Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Dr Fasehun mobilises OPC members for installation of Gani Adams as the 15th A are Onakakanfo of Yorubaland

All members of the Oodua People's Congress (OPC) have been directed to troop out in their large numbers to honour Otunba Gani Adams who will be formally installed as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.

The call was made by the Founder & President of OPC, Dr Frederick Fasehun in a press statement issued on his behalf by the Vice President (Administration) of the Congress, Alhaj Lateef Lawal yesterday, in Lagos.

Dr Fasehun who expressed his delight on the choice of Otunba Adams for the exalted position by Oba Adeyemi said he would personally be present and also lead all members of OPC both at home and in diaspora to the installation ceremony scheduled for 13,January,2018 in Oyo in the palace of the Alaafin.

The OPC President noted that his personal presence at the ceremony 'would seal the "coffin" of rumour mongers that kept saying Gani Adams and myself are at loggerheads. Loggerheads for what ? We speak from time to time.'

"In fact, Gani is my son and in addition to his leverage, I am now the Baba Aare. The title is not only for Otunba Adams, but also an honour to all members of OPC in general".

He commended the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi for zeroing in on OPC out of various socio-cultural groups in Yorubaland to pick Otunba Adams for the position.

AFFINITY FRAUD: How bond of Trust turns bond of Fraud


White-Collar Criminals Use Bonds of Trust to Prey on Investors 

Financial fraudsters are known to be an unscrupulous lot, but it is particularly loathsome when these white-collar criminals exploit trusting members of their own church or social circle to line their pockets.

Financial crimes based on bonds of trust—known as affinity fraud—occur throughout the United States but are especially prevalent in Utah, where members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints too often are victimized by savvy fraudsters who claim to be just like them.

“These are greedy individuals who will stop at nothing,” said John Huber, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah, a lifelong resident of the state and member of the Mormon Church. “What’s so disconcerting is that these criminals approach us at church or through associations at our work or referrals from friends. They are silver-tongued devils—wolves in sheep’s clothing who will take our money and we’ll never see it again.”

So serious is the problem of affinity fraud in Utah that in 2015 the state legislature passed a law establishing an online white-collar crime registry—similar to sex-offender registries—which publishes the names, photographs, and criminal details of individuals convicted of financial fraud crimes in the state going back a decade. Currently, there are 231 individuals listed on the registry.

In addition, a collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement partners has resulted in the Stop Fraud Utah campaign, which aims to educate the public about affinity fraud—what people can do to avoid it and how best to report it if they have been victimized.

In Their Words

A Utah woman who believed she had done her homework on retirement investments later discovered she was part of an elaborate scam that cost her thousands.

John Huber, U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah, describes how affinity fraud takes advantage of established "relationships of trust."

Michael Pickett, supervisor of the white-collar crime squad in the FBI's Salt Lake City office, describes tactics fraudsters use to prey on potential affinity fraud victims.

Richard Best, regional director of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Salt Lake office, describes taking precautions against affinity fraud.

“Within the Mormon population, there is a well-known sense of trust,” said Special Agent Michael Pickett, a veteran white-collar crime investigator in the FBI’s Salt Lake City Division. “Unfortunately, that trust can sometimes take the place of due diligence, and that’s when individuals are more susceptible to being victimized.”

Affinity fraudsters are expert manipulators. “They are great salesmen,” Pickett explained. They will approach members of their social or religious circle with a promising investment opportunity—one that pays a high rate of return—and then use a variety of high-pressure tactics to get their victims’ money.

Pickett described some of the fraudsters’ ploys: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You don’t want to be the one who passed up buying Amazon when it was first offered. You don’t want to be the one that blows that opportunity, but you have to do it now. If you wait, the opportunity is gone. And by the way, you are one of the few people I am making this offer to, so let’s just keep it between ourselves.”

“This type of fraud is significant,” Pickett said. “Within the Utah area, we are investigating more than $2 billion worth of fraud. In the last four months, we’ve opened 10 new cases.” He added that Utah consistently ranks among the top five states for the FBI’s most significant white-collar crime cases.

Too often, individuals dreaming about getting the great deal promised to them by a trusted friend or associate fail to see the red flags. “A key to this is communication,” Pickett said. “You have to do your due diligence. Talk to a neighbor or a family member. Add a little common sense to the equation, and try to separate truth from fiction.”

That’s where the Stop Fraud Utah campaign comes in. “The strategy for law enforcement is not to deal with fraud as a reaction, but to deal with it on the front end,” said Richard Best, regional director of the Salt Lake City office of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a partner in the campaign. “The best way to stop fraud is to avoid fraud, and the best way to do that is to educate the community so that when they are confronted with situations—opportunities, as fraudsters would say—they know to ask the right questions.”

Established earlier this year, the Stop Fraud Utah campaign has sponsored several fraud seminars around the state, which are free and open to the public. And because victims of affinity fraud typically call their local police departments to report these crimes, there is also an effort to train local law enforcement personnel on how to identify white-collar fraud, what evidence to collect, and the proper state and federal agencies to report it to for further investigation.

The high level of collaboration among Stop Fraud Utah campaign partners is “crucial to our success here,” Best said. “I cannot stress that enough. The SEC’s relationship with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is one of the best I have ever seen.” Other members of the campaign include the Utah Attorney General’s Office, the Internal Revenue Service, and the state’s Consumer Protection Division.

“In Utah, we have to do something to stop fraudsters from exploiting people who trust them,” said U.S. Attorney Huber. That’s why the state’s top law enforcement official has personally attended fraud seminars to caution the public about affinity fraud. “I know Utah very well,” he said. “It troubles me to see good people who have worked very hard to set aside retirement funds and nest eggs lose that to people who seemingly have no conscience.”

Unlike a drug addict who might rob a bank out of desperation, Huber added, financial fraudsters’ crimes are ruthlessly premeditated. “These perpetrators, with a smile on their face and a twinkle in their eye, approach with a handshake and a hug, with intent and with persistence, to violate the trust of their victims and to take their life’s earnings.”

Avoid Becoming a Victim of Affinity Fraud

Law enforcement officials advise that before investing money, there are a few important points to keep in mind:

Do your homework. Understand the investment and do research about the person you are investing with—even if you have an existing relationship with that individual. “Trust is fine,” said Special Agent Michael Pickett, “but it does not replace due diligence.”

Don’t make investments behind closed doors. Talk to friends, family members, or financial professionals about the possible investment, and be wary if an individual tells you not to mention the investment opportunity to others.

If an investment sounds too good to be true—with returns that greatly outweigh the risk—be suspicious. Also beware of high-pressure tactics that pressure you to act quickly.

Be an informed consumer. Financial fraudsters are savvy salesmen and expert manipulators. They have an answer for everything. Verify their pronouncements through independent sources.

If any red flags are raised about a potential investment or investment advisor, call your local regulatory agency and speak to someone. If you live in or near Utah, you can also consult the White Collar Crime Offender Registry online.

If someone tries to use their affiliation with a church or social organization to entice you to make an investment, you have every right to be suspicious, no matter what your relationship is with that person. 

Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing

The white-collar criminals who commit affinity fraud are often charismatic salesmen capable of deceiving even sophisticated investors.

Special Agent Michael Pickett, a veteran financial fraud investigator in the FBI’s Salt Lake City Division, offers a case in point:

His team was investigating a scam artist who had fraudulently collected approximately $5 million from investors—and who would later go to jail for his crimes.

“We talked with one of his victims, an elderly lady, who knew this gentleman very well,” Pickett said. “She had been associated with him for years. Her husband, who had recently passed away, had been good friends with him as well.”

The woman had invested and lost more than $100,000 with the individual. Investigators spoke to her and made her understand that she had been the victim of a fraud. “Ultimately, she agreed to wear a wire for us and talk with the individual to get his sales pitch so we could use that in court against him,” Pickett explained. “She knew it was fraud and agreed to help us.” Wearing the wire, the victim spoke with the man who had taken her money. “She came back about two hours later,” Pickett said, “ready to invest more money with this individual.”

FBI agents were able to talk her out of investing more funds, Pickett said, “but that’s how good a salesman he was—and it was all based on that relationship of trust.”


source: FBI

Sunday, December 17, 2017

FAAN INVESTIGATES ALLEGED POACHING OF CREW BAGGAGE.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has commenced investigations into the case of a burgled aircraft, alleged to have occurred on the night of 12th December, 2017.

The incident was reported to have occurred on a Vista Jet aircraft with Call Sign VJT 584, while taxiing on the night the said date.

A combined team of Faan's Aviation Security Department, Airport Police Command and other relevant security agencies have swung into action to reveal the perpetrators of this act and to prevent future reoccurrence of such.

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Nigerian, Ghanaian Edge Closer to 2018 Rhodes Scholarship  

As the 2018 Scholar Selection Process of the newly reinstated Rhodes Scholarships for West Africa reaches advanced stages, the dream of post-graduate studies at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, will soon become reality for one remarkably brilliant student from Nigeria, Ghana or any other country in the sub-region.

The selected candidate will join other scholars from around the world to commence studies at the prestigious university in the October 2018 academic session.

Rhodes National Secretary for West Africa, Ike Chioke, reaffirmed this while providing update to the media on the progress of the scheme. According to him: “Following the formal re-launch of the West Africa Scholarships in May this year, and the call for applications which opened on 1st June, the scholarship application portal officially closed on September 30, 2017 while the timeline for submission of references elapsed on October 15, 2017.”

“A total of 2,948 applications were received from intending scholars across West Africa. However, only 505 completed the Scholarship information requirements. Of this number, a total of 244 candidates who graduated with a First Class degree or its equivalent made it to the next round, and we subsequently scaled down to 65 candidates based on other selection criteria including moral force of character, commitment to service and instinct to lead. 

Further screening and in-person interviews were conducted between November 17 and 19 in Lagos and Accra while the final round of interviews for a shortlist of 15 persons is scheduled for December 1 and 2.  This is where the 2018 ‘Scholar-Elect’ for West Africa will be decided.”

Chioke also revealed that the scholarship would cover all university and college fees, a personal stipend for room and board, health insurance and travel, as well as the costs of the Rhodes Leadership Development Programme at Rhodes House. 

“Depending on the course of study, the total value of the scholarship could range from £50,000 to £60,000 per annum, with the average tenure for a Rhodes Scholar being 3 years. Over time, up to three scholars in residence will be supported under each scholarship at a total of approximately £170,000 each year per Scholarship”, he noted.

The Rhodes Trust – the preeminent international scholarship programme established at Oxford University in 1903 – selects creative young leaders with a commitment to serving others. In the century since the establishment of the Rhodes Scholarships, the Trust has convened a community of extraordinary people who share a history of enriching their communities, pioneering in their chosen fields, and applying the knowledge and experience acquired as Scholars to the betterment of society. 

The new West Africa scholarships are part of a wider geographic expansion of the Rhodes Scholarships. The total number of Scholarships awarded each year will increase from 83 to 95, including new Scholarships in China, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Palestine, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and West Africa. 

This increases the number of Rhodes Scholars studying at the University of Oxford at any one time to approximately 250. The expansion into these regions marks a historic moment for the Rhodes Trust, and further strengthens the international Rhodes community.  


Sunday, October 29, 2017

Oba Ogunleye appeals to Akinale indigenes in diaspora to return home for development of the town

The Traditional ruler of Akinale in Ewekoro local government of Ogun State,  Oba Olufemi Ogunleye, has appealed to sons and daughters of the ancient town, now scattered in various locations in the world, to come home and rebuild their ancestral homes in Akinale. 

Oba Ogunleye, who was speaking during the township environmental exercise last Saturday regretted that despite the expansion of the town with modern structures in New layouts,  the ancient site still habours derelict ancestral buildings,  without which unfortunately,  the history of the owners could not complete. 

Akinale,  some 25 kilometres,  South of Abeokuta on the Abeokuta -Lagos road,  is one of the Owu towns established by late Akanni Lapeleke, an arrow head of the Egba allied peace keeping force that checkmated the activities of interloping marauders, disturbing the peace of Abeokuta in early centuries. 

Today, the town has graduated from a dreary slum into an economically productive center for food and cash crops. 

Prominent personalities whose pedigrees were rooted in Akinale include former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former Inspector General of Police,  Alhaji Musiliu Smith,  late Bernard Babatunde Sotade,  the first Nigerian Commissioner of Scouts and acclaimed accountant with the Nigerian Railway Corporation,  the foremost produce merchant in Ifo and Sarumi Egbaland,  Chief Motayo,  Premier Paint fame and educationist,  Chief OgoOluwa Bankole and a host of others in Europe, America and other locations in the universe. 

Oba Ogunleye directed the youths in the town to clear all the bush surrounding the dilapidated buildings with a view to preventing them becoming hide-out for criminals and reptiles. 

Meanwhile the Monarch had sent special letters to all indigenes of the town resident in several parts of Nigeria and abroad to come and rehabilitate their ancestral homes in Akinale before March next year when Kabiyesi will celebrate 12th year coronation. 


Oba Ogunleye standing by the ancestral relics of Akinale town.

Saturday, October 21, 2017

FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke Discusses Shared Efforts to Combat Terrorism with Foreign Leaders

ISCHIA, ITALY – Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke this week traveled to meet with foreign leaders to advance efforts to combat terrorism. The Acting Secretary traveled first to the United Kingdom for high-level bilateral meetings and then to Italy for a gathering of senior officials from G7 nations. She reached agreements with key partners to step up the fight against terrorists online, to improve information sharing, and to raise the baseline of global aviation security.

In London, Acting Secretary Duke met with UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd and top officials from the UK Home Office to discuss persistent and emerging threats. Acting Secretary Duke and Home Secretary Rudd agreed to enhance transatlantic cooperation in a number of actionable ways. The two leaders vowed to pursue sustained, constructive engagement with technology companies on the frontlines of the digital fight against terrorists, and they agreed to conduct joint threat assessments and briefings to help non-governmental partners better counter terrorist trends and tactics, especially online.

Acting Secretary Duke and UK Home Secretary Rudd also agreed to collaborate on raising the baseline of aviation security worldwide.  In July, DHS announced new “seen” and “unseen” security enhancements to protect U.S.-bound flights as part of a wider Global Aviation Security Plan. DHS and the Home Office pledged to work together on additional measures to detect concealed explosive threats, defend against insider attacks, identify known or suspected terrorist travel, and enhance cargo security.

Acting Secretary Duke then traveled to Ischia, Italy, for a G7 Interior Ministers’ Meeting. There, she participated in plenary sessions with her counterparts, focused on information sharing, confronting the challenge of foreign fighters, and stopping terrorist recruitment and radicalization online. Ministers were joined by representatives from leading technology companies, including Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Twitter. Acting Secretary Duke and her counterparts conferred with the companies on their recently established Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT). The Acting Secretary applauded the progress companies are making in removing terrorist content, urged more forward-leaning action, and welcomed new commitments by the companies that will help make their platforms more hostile to nefarious actors.

In a press conference with the G7 ministers, Acting Secretary Duke said: “We live in a networked world. And this year it has really become clear how much terrorists are exploiting those networks…But I can assure you that we are not standing on the sidelines while dangers gather. Today we discussed concrete efforts to fight back.”

She added: “Our enemies are moving at the speed of a tweet, so we have to counter them just as quickly…While there is no doubt [they] are adapting, terrorist groups should know this:  they are no match for the alliances you see here today. We will destroy their safe havens. We will break their networks. And we will expose their hateful ideology for what it really is.”

Acting Secretary Duke also had the opportunity to participate in several bilateral meetings:

Acting Secretary Duke and Italian Minister of the Interior Marco Minniti signed the Secure Real Time Platform (SRTP) Implementing Arrangement, which enhances the ability of both countries to identify known or suspected terrorists, irregular migrants, and other persons of interest through the exchange of fingerprints. Acting Secretary Duke and Minister Minniti discussed raising global aviation security standards, continued cooperation between the United States and Italy on counterterrorism and migration management, initiating bilateral preclearance negotiations, and the importance of maintaining the flow of passenger screening data between the European Union and the United States in observance of existing international agreements.

Acting Secretary Duke met with Canadian Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale to discuss the U.S.-Canadian relationship in combatting terrorism, as well as their interests in increased information sharing with European partners. They also addressed joint steps to take to address illegal migration across their shared border. Canada is scheduled to host a G7 meeting in 2018.

Acting Secretary Duke met with French Minister of the Interior Gérard Collomb and discussed ways to deepen the already close partnership between DHS and the French Ministry of Interior, including the importance of maintaining the flow of passenger screening data between the European Union and the United States in observance of existing international agreements, and working together to raise global aviation security standards.

At the end of the Summit, Acting Secretary Duke met with European Union Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos and European Union Commissioner for the Security Union Julian King at the meeting of the G7 Interior Ministers. They discussed the value of the Passenger Name Record (PNR) Agreement between the United States and the European Union as an essential law enforcement and counterterrorism tool that must be preserved by all parties.

 

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

ULC Challenges status of NLC; Urges Labour Minister for clarification

Posted by Lateef Lawal

The United Labour Congress(ULC) has called on the Minister of Labour for clarification on the status of the Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC).

According to the President of ULC, Joe Ajaero in a memo dated 10th October,2017 to the Minister, it is an abberation for NLC to continue to operate as a federating labour center without being duely registered by the Registeral of Trade Unions in the Ministry of Labour.

The memo specifically noted:
"ULC in line with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) makes the following request from your Ministry:
1.That your Ministry provides us with the Registration number of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
2.That your Ministry provides us the Law under which the Registration was accorded the NLC
3.That the Ministry also provides for us duplicates of the consent forms duly signed by the federating unions as the basis for such registration as voluntarism remains the basis for membership of unions both at Industry level and at level of Federations."

The full text of the memo is reproduced below:

10th of October, 2017
The Honourable Minister,
Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity,
Federal Secretariat Complex,
Abuja – FCT.

Dear Sir,

THE STATUS OF THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC): NEED FOR CLARIFICATION

In view of evolving issues within the nation’s Industrial Relations space, it has become urgent that we seek from your Ministry, clarification on the status of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). This has become crucial given the seeming confusion which surrounds its status thus operations within the context of its history both practical and statutory. We wish to state as follows:
1.that the ULC, LUF, NTUC and NWC were four prominent Labour Centres that were in existence and which were forcefully merged by fiat to give room for the emergence of the NLC by decree in 1978 as the sole CENTRAL LABOUR ORGANISATION in Nigeria.

2.that before this involuntary merger, the United Labour Congress of Nigeria (ULC) was the only Trade Union Centre then recognised by the federal Government.

3.that the Senior Staff Associations were not legally allowed to form a Labour Centre of their choice under this Law thus forcing them to form an amorphous body then known as Federation of Senior Staff Associations of Nigeria (FESSAN) which later became SESCAN and then the present TUC.
.
4.that in 2004, the 1978 Act was amended creating room for plurality or multiplicity of Labour Centres in the Country.

5.that this amendment in Section 30 amongst others, created room for the formation of FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS in Nigeria.

6.that the provision for the creation of Federation of Trade Unions abolished the right of the NLC as the sole Labour Centre in Nigeria.

7.that the provision for the creation of a Federation of Trade Unions extinguished the NLC as the sole Trade Union Centre. In the case of Nigerian Nurses Association & Anor vs. AG of Federation & Ors, (1981) 1 FNR 55, the Nigerian Nurses Association had applied, apparently for the re-registration of their Union following the regrouping of Trade unions under the new 1978 Trade Union Act as amended. The Registrar of Trade Unions refused their application. On appeal, the Supreme Court confirmed the decision that the formation of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives by the Trade Union Amendment Act 1978 extinguished the Nigerian Nurses Association.

8.that By analogy, the creation of the Federation of Trade Unions under the Trade Union Act, Laws of the Federation 2004, extinguished or abolished the NLC as the Sole Labour Centre in Nigeria.

9.that if the NLC was never registered as a Federation of Trade Unions after the coming into force of the Trade Union Amendment Act 2004 then, the NLC has always existed as an illegal organisation or now exists as an illegal federation of Trade Unions.

10.that NLC therefore needed to be re-registered as a Federation of Trade Unions to be able to operate within the new statutes.

11.that you should remember that the TUC which was then (NTUC) and which was part of the original four Labour Centres that were forcefully subsumed under the present NLC sought re-registration and was accorded registration certificate 001.

12.that this singularly shows that the NLC was never registered or re-registered as an organisation of Trade Unions or Federation of Trade Unions thereafter.

13.that It is on record that since after the registration of the TUC, no other Union has been registered as a Federation of Trade Unions in Nigeria.

14.that it is also important that we recall the Ruling of Honourable Justice Roseline Ukeje on this matter which held that the NLC was not a body known to the Law within the context of the 2004 Trade Union Amendment Act. That is the only known and standing judgment concerning the legal status of the NLC and this has not been challenged.

ULC in line with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) makes the following request from your Ministry:
1.That your Ministry provides us with the Registration number of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
2.That your Ministry provides us the Law under which the Registration was accorded the NLC
3.That the Ministry also provides for us duplicates of the consent forms duly signed by the federating unions as the basis for such registration as voluntarism remains the basis for membership of unions both at Industry level and at level of Federations

This is to lay to rest the various arguments and counter arguments currently renting the air over the status of the NLC.

We want to state finally that if the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) whose existence has been abrogated by the 2004 Trade Union Amendment Act is still being assumed to be legally registered then the United Labour Congress of Nigeria (ULC) which was registered before being abrogated in 1978 should be accorded the same recognition.

ULC on this premise above would kindly request the federal Ministry of Labour to cause the Registrar of Trade Unions to re-issue it with its original certificate of registration so that the present process of seeking registration will be brought to an end immediately.

Do please be assured of our very warm regards even as you take steps to furnish us the necessary information as requested by us.

Fraternally yours,

Comrade Joe Ajaero
(President – ULC)

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Buhari Campaign Organization to hold mega nationwide rally for peace

- The Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organisation has disclosed its palns to hold a mega unity campaign all across the country


- The rally is being organized in order to address issues arising from the agitation for a sovereign state by the outlawed IPOB group, and the rescinded October 1 quit notice issued to Igbos by Arewa youths

- The national president of the organization described IPOB’s agitation as being a case of misplaced priorities, and stated that Nigeria belongs to all its citizens

The Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organisation (BOCO) is currently perfecting plans to hold a nationwide mega unity campaign to promote peace and unity among all Nigerians.

According to reports, the development was made public by the organisation’s national president, Isa Aminu Bayero.

NAIJ.com gathers that Bayero stated that the rally was being organized in order to address issues arising from the agitation for a sovereign state by the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and the rescinded quite notice issued by Arewa youths to Igbos residing in the north.

He also disclosed that the organization had expanded its network to include the person of the vice president, stating: “We have decided to have an expanded campaign network to now include the person of the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. We shall henceforth be known as Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organisation (BOCO).”

Bayero stressed that Nigeria belongs to all its citizens, and that no group had the right to send another away from any part of the country.

He further described IPOB’s agitation as ‘misplaced priorities’; and lauded President Buhari for his efforts so far at putting an end to “the boiling issue of corruption, insecurity, ethnic violence and herdsmen/farmers clashes.”

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that members of the Buhari Campaign Organisation have begun strategising for the 2019 elections.

Their aim is to ensure President Muhammadu Buhari continues to pilot the affairs of the country up till 2023; and the group has started holding meetings to ensure their plans are perfected ahead of the 2019 polls.

Saturday, October 14, 2017

CBN Governor wins 2017 Forbes Best of Africa Innovative Banking Award

According to the President of Forbes Customs Emerging Markets, Mark Furlong, the apex bank under Emefiele has shown transparency.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has won the 2017 Forbes Best of Africa Innovative Banking Award.

The award, which is sponsored by Forbes Magazine, was given to the CBN boss during the World Bank/International Monetary Fund meeting in Washington DC, in the United States of America.

According to the President of Forbes Customs Emerging Markets, Mark Furlong, the apex bank under Emefiele has shown transparency.

Furlong also said that the ward was given to the CBN boss because of his determination to come up with policies that will revive Nigeria’s economy.

Emefiele also dedicated the award to the management and staff of CBN.

The CBN boss also thanked Forbes Magazine for honouring him with the award.

He said “But, I think, what is most important here is to thank Nigerians for standing with us, particularly during the very difficult times. I say difficult times then, although I make bold now to say we are out now.

“Like you all know, the last three years has been tumultuous, not just for Nigeria, but the global economy; arising largely from the external shocks that hit particularly the commodity exporting countries.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has auctioned $418 million at a marginal rate of N310 to a dollar, to airlines, agriculture, petroleum and raw materials sub sectors so as to achieve exchange rate stability in the Nigerian market.

Sunday, October 8, 2017

Over 4,000 Nigerians repatriated from foreign countries

4,281 Nigerians have been repatriated through various countries in Europe, America and some African countries through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos alone in the first half of 2017.

Also, a total number of 691,934 travellers departed through the airport while another 560,988 travellers arrived the country within the period under review.

A document made available to our correspondent through the Ministry of Interior, indicated that the deportees were divided into two namely; chartered and regular flights.

According to the document, between January and June, 2017, 2,251 Nigerians were deported through chartered flights majorly from Libya and a trickle of European countries.

The breakdown of the chartered flights deportees indicated that 1,321 of them were males while the other 930 deportees were females.

Besides, those deported through regular flights, which were mainly from Europe, South Africa and a few African countries were 2,030 Nigerians.

The composition of the deportees revealed that just like in the chartered flights, majority of them were males.

According to the document, males deported in the first half of the year were 1,502 while 528 others were female.

Out of these numbers, those who were involved in criminal activities in their host countries were handed over to the Nigeria Police for further prosecution, some who involved in drug related matters were handed over to the officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the airport while others were returned to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP).

The document further revealed that in the first of the year, 691,954 passengers both Nigerians and foreigners used the facilities at MMIA to depart to various destinations from the country.

Out of these numbers, 519,215 were Nigerians and majorly males while another 179,739 were foreigners departing the country.

Also, within the period, 550,988 passengers arrived Nigeria through the international wing of the Lagos Airport.

The breakdown revealed that 392,237 of them were Nigerians while the other 158,751 were foreigners from various countries.

A source close to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) speaking on the issue said that the statistics were important for the Nigerian government to know the numbers of people entering or exiting the country, adding that this would enable the government to monitor and plan adequately.

Thursday, October 5, 2017

ELEGY TO OUR HEROES                                

By Femi Ogunleye

Lest we forget and we concern them to the oblivion in the character of our society, I hasten to put on records, the remarkable labour of our heroes who have just passed on.

Ebenezer Balogun was a veteran Newspaper and Magazine Sales Manager with the defunct Daily Times in Jos and Kaduna in the sixties through decades before he retired.  While he was in control of Daily Times sales offices in Jos and Kaduna, he was ‘father’ of all reporters of the then most influential and powerful print media in Nigeria. My strength in being ubiquitous at every reportorial  beat -  from our “Oremson Building” on Ahmadu Bello Road, Kaduna to the Kaduna Airport, Police Headquarters, the Courts, Government Secretariat, Ahmadu Bello Stadium, and other sundry news sources in Kaduna and Zaria between 1970 and 1973, was courtesy of this guru sales manager who would grant me IOU (recoverable through approved editorial expenses or emolument at a later date) to enhance my mobility through my Suzuky Motor-cycle.

At that time, after Lagos, Kaduna was the second source of “Hot News” either on Government policies, crimes or social events. The crème de la crème of reporters in the newspaper world were in Kaduna, the headquarters of the New Nigerian Newspapers and the outstanding success of the Daily Times crew, comprising yours truly, Victor Izekor, diminutive but uniquely brilliant Duro Iroja and Sam Akanmode, the last two of blessed memory, led at different times by Bayo Joseph and David Attah, was a manifestation of the cooperation between the editorial and circulation management, of which Mr. Balogun was the arrow head. His managerial skill to keep reporters moving and his dexterity to meander effectively through the labyrinth of newspapers vendors contributed to the growth of circulation for the Times publications in the Northern states and in Nigeria as a whole.

When he retired from the Daily Times, Mr. Balogun became an executive vendor by taking the agency for newspapers and magazines circulation, the job he did until he was installed the first traditional ruler of Ajura in Owode Egba local government of Ogun State in 2011.
Ajura is an historic Egba boundary town with Iperu in Remo land and it was where the British colonialists exhibited their power drunkenness by letting inhuman treatment on a community leader in Ajura which led to the Ijemo Massacre of 1914. The consequence of the war was the loss of Egba independence administered by the Egba United Government since 1893, to the British colony in 1914.  Oba Ebenezer Balogun has joined his ancestors.

Stephen O. Bamigbele, veteran journalist of New Nigerian Newspaper fame has recently passed on. The Ogori man from Kogi State, lived in Lokoja, where he was relocated to following his displacement from Kaduna during a civil disorder.  Stephen under whose tutelage I passed through as a newspaper reporter in Jos in mid sixty, was a nucleus staff of the New Nigerian Newspapers since 1966.
He and I synergized to produce landmark stories in Jos including the celebrated Bala Abashe versus Andrew Obeya sex scandal stories which rocked the Benue Plateau State government and the social life in Jos in 1968. 45 Rwang Pam street in Jos was our local Fleet Street where all dramas and comedies of news reporting were exhibited in our times. The likes of late Pa M.B.J. Ferreira (a close friend and contemporary of newspaper magnate, Alhaji Babatunde Jose) as Morning Post correspondent, Femi Onayemi (Daily Times), Diran Latona (Daily Sketch), Yahuza Makongiji and a host of other stringers, made every day worth witnessing.  

Stephen was also a war reporter during the Nigeria/Biafra confrontation from where he was later transferred to the Broad Street, Lagos’ office of the New Nigerian Newspaper where another doyen of journalism at that time, late Mike Pearse, was the Lagos Editor. Stephen was the anchor man receiving wired stories from a Nigerian itinerant journalist based in Sweden, late Bisi Magregor (later Oluwo Ilawo, Abeokuta and Lisa Egba) about the famous Scanian Bus scandal in Lagos.  While in Lagos, Stephen was a socialite in the midst of heavyweight members of the Moderates at their rendezvous named “10 Downing” on a street off Broad Street.

Between 1973 and 1974, He and I once again met in Kano as Correspondents of Daily Times and New Nigerian respectively.  
Kano is a metropolitan city full of activities that provide topical news 24 hours in a day for any enterprising reporter with nose for news. Stephen Bamigbele (New Nigerian Newspaper), Biodun Famojuro (Daily Sketch), Bayo Adesina (Nigerian Observer) and myself from the Daily Times, were regularly atop of beats for the delight of our readers but the Daily Times often incurred the unpleasantness of the authority when correct but incisive short-comings in government activities and social life were published.  
Striking and undeniable investigative stories of the Daily Times from Kano earned yours truly a ‘quit notice’ by the Audu Bako led government of Kano State which immediately caused my redeployment by the Daily Times to the Lagos Airport in 1974.

The death has also been announced of a friend and one-time boss, David Attah. David was one of the young University graduates that Alhaji Babatunde Jose, recruited into the Daily Times in early 70s as a design to invest in skill acquisition for successful management to sustain the standard of the leading tabloid in Nigeria and widen the business  environment of the Daily Times conglomerate.
David was first made the Head of the Northern Region Editorial team with office in Kaduna. Here we interacted very well and learned from his managerial capacity. He was upright and thorough.
David an ABU graduate was later made the Group Manpower Development Manager of Daily Times in Lagos. After his stint in the Daily Times, he became the Managing Director of the Benue Plateau Publishing Corporation (publishers of Nigerian Standard Newspapers) in Jos and later Commissioner for Information in Benue State.
David who was chief press secretary to the late military Head of State, Sanni Abacha, once, expressed his disgust about whatever perception held about him and his principal. He was quoted in an interview “You don’t have to like this man called Abacha but I am involved…I had come as a bird of passage….and somebody you gave an assignment and you could go to sleep”. Lovable and kind person, David was aged 72.

The fourth in the list of my heroes just passed on is the sage, detribalized frontline nationalist, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, Dan Masamin of Kano. Acclaimed orator, diplomat, elder-statesman and a devout politician from the first republic, (Nigeria’s Minister of Mines and Power, 1954-1966), Chief Whip of the Federal House of Representatives (1955-1956) who became the first Ombudsman – Federal Commissioner of Public Complaints in 1976.
He was Nigeria’s Representative to the United Nations in 1979 and Minister for National Guidance in 1983 among other national positions. Besides all these qualities, Alhaji Maitama Sule was a great mentor who stood by me during my ordeal of misgivings in Police Commissioner Audu Bako’s government as a  Daily Times reporter in Kano. At every orchestrated misinterpretation of my published stories about Kano and its governance, I was adopted as Alhaji Maitama Sule’s protégé as he remained my guide and defender in all accusations.

May the souls of all the departed rest in peace.

Monday, October 2, 2017

20 killed, 100 injured in Las Vegas by a gunman

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (Reuters) - A gunman killed at least 20 people and wounded more than 100 at a country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip on Sunday, shooting down from the 32nd floor of a hotel, where he was shot dead by police.

Police described the suspect as being a local Las Vegas man who acted alone and was not believed to be connected to any militant group, Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told reporters.

The attack was the deadliest mass shooting in the United States since a gunman who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State militant group killed 49 people at an Orlando nightclub in June 2016.

"We have no idea what his belief system was," Lombardo said. "Right now, we believe he was the sole aggressor and the scene is static."

Authorities were seeking a woman they named as Marilou Danley, he said. He described her as Asian, 4 foot 11 inches (1.5 m) tall, 111 pounds (50 kg). He gave no details of whether she was suspected of involvement in the attack but described her as an "associate".

Police were also searching for two cars that belonged to the suspect.

He said rumors of other shootings or explosives such as car bombs in the area were false. Video taken of the attack showed panicked crowds fleeing as sustained rapid gunfire ripped through the area.

Las Vegas’s casinos, nightclubs and shopping are a major draw for some 3.5 million visitors from around the world each year and the area was packed with visitors when the shooting broke out shortly after 10 p.m. (0400 GMT).




Wednesday, September 20, 2017

ULC calls off strike aftermath of meeting with Labour Minister

Posted by Lateef Lawal

The United Labour Congress (ULC) has called off strike embarked upon since Monday by its affiliates.

This followed a meeting between the Minister of Labour & Productivity, Senator Nwabueze Ngige, the leadership of ULC and its affiliates led by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.

This was contained in the communique  issued at the end the meeting on 20/09/17 and jointly endorsed by the president and secretary general of ULC.

The meeting, according to the communique agreed to reschedule another round of discussion to September, 26, 2017 which would include not only the Minister of Labour, but also that of Petroleum, the Minister of Works and Energy and the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria where all the issues at stake would be discussed.

It was in the light of this agreement that the leadership of ULC called off the strike.

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

"OUR STRIKE CONTINUES: IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL FIRST DAY!", says ULC President Ajaero

The president of United Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero said yesterday that the strike called by the congress was a success.

This was contained in a statement he issued to commend all affiliate members of ULC nationwide for their compliance.
Below is the full text of the statement:

"It is important to know that during this first day of the Strike action embarked upon by the United Labour Congress of Nigeria (ULC), we recorded huge success in the target that we set for ourselves to achieve.

Recall that this unfortunate turn was foisted on us by the recalcitrant nature of the federal government in refusing to meet our legitimate demands which we had made available to them for nearly two months ago.

Nigerians will recall that rather than addressing the issues we raised the honourable Minister of Labour unfortunately went into a name – calling exercise in a press conference he addressed with their new spokes persons – Ayuba Wabba of the NLC and Bobboi Kaigama of the TUC.

It is a tragedy that trade union leaders have decided to pitch their tents against the interests and desires of Nigerian workers and masses and be on the side of employers and Government. It is a shame indeed.

Nigerians should ask the federal Government that has refused to negotiate with us in order to address the issues we raised on the spurious charge that ULC is not recognised; who registered JOHESU as a trade union? Who registered NARD?

The same federal Government has been negotiating with these unregistered bodies and the issue of certification never arose.

The talk about registration or non-registration is therefore a crass ploy by the federal Government to play politics with our legitimate demands thus divert the attention of unsuspecting Nigerians from the serious issues affecting Nigerian workers and masses which we had raised in our list of demands.

TUC, Nigerians should not forget in a hurry operated for 27 years without the so-called certificate because the federal Government understood the law that allows them to so do which has not changed but rather has become strengthened.

We are still less than a year and they are already ganging up illegally. But that will not work as the Law which the Minister knows is clearly on our side.

Our refusal to get distracted forced the ULC to press on with the Strike action as earlier proposed and we want to thank God that we have far exceeded our target for the first day.

The overwhelming response by Nigerian workers and the solidarity which Nigerian masses have shown to our call has emboldened us encouraging us to work harder to make the second day even more impactful.

The trumped up news that NUBIFIE has pulled out of the Strike is a further manifestation of the fight back against the strike by a combination of unfortunate leaders within the NLC and TUC who are busy romancing with the federal Government while Nigerians wallow in abject poverty and suffering.

For the avoidance of doubt, NUBIFIE has not pulled out of the strike and are involved seriously in ensuring that it succeeds.

Danjuma Musa and comrade Sheik Mohammed are the President and General Secretary of NUBIFIE respectively and only they alone has the power to make such pronouncement through their respective organs and they have not done so.

Ayuba and co trying to raise a renegade group as he has always done to challenge the authority of the legitimate leadership of the union is shameful and a sacrilegious act within the labour movement.

The one he parades as his president of NUBIFIE has ceased to be a member of the Union since January 2017 vide a letter he wrote to the Union and his Management including other instruments through which he ordered his management to stop deducting his check-off dues to the union. Trying to use such people to make such a claim is therefore laughable at best.

We want to therefore thank all Nigerian workers who have complied on this first day and urge all to show the same commitment which they have shown today in engaging tomorrow’s action.

Let us make tomorrow more impactful and compelling so that the forces of evil will be forced to listen to our legitimate demands.

Let us refuse to be distracted no matter the gimmicks they employ in trying to discourage Nigerians.

We shall press forward until the mission is accomplished. Ensure that Petroleum products’ supplies get tightened the more, ensure that the ATMs get disconnected, ensure that there is erratic power supply and eventual total blackout; ensure that Rail services are disrupted; ensure that the shopping malls are not working and ensure that those in the Government houses do not get supplies of electricity and diesel to run their generator. These shall continue until they meet our demands!

We have adopted a gradual and systematic approach in implementing this strike in order to reduce the suffering that may be foisted on Nigerian workers and masses if we apply the whole weight at the same time.

However we urge all Nigerians to bear with us as this is a necessary sacrifice we all must make to assist those in government to be more responsible and responsive to the demands of Nigerian workers and masses. Compliance level will be tighter tomorrow and shall be regrettably  increased as the strike is allowed by the federal Government to continue from day to day.

Finally, we urge the patriots who are working behind the scene to get the matter resolved to put pressure on the Federal Government to listen to Nigerian workers and masses which it claims to lead.

That is the only way we can get this matter amicably resolved.   Our hands are always on the plough! Nothing shall take it away from where it is kept; not corruption and not intimidation; not gimmickry and not outright barefaced lies as spurn by the student liar and his puppets!", Joe Ajaero concluded.
                                    
REACTIONS

Just plain , ordinary impersonator desperately "shopping" for relevance and legitimacy! Comrade, we know his tricks and we can't give him that legitimacy by joining issues with him , on social media platforms...no cause for alarm. He was not the reason why the current strike called by people's labour centre ULC, did not fully take off in banking and insurance industry. Other logistical problems were the reasons and we are trying hard to sort it , to be fully on board the ongoing strike._Anonymous.

Good morning my able comrades. Let me commend the ULC for this bold step by commencing it's full seat at home indefinite strike action. The ULC is now being mucked by Govt, NLC, and TUC, on mass media, with the claims that our impact is not being felt. It is based on the foregoing I wish to urge us to ensure total compliance by our affiliate Unions by intensifying monitoring. In all, we are not perturbed but resolute and ingrained to this course. ULC has the capacity and all it takes to cripple this nation's economy when neglected as it is the case now.
from Daniel E. Atiemie Esq. - The National President, Primary Health Care Workers Association of Nigeria (PHCWAN). Reporting from Port Harcourt. Aluta Continua!

This action is strange to them that's why they may believe it has failed. It is strategic, hence, the impact will bite harder as day passes by. Once again, I welcome u on board.
from Com. Okonu Abdullahi A. General Secretary, PTECSSAN

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

READ FULL TRANSLATION: BUHARI’S MINISTER ALHASSAN DECLARES SUPPORTS FOR ATIKU IN BBC INTERVIEW

vanguardngr2017-09-06 22:25

An interview with BBC Hausa has shown President Muhammadu Buhari’s Women Affairs Minister, Aisha Alhassan saying she would support Former Vice president, Atiku Abubakar, for the 2019 presidential election.

The video which is in Hausa language captures Mrs. Alhassan as saying she would support Akiku even if President Muhammadu Buhari decides to re-contest the 2019 election.

Part of the transcript of the interview reads thus: “Atiku is my godfather even before I joined politics.”

“And again, Baba Buhari did not tell us that he is going to run in 2019.”

“Let me tell you today that if Baba said he is going to contest in 2019, I swear to Allah, I will go before him and kneel and tell him that ‘Baba I am grateful for the opportunity you gave me to serve your government as a minister but Baba, just like you know, I will support only Atiku because he is my godfather. If Atiku said he is going to contest.”

“If because of what I said, I am sacked, it will not bother me because I believe in Allah, that my time has elapsed that is why…”

“Baba is not a mad man like those calling for my sack. They have been sending it and spreading that if Baba sees this I will be sacked.”

Read below, the full translation of the interview according to Premium:

BBC: Your Excellency, you said you hope former Vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, become the president of Nigeria in 2019, why did you make this statement?

Atiku is my godfather even before I join politics, and again Baba Buhari did not tell us that he is going to run in 2019. And let me tell you today that if Baba said he is going to contest in 2019, I swear to Allah I will go before him and kneel and tell him that ‘Baba I am grateful for the opportunity you gave me to serve your government as a minister. But Baba just like you know I will support only Atiku because he is my godfather.’

(That is) if Atiku said he is going to contest; as we are talking now Atiku has not said he is going to contest. Why I said our president in 2019 is because we all hope he is going to contest, but he never told us that he is going to contest. But if he said he is going to contest I will surely do what I told you I will do.

Because if Atiku said he is going to contest and I remain in the cabinet of Baba while Baba also wants to contest, then I have become a hypocrite and I am not one. If I said I am not with Atiku, Buhari himself will not trust me at all because he will say I am a hypocrite.

BBC: Is it not early to start campaigning?

Yes I made this statement when we went for a courtesy call during Sallah festivities, I am not going to stand before him and campaign, besides this is not the time for campaign. Even when my people asked me to come out and start campaigning, I told them this is not the time for that. This is the time to work for the people.

This is the work of my political enemies, they have been going round saying I should be sacked as minister. I never hoped to be a minister, Allah gave it to me If I get sacked, it will not bother me because I believe in Allah, that my time has elapsed; because I believe only Allah do and undo. And you think Baba is a mad man like those calling for my sack?

They have been sending it and spreading that if Baba sees this I will be sacked. He will not sack me from being a minister because of this, only if I commit another offence. I am doing my job as a minister with all my heart and I always protect this government because it is a government of APC.

And Baba our President, the President of Nigeria and somebody that I respect even before I joined politics. I will continue to respect him as a man of integrity. For those who are saying I will be sacked, they will be shamed. And even if I am sacked, I believe it is my time as minister that has ended. I never asked for it, Allah gave it to me.

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Twelve dead in Nigeria shooting

Church members gunned down in early morning attack after failed attempt to kill local chief’s son

Twelve worshippers were shot dead at a church in southeast Nigeria yesterday, with authorities suggesting the bloodshed was due to a local feud. Five gunmen opened fire at about 6am at St Philip’s church in Ozubulu near the city of Onitsha, unleashing terror on the congregation, witnesses said.

Chukwuma Emeka said he had just stepped out of the church to stretch his legs “when I heard gunshots and screaming and people running inside”.

“When the chaos subsided I went inside, I saw my fellow church members dead in a pool of their own blood and many others were screaming in pain.”

Attacks on churches are rare in southern Nigeria, where there is a predominantly Christian population.

But the country’s mainly Muslim north has been gripped in a violent campaign by Boko Haram jihadists, who specialise in targeting religious centres.

There were varying accounts of what happened in Ozubulu. Witnesses said five gunmen in masks stormed the church, but police said the killing was the work of a lone shooter.

“So far, 12 persons have been confirmed dead and deposited in the mortuary here,” a worker at Nnamdi Azikwe University Teaching Hospital said.

Several worshippers with gunshot wounds were also receiving treatment at the hospital, the source said.

Witnesses said they feared that up to 20 people might have died.

Anambra State police commissioner Garba Umar said the attacker went on a shooting spree, killing and wounding worshippers.

He said the violence was the result of a failed murder attempt, tied to a feud within the local community.

“The information at the disposal of the police is that the gunman had been hired to kill a particular family person believed to be among the worshippers,” he said. Rights activist Emeka Umeagbalasi said his information about the motive largely concurred with that of the police version. The gunmen had gone to kill the son of a local chief but failed to find him at his home, Umeagbalasi said.

The attackers then went to the church to hunt for him, but could not find their prey and became angry.

“They opened fire on parishioners and shot indiscriminately,” he said, adding that the father of the intended target was shot and wounded.

Hundreds of churches and mosques in Nigeria’s north have been attacked since 2009 when Boko Haram began a violent campaign to impose strict Islamic law.

The rebellion has killed at least 20 000 people and forced about 2.6 million others to flee their homes, sparking a dire humanitarian crisis in the northeast.

AFP/herald Live
 

FG Announces Tax Relief for 27 Industries !

The Federal Government has released the full list of the 27 key industries and products included in the revised list of ‘pioneer status’ to enjoy tax break as incentives for prospective investors.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, last Wednesday, disclosed the approval given to the 27 industries with pioneer status.

Enelamah did not, however, list the 27 industries but revealed that some of the benefits of the pioneer status include tax relief, mainly for corporate income tax.

Here is the full list of the 27 industries to enjoy the pioneer status.

Mining and processing of coal;

Processing and preservation of meat/poultry and production of meat/poultry products;

Manufacture of starches and starch products;

Processing of cocoa;

Manufacture of animal feeds;

Tanning and dressing of Leather;

Manufacture of leather footwear, luggage and handbags;

Manufacture of household and personal hygiene paper products;

Manufacture of paints, vanishes and printing ink;

Manufacture of plastic products (builders’ plastic ware) and moulds;

Manufacture of batteries and accumulators;

Manufacture of steam generators;

Manufacture of railway locomotives, wagons and rolling stock;

Manufacture of metal-forming machinery and machine tools;

Manufacture of machinery for metallurgy;

Manufacture of machinery for food and beverage processing;

Manufacture of machinery for textile, apparel and leather production;

Manufacture of machinery for paper and paperboard production;

Manufacture of plastics and rubber machinery;

Waste treatment, disposal and material recovery;

E-commerce services;

Software development and publishing;

Motion picture, video and television programme production, distribution, exhibition and photography;

Music production, publishing and distribution;

Real estate investment vehicles under the Investments and Securities Act;

Mortgage backed securities under the Investments and Securities Act; and,

Business process outsourcing.




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Friday, July 21, 2017

Elegy to our heroes



             
                                                                       By Femi Ogunleye

Lest we forget and we concern them to the oblivion in the character of our society, I hasten to put on records, the remarkable labour of our heroes who have just passed on.
Ebenezer Balogun was a veteran Newspaper and Magazine Sales Manager with the defunct Daily Times in Jos and Kaduna in the sixties through decades before he retired.  While he was in control of Daily Times sales offices in Jos and Kaduna, he was ‘father’ of all reporters of the then most influential and powerful print media in Nigeria. My strength in being ubiquitous at every reportorial  beat -  from our “Oremson Building” on Ahmadu Bello Road, Kaduna to the Kaduna Airport, Police Headquarters, the Courts, Government Secretariat, Ahmadu Bello Stadium, and other sundry news sources in Kaduna and Zaria between 1970 and 1973, was courtesy of this guru sales manager who would grant me IOU (recoverable through approved editorial expenses or emolument at a later date) to enhance my mobility through my Suzuky Motor-cycle.
At that time, after Lagos, Kaduna was the second source of “Hot News” either on Government policies, crimes or social events. The crème de la crème of reporters in the newspaper world were in Kaduna, the headquarters of the New Nigerian Newspapers and the outstanding success of the Daily Times crew, comprising yours truly, Victor Izekor, diminutive but uniquely brilliant Duro Iroja and Sam Akanmode, the last two of blessed memory, led at different times by Bayo Joseph and David Attah, was a manifestation of the cooperation between the editorial and circulation management, of which Mr. Balogun was the arrow head. His managerial skill to keep reporters moving and his dexterity to meander effectively through the labyrinth of newspapers vendors contributed to the growth of circulation for the Times publications in the Northern states and in Nigeria as a whole.
When he retired from the Daily Times, Mr. Balogun became an executive vendor by taking the agency for newspapers and magazines circulation, the job he did until he was installed the first traditional ruler of Ajura in Owode Egba local government of Ogun State in 2011. Ajura is an historic Egba boundary town with Iperu in Remo land and it was where the British colonialists exhibited their power drunkenness by letting inhuman treatment on a community leader in Ajurawhich led to the Ijemo Massacre of 1914. The consequence of the war was the loss of Egba independence administered by the Egba United Government since 1893, to the British colony in 1914. Oba Ebenezer Balogun has joined his ancestors.
Stephen O. Bamigbele, veteran journalist of New Nigerian Newspaper fame has recently passed onThe Ogori man from Kogi State, lived in Lokojawhere he was relocated to following his displacement from Kaduna during a civil disorder. Stephen under whose tutelage I passed through as a newspaper reporter in Jos in mid sixty, was a nucleus staff of the New Nigerian Newspapers since 1966. He and I synergized to produce landmark stories in Jos including the celebrated Bala Abashe versus Andrew Obeya sex scandal stories which rocked the Benue Plateau State government and the social life in Jos in 1968. 45 Rwang Pam street in Jos was our local Fleet Street where all dramas and comedies of news reporting were exhibited in our times. The likes of late Pa M.B.J. Ferreira (a close friend and contemporary of newspaper magnate, Alhaji Babatunde Jose) as Morning Post correspondent, Femi Onayemi (Daily Times), Diran Latona (Daily Sketch), Yahuza Makongiji and a host of other stringers, made every day worth witnessing.  
Stephen was also a war reporter during the Nigeria/Biafra confrontation from where he was later transferred to the Broad Street, Lagos’ office of the New Nigerian Newspaper where anotherdoyen of journalism at that time, late Mike Pearse, was the Lagos Editor. Stephen was the anchor man receiving wired stories from a Nigerian itinerant journalist based in Sweden, late Bisi Magregor (later Oluwo Ilawo, Abeokuta and Lisa Egba) about the famous Scanian Bus scandal in LagosWhile in Lagos, Stephen was a socialite in the midst of heavyweight members of the Moderates at their rendezvous named “10 Downing” on a street off Broad Street.
Between 1973 and 1974, He and I once again met in Kano as Correspondents of Daily Times and New Nigerian respectively. Kano is a metropolitan city full of activities that provide topical news 24 hours in a day for any enterprising reporter with nose for news. Stephen Bamigbele (New Nigerian Newspaper), Biodun Famojuro (Daily Sketch), Bayo Adesina (Nigerian Observer) and myself from the Daily Times, were regularly atop of beats for the delight of our readers but the Daily Times often incurred the unpleasantness of the authority when correct but incisive short-comings in government activities and social life were published.  Striking and undeniable investigative stories of the Daily Times from Kano earned yours truly a ‘quit notice’ by the Audu Bako led government of Kano State which immediately caused my redeployment by the Daily Times to the Lagos Airport in 1974.
The death has also been announced of a friend and one-time boss, David Attah. David was one of the young University graduates that Alhaji Babatunde Jose, recruited into the Daily Times in early 70s as a design to invest in skill acquisition for successful management to sustain the standard of the leading tabloid in Nigeria and widen the business  environment of the Daily Times conglomerate. David was first made the Head of the Northern Region Editorial team with office in Kaduna. Here we interacted very well and learned from his managerial capacity. He was upright and thorough. David an ABU graduate was later made the Group Manpower Development Manager of Daily Times in Lagos. After his stint in the Daily Times, he became the Managing Director of the Benue Plateau Publishing Corporation (publishers of Nigerian Standard Newspapers) in Jos and later Commissioner for Information in Benue State. David who was chief press secretary to the late military Head of State, Sanni Abacha, once, expressed his disgust about whatever perception held about him and his principal. He was quoted in an interview “You don’t have to like this man called Abacha but I am involved…I had come as a bird of passage….and somebody you gave an assignment and you could go to sleep”. Lovableand kind person, David was aged 72.
The fourth in the list of my heroes just passed on is the sage, detribalized frontline nationalist, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, Dan Masamin of Kano. Acclaimed orator, diplomat, elder-statesman and a devout politician from the first republic, (Nigeria’s Minister of Mines and Power, 1954-1966), Chief Whip of the Federal House of Representatives (1955-1956) who became the first Ombudsman – Federal Commissioner of Public Complaints in 1976. He was Nigeria’s Representative to the United Nations in 1979 and Minister for National Guidance in 1983 among other national positions. Besides all these qualities, Alhaji Maitama Sule was a great mentor who stood by me during my ordeal of misgivings in Police Commissioner Audu Bako’s government as a  Daily Times reporter in Kano. At every orchestrated misinterpretation of my published stories about Kano and its governance, I was adopted as Alhaji Maitama Sule’s protégé as he remained my guide and defender in all accusations.
May the souls of all the departed rest in peace.


Friday, July 7, 2017

OGUN NSCDC NABS A SUSPECTED KIDNAPPER

By Kolawole Olayinka, Abeokuta

     Members of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC),Ogun State Command has arrested one suspected kidnapper in Akinale, Ewekoro North Local Council Development Area of Ogun State.

     The said suspect Simply called Chukwuemeka ,29, also known as 'Jesus' hails from Umuhia local Government Area of Abia State, was seen laying ambush near Baptist Day Primary School, Akin-ale before he was apprehended by Corps men on critical and infrastructural team patrol.

    The NSCDC Men on patrol were tipped by residents of the area,who claimed to have seen the man earlier,roaming about before he was finally caught from his hide-out.

     During interview, it was discovered that Chukwuemeka had no family leaving around the axis,neither does he have a profession or trade. He also has mark of tattoos of various designs on his body.

    According to information, it was said that the tattoos signify membership of various cult groups.


The tattoo design includes scorpion, axe,cross etc were said to be indication of membership of various cult groups,who are specialized in carrying out criminal activities on unsuspected members of the public.

 He however denied this, claiming he brought the inscribed tattoos from birth and that is why he is being called 'JESUS'.

     The suspect does not revealed any sign of insanity as he talks normally with coherence at all times and in addition,he was found in possession of Samsung telephone,toothpaste, toothbrush,indomie and other items, and was neatly dressed and with extra cloth in his bag.

    While commenting, the Public Relations Officer of NSCDC,Ogun State Command,CSC Kareem Olanrewaju, said the suspect's mission needs to be investigated properly,as there are so many things that are suspicious about him. 


His over-grew beard was neatly shaved and he was not in any way related to the environment where he was apprehended. Apart from this, he was not able to define his mission clearly.

     Kareem stated further that the suspect will be transferred to the relevant agencies after necessary preliminary investigation and documentation.

     He therefore urge members of the public to always keep abreast with what is happening in their environment and give right and prompt information to security agencies, adding that,Civil defence is ready to always respond to people's complain swiftly.

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Nigerian Elites Form The Stealing Group___Fasehun

Dr. Fredrick Fasehun is the founder and president of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC). In this interview, the OPC leader speaks on the state of the nation, Buhari’s government, N2 billion NNPC pipeline contract amongst other issues. Excerpts:

By May 29 this year, President Muhammadu Buhari administration would have been two years in office. What is your rating of this government looking at their performance?

The government has not performed as it supposed to. Buhari himself has done very well, showing some form of leadership but the government as a whole has performed below expectation. When they were preparing to come in, the whole country was agog; there was cheering and cheering and in another few weeks, they would have been there for two years and Nigerians are still yearning for the day that they will be able to say thank God we voted for this new government. In other words, they came with the people cheering and in two years, the people are no longer cheering; they are jeering because government is performing below expectation. They were hungry, they are still hungry; they were angry, they are still angry. An empty stomach is an angry mind. They still have the opportunity to change their methods but one wonders if they will be able to change their strategies within two years. They have spent two years and there is nothing much to show for it, except identifying of those who have looted our treasury. Identification of treasury looters is not the main thing. Asking them to confront the law of the land is the main thing. Who doesn’t know that the Nigerian elites form the stealing group? Buhari has shown good leadership. He said he was going to probe and he is probing. A tree does not make a forest. Buhari on his own cannot hit his hands on his chest and say he has performed very well. He needs to say we have performed very well. The government is not “I” but “we”; then Buhari does not constitute the government. It is he and his advisers that constitute the government. I personally define democracy as the best form of bad government because no government is good.

What is the relationship between OPC and the present government of PMB?

OPC has never had any relationship with any government because it is an organization that is non-committal. We say it, the way we see it. If government is doing well, we clap for them. If they are not doing well, we tell them they are not doing enough.

When APC government assumed power, there were so much expectation from the government. Where did you think we got it wrong?

We got it wrong in the sense that we over trusted those who were trying to convince us to vote for them. We thought that they were going to be truthful to their words. Unfortunately, politicians are like leopards, they don’t change their spots. Some of us said it loud and clear; many of us did not even believe what some of us said. The large majority that did not believe the critics are the ones that are regretting that they fell too easily to the government vocalization. We were shouting it at that time; Tunji Braithwaite talked and he was labelled a critic, Femi Falana said it and he was called a critic, we too were not left out. But the best friends to governments are the critics because they are like people who are watching a soccer game from the side. They see what players are doing wrong. Unfortunately, people who are in power don’t believe critics are friends of the government. If I were in power, I would formulate a Council of Critics, so that we listen to them and take their advices. Leaders in this country don’t listen to those who are labelled as critics.

The Senate President, Olusola Saraki recently criticized the way government is handling the anti-corruption crusade publicly. Do you think that is right, judging from the fact that Saraki is part of the present government; or are we looking at 2019?

We have been looking at 2019. Since we finished 2015, we have been looking at 2019. I wouldn’t be surprised if those who have their eyes on offices criticizes those who are already in high seat. The challenge is not right because the Senate President is part of the government. He would have done that correction in a private room in Aso Rock.

The CBN has been pumping out Dollars into the system to arrest the forex issues. Do you think that is the right approach to the current economic crises in the country?

It is the “wrongest” solution to the economic crises. The economy of any nation is dictated by its productivity. When you are not producing and only consuming, the country is not healthy because a consuming economy is not healthy economy. We depend entirely on foreign import. How enough would you expect importation of toothpick support the economy. What can only support the economy is good productivity. South Korea came to political limelight at the same time with Nigeria and today, they are a productivity economy. South Korea was a backward country 30 years ago but you will have no claim to say that it is a growing economy. It is grown and a self-sustaining economy.

How do you think the issue of kidnapping and Fulani herdsmen can be ended?

There is no crime that Nigerians commit now that doesn’t have sanctions in the past. Didn’t we have laws against rape, murder, robber, kidnapping? It is just that the people have changed and become lawless. The people in power have changed and become corrupt. The lawmakers are not doing enough as they work only in three days and cart away millions of Naira as salaries. Because they smile home with 36 million Naira per annum, the labour unions find it very easy to go on strike. That is why our economy is not improving. Factors like agriculture, education, power, SMEs have been neglected. That is why government is beginning to say let everybody be a farmer. It should be part of us. We don’t make use of our land space. Lagos to Ibadan is virgin land and not cultivated. When foreigners come, the marvel at the amount of uncultivated forests. Virtually everybody in China is a farmer. Government is wasting its time telling people to go and buy palm nuts and sell to the government. You produce it and let government buy it. There was no longer in Nigeria until this social scientist came.

At a time, the federal government awarded a contract to New Age which engaged members of OPC in March 2015 to secure Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines in the South-West zone of the country. How far about the contract?

They have not paid a Kobo. We had to go to court because we signed a contract with them before we embarked on that job. It surprises me when a government has entered into a contract with his citizens to perform certain things and yet break it. The recommendations of that contract was made by the government and its agents and yet after completing the job without any query on the execution of the job, they cannot pay. It is very embarrassing. When we waited and nothing was done. We put about 4020 people on the pipeline and the government on its own recommended that they would pay N1, 500 per head a day. That was their own suggestion in the contract and we took the job. No Nigerian should earn that but because there is no work or job to do, we complied with the suggestion of the government. They didn’t give us Kobo to sustain us. It was a three month contract and we did it judiciously. After three months, we left the pipeline. For years now, government has been dilly dallying. We lost six of our members; government didn’t even send us letter of sympathy, let alone pay the workforce. We are yet to be paid roughly N2 billion. They refused and said we should negotiate. I said I cannot negotiate after the contract and that that is not democracy. We have went to court 18 to 19 times. Now the government is saying pay them the daily per capital recommendation but they will not pay anything to support the contract. Should we not be protected from the glare of the sun, rain, snakes, wild animals; should we not eat have generators and torchlights? That is why we have these figures. And I have to pay to bury and the government is sitting comfortably at Aso Rock. However, they later said they would pay one third of what we agreed. But even that one third has not been paid. While we were doing that job, we didn’t steal one pint of fuel.

Which area precisely did OPC protect?

We protected from Shagamu, Mosimi to Ibadan

How were you able to convince your members that you have not been paid and also their confidence in you?

My people know me and I have been leading them for 24 years. They know me. They have not found me cheating in any form. I am not a rich man but I cannot go out of my way to destroy a name I have been building for 82 years. They know if I have collected money, I will not go to court. Some close to the government agencies must have also gone to ask and they will tell them no. The pride of OPC is that no organization has lived as long as OPC.

Since the government didn’t pay, how were you able to manage the contract?

I borrowed because they have to be paid, buy food and other necessities. But government remained obdurate and unpathetic. They don’t know the consequence of their actions is futuristic.

Buhari has ill health and we have also had a similar situation when Yar A’dua was in power.

What do you think Buhari should do, looking at his present state of health?

I am asking Nigerians to dedicate a date for every Nigerian to pray for Buhari. The prayer of the righteous availath much. When the Israel people cried up to him, he helped them. It is part of the underdevelopment of the country. You will not be right to assess Buhari, unless you assess him in good health. Health must be intact before you can assess the work. Nigerians should pray against premature death of their leaders. Journalists, traders, doctors, lawyers, teachers should pray for such not to happen.

What are your views on self-determination and call for the restructuring of the country?

My message is that self-determination is social justice. Social justice is also an emanation of democracy. Democracy is social justice. If we don’t have a government that is practicing social justice, it is not democracy. There is great need to restructure Nigeria.

Buhari presents 2021 Budget to National Assembly

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