₦airaland Forum

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to return to Nigeria tomorrow, Friday March 10, 2017.

The special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday March 9.A statement by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, on Thursday confirmed the development.

Adesina in the statement said Buhari expressed his appreciation to Nigerians for their support while he was away in the United Kingdom.

He said: “President Muhammadu Buhari is ...

READ MORE HERE: http://theicon.ng/2017/03/09/president-buhari-return-nigeria-friday/

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to return to Nigeria tomorrow, Friday March 10, 2017.

The special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday March 9.A statement by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, on Thursday confirmed the development.

Adesina in the statement said Buhari expressed his appreciation to Nigerians for their support while he was away in the United Kingdom.

He said: “President Muhammadu Buhari is ...

READ MORE HERE: http://theicon.ng/2017/03/09/president-buhari-return-nigeria-friday/

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced dates for 2019 general elections.

In a statement posted on its website Thursday, the electoral commission said it was making the announcements well ahead “in order to ensure certainty in our dates for elections, and to allow for proper planning by the Commission, political parties, security agencies, candidates and all stakeholders”.

“To that extent, the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, 16th February 2019, while

TO READ MORE: http://theicon.ng/2017/03/09/breaking-inec-announces-dates-2019-general-elections/

The House of Representatives committee on review of petrol pricing has summoned the Managing Directors of Oando Oil, Sahara Energy and the Group General Manager in charge of Crude Oil lifting in the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to explain their roles in an alleged $1 billion petrol products diversion scam.

The committee also summoned the Managing Directors of SGS Inspection Services and some shipping companies in respect of products diversion in the process between importation and storage of petrol products.

The summoned officials are to appear before the committee on March 15, 2017.

Chairman of the adhoc committee, Mr. Ralph Nnanna Igbokwe, gave the directive at the continuation of hearing on Mondayat the National Assembly.

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2017/03/07/sahara-energy-oando-nnpc-mds-trouble-1bn-petrol-diversion-scam/

In a dramatic twist, the Canada based singer, Stephanie Otobo, has come out to debunk all the claims she purportedly made against man of God, Apostle Johnson Suleman which was published by Sahara Reporters.

Otobo, in her statement, disclosed that she’s just 23-year-old and doesn’t know Festus Keyamo from anywhere. She also revealed that Apostle Suleman is innocent and that some gullible individuals were just out to make money from him trying to use her as a bait.

Before she came out with her own statement however, her father who met with the police investigators said he was never aware his daughter had any marriage introduction with any man while he also denying knowing Festus Keyamo, who her daughter purportedly hired to defend her.

Below is her statement;

“I’m still in shock on the sudden media propaganda being championed by Sahara Reporters. I have no business with Festus Keyamo. The N500m claims is such a huge sum to come about. I’m from a broken home and my separated parents ...............................

FOR MORE, VISIT: http://theicon.ng/2017/03/06/apostle-suleman-innocent-dont-know-festus-keyamo-stephanie-otobo-opens-2/

Keystone bank is one of the flagship financial institutions in Nigeria offering robust, convenient and reliable self-service banking products to customers.

The Keystone Mobile App

The Keystone Mobile App launched about a year ago comes with enhanced capacity, higher compatibility with smart phone types and much more functionality as well as very limited failure rate. The enhanced Mobile banking app has increased customer users on the platform by 60,000 new users.

The Mobile App allows Keystone Bank customers carry out a wide range of banking transactions from their Keystone Bank accounts including flight ticket bookings, funds transfer, electronic bill and utility payment, account balances and mini statement. The bank also uses the product to drive Financial Inclusion and Sustainable Banking policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).



Card Payment on the web

The card payment on the web comes with secure authentication methods and makes payment across the globe on all platforms. The bank offers a web and branch based payment option for electronic bills collection (E-Bills) which gives companies same day delivery of funds irrespective of the bank where transaction was initiated as well irrespective of the channels (Branch collection, Internet banking and Mobile) that was used for the payment.

The E-Bills Collection Platform handles different customers (Private & Public sector). Included within the scope of the e-Bills collection platform are pre-payments and post-payments for goods and services such as utility bills (water rate, electricity bills, telephone bills, etc.), purchases, various categories of revenue collections, and other fees e.g. subscriptions, levies, premiums etc.



Keystone Bank Payroll Management System

The Keystone Bank Payroll Management System is designed to interface with its customers’ database to generate payment schedules for salaries, remuneration, emoluments and other benefits. With the details obtained from the database, the payroll solution computes automatically the amount due each employee by making use of both generic and specific information fed into the system that relate to payroll and payment for various cadre of staff.

MORE: http://theicon.ng/2017/02/24/keystone-bank-e-banking-solutions-secured-convenient-reliable/

Keystone bank is one of the flagship financial institutions in Nigeria offering robust, convenient and reliable self-service banking products to customers.

The Keystone Mobile App

The Keystone Mobile App launched about a year ago comes with enhanced capacity, higher compatibility with smart phone types and much more functionality as well as very limited failure rate. The enhanced Mobile banking app has increased customer users on the platform by 60,000 new users.

The Mobile App allows Keystone Bank customers carry out a wide range of banking transactions from their Keystone Bank accounts including flight ticket bookings, funds transfer, electronic bill and utility payment, account balances and mini statement. The bank also uses the product to drive Financial Inclusion and Sustainable Banking policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).



Card Payment on the web

The card payment on the web comes with secure authentication methods and makes payment across the globe on all platforms. The bank offers a web and branch based payment option for electronic bills collection (E-Bills) which gives companies same day delivery of funds irrespective of the bank where transaction was initiated as well irrespective of the channels (Branch collection, Internet banking and Mobile) that was used for the payment.

The E-Bills Collection Platform handles different customers (Private & Public sector). Included within the scope of the e-Bills collection platform are pre-payments and post-payments for goods and services such as utility bills (water rate, electricity bills, telephone bills, etc.), purchases, various categories of revenue collections, and other fees e.g. subscriptions, levies, premiums etc.



Keystone Bank Payroll Management System

The Keystone Bank Payroll Management System is designed to interface with its customers’ database to generate payment schedules for salaries, remuneration, emoluments and other benefits. With the details obtained from the database, the payroll solution computes automatically the amount due each employee by making use of both generic and specific information fed into the system that relate to payroll and payment for various cadre of staff.

MORE: http://theicon.ng/2017/02/24/keystone-bank-e-banking-solutions-secured-convenient-reliable/

The order is in connection with an issue before the court of their indebtedness of over $16.4 million and N100.4 million.

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday restrained Senator Stella Oduah, along with Sea Petroleum and Gas Company Limited and its directors, from making any withdrawals from the account of the company.

The order is in connection with an issue before the court of their indebtedness of over $16.4 million and N100.4 million.

The court also forbade them from withdrawing any funds from the accounts of three other companies in 21 commercial banks listed before it. The affected companies are: Sea Shipping Agency Limited, Rotary Engineering Services Limited, and Tour Afrique Company Limited.

The court further granted an order directing the said commercial banks having assets belonging to Ms. Oduah and the four companies to sequestrate up to the indebtedness of the Senator and Sea Petroleum and Gas Company Limited in the sum of their indebtedness as of November 2016, and maintain the sums in an interest-yielding account in the name of the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court pending the determination of the suit filed at the court to recover the debt.

The order of the court follows an affidavit sworn to by the business manager of Maritime of Sterling Bank, Segun Akinsanya, and filed and argued before the court by a Lagos lawyer, Kemi Balogun.

In the affidavit, Akinsanya averred that on October 8, 2012, the bank granted a lease/cabotage vessel finance facility to Sea Petroleum and Gas Company in the sum of $10,069,620.25 to finance one unit 5,000MT tanker vessel..

The loan was secured by unconditional personal guarantee of the company’s director, Ms. Oduah, supported by a statement of her net worth, legal mortgage of two properties worth N135million, power of Attorney of the tanker vessel in favour of Sterling Bank and a fully executed and irrevocable standing payment order and tripartite remittance agreement between First Bank, Sterling Bank and Ms. Oduah.

It was further averred that between June 27, 2013 Sea Petroleum Company requested for and was granted additional facilities in the sum of $449,600.00 for post-delivery expenses, $642,954.00 and $350,000 to meet the requisite conditions in securing of the Federal High Court in securing the release of the tanker.

According to the affidavit, upon the persistent failure of the defendants to liquidate their indebtedness, Sterling Bank instructed the law firm of Oluwakemi Balogun to recover the debt.

But despite several reminders, demands, pleas and persuasion by the bank and its solicitor, the defendants did not liquidate their indebtedness which stood at over $16.4 million and N100.4 million in November 2016.

Akinsanya also averred that the defendants are also greatly indebted to a number of banks and have conceded a number of Assets to AMCON, which has stepped into the shoes of those banks, raising the imminent risk of the defendants dissipating the assets of the companies. He therefore urged the court to grant the order restraining Ms. Oduah and other directors of Sea Petroleum and Gas from withdrawing money from the account of the companies in the 21 listed banks until final determination of the debt recovery suit.

Meanwhile, based on an ex-parte application filed and argued before the court by Mr. Balogun that it has been difficult to serve court processes and orders on the defendants, Justice Abdulaziz Anka ordered that the documents should be advertised in the newspapers.

Ms. Oduah and her companies, urging the court to discharge the order made against them, also filed a preliminary objection to the suit. They asked the court to strike out the action as the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the suit. Mr. Balogun vehemently opposed the two applications.

Justice Anka adjourned the matter to March 2017 for a decision on whether to vacate the order or not.

http://saharareporters.com/2017/02/22/court-freezes-stella-oduah%E2%80%99s-accounts-over-16m-debt

Keystone Bank Limited has refuted allegation by Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that it is owing the agency N23.5 million being an accrued interest sum from a N4.2 billion transaction.

The Deputy Chairman of the Public Accounts committee, Rep Ibrahim Baba (APC, Bauchi) and ITF’s Director-General, Joseph Ari had accused Keystone Bank of moving money thrice from ITF’s account domiciled in the bank without the agency’s authorization, which attracts an interest of N23.5 million.

But the bank in a statement on Monday, February 13, 2017, by its head of Brands and Corporate Communications, Mrs. Omobolanle Osotule, said that the transaction attracted no interest as the fund was only erroneously moved to ITF’s Remittance account domiciled in Abeokuta, Ogun State branch.

“Further investigations into the banking relationship between Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and Keystone Bank Ltd revealed that Industrial Training Fund (ITF) commenced banking relationship with erstwhile Bank PHB on February 11, 2008 with a main corporate account domiciled in Jos, Plateau State and several remittance accounts opened subsequently for the area offices in different branches of the Bank”.

“The agreement between ITF and the Bank was that on a weekly basis, deposits made into their Area Office Accounts were to be swept into the main corporate account in Jos.

“However, an operational error sometime in November 2008 resulted in the sum of N4.2 billion being inadvertently credited to ITF’s Remittance account domiciled in Abeokuta branch from the ITF corporate account in Jos branch.

“The wrong entries were promptly reversed and accurate value dates applied.

“This transaction did not attract any interest and neither was Industrial Trust Fund denied access to the funds during this period,” it explained.

A source in the financial sector told our reporter that contrary to reports and speculations that the lender’s shareholders had lost confidence in the Managing Director Mr. Philip Ikeazor over alleged mismanagement of the financial Institution, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), which happens to be the only shareholder of the Bank maintains a perfect relationship with the management of the bank and are working together to achieve a smooth and hitch-free divestment of the Institution to core investors.

Keystone Bank is one of the three commercial banks that were acquired by the AMCON through a ‘bridging’ process. The bank was established from the defunct Bank PHB in August 2011.

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2017/02/13/n4-2bn-transaction-keystone-bank-denies-owing-itf-n23-5-million/

A Federal high court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos Nigeria has restrained Nigerian business mogul, Sir Emeka Offor, and three others who are directors of a limited liability company, KAZTEC ENGINEERING LIMITED, from withdrawing or dealing with any part of the sum of $ 8,5 million or any monies whatsoever, standing to the credit of the company account domiciled with any of eight commercial banks listed before the court.

Other directors affected by the order are, Kester Enwereome, Tochukwu Odukwe , and Monito Barraquias, while a sister company to Kaztec Engineering Limited, Interstate Electrics Limited, and three Ocean going Vessles MV Ekulo Chinyere, MV Ekulo Spirit and MV Ekulo Explorer are also co -defendants in this suit.

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2017/02/13/court-restrains-business-mogul-emeka-offor-operating-companys-account/

“He awarded major contracts in the state to self”
By: Steve Ademola

His popularity rating is now abysmally low. Many who voted for him in 2008 and again in 2012 are in disbelief at what he turned Edo State into before he left office in November 12th 2016. He is Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, the immediate-past governor of Edo State.

In a petition made available to ICON Newspaper by Group of Concerned Edo NGOs and Stakeholders, signed by Bishop Dr. Osadolor Ochie and Marxist Kola Edokpayi, which was addressed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the group accused Oshiomhole of defrauding Edo State to the tune of over N50 billion while in office as the governor of the state.

According to the petitioners, who also copied the president, Mohammed Buhari and the senate president, 80 per cent of contracts executed during the Oshiomhole administration were never advertised.

FOR MORE, VISIT: http://theicon.ng/2017/02/11/edo-group-exposes-adams-oshiomholes-corruption-dossier/

– Over AGO, DPK, LPFO allocations

A major scandal may be brewing in the oil and gas sector involving head of Hyson Nigeria Limited, Mr. Inuwa Waya; Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) now known as the National Petroleum Marketing Company (NPMC), Mr. Faruk Ahmed, both subsidiaries of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and Philia Energy SA, a Swiss-registered oil marketing company owned by a Nigerian, over an alleged backdoor deals of Nigeria’s AGO, DPK and LPFO.

Our investigations revealed that Mr. Waya with the help of Ahmed has severally by-passed Vitol, a joint venture partner with Hyson to illegally sell PMS, AGO, DPK and LPFP to Philia Energy, SA, below international market prices.

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2017/02/07/nnpc-subsidiaries-ppmc-hyson-alleged-illegal-deals-swiss-firm/

– Over AGO, DPK, LPFO allocations

A major scandal may be brewing in the oil and gas sector involving head of Hyson Nigeria Limited, Mr. Inuwa Waya; Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) now known as the National Petroleum Marketing Company (NPMC), Mr. Faruk Ahmed, both subsidiaries of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and Philia Energy SA, a Swiss-registered oil marketing company owned by a Nigerian, over an alleged backdoor deals of Nigeria’s AGO, DPK and LPFO.

Our investigations revealed that Mr. Waya with the help of Ahmed has severally by-passed Vitol, a joint venture partner with Hyson to illegally sell PMS, AGO, DPK and LPFP to Philia Energy, SA, below international market prices.

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2017/02/07/nnpc-subsidiaries-ppmc-hyson-alleged-illegal-deals-swiss-firm/

– Over AGO, DPK, LPFO allocations

A major scandal may be brewing in the oil and gas sector involving head of Hyson Nigeria Limited, Mr. Inuwa Waya; Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) now known as the National Petroleum Marketing Company (NPMC), Mr. Faruk Ahmed, both subsidiaries of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and Philia Energy SA, a Swiss-registered oil marketing company owned by a Nigerian, over an alleged backdoor deals of Nigeria’s AGO, DPK and LPFO.

Our investigations revealed that Mr. Waya with the help of Ahmed has severally by-passed Vitol, a joint venture partner with Hyson to illegally sell PMS, AGO, DPK and LPFP to Philia Energy, SA, below international market prices.

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2017/02/07/nnpc-subsidiaries-ppmc-hyson-alleged-illegal-deals-swiss-firm/

These are not the best of times for Keystone Bank Limited and its managing director/chief executive officer, Mr. Phillip Ikeazor as the House of Representatives on Monday urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to commence investigation into an alleged illegal movement of N4 billion from the Industrial Trust Fund’s account domiciled with the lender.

Rep. Ibrahim Baba, the Vice Chairman, Public Accounts Committee, House of Representatives, made the call following a query issued by the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

According to the query dated December 2010, a total sum of N4.2 billion was illegally moved three times in November from ITF account to other accounts,

MORE: http://theicon.ng/2017/01/30/keystone-bank-md-trouble-n4bn-illegal-transaction/

These are not the best of times for Keystone Bank Limited and its managing director/chief executive officer, Mr. Phillip Ikeazor as the House of Representatives on Monday urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to commence investigation into an alleged illegal movement of N4 billion from the Industrial Trust Fund’s account domiciled with the lender.

Rep. Ibrahim Baba, the Vice Chairman, Public Accounts Committee, House of Representatives, made the call following a query issued by the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

According to the query dated December 2010, a total sum of N4.2 billion was illegally moved three times in November from ITF account to other accounts,

MORE: http://theicon.ng/2017/01/30/keystone-bank-md-trouble-n4bn-illegal-transaction/

“It’s the presidency after my life”‬

—–

Officials of the DSS this morning stormed Midas Hotel, Iworoko, Ado-Ekiti, to effect man of God, Apostle Johnson Suleman’s arrest.

Suleman is hosting a two-day crusade in Ado Ekiti tagged ‘Help From Above’, his first in Ekiti State.

Sources said that they came in a Hilux truck, with armed policemen.

The development we learned is not unconnected with Suleman’s instruction on Sunday 15th January 2017 to his private security guards that if any Fulani intruder is noticed around him, such should be killed.

http://theicon.ng/2017/01/25/%E2%80%ADbreaking-dss-arrests-apostle-johnson-suleman/

•Why they are after him
•‘I did not kill Ogbe Onokpite’
+How he changed the face of Delta State

……………………………………………………………………..

By Sylvester O. Sylvester

The immediate-past governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan is on the verge of being tactically drawn into one of the high-profile blackmails in recent times. This comes on the heels of plans by a group of people, under the aegis of Urhobo New Face Youths Association to re-open the case of High Chief Ogbe Onokpite, an Urhobo chief who was allegedly killed by the police on Saturday, 26th November 2011 in a Warri, Delta State hotel.

The killing took place in Uduaghan’s domain while he was still governor of Delta State. Though there was no direct evidence from the outset linking the ex-governor to the death of the community leader, those who are after the medical doctor who held sway in the state for eight years as governor, believe that Chief Onokpite met his death because of his outspoken stance against the government of Delta State. However, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan confidently believes their aim is to truncate his next political ambition.

MORE: http://theicon.ng/2017/01/02/exposed-deadly-plot-ex-delta-gov-uduaghan/

…Ex-Auditor indicts acting MD


The Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Federal Mortgage Bank, FMBN, Mr. Richard Esin, is in the news again. This time, he is accused of taking bribes and kickbacks for giving lucrative contracts to vendors.

Esin, is also under probe for receiving millions of Naira in bogus deals, bribes and kickbacks as graft busters begin investigations into multi-million Naira financial impropriety and abuse of office.

Investigations by Per Second News reveal that an ex-auditor with the bank, Mr. Teslim Anibaba, also accused the acting CEO of the FMBN of monumental fraudulent transactions and acts of corruption.

MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/12/02/federal-mortgage-bank-ceo-richard-esin-fresh-trouble-accused-fraud/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the duo of Sada Adamu and Babatunde Faro, an employee of the Uzoma Dozie’s led Diamond Bank Plc, before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on a 4-count charge of money laundering, false declaration of assets and fraud to the tune of $1million.

Adamu was alleged to have made cash payment of the said sum being an amount exceeding the stipulated N5million threshold stipulated by law, to Faro who processed it without following the law.

MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/11/12/diamond-bank-staff-1m-money-laundering-scandal/

Jim Osayande Obazee, the controversial Executive Secretary of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC), who was used by former President Goodluck Jonathan to author a report that formed the basis for the suspension and eventual removal from office of the former Governor of the Central Bank (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, is presently battling fresh allegations of graft and misuse of funds belonging to the FRC.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is reviewing multiple petitions against Obazee, who is being accused of using proxies and phoney consultants to siphon tens of millions of naira belonging to the FRC.

The EFCC has been asked to investigate the N1billion International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Academy fund as well as over N225 million wastefully expended for the printing of FRC registration certificates for use by the agency for the next two decades through proxies fronting as contractors.


FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/11/02/frc-boss-jim-obazee-trouble-multi-billion-naira-fraud/

ACI Africa Region Polls: FAAN MD, Saleh Dunoma allegedly bribes officials $200,000
.............................................................................


Reports filtering out of the aviation circles indicate that the embattled boss of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, is at the centre of another bribery allegation which will shake the industry to its foundation when it blows open.

We gathered that Engr. Saleh Dunoma, who is the managing director/CEO of the parastatal has his eyes set on grabbing the coveted seat as president of the Airports Council International, ACI, African Region, and at all cost. And he is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to achieve this including parting with a staggering sum of money to allegedly bribe the officials of the election which is taking place on October 18, 2016 in Maputo, Mozambique at 7 pm WAT.

Engr. Dunoma who is supposed to vacate his seat as FAAN managing director as he has clocked the mandatory 35 years in service, is alleged to have shelled out hundreds of thousands of dollars to a very top official of the ACI, to campaign for him. He even hosted a dinner in a Chinese restaurant in Abuja to celebrate his 60th birthday to the shock of his friends and aviation workers. Though we cannot quickly confirm, the amount involved is said to be in the region of $200,000. Why he is interested in the ACI African Regional presidency is not immediately clear, but there are insinuations that if he becomes the ACI president, his tenure as FAAN MD will be automatically extended.

A technocrat in the aviation sector in Abuja squealed: “He desperately wants to remain relevant knowing that he is supposed to have retired and may be retired soon given his record of service.”

“Kabiru Mohammed and Yakubu Dati are the kitchen cabinet members facilitating and coordinating with the official because Kabiru Mohammed told us the minister of state, Aviation, Hadi Sirika has promised to appoint him as director of Airport Operations and Yakubu Dati as SA Media following the restructuring that booted him out of the agency,” the source concluded.

Saleh Dunoma is not new to controversy; a few weeks back he was alleged to have bribed some operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, with the sum of N750 million to clear him of a N3 billion fraud, an allegation the EFCC denied. The amount was said to have been found in his bank account.

The Airports Council International (ACI) is the association of the world’s airports. ACI’s prime purpose is to foster cooperation among its member airports and with other partners in world aviation, including governmental, airline and aircraft manufacturing organizations. ACI-Africa region represents the African airport operators’ members of ACI with regional governmental and non-governmental organizations; they are supported by specialized committees and task forces.

ACI Africa Region also interacts with other regional bodies and presents the collective positions of its membership, as established through committees and endorsed by the ACI Africa Regional Board. The positions reflect the common interests of the airport community. ACI World Standing Committees ACI has six standing committees (Economics, Environment, Facilitation & Services, Aviation Security, Safety/Technical, Airports Information Technology) that follow the developments in the aviation industry, elaborate positions of ACI and defend the interests of airports. Regional Committees.

All efforts by our reporter to reach Engr. Dunoma for his side of the story proved futile as his mobile number was not reachable as at press time.

The Federal Government, through its National Biosafety Management Agency, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to retail store giants, Shoprite and Next Cash ‘N’ Carry to withdraw any product that contains Genetically Modified Organisms from their shelves or risk a total shutdown.

The warning was handed out to representatives of the two superstores at a briefing in Abuja on Friday.

The Director-General, NBMA, Dr. Rufus Ebegba, said the agency had received complaints from members of the public about the sale of GMO foods in the two stores.

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/10/15/beware-shoprite-next-flood-stores-dangerous-dmo-foods-fg-wades/

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has said that the Nigerian banks have very strong capital buffers to weather the country’s economic crisis.

Director of Banking Supervision, CBN, Tokunbo Martins, said this at a press conference after a meeting with tCBNhe heads of the country’s banks. He also assured that supply of foreign exchange for manufacturers will be improved.

Nigeria, which has Africa’s biggest economy, is in recession as a slump in vital oil revenues has hammered public finances and the currency, driving up the prices of imported goods.

The clarification became necessary after a report by a Dubai-based international investment bank, Arqaam Capital, indicated that seven Nigerian banks are undercapitalised to the tune of N1tn ($3.2bn). It also reported that two other banks were close to being insolvent.

The investment bank said the Nigeria’s banking industry “is experiencing a full-blown financial crisis” as failed fiscal and monetary policies had led to a credit crunch.

The stress test identified the undercapitalised banks as First Bank of Nigeria, Unity Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc, FCMB Group Plc, Sterling Bank Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc.


MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/10/13/unity-bank-firstbank-fcmb-four-others-not-crisis-cbn/

he Federal ministry of Information and Culture and The Tony Elumelu Foundation in Lagos on Tuesday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the development of the creative industry in Nigeria.

The minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed during the ceremony, said the partnership will help re-position the Creative Industry in Nigeria. He also expressed strong belief that the collaboration with Tony Elumelu Foundation will usher in the much needed catalyst to evolve A Creative Economy.

“This is the combination of months of hard work from both sides. From the moment the idea of this MOU was conceived, he threw his entire weight and of course that of his foundation to make it a reality.

“From the time I assumed as minister, I have not missed any opportunity to tell anyone who cared to listen of my intention to develop our country’s creative industry and enhance its contribution to the national economy.

“In this regard, I have always said the creative industry must be transformed to a creative economy for it to contribute more to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), for it to provide jobs for our youths and also become a source of foreign exchange earnings.


MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/10/05/fg-partners-tony-elumelu-foundation-move-nigerias-creative-industry-forward/

Nigerian business mogul and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote has dismissed reports making the rounds that he has passed on.

A story by Dw-tv3.com said Mr Dangote, 59, has died in Germany after a short illness.

News of the death hit social media and within some few minutes, it went viral with people expressing shock, surprise and showing all sorts of emotions including bidding him farewell and praying he rests in peace.


FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/09/26/dangote-dismisses-death-rumours-vows-scale-investments-africa/

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in its 2016 Q1 Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Report has commenced enforcement action on Globacom for not adhering to the 10 per cent threshold for interconnect traffic by telecom companies.

According to the NCC , Glo was abysmal in regards to the commission’s directive on routing of a minimum of 10 per cent of interconnect traffic through interconnect exchange licensees.

The report said that pursuant to Section 53 (1) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, NCC issued a direction in April 2009. According to the report, the directive mandated all operators to route .......

READ MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/09/16/adenugas-globacom-fresh-trouble-shoddy-connection-issue/

The Centre for Public Accountability (CPA), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to order an immediate investigation into alleged sundry fraudulent practices in the National Pensions Commission, (PENCOM).

The group specifically alleged that about N42billion collected by PENCOM in 2012 cannot be accounted for by the Director General, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu.

In a petition addressed to the president and signed by the Executive Director of the Centre, Comrade Olufemi Lawson, CPA said the petition is intended to bring to the attention of the president the long list of infractions, mismanagement and maladministration that is ongoing at the commission under the leadership of Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu.

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/09/15/another-n42-billion-fraud-rocks-pencom-d-g-fingered/

After failing to blackmail several top Nigerians, a SPONSORED TWITTER PREDATOR, AHMED MADAKI seeks out another victim. This time, the hardworking Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote; but it is a journey that has ended even before it began.

Recalled last week, Madaki, through his twitter handle – @agjm075, posted a SPONSORED PIECE that the Federal Government of Nigeria in partnership with Aliko Dangote’s company, Dangote Group have flooded the Nigerian market with imported poisonous Genetic Modified rice – GMO. Investigation by this newspaper revealed that the broadcast is another cheap blackmail against the popular business tycoon and his company which has passion to touch lives by delivering the best products and services to its valuable customers and stakeholders.

What many may not know is that the Dangote Group has stopped importation of rice for local cultivation since 2014. See facts below:

In 2014: Dangote Group signed $1billion agreement with FG or integrated rice production in Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa and Kwara
In 2016: The Group started a multibillion naira Rice Outgrower Scheme over 8,000 hectares in Hadejia, Jigawa State
In 2016: It created over 10,000 jobs (Direct and indirect) to farmers who are an integral part of the Rice Outgrower Scheme
FARO 44 rice seeds distributed to farmers during the Outgrower Scheme was sourced from Africa Rice and certified by the National Agricultural Seeds Council.

MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/09/06/poisonous-gmo-rice-another-failed-attempt-blackmail-dangote/

Daniel

Embattled Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Engr Saleh Dunoma, who has been on the horns of dilemma in the past weeks for alleged misappropriation of public funds is now very sick and hospitalized in an Abuja hospital.

OrijoReporter can authoritatively report that Dunoma, who was already due for retirement, was caught unawares as records were opened at the sundown of his career to unravel shady financial deals he was alleged to be involved in during his tenure as helmsman of FAAN.

The shock that followed the invitation of Dunoma who was already looking forward for a peaceful retirement was said to have downed his health state, leading to a collapse of system and his eventual being bed ridden.

A senior staff of the agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed to our reporter that Dunoma who was rushed to the Abuja hospital in a critical condition, is already responding to treatment.

Series of financial scam ranging from contracts padding to over invoicing was said to have been the order of day under Dunoma leadership as the FAAN boss since March 2014, a development which was said to have constituted a lethal therapy for the healthy operation of the once fledgling federal parastatal.

MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/08/25/faan-stinks-sick-md-fingered-in-multi-million-naira-financial-scam/