay 15% interest to them from the day the suit was filed till judgement was given, as well as another 25% interest to them from the day judgement was given till judgement sum is liquidated.

In their statement of claim dated 9th November, 2017 signed by their counsel, Wale Ogunade the claimants averred that they purchased four (4) units of vehicles from Hyundai on the 1st June, 2016, as well as the car in question on 5th October, 2016.

The claimants further averred that the said cars were delivered to them on the 6th October and 2nd June, 2016, respectively.

They further stated that when the Grand Santa Fe GLS 3.3L was put to use between the 21st October and 26th October, 2016, it was discovered that the said vehicle had a brake problem, a development that was promptly brought to the attention of Hyundai Motors.

The claimants further averred that they received an internal correspondence from the automobile company through electronic mail on 26th, 27th, and 28th wherein Hyundai Motors reportedly urged some of its staff members that the repairs of the said vehicle be hastened to avoid suspicion by the claimants.

While pointing out that the parties reached an agreement on 23rd March, 2017, following the intervention of Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse, the claimants averred that it has come to their notice that Hyundai Motors has been in the news for defects in some of its vehicles of which some have been recalled by Hyundai Motors parent company.

In the written statement/deposition on oath of Mr. Oluwatosin, he stated that at a meeting held at Bonojo Badejo & Co office, Hyundai Motors demanded a fresh Four Million Naira (4,000,000.00) only for the replacement of the alleged defective car.

Hyundai Motors, however denied culpability in the transaction having according to it conducted extensive pre-delivery on every component parts of the vehicles and that all were found to be in perfect condition before handing the said vehicle over to the customers.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday re-arraigned two oil marketers for allegedly defrauding Fidelity bank PLC over the sum of N7.3 billion.

However, charged alongside the duo are: Kehinde Ogbor, Danium Energy Services Limited, Sibet Oil Services Limited, Loveth Miyemi Ogbor, and Rhombi Energy limited, who are all at large.

The defendants identified as Ejere Chris and Edoma Omagha were docked before Justice Sherifat Solebo of an Ikeja High Court, Lagos on a 10 count charge of conspiracy and fraud.

Part of the charge reads: “That you, Ejere Kelvin Chris, Edoma Omagha, Kehinde Eliot Ogbor (at large), Danium Energy Services Limited (at large), Sibet Oil Services Limited (at large), Loveth Miyemi Ogbor (at large) and Rhombi Energy Limited (at large) sometime between the months of January 2017 and February 2017 at Lagos, conspired amongst yourselves to dishonestly convert and steal the cumulative sum of N7.3 billion.”

It was learnt that Danium Energy Services Limited allegedly approached the petitioner, Fidelity Bank Plc, between January 17 and February 9, last year to finance three different purchase orders for the sale of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) to Total Nigeria Plc, with a cumulative face value of N12.1 billion (N12,134,700.000).

Thereafter, the bank allegedly financed two of the purchase orders to the tune of N7.3 billion, after due confirmation from Total Nigeria Plc.

The products were allegedly supplied by Sibet Oil Services Limited and Rhombi Energy Limited and discharged at the Ibeto Tank farm, Apapa.

The bank was said to have engaged an independent surveyor, International Logistics and Fulfilment Services Limited, which confirmed the existence of the products at Ibeto Tank Farm as well as the Department of Petroleum Resources.

However, when the bank approached Total Nigeria Plc for repayment, it was discovered that the purchase orders were forged by the accused persons.

The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to all count charges.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Idris Mohammed, in view of the defendants not guilty plea, asked the court for a date to commence trial.

A Lagos State Magistrate Court has stopped Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh from airing any likeness of her son, King Andre in her upcoming reality TV show “King Tonto.”

In an order of injunction by Chief Magistrate P.A Adekomaiya of the Igbosere Magistrates Court, Lagos, on Wednesday, Tonto and Linda Ikeji Media were restrained “from airing, showing, disseminating or broadcasting, either through television, blogs or the Internet the person, name, Face, image, likeness or picture of King Andrea Omodayo Igo Churchill in the King Tonto Reality TV Show produced by Linda Ikeji Media pending the hearing of the originating motion in the suit.”

The controversial actress had revealed in December 2017, that she would be airing a no-holds-barred own reality TV show on Linda Ikeji TV, showing her cosmetic surgery and her life as a mother.

But Olakunle Churchil, Tonto’s former husband and father of the little boy had approached the court on behalf of his son to seek for an injunction which puts a stop to the respondent from featuring King Andrea in the programme in any capacity as he is regarded a minor not fit to make decision for himself. ‎

Their lawyer, Anthonette Williams-Chukwu, had on January 11 filed the motion against Tonto Dikeh, Linda Ikeji Media Limited, and Linda Ikeji.

The prayer to the court was to seek to protect the boy from undue indecent exposure and exploitation by the mother for personal gain and fame. ‎

The court then ordered an interim injunction asked that the child’s name, face, image, likeness and picture not air, show, be disseminated or broadcasted either through the television, blogs or the world wide web.

Churchill and ex-wife, Tonto have been in a legal battle over the right of featuring their son on the adult content filled TV show at his very tender age.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday officially registered as a member of the Coalition for Nigeria Movement.
Mr. Obasanjo completed the membership form of the movement and handed it over to former Governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who is the national coordinator of the group.
The ceremony was held at the NUJ secretariat, Abeokuta.
The movement, which was officially launched in Abuja on Wednesday, is the brainchild of Mr. Obasanjo, who proposed it as a platform to mobilise Nigerians to sack President Muhammadu Buhari.
President Obasanjo addressed journalists and other attendees after his registration, expressing optimism that the group would help to propel the nation forward.
“I am happy to be a member of the Coalition for Nigeria Movement which is a movement for good governance.
“This is the commencement for our popular and grassroots association.
“The membership will be free to collectively decide on whether it will become a political party and if it decides to transform itself and go into partisan politics, I will cease to be a member.
“It is necessary to make it clear that this new movement does not regard itself as a third force.
“It sees itself as a popular movement that can accommodate all Nigerians irrespective of their political interest or affiliations and will propel Nigeria forward,’’ he said.
Mr. Obasanjo, who composed a new song for the nation, said ‘I see a new Nigeria in the hands of God and we will all be witnesses of the emergence of a new Nigeria.’’ (NAN)

Exciting times are here for customers of Diamond Bank, as the retail banking giant has set aside a whopping N433 million as the total prize money to be won in its Diamondxtra Season 10 reward scheme which kicked off yesterday in Nigeria.

Over 4,950 customers will be rewarded in the monthly and quarterly electronic draws, which would be witnessed by customers, potential customers, shareholders, regulatory authorities, media practitioners and the management of the Bank.

The Bank’s chief executive officer, Uzoma Dozie, said at the launch of the year-long promotion, that the unique customer reward scheme which is tied to the DiamondXtra account proposition, is aimed at rewarding the customers for trusting Diamond Bank to serve them and give hope to Nigerians that the Bank is still in the business of helping customers achieve their goals.

He said: “DiamondXtra account is our most important solution for our customers. Not only does it serve as a utility account, it also gives the customer the hope that one-day he/she will win something big. DiamondXtra has transformed the lives of people in the last 10 years and we have always put more into it for our customers to win.

Reiterating Uzoma, Robert Giles, Head retail Banking Business, stated that the prizes for this year has been increased with 20 per cent to give more customers the opportunity to win in the monthly and quarterly draws, adding that winners are expected to emerge from all the geopolitical zones in the country.

“DiamondXtra Season 10 is a testament of how people’s lives have changed. Now it is possible for someone to win salary for life. It is bigger than ever before and the Bank has given out over N5 billion and this year we are giving out 20 per cent over what we have been giving,” he said.

Of all the winners that are expected to emerge from the draws and rewarded in the season, one customer will win the star prize of salary for life and 10 customers will be rewarded with N1 million every month in the monthly electronic draws.

The winner of salary for life will receive monthly salary of N100,000.00 (one hundred thousand naira) for 20 years.

In this Season 10, apart from the monthly draws, there will also be bigger quarterly draws and prizes to be won by customers, which include a brand-new car, 5 years’ education allowance for 1 lucky customer, a year rent for three customers while six customers will smile home with N1 million each at the end of every quarter. Over 2000 customers will also be rewarded with other cash prizes and gifts in the monthly and quarterly draws.

The winner of education allowance will receive a salary of N100,000.00 every month for five years.

According to Chioma Afe, the Bank’s chief spokesperson, a deposit balance of N5,000 (five thousand naira) qualifies a customer to participate in the draws while a multiple of that amount increases the customer’s chances of winning. She stated that since the Bank launched the DiamondXtra reward scheme in July 2008, it has given its numerous customers the unique privilege to enjoy multiple benefits on one account, adding that the draws have produced 6,600 winners with a cumulative cash reward of over N5 billion.

“The DiamondXtra Season 10 monthly and quarterly draws are meant to reward our customers and give them the financial power to contribute meaningfully to the growth of Nigeria’s economy. The draws scheduled for this season reaffirms Diamond Bank’s commitment to financially empower more Nigerians by spreading the draws across the six geopolitical zones throughout the four business quarters of the year,”Afe stated.

Other unique benefits that DiamondXtra customers enjoy, include earning competitive monthly interest on savings, lodgment of cheques and dividend warrants from other banks into the account for value, access to quality healthcare for just N6,000.00 annually, Internet and telephone transactions and several other banking transactions on the Bank’s ATMs and other electronic channels.

DStv is set a launch a new channel to its premium customers at no extra charge to enjoy Hollywood’s finest with special pop-up channels.

Leading up to 2018’s landmark 90th annual Academy Awards taking place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on 5 Monday, M-Net Movies will bring DStv Premium subscribers a special month-long M-Net Movies Oscars pop-up channel in February.

This will give new and existing customers on DStv premium package access to channel 109 in February, with over one 115 Academy Award- winning films, 775 Oscar nominated movies as well as 306 statuettes.

The M-Net Movies Oscars pop-up channel will showcase a long list of movies that caught the eyes of critics and sparkled at Oscar ceremonies over the years. This treasure trove of terrific films will be screened from Thursday, 1 February until Wednesday 28 February and each day, there will be six films on the schedule from around noon until just after midnight.

While the spotlight will shine on all the Hollywood films from last year’s Oscars (the 89th Academy Awards), many of the cinematic gems that raked in the most awards since the inception of the awards will also make their way onto channel 109. Viewers can look forward to an array of films from classics like Gone with The Wind and the original 1959 Ben Hur to 2017’s Best Picture winner Moonlight along with last year’s Best Animated Feature Zootropolis.

The pop-up channel will also honour Oscar winners by screening the acclaimed movies they have appeared in. Academy favourites such as Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Cate Blanchett, Leonardo DiCaprio and South Africa’s own Charlize Theron will once again transport viewers into the heart of their characters’ stories, desires, fears and wonders.

The 90th edition of the Academy Awards will broadcast live on M-Net Movies Premiere at 2:30 am on 5 March and M-Net 108/101 on the same day at 8:30 pm. Thereafter, it will be available on DStv Catch Up via the DStv Explora.

Matthew Kukah, the Catholic bishop of Sokoto diocese, says fighting corruption and fixing Nigeria requires more than a God-fearing leader.

Kukah said this recently at the launch of a book titled ‘The Shadow List’ written by Dr Todd Moss.

He said to fight corruption and build the nation is not just about goodwill but about getting to the root of the matter and tackling it head-on.

“I have said it severally; let Nigerians keep saying they want a God-fearing leader,” he said.

“Nigeria does not need a God-fearing leader, because God-fearing has become an excuse to appeal to Nigerians and win elections.

“Governance in Nigeria is a criminalized enterprise and a criminalized state cannot progress; so we must come to terms as to why it is that this country is in such low portion.

“Fixing this country requires much more than that; national cohesion, holding our country together is the most fundamental project if we are to fix this nation.

“This is what we need because I am aware of how angry and frustrated Nigerians have become, especially in an environment where people are intrinsically not concerned about corruption but about their inability to access.”

Kukah said it is wonderful to talk about fighting corruption but that Nigerians cannot fight it if they had not diagnosed the environment “as to why and how about corruption”.

He said it is sad that Nigerians are always excited about a new administration but the excitement never lasts because bad governance often sets in.

The cleric said nobody would have imagined that three to four years down the line, Nigerians would be feeling the way they were feeling now.

He said: “If you know Nigerians well, rather than thinking about the solution to the problem, we are waiting for a few men who govern Nigeria to tell us they have found a silver bullet and then we all gather around.

“We will now pass through the motion pretending to be conducting election when as it is from 1999, we always have an idea of who the president will be even before the election is conducted.”

Kukah said quite a number of Nigerians had decided to make peace with the situation because they had decided that “the building called corruption is too big for them to break down”.

He said unless the building or system which was not serving the people of Nigeria was broken down, citizens, whether Christians or Muslims, would continue to feel the way they were feeling.

A middle aged man, Muideen Agboola, who is standing trial for dealing in hard drugs, on Monday entered a plea of guilty at a Federal High Court, Ibadan.

According to him, poor economy forced him to commit the crime.

In entering his plea, he said: “I plead guilty to the offence and I beg this court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing me.”

Agboola, who trafficked 150 grammes of marijuana. said he did not have money to pay for a lawyer to defend him.

Earlier, Mr Raphael Himinkaiye, Counsel to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Oyo State Command, said Agboola, was arraigned for a charge of unlawful dealing in hemp.

Himinkaiye said the accused committed the offence on Dec. 5, 2017 at Sanusi Village on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

According to the prosecutor, Agboola was arrested with a bag containing 150 grammes of hemp.

The offence contravened Section 11 (C ) of the NDLEA Act, Laws of the Federation 2004.

Justice Joyce Abdulmaleek, remanded him in prison and adjourned the case until Feb. 7 for judgment.

Yemi Kale, statistician general of the federation, says the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has no data on the job creation claims made by Chris Ngige, minister of labour and productivity.

The data chief made this statement in an interview with Abang Mercy.

Ngige had earlier said the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has created seven million jobs through its programmes.

But Kale said during the interview: “We don’t have the data anyway, that data of is 6 or 7 million, we don’t have that. I can’t comment on what other data users or data producers say but I can comment on what we produce here as the official source of data.

“We have not produced any data on job creation, we produced data on people that were unemployed at the particular time and that is what we are sticking to.

“We don’t do politics at the NBS, the National Bureau of Statistics is the official source of data. Our law does not allow us to be countered. The law says very clearly that NBS is the official source of Nigerian data.

“Everybody else can have their opinion, they can do their own computations if they want to but when it comes to national data, the authoritative source, the custodian of all data is the NBS.

“So we don’t comment on what other people even ministers say as far as data is concerned. Our data is for evidence based policy and decision making and that is what we do.”

Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, at a PDP rally on Monday in Ado Ekiti, declared that God directed him to support his Deputy, Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, to succeed him.

“Olusola never said he wanted to be deputy governor, but God instructed me to pick him. I said we will go together after our tenure, but God said I should allow him to stay; that what I said was my own opinion,” Mr. Fayose told the huge crowd.

A former Minister of State for Works, Dayo Adeyeye; a serving senator, Biodun Olujimi; and Nigeria’s former envoy in Canada, Dare Bejide, had indicated interest in the PDP ticket for the July 14 governorship poll.

The trio, along with a former Fayose aide and justice commissioner, Owoseeni Ajayi, had jointly rejected the adoption of Mr. Olusola as PDP’s sole candidate and described the step as “pedestrian and undemocratic”.

But Mr. Fayose, who spoke at the rally held at Okesa area, said he was not rattled by the negative utterances hurled at him by the anti-Olusola aspirants.

“The PDP has taken a position which we think is in the best interest of the state; we shall not be distracted by those opposed to this step,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the PDP would win the July 14 election “by God’s grace”.

Mr. Fayose said the large turnout of people for the rally was a testimony of PDP’s popularity in Ekiti, and warned those thinking of rigging the election to perish the thought as the people would resist it.

He said his administration had achieved a lot in the areas of infrastructure.

“We have improved on infrastructural development. We built a flyover at Oja Oba market and also built a new governor’s office. We have executed many projects,” he said.

He dismissed allegations that his government borrowed N56 billion, and declared that he had not borrowed “even a dime” since he came into office.

“Let my opponents know that the elections are not won by propaganda. If they are sure of what they are saying, let them tell us the bank that gave the loan and also produce the papers leading to the transactions,” he said.

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of “churning out falsehood” against President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr. Shittu said this on Monday while briefing journalists at the Aso Rock Villa Abuja.

Former President Obasanjo had last week issued a damning statement on the Buhari administration, accusing the president of underperformance and condonation of corruption.

The former president also advised Mr. Buhari not to seek re-election for second term.

Mr. Shittu said as a Minister for two years in the administration of Mr. Buhari, he considered it a patriotic duty to speak to Nigerians on a number of issues “that have been trending, particularly in the south west and generally in the country”.

He said he was speaking personally and as an APC member, because, according to him, the government had not been talking enough.

“Obasanjo as a Nigerian has the right to hold an opinion. If Obasanjo holds an opinion that Mr. President has performed less than it should be, those of us who are in the position to know better have a right to also state the other side which perhaps Obasanjo is ignorant of,” the minister said.

“You see, there are some people who enjoy engaging in sensationalism. With due respect to General Obasanjo, if you take his history over the last 30 years, there is hardly any regime other than his own that he did not criticise, except Sani Abacha, who didn’t wait for Obasanjo to criticise him before he was sent to the gulag.

“So many Nigerians know that Obasanjo enjoys this type of sensationalisation. In any case, no matter what impression you have of me, do you have a right to tell me not to contest an election? I mean we should talk like people who are educated, who know our left from the right,” Mr. Shittu said.

The Minister said Mr. Obasanjo was taking advantage of the modesty of the Buhari administration.

“We belong in modesty, we do not believe in propaganda. Unfortunately enemies of this government, particularly people who perhaps feel they have lost out in the new dispensation have been churning out false information, blackmail and all kinds of baseless accusations, particularly of non-performance of the government.

“I am talking here not as the spokesperson of the government but as an individual, a leader of APC from Oyo State, who also is a member of this government, having been minister of communications.

“I believe as an active participant in political and governmental affairs I have a duty to the government and to myself and I believe to all Nigerians that we have to correct a lot of misinformation and blackmail that is out there by people who ordinarily deserve respect but who for reason of clanishness, for reason of tribalism; for reasons of religious bigotry and intolerance have decided to see and not to ask questions about what is going on in the country,” he said.

Mr. Shittu also said contrary to the widespread information, the Buhari government has performed better that the PDP which was in power for 16 years.

He said the administration has performed better in agriculture, housing and power.

Only APC can stop Buhari from running

The Minister said only the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, can stop Mr. Buhari from seeking re-election.

“There are procedures for elections. President Buhari is a member of the APC and the APC has its rules and regulations as to how candidates will emerge.

“If members of the party feel that the president has not performed well enough, it is for them to show that during the primary election. It’s not for anybody to shortchange Nigerians and prevent people from offering themselves for an election.

“In any case, since Obasanjo is no more a member of our party, with due respect to him, it doesn’t lie in his mouth to tell us who among our party members or leaders to contest or not to contest. I think Nigerians should concede this privilege to we the members of APC to decide the fate of Mr. President when the next round of primaries come.”

In an early morning service at the Nigerian headquarters of Omega Fire Ministries (OFM) church in Auchi, Edo State, controversial Canada based strip dancer and singer, Stephanie Otobo, came on the podium to ask for forgiveness from man of God and OFM President, Apostle (Prof.) Johnson Suleman.

Otobo, for the better part of 2017, it is recalled, launched a series of scandalous allegations against Suleman, accusing the servant of God of sleeping with her and promising her marriage.

All her allegations were rubbished and the matter became a legal issue.

In the early hours of Saturday, 27th of January, 2018, Otobo narrated to a bewildered OFM congregation how, due to desperation to survive and advance her music career, she fell into the hands of certain powerful persons in the public, including pastor’s; got paid and manipulated to scandalize Apostle Suleman.
Watch her confession in video:

Aisha Yesufu, the convener of Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) campaign, has reacted to former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s statement listing President Muhammadu Buhari’s failures.

Obasanjo had in a statement advised the president against running in the next Presidential election.

Reacting, Aisha described Obasanjo as a ‘Serial writer’ writing to President Muhammadu Buhari whom she called a ‘Serial loser’.

The co-convener in her tweets beckoned on Nigerians to focus on the message of dethroning both leading parties APC and PDP rather than on the former president.

She wrote “A ‘Serial” writer wrote to ‘serial’ loser and ‘serial” sycophants have been at each other’s throats.
“When would we learn to focus on the message and not the messenger?

“When would we focus on Nigeria and not individuals?”

A House of Representatives ad-hoc panel yesterday resolved to issue an arrest warrant against the chairman of Globacom Nigeria, Chief Mike Adenuga for failing to honour its invitations.

The panel, which is investigating activities of telecommunications companies, said it had summoned Adenuga after making several attempts to have him appear before it were not successful.

The chairman of the committee, Rep Ahmed Abu (APC, Niger) said Adenuga’s action was an affront to the legislature, saying he ought to appear to clear issues related to financial obligations by his company.

Abu said records before the panel showed that Globacom Nigeria owes the Federal Government over N16.7 billion.

He asked both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to go after the Glo chief for holding Nigeria’s money.

“A situation where the parliament will invite an agency or organization and then it won’t come, then we’re going nowhere. Some people feel they’re too big; that they’re above the law. I’m making reference to Mr Mike Adenuga, the chairman of Glo.

“The amount of disrespect he has for the parliament is unacceptable. Yes, he’s a billionaire, but that doesn’t mean anything. Anybody can be a billionaire in the right atmosphere,” he said.

A member of the panel, Abdulrahman Shuaibu (APC, Adamawa) moved that the panel should approach the House to issue an arrest warrant against Adenuga, which was supported by all members.

Shuaibu said: “We summoned him, but he failed to appear. I want to move that in view of that, we issue an arrest warrant against him for the IGP to produce him on February 15 by 12 noon.”

Abu ruled that “The committee hereby resolves that an arrest warrant be issued against the chairman of Globacom.”

The panel would have to approach Speaker Yakubu Dogara to sign the arrest warrant for it to be effected.

Our correspondent later gathered that there was a mix up as a Glo representative that was delegated to attend the meeting went to the House standing committee on telecommunications instead of the ad-hoc committee.

When he later discovered that he was actually to appear before the ad-hoc panel, he rushed to the venue, but the meeting had ended.

Glo source disclose that they have appealed to the panel to reconsider its decision as the non-appearance before it yesterday was not deliberate.

The Lagos State Government has confirmed the death of Mr. Deji Tinubu, the Special Adviser on Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives.

The Government in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan expressed “shock and disbelief’ over the sudden death of Mr. Tinubu and has reached out to his immediate family to commiserate on this huge loss to the family and the citizens of Lagos State.

“We are still in shock. All of us at the State Executive Council are in disbelief. He was a good and committed patriot who brought his passion to his job. He was a gentleman who maintained excellent team spirit. We shall miss him,” he said.

Bamigbetan said the late soccer fan slumped while playing five aside match with fellow participants at the ongoing retreat of members of the state executive council and permanent secretaries at the Jubilee Chalets, Epe. Doctors and nurses rushed to give him first aid and he was immediately taken to the General Hospital, Epe where he was confirmed dead.

An autopsy is expected to be carried out while burial arrangements will be announced by the family.

The late Deji Tinubu was the son of late Kafaru Tinubu, one of Nigeria’s foremost police officers. He is survived by an aged mother, Bintu Tinubu and wife, Yemisi.

Tinubu was sworn in as Special Adviser on Sports and Chairman of the State’s Sports Commission on October 19, 2015.

He was recently moved to take up his new portfolio.

Following extensive consultations held with stakeholders in the Eti-Osa/Lekki-Epe Expressway of Lagos State, the Lekki Concession Company Limited (LCC), has announced a review in toll tariffs at the Admiralty Circle Toll Plaza and the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge Toll Plaza with effect from Thursday, February 1, 2018.

According to a press statement made available to the media on Thursday, January 25, 2018, the toll fare increase is as a result of current economic and business realities that have adversely increased the cost of operations and maintenance of the company’s loan obligations.

The Managing Director, LCC, Mr. Mohammed Hassan noted that the feedback and recommendations received during the series of consultations held in December 2017 with stakeholders in Eti-Osa Local Government area and its environs considerably influenced the new toll fares to be paid by motorists plying the Expressway and the Link Bridge.

Detailing the new development, Mr. Hassan said: “Since the commencement of tolling in December 2011, the toll tariffs had remained the same despite the continuous increase in the cost of operations to ensure that the toll plazas and the road infrastructure are well maintained. The toll review has also become necessary to enable the company meet its loan obligations to its local and foreign lenders, considering the fact that foreign exchange rates have continued to increase astronomically in the last couple of years. LCC cannot continue to operate or provide the services required from us if we do not review the toll tariffs”.

Many of the consulted stakeholders including traditional rulers & community leaders, residents’ associations and youth groups, Eti-Osa Local Government officials, members of the media as well as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Eti-Osa Local Government Area agreed that there was a need for constant upgrade of road facilities, as the Eti-Osa/Lekki-Epe corridor was rapidly becoming an international economic hub for investors.

Reacting to the new toll fares for branded commercial vehicles popularly called ‘Danfo’, Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Jakande, Eti-Osa Local Government Chapter, Alhaji Taofeek Oluwa, commended the foresight of LCC in consulting with leaders and members of the NURTW in Eti-Osa LGA. Alhaji Oluwa noted that although the toll fare review by LCC was unavoidable, the NURTW was glad to know that LCC took their advice for a minimal increment on toll fare from N80 to N100 (N90 for eTag users) for commercial transport buses plying the Eti-Osa/Lekki-Epe Expressway.

“As long as LCC honours its agreement of our mutual understanding at the stakeholders’ meeting, we can confidently support LCC and the Lagos State Government by assuring that commuters will not suffer any increase in the fare paid to board branded commercial buses coming into or going out of Eti-Osa/Lekki-Epe Expressway. Also, if the fare increase will improve the standard of the roads and provide more comfortable and safer journey for all road users, NURTW will be happy to endorse the toll fare review”, Alhaji Oluwa added.

Keeping in line with its corporate objectives of delivering real utility to road users on the Eti-Osa/Lekki-Epe Expressway and the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, LCC had managed operations of the roads for the past ten years despite the yearly increase of the cost of operations and other relevant expenses. In addition, LCC provides various other services to road users, especially as it relate to their convenience such as the 24/7 free vehicle breakdown and recovery services by the Company’s Route and Incident Management team; the LCC dedicated Police team; the Toll free Customer Service helpline and other services. Over 100,000 road users have benefited from the free service of the Route and Incident Management team since inception, while LCC dedicated police team has ensured improved security along the expressway.

Mr. Ebuka Oseji, a businessman resident in Ajah, who was part of the community consultation with LCC, offered some advice saying: “It is also pertinent for LCC as a company to continue to carry out its corporate social responsibilities to the people in our catchment area so as to enable them enjoy the benefits accruable from investments in the area”.

Mr. Hassan further urged motorists to take advantage of the electronic platforms by registering for e-Tag to enable them enjoy discounted passages and faster throughput at the plazas. The LCC’s Managing Director said that commercial buses would enjoy discounted passages such that transport fares will not be hiked as a result of the reviewed tariff.

Santi Cazorla is targeting a return to action with a Arsenal in 2019 after undergoing the 10th operation of his injury-hit career last year.
The Spanish midfielder has not played for Arsenal since October 2016 and has had to undergo multiple operations, resulting in the loss of eight centimetres from the tendon in his right ankle.
Last year, in an emotional interview with Spanish newspaper Marca, he opened up on his fight to play professional football again and posed for a series of shocking photos.
And now the 33-year-old Spaniard has revealed his target to return for the Gunners, despite considering hanging up his boots during his injury hell.
He told RTVE: ‘There have been moments when I’ve thought about throwing in the towel. I’ve thought things like “maybe it is not worth continuing”.
‘If things go well, maybe next year I can play at the top level again.
‘The last surgery was seven weeks ago, and my tenth in total. The first surgery was risky because I took many corticosteroids and the skin deteriorated.
‘Then a skin graft was proposed and after that, the infection ate my tendon’.
Cazorla has not played since October 2016 and almost had his right foot amputated.
He had contracted gangrene and lost eight centimetres from his achilles as skin from his tattooed arm was grafted on.
Cazorla previously revealed the shocking extent of his injury nightmare to Marca: ‘If you get to walk again with your son in the garden, be satisfied, they told me.
‘He [Dr Mikel Sanchez] saw that I had a tremendous infection, that I had damaged part of the calcaneus bone and it had eaten the achilles tendon. There was eight centimetres of it missing!’
Arsene Wenger described the injury as the worst he had ever seen. No doubt the Arsenal manager and the football community will welcome the diminutive playmaker back with open arms when he finally returns to action.

The Chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, and Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Mr. Tony Elumelu, has stressed the need for global organisations and multinational institutions to support the much-needed growth in the African continent; adding that ultimately, such growth will affect the world positively.

Elumelu, who pointed this out on the side-lines of the 2018 World Economic Forum currently ongoing in Davos, Switzerland, said organisations must come together to provide solutions to key challenges negatively impacting African economies, especially with regards to power supply and infrastructural challenges which are the major issues that the economies have had to grapple with.

Speaking specifically about the challenge of power supply on the continent, he said, “Under the Obama administration the Power Plan programme was initiated, which helped in a number of ways. However, now, we have a number of investors, like the Transcorp Power Plc, that is working hard to improve power in the continent in the 21stcentury. The truth is we have a new crop of investors who know and realise that it is important to have access to power to grow the continent, and our governments have keyed into this.

“To this end, we would also continue to need support from World Bank, AFdB, and other organisations to support with the huge capital that is needed to boost that sector. We could also do with the support of America, because if we improve access to electricity in Africa, it would help the world in a variety of ways.”

While noting that the private sector needs to get more involved, he cited the example of the achievements of the TEF over the past few years, which he said has begun to bear fruits, adding “We are beginning to see signs of the great things that these people are doing and they are making us proud. We have helped them realise their dreams and they are doing well.”

He seized the opportunity to commend organisations that have keyed into the TEF’s vision of empowering 10,000 African youths such as the International Red Cross Society, which according to him, has helped to create more opportunities for more Africans to benefit from the TEF’s entrepreneurship programmes.

He said: “We have seen that our interventions of 1,000 beneficiaries every year cannot be enough, in the first year, for instance, we had about 20,000 applications, we selected only 1,000; by the second year, it rose to 40,000 where another 1,000 was selected; last year, which was the third, we had 98,000 and we again selected 1000. It has become imperative to create more opportunities and to engage with our friends and partners and those who love Africa and who believe in this form of development that is truly sustainable.

“So we reached out and I am happy that Red Cross came through and they have committed $1m, so now, we would not just be talking about 1,000 entrepreneurs, but now, it would be 1,200 entrepreneurs. Thanks to Red Cross for the additional 200.”

He explained that the additional $1m fund they are bringing to the table is for the Niger-Delta region, covering the Ogoni part, and the North-Eastern region where we have the Boko Haram insurgence. “This kind of intervention, is what we need to develop Africa.

We want to help to support the African youth, to support and prioritise them at a forum like this for global leaders. To let them know that Africa needs a new form of support, not necessarily hand-outs but support hat can empower. We need people to team up with us to support these youth,” he passionately added.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/01/25/elumelu-seeks-more-multilateral-organisations-support-to-boost-entrepreneurship-in-africa/

…Apprehends four others over attack on LAGESC officers, vehicle

…Impounds 150 waste carts, suspects charged to court

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday arrested a total of 24 persons including cart pushers, street traders and some residents for dumping waste on road medians and canals contrary to the Environmental Sanitation Laws of the State.

The suspects, who have been charged before the Special Offences Court sitting in Ogba, Ikeja, were arrested in an early morning operation carried out by men of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) recently inaugurated by the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode.

Giving details on the operation, LAGESC Corps Marshal, Daniel Isiofia said the suspects were arrested following investigation which revealed that cart pushers and some residents were indiscriminately dumping domestic refuse at sites not designated for waste disposal and canals, thereby sabotaging the ongoing efforts to make the State clean and hygienic.

He said: “Recently, there has been clamour for cleaner Lagos and the Governor has been very keen on making Lagos clean. To this end, he gave us a mandate to ensure that Lagos is kept clean by ensuring that acts that lead to the city to be dirty are curbed.

“We know that there have been massive efforts to clear the backlog of refuse on the road and our men went on surveillance and we eventually discovered where the cart pushers are operating at Ogunlana Street by Ogbomosho in Itire area. We raided the area and saw the cart pushers whose job is to collect refuse on payment from some residents who feel that they cannot dispose their refuse according to government directive and dump on road medians and canals.

“Often times, if you go to the canal at Itire-Ijesha area, you will see the cart pushers dumping refuse into the canal thereby blocking the waterways which leads to flooding. So, with the determination to stop this menace, we raided them at about 4am this morning and we succeeded in impounding 150 waste carts used for this purpose and arrested 11 suspects while others fled.”

Isiofia, who is a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, advised residents to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse in public places, as well as patronizing cart pushers, saying such were against the law, just as he vowed that ongoing efforts to stop the menace would be sustained.

“We are going to sustain this process. I like to advise the operators of the waste carts to know that Lagos is not a place for them. They should leave Lagos or look for another job and to those who patronize them, if we get them, we will charge them to court because they are running foul of the law.

“We are appealing to the citizens to know that a clean Lagos is a healthy Lagos. It is for the benefits of all of us for our environment to be clean. Some people see us as enemies but we are not; we are only doing this job for the benefit of all.

“We are partners in progress; Lagosians should assist us. Governor Ambode too has pleaded with the people to support the bid to make Lagos clean and we are joining the Governor to appeal to people to desist from indiscriminate dumping of waste and make Lagos a very clean city,” Isiofia said.

Meanwhile, four hoodlums have been arrested for attacking LAGESC officials while performing their lawful duties.

The hoodlums carried out the attack on men of the agency on Tuesday at Brown Street area of Oshodi while on their way to enforce the ban on illegal dumping of refuse and street trading.

Two LAGESC officers – Olasilola Muyiwa John and Haastrup Ifealuwa were seriously injured while a Black Maria used as operational vehicle was badly damaged. All the suspects have since been charged to court.

…Resolves 35 cases in three months

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday said it has awarded the contract for the expansion of the operations of the DNA and Forensic Centre to include a world class Forensic Toxicology and Chemistry Section in line with efforts to expand the scope of operation of the Centre to offer more services.
The State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, who disclosed this in a statement, said the addition of the Toxicology and Chemistry Section was due to the high incidence and growing cases of homicide and suspicious deaths related to substance, alcohol abuse, drug related accidents and deaths, as well as suspected cases of poisoning.
“The award of this contract by the State Government is in fulfilment of the promise made by His Excellency Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the commissioning of the Centre in September 2017, where the Governor informed Lagosians and the World that the first phase of the Centre was that of DNA and Forensic Biology and promised that the State would move to other phases by expanding the scope of operation of the centre to include Forensic Toxicology & Chemistry, Latent & Trace evidence, Firearms & Toolmark, Questioned documents and Digital evidence to expand the level of services offered by the DNA Centre,” the Attorney General said.
Kazeem expressed optimism that the Toxicology and Chemistry Section, which would be ready for commissioning in the third quarter of 2018, would automatically place Lagos as one of the leading centres for Forensics in Africa.
Highlighting some of the strides by the Governor Ambode administration in the justice sector, the Attorney said the DNA and Forensic Centre in the last three months received over 150 requests for forensic analysis from within and outside Nigeria, while over 35 cases have been resolved using Forensic Technology.
He said the DNA and Forensic Centre since it began operation in September 2017, has become a significant milestone and a symbolic manifestation of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s efforts to carry out reforms in the justice sector.
Kazeem listed some of the cases handled by the Centre to include: Suspicious Death Investigations, Analysis of Human Remains that were exhumed to resolve inheritance disputes, Child Trafficking, Rape, Impersonation, Paternity and Maternity issues, among others.
“In stating the achievements of the Ambode Administration in the ongoing reform in the Justice Sector in Lagos State, the Attorney General confirmed that the Lagos DNA Forensic Centre in the three months of operation has received over 150 requests for Forensic Analysis from within and outside Nigeria, while over 35 cases had been resolved using Forensic DNA Technology,” the Attorney General said.
Besides, he explained that the Centre held workshops and training for Judges, Legal Practitioners, Police, other Law Enforcement Agencies and Emergency Responders in the State, while several representatives of foreign embassies in Nigeria and several International agencies have visited the facility and expressed their willingness to partner with the Centre, a situation, which demonstrates the importance and credibility of the centre.
As part of the ongoing overall reform of the justice sector, Kazeem also pledged the State Government’s commitment to support the reform and digitization of the probate system currently being driven by the Judiciary to make it more efficient and responsive to the needs of the people. He also vowed to accelerate prison decongestion through aggressive use of restorative justice techniques, plea- bargaining and non-custodial sentencing.
While reiterating the continued commitment of the present administration to justice sector reforms, Kazeem thanked Lagosians and enjoined all stakeholders to continue to partner with the State Government in its effort towards maintaining security, law and order.