₦airaland Forum

Intrigues, highwire politicking and intensive lobbying are at work at the Nigerian Presidency and Police Force Headquarters (FHQ), Louis Edet House Garki, Abuja, as President Muhammadu Buhari shops for a new Inspector-General of Police, IGP, ahead of the retirement of incumbent, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris. Although Idris is due for statutory retirement on December 31, 2018, he is said to be lobbying for one-year extension, The Witness reports.

The Witness gathered that as Idris intensifies lobbying top members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to extend his tenure, the president has discussed with some of his cabinet members on a credible officer to replace the embattled police chief.

As Idris makes move to remain on the seat for another one year, The Witness learnt that several senior policemen and their political godfathers have also started lobbying to become the next Inspector General of Police.

It was gathered that between now and 2019, several police chiefs, especially of the ranks of Deputy Inspectors General of Police, Assistant Commissioners of Police and Commissioners of Police will proceed on their retirement.

A source said: “Between this month and 2019, the bulk of senior officers in the Nigerian Police will go on retirement.

READ MORE HERE: http://witnessngr.com/exclusive-intrigues-as-buhari-shops-for-new-igp-to-replace-idris/

Intrigues, highwire politicking and intensive lobbying are at work at the Nigerian Presidency and Police Force Headquarters (FHQ), Louis Edet House Garki, Abuja, as President Muhammadu Buhari shops for a new Inspector-General of Police, IGP, ahead of the retirement of incumbent, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris. Although Idris is due for statutory retirement on December 31, 2018, he is said to be lobbying for one-year extension, The Witness reports.

The Witness gathered that as Idris intensifies lobbying top members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to extend his tenure, the president has discussed with some of his cabinet members on a credible officer to replace the embattled police chief.

As Idris makes move to remain on the seat for another one year, The Witness learnt that several senior policemen and their political godfathers have also started lobbying to become the next Inspector General of Police.

It was gathered that between now and 2019, several police chiefs, especially of the ranks of Deputy Inspectors General of Police, Assistant Commissioners of Police and Commissioners of Police will proceed on their retirement.

A source said: “Between this month and 2019, the bulk of senior officers in the Nigerian Police will go on retirement.

READ MORE HERE: http://witnessngr.com/exclusive-intrigues-as-buhari-shops-for-new-igp-to-replace-idris/

After many years in the doldrums and following its most recent acquisition by Sigma Golf - Riverbank consortium, the moves by the new management team at Keystone Bank Limited has begun yielding fruits.

The Bank for the quarter ended March 2018 recorded a profit before tax of N3.72bn, compared with a loss of N2.79bn over the same period in 2017. Deposit grew 42% or N84bn to N283bn at the end of the quarter March 2018.
Keystone Bank, one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions, recently posted its first quarter financial results which indicate tangible profits in just eight months of taking over the helm of affairs after many years of struggling to stay afloat.

Recall that following the successful completion of AMCON’s divestment from the bank, a five-man transitional board was set up to oversee its re-positioning for growth and competitiveness. The transitional arrangement was successfully concluded on August 15, 2017 with the assumption of office of the substantive MD/CEO.

In less than one year, the bank has experienced tremendous transformation in all ramifications. Aside revamping all its branches across the country and bolstering its workforce, it has invested substantially in technology and developed fully integrated service models that enable customers access banking services through a wide range of channels. The Keystone mobile banking application boasts of several unique features such as the ability to bank with zero data, the Oxygen Chat Banking and several others that have re positioned the bank to compete effectively in the sector.

Speaking on the development, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Keystone Bank Limited, Mr. Obeahon Ohiwerei said, “This achievement is a testament to the hard work and resilience of the management and staff of the bank. From inception it has been our vision to restore the confidence of all our stakeholders with tangible results and we are indeed pleased with this start.”

Mr. Ohiwerei stressed that this was only the beginning of greater things to come, noting that the team was set to double its efforts in meeting and surpassing the expectations of its customers.
“It was not an easy journey,” he said, “and we do have a tough road ahead. However, we are confident that we will take Keystone Bank to enviable heights within the banking industry.”

Many industry experts who have followed activities in the banking sector have hailed the positive development in the financial institution. They also salute the determination of the bank’s team which has paid off with good financial results, describing it as a positive development for the banking sector and the economy as a whole.

Keystone Bank is a technology and service-driven commercial bank offering tailor-made convenient and reliable solutions to every customer’s needs.

READ MORE HERE: http://witnessngr.com/keystone-bank-on-upward-trajectory-declares-strong-q1-financial-result/

-As Police declare bankers wanted

The Divisional Police Office, Lion Building, Campbell Street at the Lagos Island has declared eight persons, who were of the banking profession, wanted over charges bordering on fraudulent theft of over N600 million naira from depositors’ accounts with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), The Witness reports.

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 and made available to The Witness are: Linda Natufe Chekwube, Matthew Akpan Benny, Juwon Faromoh, Oluwasoji Ajetumobi, Ogunlaja Olasukanmi Ganiyu, Oshiojum Chibuzor Wilson, Akanaga Christian Chika and Nelson Omuzagha.

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.

Though, the Adam Nuru-led FCMB prides itself as one of the most reliable financial institutions in Nigeria, depositors have continued to wonder how safe their monies are with the lender as the bank has become a safe haven for fraudulent officials.

Recall that a staff of the bank, Adejare Sonde, was arraigned recently over the theft of N124million from a depositor’s account.

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in Ibadan Zone, arraigned the suspect before Justice A. A. Akinyemi of the State High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on a 12-count charge bordering on stealing, forgery and uttering.

Sonde was accused of using his position as the account officer to a micro-finance bank to steal N124 million from the customer’s account.

READ MORE HERE: http://witnessngr.com/fcmb-depositors-lose-over-n600m-to-fraudulent-staff/

A Lagos based oil and gas firm, Petrocam Trading Nigeria Plc., has dragged Union Bank of Nigeria Plc (UBN). before a Lagos High court over a breach of contract. The firm slammed a N6.7 billion suit against the lender.

In the case before the High Court in Lagos, Petrocam’s lawyer, Barrister Gboyega Oyewole (SAN) contended in the filed statement of claim that Union Bank flouted the joint venture agreement entered with the plaintiff to jointly collaborate in opening letters of credit confirmation lines for the importation of petroleum products.

The plaintiff averred that it had sometimes in 2014 secured an import finance facility from Union Bank for importation of petroleum products and raised letters of credit to utilize this import facility. The initial facility of $45 million was increased to $100 million. The company duly provided bank guarantees for the facility. There was also an understanding that the facility would be repaid from sales proceeds and oil subsidy reimbursements.

Under the agreement, Union Bank would secure foreign exchange for the company to enable it finance its international oil purchases. The company however claimed that the bank defaulted by failing to secure forex from the CBN during the 2014/.2015 period when 90 percent of the company’s import transactions were being conducted thereby causing the company to suffer huge losses.

It further claimed that out of the $76 million it required to finance the transactions covered by the agreement, Union Bank was only able to produce about $22 million, meaning that Petrocam could not complete a large percentage of the deals, leading to huge profit loss.

The company contended further that Union Bank failed to bid for foreign exchange when the exchange rate was between N155-160 to the dollar but only bided when the rate had increased to N288-320 per dollar, thereby deliberately inflating the costs of maintaining the dollar credit facility.


READ MORE: http://witnessngr.com/union-bank-dragged-to-court-over-n6-7bn/

Nigeria’s drugs and narcotics control agency, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Monday sealed off three major pharmaceutical companies – Emzor Pharmaceuticals Ind. Ltd., Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Limited and Bioraj Pharmaceutical Limited following their ties to the codeine abuse and epidemic presently ravaging youths mostly in northern Nigeria.

The DG of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye announced the development in a statement.

“Due to insufficient evidence gathered and apparent resistance to provide needed documents during our inspection on May 2, 2018 at the respective companies in Ilorin and Lagos, respectively, it has become necessary to shut down all product lines of the three companies – Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Limited. Plots 3 & 8, Adewole Industrial Estate, Lubcon Avenue, Ilorin, Kwara State; Bioraj Pharmaceutical Limited. No 405 Kaima Road, Ilorin, Kwara State and Emzor Pharmaceuticals Ind. Ltd., Ajao Estate, Lagos.

“This is to allow for a full and comprehensive investigation. The three companies therefore remain closed. The reopening of the manufacturing companies will depend on the level of cooperation that is shown during the comprehensive investigation,” the statement said.

A recent BBC documentary brought the codeine addiction to limelight with Nigeria’s first lady, Aisha Buhari and the leadership of the National Assembly warning that government must do more to curb the abuse of cough syrup, which contains codeine.

In response to the call, THEWILL recalls that the Ministry of Health banned the production and importation of cough syrup with codeine in the country.

Monday’s statement further said: “The Director General constituted a Task Force to be made up of NAFDAC Directors- Registration and Regulatory Affairs; Narcotics and Controlled Substances; and Drug Evaluation and Research.

“Members of PMG-MAN in the Committee included the Executive Secretary of PMG-MAN, Fidson Healthcare; May & Baker PLC; and Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries. It was stated that on May 2-3, 2018 “A team of nine NAFDAC officers (2 from Drug and Evaluation Research – DER and 7 from Investigation & Enforcement – I&E) and ten mobile police officers were sent to Ilorin, Kwara State on May 2 2018 to carry out investigational inspection at the companies of the two different pharmaceutical companies that are licensed to manufacture codeine-containing syrup, and which were implicated in the BBC documentary.

“The same investigational inspection by a different NAFDAC team took place on the same day and time as the Ilorin companies at the manufacturing facility of Emzor Pharmaceuticals Ind. Ltd., Ajao Estate, Lagos.

“The focus of the assignment was to access and monitor from records the utilization, sales and effective distribution of the codeine containing cough syrups to the end users.

“Meanwhile, meeting of the stakeholders mentioned above is being planned while the shut down and full investigation.

READ MORE HERE: http://witnessngr.com/nafdac-seals-off-emzor-pharmaceuticals-others-over-codeine-abuse/

Fastest growing financial institution in Nigeria, Keystone Bank Limited, has partnered with a ‘Cash Reward as-a-Service Company’, CeLD Innovations Limited, to launch a ground-breaking product, ‘CashToken’, a new age of hyper consumer centricity in Nigeria.

The new innovative product, CashToken, which was formally launched in Lagos on Thursday April 19, 2018 at a conference tagged “500 Top CEOs Conference – Unleashing The Age of Hyper Consumer Centricity, is an electronic reward and celebratory gift commodity which costs only N30 (Thirty Naira).

The initiative according to CeLD creates an avenue for every customer in Nigeria to have an opportunity for life-changing cash rewards every Friday night at the National CashToken draws, to be monitored by Alexander Forbes and audited by Deloitte. The product is designed to optimize customer loyalty investment for business, celebratory gift value optimization and public emotional equity for government.

According to the Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Keystone Bank Limited, Mr. Obeahon Ohiwerei, “At Keystone Bank, our vision as we begin our trajectory towards industry leadership is the enablement of new possibilities tied to our customer’s innermost desires as we connect our customers to a new era of Hyper Consumer Centricity; where every patronage of our bank is a life changing opportunity.”

“And so, the establishment of the World’s First Cash Reward as-a-Service Platform by CeLD is indeed not only most commendable but worthy of strategic support of forward looking businesses; hence the support of the Board of Directors and management of Keystone Bank Limited.”

“We have also taken a decision to partner with CeLD to adopt this ground-breaking product, ‘The CashToken’ as a Keystone Bank Customer Loyalty Reward Commodity. We believe every patronage of the bank should be a true life changing-opportunity with guaranteed cash for insurance, pension or savings.”

“We therefore call on all industry leaders, business owners, governments and the celebratory gift industry to join us as we project this great African Innovation to the world stage. We believe that One (1) to Three (3) Billion people will receive CashTokens in five years across the world.’’ Ohiwerei concluded.

Also speaking at the launch, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of Zinox Technologies Limited said that products like CeLD are the kind of empowerment that today’s startups earnestly require.

“CashToken is the miracle of the 21st Century, and it’s an innovation that makes business faster, and is transparent. It is an innovation that will bring growth to the economy of the country.” Ekeh added.

Other speakers and guests at the launch include: Tunde Irukera (Director General Consumer Protection Council), Lanre Gbajabiamila (DG, National Lottery Regulation Commission), Mitchel Elegbe (GMD, Interswitch Group), Hon. Fuad Atanda-Lawal (Chairman Obalende/Ikoyi LCDA), Wale Olokodana (Enterprise Commercial Lead, Microsoft Nigeria), Bello Maigari (Executive Secretary, National Lottery Trust Fund), Alex Okoh (DG, Bureau of Public Enterprise,) and many more.

Summarizing the essence of the epoch-making event, through a concise letter to the CEOs, Mr. Lai Labode, Founder and CEO of CeLD Innovations said: “the CashToken idea inspires a new age of HYPER Consumer Centricity, where the reward on every patronage is an incontrovertible life-changing opportunity and development of consumer emotional equity that will ultimately attempt to shape the several and individual preferences of the average consumer in the ever-competitive and volatile business world.”

More and more support is coming the way of Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, the immediate past governor of Delta State who is gearing up to represent Delta South Senatorial District in the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly in 2019.

A group, Ijaw Liberation Movement (ILM) in Ijaw land, one of the three major ethnic groups in Delta South Senatorial District where Senator James Manager, the incumbent senator representing the district, comes from has thrown its full weight behind Dr. Uduaghan.

In an interview recently, the leader of the group, Mr. Peremotebi Simeon expressed his kinsmen’s desire to have Dr. Uduaghan represent them “this time around.”

The leader, who said they were excited having their son Senator James Manager serve out four tenures of 16 years in the senate, however said it was a bittersweet feeling because Ijaw was not the only ethnic group in Delta South.

According to him, “The only dynamic thing is change; where there is no change, the people are not happy. There is no doubt in our minds that it is the turn of another section to represent us. That is fair game.

“I am not saying our brother did not do well, or is not doing well, but I believe a fresh candidate will bring something fresh to the table for our own benefit.

“We had followed Dr. Uduaghan’s painstaking effort to develop our area, nay the whole state, while he was governor of Delta State. We are also aware that he stepped down for our son to continue a few years ago, so he is the most suitable person for the job now.

"Above all, we the Ijaws benefitted so much from his government. He did so much to make life comfortable for us through his development plans then. Now it's payback time as one good turn deserves another."

The leader said they were not in the know of any candidate developing interest in the position at the moment aside from the former governor.

“Uduaghan is the only person seeking for the office who has ever told us why he is going there. The reasons are quite important to the Ijaw people and we shall put him there. We shall hold him accountable thereafter.”

From all indications, Dr. Uduaghan seems to be having a smooth sail to the senate. His legacies while ruling as governor of Delta State is paving way for him to continue serving his people as a senator. The Itsekiri-born medical doctor who is yet to declare his intention to contest for the senate seat, has however hinted of his desire to grab the position. Many youths in Delta South, elders as well as the entire Niger Delta believe he has something to offer to the region.

READ MORE: http://witnessngr.com/2019-ijaw-group-endorses-emmanuel-uduaghan-for-senate/

Immediate past Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan has said he wants to represent Delta South Senatorial District at the Senate in 2019 because of his desire to pursue quality legislation that will lead to an end of the crisis in the Niger Delta region.

In a media chat recently, the medical doctor who left indelible marks in the state after his eight-year rule as a governor said he would soon declare officially his intention to contest the senatorial seat of Delta South at the National Assembly.

“I have not declared but I have decided to run. The official declaration is going to be very soon,” Dr. Uduaghan said.

Dr. Uduaghan, who was instrumental to the emergence of the incumbent senator representing Delta South, Senator James Manager 15 years ago, also said he withdrew from the race in 2015 to ensure that peace reigned in the state as he has always maintained that peace was more important than electoral victories. He, however, noted that the coast was now clear for him to serve his people. In his words: “Despite the pressure from the good people of Delta South in 2015, I decided to step down, but looking at the horizon now, the issues that caused the security challenges that made me to shelve my ambition in 2015 are no longer there.”

Uduaghan, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), gave reasons why he wants to go to the upper chamber of the National Assembly and spoke of his plans for his constituency, the Niger Delta and the entire country.

According to him, without being boastful and in terms of capacity, he had the capacity to do the work of a senator in Delta South Senatorial District, saying that the experience he garnered over the years as commissioner, Secretary to the State Government, governor, among others, had prepared him to serve at the national level.

“I was commissioner for four years under Chief James Ibori and I was closed to him. I knew what he was doing in terms of peace issues. I was the first state government official to enter into creeks to meet Ex-militant chief, Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo in the heart of the Niger Delta as SSG to start negotiating peace with him. I did it severally when I was the governor of Delta State. At one of the outings, it was even the soldiers that pointed AK-47 at me when I was coming back.”

“Sometimes, I come back at night from negotiating peace, so I know the place in and out. I have been there in the day and at night, in fact, at one of them, I was sitting on a chair with about 20 of the boys with their guns, they were drinking, and we were there for three hours negotiating peace. I know the challenges; let me just say this, what we did and what the government has been doing is having what I called two boxes in managing the problems,” he explained.

The former governor said the first was that of engagement, as he used his influence then to mobilize religious leaders, traditional rulers and the youths to engage the boys in the creek in dialogue.

“We had the other box of enforcement, that is using the military the army, the police, navy etc. One will think that with the two boxes, that will be enough to deal with the problems, but they are still there and re-occurring in different form, some criminality and some genuine agitation; we still have the Niger Delta Avengers bursting pipelines; sometimes, we have those hijacking boats and sometimes ethnic quarrels,” he said.

According to Uduaghan, from his experience, the military, as an enforcement body was not a permanent solution to the problems in the Niger Delta, saying that they were not very familiar with the terrain, adding that “so, when the thing is really happening, it requires mobilizing the young people to show them the terrain or to prevent the crisis.

“For us to move forward, we must have an enforcement body that includes the community; especially the youths in the community, since they know the terrain. It is easier for people in that area to try and carry out enforcement or execute security challenges; it is easier for people in that area to know those who are involved in illegal bunkering. There are two parts to it, there is the part of genuine agitatation, which has now been mixed with criminality and the criminality seems to have overshadowed the genuine agitation.

“To deal with it, we need the local people to be involved in the security arrangement and that will require legislation. The Waterway Security Committee I put up for instance, there is no law backing it up, so we need to put up laws that will help us in moving forward in solving the Niger Delta crisis.”

The Itsekiri-born politician added that there were lots of projects abandoned in the Niger Delta, saying that specific laws were needed to revamp these projects, adding that if there were previous laws, there was the need to bring them out and tailor them to meet what is happening in the Niger Delta.

“All these engagements we are doing, we need to promulgate laws backing the engagements, there are lots of environmental damage going on. There are laws backing the environment, but we need to tidy them up. What I have done is to get a team of lawyers, they have looked at the laws and brought them out as it affects issues in the Niger Delta,” he said.

He lamented that since the crises in the Niger Delta, nobody had been prosecuted or brought to book.

“Nobody has been prosecuted so far, first of all, you cannot catch them and the people that are supposed to catch them don’t know how to catch them. I am going there to put up an enforcement body of people who know them and can get them and take them to court. If we are not serious of law and order in the Niger Delta, we will continue to have crisis.

“Right now, there is no law and order in the Niger Delta and we need to come out with and remind ourselves of the existing laws and tailor them towards the issues in the Niger Delta so that we can have permanent peace. A lawmaker is to make law and that will be my cardinal point. Also, there is the issue of attracting things to your area. There are very few people in the National Assembly that I don’t know. I have the capacity to attract things to my area more than anybody on the field today,”.

“Also, Nigeria has invested in me. Being in government for 16 years is a lot of investment. I think I should pay back by going to serve at the national level,” he explained.

The former number one citizen of Delta State, an exponent of modular refineries and development of the non-oil sector, promised not to collect his pension as a former governor while in senate if given the mandate by his people.

He also pledged to carry his constituents along by involving them in the lawmaking process and holding town hall meetings every six months.

“I am going to sign a contract with my people; the Senator-Citizens Contract. I have a group of lawyers who are already working on it,” he disclosed.

Asked his chances of picking the PDP ticket and eventually winning the senatorial election, Uduaghan, 63, sounded upbeat, noting that he is a grassroots politician well known and trusted by the people. He promised to justify the confidence reposed in him by ensuring them the very best representation if they give him the mandate to represent them in the Senate in 2019.

Already, various groups and individuals in the Delta South Senatorial District are waiting with bated breath to see their amiable son of the soil in the race as they believe he will replicate in their constituency his magic that turned around entire Delta State.

FOR MORE: http://witnessngr.com/why-i-want-to-represent-delta-south-in-the-senate-uduaghan/

Immediate-past governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan has received yet another boost which will help reinforce his senatorial ambition as the tempo of political activities increases ahead of the 2019 general elections.

This time around, one of the three ethnic groups making up the Delta South Senatorial District of Delta State, the Itsekiri, has thrown its weight behind the former governor citing his pedigree and antecedents as reasons for their unwavering support.

Speaking recently on behalf of the ethnic group, the president of a political pressure group, Itsekiri Movement for Good Governance, IMGG, Mr. Jolomi Oritsegbemi said aside from Dr. Uduaghan’s influence which will positively rob off on the development of the entire state, the Itsekiri had had the least representation at the National Assembly over the years.

According to him, “It is the turn of Itsekiri to produce a senator representing Delta South and Dr. Uduaghan is the only Itsekiri man who will make us reap the dividends of democracy come 2019. He is a true son, a man of the people who believes in developments and impacting lives. Over time, he has proven this, even when he was the governor of the state for eight years. In fact, this is the kind of leader Nigerians need to move the nation forward.

“It is only the Itsekiri ethnic nationality that has not produced a senator to represent the district since 1999. In the interest of equity and fair play, this should be our turn without any arguments. It is time to prove that Itsekiri people are not made to deliberately play the second fiddle to the other tribes.”

He further reminded Deltans that an Itsekiri man was last in the senate 39 years ago. “Itsekiri also had two federal constituencies, where Late Hon. Vincent Jemide and Late Hon. Sunny Dabor represented them. The two federal constituencies were to be reduced to one when Chief Chamberlain Abeki from Patani LGA, was appointed as national commissioner into the then Federal Electoral Commission, FEDECO,” revealed Mr Oritsegbemi.

From 1979 till the current dispensation, five senators have represented Delta South Senatorial District. Out of these five, two were from Isoko (Senator Stella Omu and Senator Francis Okpozo of blessed memory) and another two were from the Ijaw tribe (Chief E.K Clark and Senator James Manager, the incumbent). The first and only senator who was from the Itsekiri stock was Chief Franklin O. M Atake in 1979.

Interestingly, the incumbent senator, James Manager, an Ijaw man has been returned to the senate on four occasions consecutively. By the end of 2019, James Manager would have spent a total of 16 years in the Red Chambers and feelers from the district reveal that the people are tired of his representation.

All the ethnic groups feel that being a position for the three groups in the Delta South, either an Isoko or Itsekiri should be favoured for the post this time around.

From all indications, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is highly positioned to grab the senate seat considering that he withdrew from the race in 2015 to ensure that peace reigned in the state and he has always maintained that peace was more important than electoral victories.

Dr. Uduaghan’s developmental strides while he was the governor of the state speaks volumes. Most of his legacies are still being enjoyed in the state presently.

In a related development, Pa Daniel Pessu, a former Delta State lawmaker who is 96 years old now, has declared his support for the former governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan senatorial bid.

Speaking on behalf of six of the 30 surviving former lawmakers in the state, Pa Daniel who represented Warri South constituency in the then Bendel State House of Assembly between 1979 and 1983 thanks Dr. Uduaghan for taking care of them while he was governor of the state. He also prayed for his success at the polls in 2019.

READ MORE HERE: http://witnessngr.com/2019-itsekiris-back-emmanuel-uduaghan-for-senate/

A worker of Kentucky Fried Chicken in Gbagada area of Lagos State, Maduabuchi Uzoh, 27, has died in mysterious circumstances on the premises of the firm.

The death of the deceased, a final year Higher National Diploma student of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, was not reported to the police by his employers, raising suspicion that there was more to the death.

Apart from this, while the firm reported to Uzoh’s family that he was involved in an accident while at work and rushed to the hospital for treatment, the report of the hospital, R. Jolad, at New Garage, Gbagada, has it that he was brought in dead.

Uzoh, who resided at 6, Oluwaseyi Street in Ilaje, Ebute Meta West, died on February 13, 2018.

His father, Okoro Uzor, had received a call from his office that he had an accident and was rushed to the hospital.

According to the senior Uzor: “On February 13 this year, I received a call from my son’s place of work that he had an accident and has been rushed to R. Jolad Hospital at New Garrage, Gbagada.

“On reaching there, I was informed that my son was brought in dead form his place of work by his colleague, while the secondary cause of death is electrocution as recorded in the medical report of cause of death by Dr. Agarry L. M., a medical doctor at the R. Jolad hospital.

“All my efforts to get details of the accident proved abortive as the company was not ready to disclose any information on the primary cause of death of my son.

“Even the bag containing his work and school identity card and his work instruments which he used on that fateful day was not given to the family until the family threatened to take up the case with them.

“Since then, they have been returning his belongings in batches to the family, while some of his belongings are still in their custody.”

The counsel to the Uzor family and founder of the International Centre For Human Rights, Non-Violence and Safety Awareness, Ene Sarah Unobe, said:

READ MORE VIA THE LINK HERE: http://witnessngr.com/kfc-staff-dies-mysteriously-company-fails-to-report-to-police/

A worker of Kentucky Fried Chicken in Gbagada area of Lagos State, Maduabuchi Uzoh, 27, has died in mysterious circumstances on the premises of the firm.

The death of the deceased, a final year Higher National Diploma student of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, was not reported to the police by his employers, raising suspicion that there was more to the death.

Apart from this, while the firm reported to Uzoh’s family that he was involved in an accident while at work and rushed to the hospital for treatment, the report of the hospital, R. Jolad, at New Garage, Gbagada, has it that he was brought in dead.

Uzoh, who resided at 6, Oluwaseyi Street in Ilaje, Ebute Meta West, died on February 13, 2018.

His father, Okoro Uzor, had received a call from his office that he had an accident and was rushed to the hospital.

According to the senior Uzor: “On February 13 this year, I received a call from my son’s place of work that he had an accident and has been rushed to R. Jolad Hospital at New Garrage, Gbagada.

“On reaching there, I was informed that my son was brought in dead form his place of work by his colleague, while the secondary cause of death is electrocution as recorded in the medical report of cause of death by Dr. Agarry L. M., a medical doctor at the R. Jolad hospital.

“All my efforts to get details of the accident proved abortive as the company was not ready to disclose any information on the primary cause of death of my son.

“Even the bag containing his work and school identity card and his work instruments which he used on that fateful day was not given to the family until the family threatened to take up the case with them.

“Since then, they have been returning his belongings in batches to the family, while some of his belongings are still in their custody.”

The counsel to the Uzor family and founder of the International Centre For Human Rights, Non-Violence and Safety Awareness, Ene Sarah Unobe, said:

READ MORE VIA THE LINK HERE: http://witnessngr.com/kfc-staff-dies-mysteriously-company-fails-to-report-to-police/

Keystone Bank Limited, Nigeria’s fastest growing financial institution at the weekend was recognised for its extraordinary support for Women Entrepreneurs as it won “Best Bank In Women Entrepreneurs Empowerment Category” ahead of its peers.

The lender clinched the award at the 2018 Global Impact Leadership Award held In New York, U.S.

The award, the organisers noted is in recognition of Keystone Bank’s leadership role as in expanding access to funds for women entrepreneurs in Nigeria and the rest of Africa where it operates. This feat they further said has brought about unprecedented growth to the business sector and by extension, the nation’s economy and that of Africa.

Keystone Bank is a technology and service-driven commercial bank offering tailor-made convenient and reliable solutions to every customer’s needs.


PHOTO CAPTION:
L-R: Managing Partner, GPS International LLC, Hon. Aaron Manaigo; Managing Partner, Williams Global Law, LLC, Ms Simone Williams; Group Managing Director/CEO, Keystone Bank Limited, Mr. Obeahon Ohiwerei, Director, Public Relations, Guyanese Girls Rock Foundation, Ms. Rhonda Binda and Founding Partner, Ceres Law P.C., Mr. Rudyard W. Ceres, at the Africa Women Forum (AWF) held In New York, U.S. where Keystone Bank was confered with The Global Impact Leadership Award – Best Bank In Women Entrepreneurs Empowerment Category...recently.

A worker of Kentucky Fried Chicken in Gbagada area of Lagos State, Maduabuchi Uzoh, 27, has died in mysterious circumstances on the premises of the firm.

The death of the deceased, a final year Higher National Diploma student of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, was not reported to the police by his employers, raising suspicion that there was more to the death.

Apart from this, while the firm reported to Uzoh’s family that he was involved in an accident while at work and rushed to the hospital for treatment, the report of the hospital, R. Jolad, at New Garage, Gbagada, has it that he was brought in dead.

Uzoh, who resided at 6, Oluwaseyi Street in Ilaje, Ebute Meta West, died on February 13, 2018.

His father, Okoro Uzor, had received a call from his office that he had an accident and was rushed to the hospital.

According to the senior Uzor: “On February 13 this year, I received a call from my son’s place of work that he had an accident and has been rushed to R. Jolad Hospital at New Garrage, Gbagada.

“On reaching there, I was informed that my son was brought in dead form his place of work by his colleague, while the secondary cause of death is electrocution as recorded in the medical report of cause of death by Dr. Agarry L. M., a medical doctor at the R. Jolad hospital.

“All my efforts to get details of the accident proved abortive as the company was not ready to disclose any information on the primary cause of death of my son.

“Even the bag containing his work and school identity card and his work instruments which he used on that fateful day was not given to the family until the family threatened to take up the case with them.

“Since then, they have been returning his belongings in batches to the family, while some of his belongings are still in their custody.”

The counsel to the Uzor family and founder of the International Centre For Human Rights, Non-Violence and Safety Awareness, Ene Sarah Unobe, said:

READ MORE VIA THE LINK HERE: http://witnessngr.com/kfc-staff-dies-mysteriously-company-fails-to-report-to-police/

Fastest growing financial institution in Nigeria, Keystone Bank Limited, is set to hold a seminar tagged ‘Keystone Bank Career Insight Day’ for young Nigerian undergraduates with a future career in banking.

The programme is part of the lender’s commitment to continually build skills and expand knowledge base of persons with keen interest in pursuing a career in the financial sector.

The one-day conference which is the maiden edition is billed to hold on Wednesday 28th March, 2018 at the Keystone Bank Learning Academy located at Plot 1397, Tiamiyu Savage street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

At the event, banking professionals will take participants (who should at least be in their third year) through series of discussions into what life in a commercial bank is really like and also gain unique exposure to a career in banking operations. The discussions will include both classroom and on-the-job training, team building exercises and networking.

Speaking about the initiative, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Keystone Bank Limited, Mr. Obeahon Ohiwerei said: "This programme is in line with Keystone Bank’s CSR commitment to empower Nigerian youths."

"The platform will create an opportunity for young undergraduates in tertiary institutions to be impacted by professionals towards a successful career."

"As a financial institution, we understand the role of the youth in building a robust economy and the growth of the nation. They are the leaders of tomorrow, so, we believe in catching them young". He stated.

On how to participate in the programme, the bank said: “Interested applicants on track for a second-class degree (or higher) with a keen interest in pursuing a career within a financial institution, are to write a minimum of 250-word essay on why they should be selected for this opportunity, containing personal information, school and year of study, course detail and any relevant work experience acquired thus far. The essay should be designed to impress us and forwarded to corpcom@keystonebankng.com”.

READ MORE HERE: http://witnessngr.com/keystone-bank-holds-career-insight-day-for-undergraduates/

A microfinance institution, OHHA Microfinance Bank Limited, has accused Sterling Bank Plc of defrauding it of N219 million it deposited with the bank.

The accusation was made in a letter to Sterling Bank by OHHA Microfinance Bank’s lawyers, Festus Keyamo Chambers. Dated 20 February and jointly signed by Messrs B.I Dakum and John Ainetor, the letter stated that OHHA Microfinance Bank operates two fixed deposit accounts (No. 514/1152051/74/0 Deal Ref. Slip No. DD No. 0138058 and No. 514/11520505/1/74/1 Deal Ref. Slip No. DD No.0133059) with Sterling Bank.

Both accounts, it said, have been operated for years and contain a deposit of N219million. The accounts said the microfinance bank was operated by Mr. Oliver Anidiobi, manager of Sterling Bank Market Road branch, Enugu State, who also doubles as its account manager.

While the accounts were in operation, OHHA Microfinance Bank said it exchanged many letters with Sterling Bank. In each of its replies, OHHA Microfinance Bank added, Sterling Bank confirmed the existence of the accounts and informed that the microfinance bank’s investment would be rolled over at Sterling Bank’s prevailing money market rate.

However, OHHA Microfinance Bank said that when it instructed Sterling Bank to terminate the fixed deposit and credit its current account on maturity with the principal and accrued interest, the latter refused. This made OHHA Microfinance Bank to briefed O. A. Omotayo and Associates, a law firm, which made the same demands.

Sterling Bank, added OHHA Microfinance Bank, admitted the existence of the accounts but denied the existence of any fixed deposit investment.

READ MORE HERE: http://witnessngr.com/customer-battles-sterling-bank-over-n219m-fraud/

A microfinance institution, OHHA Microfinance Bank Limited, has accused Sterling Bank Plc of defrauding it of N219 million it deposited with the bank.

The accusation was made in a letter to Sterling Bank by OHHA Microfinance Bank’s lawyers, Festus Keyamo Chambers. Dated 20 February and jointly signed by Messrs B.I Dakum and John Ainetor, the letter stated that OHHA Microfinance Bank operates two fixed deposit accounts (No. 514/1152051/74/0 Deal Ref. Slip No. DD No. 0138058 and No. 514/11520505/1/74/1 Deal Ref. Slip No. DD No.0133059) with Sterling Bank.

Both accounts, it said, have been operated for years and contain a deposit of N219million. The accounts said the microfinance bank was operated by Mr. Oliver Anidiobi, manager of Sterling Bank Market Road branch, Enugu State, who also doubles as its account manager.

While the accounts were in operation, OHHA Microfinance Bank said it exchanged many letters with Sterling Bank. In each of its replies, OHHA Microfinance Bank added, Sterling Bank confirmed the existence of the accounts and informed that the microfinance bank’s investment would be rolled over at Sterling Bank’s prevailing money market rate.

However, OHHA Microfinance Bank said that when it instructed Sterling Bank to terminate the fixed deposit and credit its current account on maturity with the principal and accrued interest, the latter refused. This made OHHA Microfinance Bank to briefed O. A. Omotayo and Associates, a law firm, which made the same demands.

Sterling Bank, added OHHA Microfinance Bank, admitted the existence of the accounts but denied the existence of any fixed deposit investment.

READ MORE HERE: http://witnessngr.com/customer-battles-sterling-bank-over-n219m-fraud/

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday froze the bank accounts of the Lagos State Government Number Plate Production Authority over an alleged fraud of N3 billion.

Justice Mohammed Idris gave the order following an ex parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Idris said the account would remain frozen pending the conclusion of EFCC’s investigation into the alleged N3 billion fraud.

The order affected 32 bank accounts of companies which were allegedly used to divert the N3 billion from LSGNPPA.

In an affidavit attached to the application, the EFCC said its preliminary investigation revealed that the funds were diverted when Folorunsho Coker was the Managing Director.

Coker is now the Director General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation.

The companies whose accounts were also frozen included a law firm, Rimi and Partners.

The EFCC stated that Coker’s wife, Aisha Rimi, was the sole proprietor of the law firm.

The EFCC investigator, Olamide Sadiq, who deposed to an affidavit in support, said the probe into the alleged fraud was informed by an intelligence received sometime in 2017 by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.

Sadiq said there were suspicious transactions on the account of Rimi and Partners as there were “heavy inflows” in excess of N3 billion from LSGNPPA into the account.

Sadiq said investigations by EFCC revealed that Rimi and Partners had 10 bank accounts with a new generation bank.

He said in the affidavit: “Mr. Folorunsho Coker was as at that time the Managing Director of the 1st respondent — LSGNPPA.

“He was also the husband of Aisha Rimi, one of the signatories to the accounts of the 2nd and 3rd respondents — Rimi and Partners and Ekosina Investment Ltd respectively.

“Further to the depositions contained in the paragraph above, I know as a fact derived during my investigations, that the said Mr. Folorunsho Coker was also a signatory to the Bank account of the 1st respondent.

FOR MORE, READ HERE: http://witnessngr.com/ntdc-dg-folly-coker-wife-in-trouble-over-n3bn-fraud/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Office, on Monday, February 26, 2018, arraigned one Nsa Ayi before Justice Mojisola Dada of the State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on an 11-count charge bordering on fraudulent false accounting to the tune of N700 million, an offence contrary to Section 335(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

The defendant, a former Relationship Officer, Coronation Merchant Bank, allegedly connived with unknown parties to move funds using customers’ electronic instructions meant for investment in the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Bonds, Treasury Bills and Fixed Deposits.

The defendant was also said to have altered instructions and falsified signatures of customers to transfer money into various accounts outside the bank.

READ MORE: http://witnessngr.com/efcc-arraigns-coronation-merchant-bank-staff-for-stealing-customers-n700m/

In demonstration of its commitment to deliver superior and innovative banking solutions to its customers, Keystone Bank has announced the launch of a brand new mobile banking application with many user friendly features which can be accessed from the convenience of a mobile phone.

According to the Group MD/CEO, Obeahon Ohiwerei, the new mobile app has many benefits & self-service options, including, easy account opening, convenient self- booking and liquidation of fixed deposits, an expanded list of bill-payment options and easy activation of standing instructions & recurrent future payments.

Other notable features of the mobile App are, a “Switch Card ON/OFF option” which allows users to disable their cards temporarily if missing & re-enable at the click of a button, the “Hide Balance Feature” which is an additional safeguard against third-party viewing and the “Meet Your Relationship Manager Option” which allows users to call or email their account officers right within the app.

In addition, it has a Chabot feature (now live on Telegram) that guides users through a whole range of desired transactions step-by-step.

Shedding more light on why it introduced the new mobile app, Ohiwerei said: “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 are determined to be your preferred bank; dependable, responsive and always within reach,” he stated.

Keystone Bank is a technology and service-driven commercial bank offering convenient and reliable solutions to its customers.

READ MORE: http://witnessngr.com/keystone-bank-introduces-new-mobile-banking-app/

That is Nigeria and the APC for you

The many ‘sins’ of suspended SEC DG, Mounir Gwarzo: ‘How N1.7bn illegal payment, bank, CAC documents nailed him’
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More revelations of gross financial impropriety and abuse of office allegedly perpetuated by the suspended Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mounir Gwarzo, came to the fore on Thursday, justifying why the Administrative Panel of Inquiry (API) set up by the Federal Government recommended his dismissal from public service.

Top on the list of Gwarzo’s misconducts was the payment of N1.7 billion unapproved extra-budgetary spending as retirement benefits to 44 SEC workers in 2015, captured as “The Golden Handshake”.

Golden Handshake simply means paying off staff who voluntarily retire from service before their due date.

The money was neither appropriated by the National Assembly nor captured under any supplementary budget; a development that negates civil service rules.

More so, documents received by the Administrative Panel of Inquiry (API) and sighted by this newspaper reinforced the claim by a whistle-blower that the suspended SEC boss is a director and shareholder in two private companies even while in office. The companies are Medusa Investments Limited and Outbound Investment Limited.

Our checks reveal that Gwarzo had tendered a letter of resignation as Director of Medusa Investments Limited dated December 19, 2012, to the API while appearing before members of the committee in January 2018.

However, the actions taken by the former SEC boss in 2015 and 2016 however negated his letter of resignation as a director in Medusa Investments Limited (MIL).

Gwarzo, according to bank documents, had written a Wuse branch of a bank on July 24, 2015, requesting for change of account officer. His letter to the bank was signed in his name as a director of Medusa Investments Limited using the letter-headed paper of the company.

Furthermore, the suspended SEC Director-General on August 16, 2016, requested that Naira Mastercards be issued on Medusa Investments Limited’s account for himself and one Khadijat Gwarzo. The request conveyed by a board resolution of Medusa Investments Limited were signed by Mounir Gwarzo and Khadijat Mustapha

READ MORE HERE: http://witnessngr.com/the-many-sins-of-suspended-sec-dg-mounir-gwarzo-how-n1-7bn-illegal-payment-bank-cac-documents-nailed-him/

PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS), Port Harcourt Rivers State, has invited all eligible candidates for screening into its first batch of undergraduate admission.

PUMS’ 2017/2018 academic calendar will commence with various undergraduate degree programmes in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences and Faculty of Clinical Sciences.

For the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, students are invited to apply for degree programmes such as B.Sc. Anatomy, B.Sc. Biochemistry, B.Sc. Human Nutrition & Dietetics, B.Sc. Pharmacology and B.Sc. Physiology.

Applicants can equally apply to study Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery – MBBS at the Faculty of Clinical Sciences.

The candidates are required to have a minimum of five credit passes in Mathematics, English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology to apply.

According to the Registrar of the Institution, Barrister W.U.G. Imoedemhe, applicants are required to have the five credits in not more than two sittings at SSCE (or equivalent).

Interested candidates must also have scored 200 and above in the 2017/2018 UTME in relevant subjects.

Imoedemhe said upon payment of application fee, the candidates will be requested to attend a compulsory screening/clearance exercise on February 6 and 7, 2018, at 10 am daily.


READ MORE HERE: http://witnessngr.com/admission-in-nigerias-first-private-medical-university-pamo-continues/

A supervisor at Chrisland School in Lekki, Lagos, Adegboyega Adenekan, was on Monday arraigned at an Ikeja High Court for allegedly defiling a two-year-old pupil in his care.

The Supervisor, 47, pleaded not guilty to a charge of defilement of a child.

The Prosecution, led by Titilayo Shitta-Bey, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, said Adenekan committed the offence sometime in November 2016 at Chrisland School at Victoria Garden City, Lekki, Lagos.

Shitta-Bey said: “The defendant defiled the complainant by having unlawful sexual intercourse with her.

“The offence violated Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”

The alleged defilement was reported to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team for investigation.
The parents of the victim were present in court.

However, following Adenekan’s not guilty plea, his lawyer, Olatunde Adejuyigbe (SAN), requested that the school supervisor should maintain the bail granted to him by the Magistrates’ Court in December, 2016.

Adejuyigbe said: “The defendant was admitted to bail by Chief Magistrate Osunsanmi on December 1, 2016.
“The essence of an application for bail is to ensure that defendant stands trial.

“The state has concluded its investigations in the matter, interference by the defendant or witnesses will not arise.


READ MORE HERE: http://theicon.ng/2018/01/30/chrisland-school-supervisor-arraigned-allegedly-defiling-two-year-old-pupil/

A supervisor at Chrisland School in Lekki, Lagos, Adegboyega Adenekan, was on Monday arraigned at an Ikeja High Court for allegedly defiling a two-year-old pupil in his care.

The Supervisor, 47, pleaded not guilty to a charge of defilement of a child.

The Prosecution, led by Titilayo Shitta-Bey, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, said Adenekan committed the offence sometime in November 2016 at Chrisland School at Victoria Garden City, Lekki, Lagos.

Shitta-Bey said: “The defendant defiled the complainant by having unlawful sexual intercourse with her.

“The offence violated Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”

The alleged defilement was reported to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team for investigation.
The parents of the victim were present in court.

However, following Adenekan’s not guilty plea, his lawyer, Olatunde Adejuyigbe (SAN), requested that the school supervisor should maintain the bail granted to him by the Magistrates’ Court in December, 2016.

Adejuyigbe said: “The defendant was admitted to bail by Chief Magistrate Osunsanmi on December 1, 2016.
“The essence of an application for bail is to ensure that defendant stands trial.

“The state has concluded its investigations in the matter, interference by the defendant or witnesses will not arise.

READ MORE HERE: http://witnessngr.com/chrisland-school-supervisor-arraigned-for-allegedly-defiling-two-year-old-pupil/

The House of Representatives’ Ad-hoc Committee on Telecommunications on Thursday mandated the Inspector General of Police to arrest the chairman of Globacom Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mike Adenuga.

This follows Mr. Adenuga’s failure to appear before the Committee after being invited to defend allegations against his company several times.

Additionally, there are reports stating that the company currently owes the Federal Government over sixteen billion Naira.

The Committee Chairman, Ahmed Abu, also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) to carry out further investigations on the Globacom boss.

“We have extended several invitations to the Globacom boss but to no avail, no person and I repeat nobody can hold this committee to ransom,” he said.

In conclusion, he called on all telecommunications chiefs to appear before the committee on the 15th of February 2018, to defend allegations against their outfits.


READ MORE HERE: http://witnessngr.com/house-of-reps-orders-arrest-of-globacom-boss-mike-adenuga-over-n16bn-debt/

Keystone Bank Limited has denied having in its custody any illegally hidden money belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria or any of its agencies.

Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West Senatorial district had accused the bank of colluding with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to conceal about $137 million and thereafter illegally withdrew $4 million.

But Keystone Bank, in a statement by the General Counsel & Company Secretary, Dr. Michael Agamah on Tuesday said, “We wish to state categorically that Keystone Bank Limited has never illegally hidden or withdrawn any amount of money belonging to the Federal Government or any of its agencies.”

“Details of all Federal Government funds in custody of Keystone Bank had always been fully disclosed to all relevant Federal Government agencies and at no time did Keystone Bank collude or ‎conspire with any official of the Federal Government to disobey the Federal Government directives on the TSA.”

The statement also added that “the lender informed its stakeholders that it would not conduct itself in breach of the laws or policies of the government, including the TSA policy and had since been engaging with relevant agencies to remit all funds in the Bank’s custody”.

READ MORE HERE: http://witnessngr.com/tsa-no-hidden-govt-funds-in-our-custody-keystone-bank/

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, Nigeria has ordered MultiChoice Nigeria Limited to pay Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria Ltd./GTE MCSN the sum of N6 billion as damages for copyright infringement.

MultiChoice had in 2011 dragged the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria Ltd./GTE before the court, but in a dramatic turn of event, MultiChoice did not only lost the case, the court also upheld the counter-claim filed by the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria Ltd./GTE.

In a judgment delivered by the presiding Judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, declared that “The court having delivered judgment striking out the MultiChoice’s claims, hereby ordered as follows: That judgment is entered in favour of the defendant/counter-claimant in the following terms: 5,490,652,125.00 only as special damages comprising of: N4,157,460,500.000 which became due and collectable from 6th January 2006 to January 2012, inclusive of Value Added Tax of N197,950,500 payable to the Federal Government of Nigeria through Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria LTD/GTE.

The court also awarded separate sums of N200million and 309million as general and aggravated damages respectively against MultiChoice in favour of the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria Ltd./GTE.

The Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria Ltd./GTE had, in its counter-claim, accused MultiChoice of infringing on its copyright on 18 songs, including Konko Below and Never Far Away by Nigerian masked musician, Bisade Ologunde, alias Lagbaja.

The other songs, which the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria Ltd./GTE accused MultiChoice of using without lawful permission included UEFA Cup thematic music and UEFA Championship League thematic music.

“MultiChoice was alleged to have infringed on the copyright of the musical works in the course of and to promote their businesses and to make profit without the authority or licence of the Musical copyright society of Nigeria and the society has suffered loss and damage.

READ MORE HERE: http://witnessngr.com/court-orders-multichoice-to-pay-n6bn-as-damages-over-copyright-infringement/

Recently, the Innoson/GTBank story has gained so much media prominence, especially following the arrest of the Innonson chairman a few days ago by EFCC. Though the case is pending in court, Innoson has taken the battle to social media. There have been numerous sponsored social media campaigns against the Bank such as #BewareOfGTBank and #WhatIsWrongWithGTBank. The company has also gone Television, with its owner, Dr Innocent Chukwuma granting an interview to TVC, where he claimed he had obtained a judgement of N8bn against the bank. He added that the bank pleaded with him over their inability to pay, and that he graciously offered to accept shares of the bank as payment.

GTBank on their part has chosen to remain silent on the matter, perhaps trusting in the integrity of the legal system as against playing to the gallery. Many attempts by us to get the bank’s representatives to comment on the story has proven abortive. A staff of the bank who spoke under anonymity, stated “Irrespective of the issues we are facing with the company, Innoson remains a customer of the bank and we owe him a duty of confidentiality and to conduct ourselves in a responsible manner towards him”. This statement didn’t stop us from conducting our own investigations on the matter, and below are our findings, put in bullet points for your optimum understanding.

The obvious:

Innoson is, and still remains, a customer of GTBank.
What we discovered:

1. GTBank (in 2009) granted Innoson several credit facilities (i.e loans) totalling N2,400,000,000,00 (two billion, four hundred million Naira only), to part finance working capital requirements, import new motorcycles and motorcycle spare parts, agricultural spare parts and plastic manufacturing equipment (“Imported Goods”).

2. Under the loan terms agreed by Dr. Innocent Chukwuma on behalf of Innoson, proprietary interest in the Imported Goods was consigned exclusively in favour of the Bank. This means that the Bank was the exclusive owner of the Imported Goods. Accordingly, the original shipping documents (i.e. the Bills of Lading) were in the custody of the Bank, and have remained in the custody of the Bank at all times.

3. Because GTBank was the exclusive owner of the imported goods, ownership of the goods could only be transferred to Innoson (or any other third party) by the Bank. The condition in the agreement between the Bank and Innoson, for the release of the Imported Goods by the Bank to Innoson, was the payment of 25% of the value of each Letter of Credit transaction by Innoson.
What we learnt:

1. Innocent Chukwuma approached the Bank, on behalf of Innoson, requesting the release of the shipping documents without payment of the agreed+ 25% equity. The Bank declined his request as a result of Innoson’s failure to meet the agreed conditions.

2. It came to the Bank’s knowledge sometime in June, 2011 that the Imported Goods for which the Bank declined to release shipping documents to Innoson in view of its failure to meet the agreed conditions, had been fraudulently procured by Innoson.

3. The Bank discovered that Innoson, under the control of Dr. Innocent Chukwuma had forged the Bank’s endorsement on the bills of lading to the Shipping Line and fraudulently cleared the Imported Goods which were in the name of the Bank. The Imported Goods, being property of the Bank should not have been cleared from the Port without the original shipping documents being endorsed by the Bank in favour of Innoson, or any third party.

4. The signatures of 4 (four) staff of the Bank, to wit, Taofeek Olalere, Dan Attah, Bunmi Adeyemi and Amazu Amalachukwu, as well as the Bank’s stamp were forged on all the shipping documents used by Innoson to fraudulently clear goods at the port. The Bank did not at any time endorse or transfer the shipping documents to Innoson, as the originals of each of the relevant Bill of Lading remain in the Bank’s custody to this very day.

5. When the Bank reported the matter to the Nigeria Police, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma claimed the Bank released the shipping documents to him. Consequently, the Police commenced investigation into the Bank’s complaint, including a forensic examination of the disputed signatures, and established that the signatures of the Bank’s staff were forged, and the Imported Goods were fraudulently cleared from the Nigerian Ports Authority by Dr. Innocent Chukwuma and his accomplices.
What we heard from the Police:

1. Police investigations confirmed that Innoson and Dr. Innocent Chukwuma deliberately set out to defraud, steal from the Bank and convert the Imported Goods belonging to the Bank by deceptive means and through forgery and misrepresentation. The unlawful takeover of the Imported Goods, which served as the Bank’s collateral, left an indebtedness in excess of the sum of N1,654,481,895.04 (one billion, six hundred and fifty four million, four hundred and eighty one thousand, eight hundred and ninety five Naira, four Kobo) as at September 26, 2012.

2. Chief Innocent Chukwuma was arrested and interrogated by operatives of the EFCC, following which he agreed to make monthly payments into Innoson’s account until the full liquidation of Innoson’s indebtedness to the Bank. However, Innoson defaulted in making the agreed payments. Investigations by the Nigeria Police following a petition by the Bank in September 2013 also found Innoson and Chief Innocent Chukwuma culpable of the criminal allegations levied against them by the Bank, and Chief Innocent Chukwuma was accordingly charged to court by the Police.

3. The Police filed Charge No. FHC/L/565C/2015-Inspector General Of Police And Innoson Nigeria Limited; Innocent Chukwuma;Charles Chukwuma;Maximian Chukwura; Mitsui Osk Lines; Annajekwu Sunny for fraudulent clearance of goods, forgery, conversion, stealing and conspiracy presently pending before Faji J, at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi and adjourned to November 21, 2017 for arraignment/or hearing of motion for issuance of Bench Warrant.
What Innoson did:

1. Innoson approached the Bank for a reconciliation of his account and pleaded for a debt forgiveness. A reconciliation was carried out on the account – which had a debit balance of N1,654,481,895.04 as at December 31, 2011. In the spirit of amicable resolution and EFCC intervention, the Bank said it agreed to forego the sum of N559,374,072.09 which represented default charges that has accrued on the account and debited in line with the loan agreement between the customer and the Bank.

2. Based on this, the Bank decided to accept from the customer, the sum of N1,095,107,822.95 as full and final payment of the customer’s indebtedness to the Bank, provided that same shall be fully paid not later than (30) days from the date of the letter written to him

3. Surprisingly, Innoson commenced suit no:FHC/AWK/CS/2012 against the Bank at the Federal High Court, Awka stating the bank had debited its account with excess charges totalling N559,374,072.09 and obtained judgement in excess of N4.7Billion against the Bank. Again choosing to dishonour an agreement that was amicable reached between him and the Bank for a full and final settlement of N1,095,107,822.95 wherein the Bank graciously forgave him the sum of N559,374,072.09 which accrued on his account during the period which he abandoned his account.

4. To further stall the criminal proceedings against him, Chief Innocent Chukwuma and his company instituted suits at the Federal High Court, Abuja, as well as the Federal High Court, Awka in January 2014 against The Inspector General of Police, The Nigeria Police Force and Investigating Officer(s), seeking declaratory and injunctive reliefs, including orders restraining the Police from commencing criminal proceedings against Innoson and Chief Innocent Chukwuma. Furthermore, in a bid to stall the Bank’s recovery steps, and distract the Bank from focusing on the criminal action, as well as civil actions filed for recovery of the debt, Chief Innocent Chukwuma and his company Innoson, have continued to institute various spurious suits before various courts, claiming frivolous and outrageous sums against the Bank.

What GTBank is not saying:

1. In responding to Innoson’s motion for a stay of criminal proceedings at the Court of Appeal, the Honourable Justice J.S Ikyegh on September 17,2017 dismissed the motion for being unmeritorious and ordered that proceeding in the criminal case against Innson should proceed.

2. On October 12, 2017, the Police through its Charge No. FHC/L/565C/2015- filed an application for the issuance of bench warrant against Innocent Chukwuma; Charles Chukwuma and Annajekwu Sunny for fraudulent clearance of goods, forgery, conversion, stealing and conspiracy presently pending before Faji J, at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi and adjourned to Decemeber 8, 2017 for arraignment/or hearing of motion.
What we think:

Innoson should stop trying to play the underdog and simply resolve his issues through legal means or arbitration. On Innoson playing the Igbo tribe card, this is not in good taste in this moment in history. We are aware of GTBank’s strong position on unpaid debts. We know GTBank has gone often several debtors of the bank irrespective of who they are or where they come from. So why is Innoson’s matter now tribal? Please, this makes no sense. Innoson and GTBank, resolve your issues privately and let us all hear word.

Merry Christmas my people
James Osaremen
Lagos

READ MORE HERE: http://witnessngr.com/innoson-efcc-arrest-and-the-gtb-loan-the-facts-behind-the-saga-by-james-osaremen/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, December 19, arraigned the duo of Temitope Oluwasanmi and Augustine Olayinka before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and fraudulent diversion of funds to the tune of N116m.

The first defendant, Temitope Oluwasanmi, an employee of Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc, was arrested by operatives of the EFCC sometime in October 2017, following a petition received by the Commission from the bank.

Oluwasanmi is alleged to have diverted the sum of N116 million to the savings accounts of three individuals, who are said to be his friends: Augustine Olayinka (account no.: 0050657770), Oginni Opeyemi ( account no.:0046585982) and Ogbaro Oluwaseyi (account no.: 0061074951).


READ MORE HERE: http://witnessngr.com/efcc-arraigns-union-bank-staff-another-for-stealing-customers-n116m/

...The truth and lies you need to know


The claim by BUA Group that Dangote Group is trying to create a monopoly in the Cement Industry in Nigeria has been punctured by documents filed in a Court of law in a recent suit.

The documents revealed that Dangote’s interest and title in the dispute; Mining Lease is legitimate and was acquired through due process of law.

According to investigations, the battle for the ownership of Mining Lease No. 2541 started long before the Dangote Group came into the picture as far as its acquisition of the said Mining Lease No. 2541 is concerned.

“It is therefore wrong and misleading to suggest as being done by the BUA Group that Dangote Group is out to undermine BUA’s operations. “For those who care to know the truth, the dispute over the Mining Lease dates back to the days of Ukpilla Cement Company Limited which later metamorphosed into Edo Cement Company Limited.

“The Mining Lease No. 2541 was then known as Mining Lease No. 17825 and has always been owned by AICO Ado Ibrahim & Co Limited.

“Even before the advent of BUA, Ukpilla Cement had indeed acknowledged on several occasions AICO’s ownership of the Mining Lease No. 17825, which was granted as far back as in 1974 and when the then Governor of Edo State at the time attempted to carve out the Mining Lease Nos. 18912 and 18913, which fall within the then existing Mining Lease No. 17825 belonging to AICO, the defunct Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (which gave birth to the present Ministry of Mines and Steel Development) wrote to the Governor as far back as in 1993 directing it not to grant the said mining leases as they overlap with AICO’s then existing Mining Lease No. 17825 (now 2541),” the documents indicated.

The available documents equally showed that the same illegal Mining Leases Nos. 18912 and 18913, which were granted in error, formed the basis of BUA’s claim to ownership of mining lease in the disputed mining site.

Even BUA, in its process in Court, according to the document, acknowledged that these illegal mining leases, which it claim were granted in 1997 were temporary mining leases.

The document further indicated that “Beyond the issue of temporary nature of the BUA’s Mining Leases, they were illegally granted in the first place as they were granted by the Governor of Edo State, who lacked the power to grant Mining Lease even though BUA has documents, which purport to show that the Minister of Mines signed the mining lease.

“Of course, like they often say, one cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand and the documents being paraded by BUA as emanating from the Ministry has been described to be illegal, null and void by the same Ministry,” it stated.

We learned through the document that prior to the enactment of the Mining Act, 2007, the then Minister for Solid Minerals under Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, sometime in 2006, waded into the dispute and invited the managements of Edo Cement Company Limited and AICO Ado Ibrahim & Company Limited for a meeting.

It stated further that in the course of the meeting, the then Minister again queried the legality of Mining Lease Nos 18912 and 18913 and the power of the Governor of Edo State to grant such mining leases. “At the end of the Meeting, the Minister declared the Edo Cement’s Mining Leases Nos. 18912 and 18913 illegal and declared the mining site open for interested investors.

“Given that AICO’s then existing Mining Lease No. 17825 was yet to be renewed even though application for renewal was pending, AICO in 2007 (under the Mining Act, 2007) applied for the fresh Mining Lease No. 2541 and the Ministry granted it in 2008 without any objection from Edo Cement Company.

“AICO continued its mining operations in the Mining Lease No. 2541 undisturbed until BUA Group acquired Edo Cement Company Limited and resuscitated the dispute again.

“It was the attempt by BUA to encroach on AICO’s mining title in Mining Lease No. 2541 that prompted AICO to write to the Ministry in 2015 complaining of BUA’s encroachment,” the document revealed.

We learned further that the Ministry, after investigation in the same 2015 by the letter dated 21 January 2015, wrote to the Chairman of BUA Group directing BUA to stop mining within the ML. No. 2541.

“It was this same letter from the Ministry that prompted BUA to file a Suit at the Federal High Court Benin in 2016.

“BUA in the said Suit continued to maintain that it has Temporary Mining Leases ML. 18912 and 18913 both dated 24 October 1997, which it claims are located in Obu-Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State and only recently amended their claim to state that the BUA group now has full Mining Leases signed by the then Minster of Solid Minerals Development, Alhaji Mohammed Kaloma Ali even though the said Mining Leases are still predicated on the illegal Mining Nos 18912 and 18913 created by then Governor of Edo State who lacked the power to do so.

“Why BUA waited this long to come up with these questionable Mining Lease documents is a puzzle that is yet to be resolved but one thing is certain – the said Mining Leases have their root in illegality as confirmed by the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development having being granted in error and in respect of existing Mining Lease belonging to AICO then and now Dangote, the document read.

This campaign of calumny and playing to the gallery to wipe up a badly bruised underdog sentiments did not start today against Aliko according to sources, in 2016, in a 4-page advertorial on March 14th, 2016 in Thisday, Business day and Leadership Newspapers, BUA group alleges an act of sabotage against Dangote Group through a crony under the pen name; David Osa-Ighodalo.

When the advertorial hit the newstand, Samad pretended as if he knew nothing about it but it was later revealed that the advert was sponsored and paid for by BUA Group.

What worries most observers is the pretence love of the owner of BUA Group, Samad Rabiu for Aliko Dangote in public, while allegedly harbouring a deadly bile inside.


READ MORE HERE: http://witnessngr.com/bua-group-boss-abdulsamad-rabius-envious-war-against-aliko-dangote/