wife, children beat husband to death
Tragedy
struck in Ikpamodo Village, Enugu-Ezike in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area
of Enugu State last weekend when a housewife, (names withheld), her three
children and the woman’s boyfriend, allegedly beat the husband to death.
The deceased was a popular bicycle repairer in the town. He was a Catholic.
His offence: The late bicycle repairer was accused by his widow of disturbing her with his early morning prayers. The widow is a native doctor.
A family source told Daily Sun that the woman, had allegedly been tormenting her husband and even built her own house, demarcating her husband’s compound with a big fence.
On the day, the man was murdered, she was said to have told her husband that she was not comfortable with the manner in which he had been disturbing her charms by saying long prayers every morning. But the husband, a devout Roman Catholic, told her that he had never supported her practice as a native doctor.
A serious argument ensued between them which led to physical attack. Another man, said to be her boyfriend, who is also a native doctor, was alleged to have joined her in attacking the deceased. The man’s children rushed to the scene and instead of separating their parents, allegedly assisted in beating their father with sticks and logs of wood. The man slumped and died. Sensing that her husband had died, the widow, her children as well as her “external husband” took to their heels, abandoning the man’s body..
Neighbours and villagers arrived the scene. They took the body to the Ogrute General Hospital, but the doctor confirmed him dead. His body was later deposited at the hospital’s mortuary. The matter was reported at Ogrute police station. The suspects were promptly detained before being transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Enugu. There was tension in the community. The youths organized themselves and set the six-room apartment of the widow ablaze.
One of the irate youths who spoke to our reporter, but did not want to be named, said: “This is an abomination in our community. Nobody has ever committed such sacrilege. That is the reason we decided to take the law into our own hands and burn her building to serve as a deterrent to any other person who may try such evil act again”
When our reporter visited Ikpamodo community yesterday, the man had been buried even as normalcy is gradually returning there.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Ogrute Division, Buulus Maaji, was not available for comments when our reporter visited the station. The Police Public Relations Officer, state command, Ebere Amaraizu, said on phone that he was yet to be officially briefed on the incident.
The deceased was a popular bicycle repairer in the town. He was a Catholic.
His offence: The late bicycle repairer was accused by his widow of disturbing her with his early morning prayers. The widow is a native doctor.
A family source told Daily Sun that the woman, had allegedly been tormenting her husband and even built her own house, demarcating her husband’s compound with a big fence.
On the day, the man was murdered, she was said to have told her husband that she was not comfortable with the manner in which he had been disturbing her charms by saying long prayers every morning. But the husband, a devout Roman Catholic, told her that he had never supported her practice as a native doctor.
A serious argument ensued between them which led to physical attack. Another man, said to be her boyfriend, who is also a native doctor, was alleged to have joined her in attacking the deceased. The man’s children rushed to the scene and instead of separating their parents, allegedly assisted in beating their father with sticks and logs of wood. The man slumped and died. Sensing that her husband had died, the widow, her children as well as her “external husband” took to their heels, abandoning the man’s body..
Neighbours and villagers arrived the scene. They took the body to the Ogrute General Hospital, but the doctor confirmed him dead. His body was later deposited at the hospital’s mortuary. The matter was reported at Ogrute police station. The suspects were promptly detained before being transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Enugu. There was tension in the community. The youths organized themselves and set the six-room apartment of the widow ablaze.
One of the irate youths who spoke to our reporter, but did not want to be named, said: “This is an abomination in our community. Nobody has ever committed such sacrilege. That is the reason we decided to take the law into our own hands and burn her building to serve as a deterrent to any other person who may try such evil act again”
When our reporter visited Ikpamodo community yesterday, the man had been buried even as normalcy is gradually returning there.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Ogrute Division, Buulus Maaji, was not available for comments when our reporter visited the station. The Police Public Relations Officer, state command, Ebere Amaraizu, said on phone that he was yet to be officially briefed on the incident.
Senators, Reps shared from N8.9bn pension fund -Suspects
THE National Assembly committees on pension
have been named as part of the beneficiaries of the pension scam that is
growing in dimension and revelation, according to the statements written by
some of the arrested suspects before the investigators of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
A former Director of Police Pension Fund, Chief
Esai Dangabar, who is standing trial along with five others for complicity in
the N32.8 billion police pension fraud, continued to spill the beans on how
several billions of naira meant for retired police officers was shared illegally
among top government functionaries, including the National Assembly committees
in charge of pension.
In his statement to the EFCC, dated February
14, 2012, Dangabar said part of N8.9 billion withdrawn between January 5, 2009
and December 23, 2009 was used to settle members of the Police Pension
committees of the National Assembly to get the police pension fund's budget
passed by the lawmakers.
Dangabar and another suspect in the scam, John
Yusuf Yakubu, who was the pension fund's accountant, also listed as
beneficiaries of the fraud certain people in the Auditor-General's office, the
Accountant-General's office and the National Assembly.
Dangabar's statement reads in part: "I was
shown summary of cheques withdrawal, dated between 5th January 2009 and 23rd December
2009 totalling N8,920,371,822.24.
"The said sums of money mentioned above
were used for the payment of police retirees.
"However, some amounts were also used for
public relations to members of the Police Pension Committee of the National
Assembly.
"The public relations monies were made as
condition precedent before the budgets of the office were passed.”
In another statement he made on February 16,
2012, Dangabar also listed beneficiaries of some of the pension fund to include
some persons in the offices of the Accountant-General and Auditor-General of
the Federation.
“I was shown a copy of Yusuf Yakubu’s statement
of February 14, 2012, where he mentioned various beneficiaries to the funds
released to police pensions: namely National Assembly, Accountant-General
Office, Auditor-General Office, but all through, when I was in office as
director, I could not remember anything given to the Force Headquarters,” he
said.
Others standing trial with Dangabar were the
immediate past permanent secretary in the Federal Ministry of the Niger Delta,
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar Kigo; Alhaji Ahmed Inuwa Wada; John Yakuku Yusufu; Mrs
Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula and Alhaji Habila Zira.
However, Senate spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya
Abaribe, on Wednesday, said the National Assembly would not accept any attempt
to blackmail in by any of the suspects in the ongoing Pension fund scam.
The senator said in response to claims by one
of those undergoing trial in the pension funds scam that part of the embezzled
funds were used as public relations to get the police pension budget passed by
the National Assembly, it objected to any attempt to drag its name into the mud
by anyone.
“The process of passage of the budget of any
ministry, department or agency is very well laid out and it does not include
sharing money to any member of the Senate or House of Representatives.
“If the claimant is sure of his or her fact, he
should come out in the open and tell Nigerians who he had dealings with in the
name of the National Assembly,” the senator said.
Meanwhile, the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT),
headed by Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina, has accused the Senate Joint Committee
probing the N2 trillion pension funds of bias.
The task team, in a statement on Wednesday,
said that the Senate committee was out to paint its work in bad light before
Nigerians.
Though the team denied insinuations making the
rounds in Abuja that the committee demanded a bribe of N16 million for each of
its members, it, however, said the Senate committee treated it “cruelly” and
“unfairly” during the public hearing.
According to the task team, the Senate
committee was quick to move for the dissolution of the team, even before
hearing from its members.
“At the first day of the public hearing which
commenced on Tuesday, March 6, in Abuja, the Senate committee announced the
suspension of the Pension Reform Task Team, even before it was heard,” the task
team said.
The statement, endorsed by Hassan Salisu, Information
and Media Relations Officer of the team, said though the task force had
suffered fierce attack and sentimental harassment by the Senate committee, it
could not substantiate any claim of bribery on the part of the Senate.
“We have documents, newspaper reports and TV
clips of such sentimental harassment and the task team views it as a deliberate
attempt to tarnish its image and it further buttresses our claim that the
distinguished Senator Aloysius-led committee had declared judgment against the
task team, even while the probe is ongoing,” the statement read.
But the chairman of the Senate committee
probing the pension funds, Senator Aloysius Etuk, in a telephone interview,
said the allegations were meant to distract the committee from its onerous task
at hand.
Etuk told the Nigerian Tribune that “there is
no way we have shown bias to the task force. This is a strategy to distract us
from doing our assignment and if there is a way they feel we have shown bias,
let them raise it.”
Panel under pressure to pardon sacked Zakari Biu
THERE is pressure on the Police Service Commission (PSC) to
convert the dismissal of a former Commissioner of Police, Mr. Zakari Biu, to
retirement.
But the commission insists that only fresh facts or
evidence could sway the agency to review his case, The Nation learnt yesterday.
Also yesterday, it was learnt that the Office of the
Attorney-General of the Federation is yet to get any brief from the police
recommending Biu’s trial.
Besides, the PSC is still awaiting the report of the
Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, on the fate of five
other policemen from whose custody a Boko Haram co-ordinator, Kabiru Sokoto,
escaped in Abaji, near Abuja.
Biu was dismissed from the Police on February 22 over
Sokoto’s escape from custody. Sokoto was alleged to be the mastermind of the
bombing of a church in Madalla on Christmas Day, last year.
According to a source close to the PSC, there are two
conditions which could lead to the review of Biu’s dismissal.
They are:
•If there are fresh facts or evidence placed before the
commission; and
•Biu will have to convince the commission beyond reasonable
doubt that he had no hand in how Kabiru Sokoto escaped.
“And until Sokoto’s case is eventually determined, it will
be difficult to review Biu’s case. In any case, we have not received any formal
appeal for the review of the dismissal from Biu. There is no record of such,”
the source said.
Asked if the re-arrest of Kabiru Sokoto is insufficient to
convert Biu’s dismissal to retirement, the highly-placed source added: “Kabiru
Sokoto was re-arrested by the State Security Service and not the former
Commissioner of Police or any of his men.”
The PSC is still awaiting the fate of five policemen under
whose custody Sokoto escaped in Abaji, near Abuja.
The PSC source added: “The five policemen belong to other
ranks in the Force and their trial is within the schedule of the
Inspector-General of Police.
“I think they are still being investigated or tried. The
PSC has not got a formal report from the IGP on the disciplinary action taken
against them. Once we get the report, we will only ratify accordingly. “This is
the case because the PSC has not met for a while. We may hold a session in the
next one week or two.”
There were several calls for the trial of those involved in
Sokoto’s escape, but the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice has not received any brief or motion from the Senate on the
prosecution of any of those involved in the incident.
Another source added: “Although the Senate passed a
resolution on February 21 for the prosecution of those involved in the escape
of Sokoto, no file, brief or motion has been passed to the OAGF.
“The AGF cannot issue legal advice or prosecute in a
vacuum.”
The Christmas Day bombings at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church
killed 44 parishioners and others. The search for the masterminds led to the
arrest of Sokoto at Borno Governor’s Lodge in Abuja on January 14.
But barely 48 hours in custody, Sokoto escaped in Abaji in
the midst of the custody of policemen who went to search his home. The incident
led to the retirement of the former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz
Ringim.
The National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoye Azazi, also set
up an investigative panel, which comprised of senior officials from various
arms of the security agencies as well as officials of the Ministry of Police
Affairs.
The Senate on February 21 recommended Biu’s trial by a
court. The PSC dismissed Biu on February 22.
Sokoto was re-arrested by the SSS in Taraba State – a
development which led to the demand for the review of Biu’s dismissal.
Okonjo-Iweala ‘is Africa’s candidate’
As
the World Bank interviews Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as a
candidate for its next president, academics, human rights organizations and
regional bodies across Africa are supporting Okonjo-Iweala, with some calling
her “Africa’s candidate.”
At
the same time, Africans across the continent are calling on the United States
to step aside.
In
the 68 years since the World Bank’s founding, an American has always held the
job of president, while a European has always headed the International Monetary
Fund.
In
recent years, this dynamic has led to complaints that the West has too much say
in organizations that are intended to benefit emerging economies. Many
Africans say they should be led by people who are actually from these
economies.
Nigerian
political scientist Hussaini Abdu, with the anti-poverty group ActionAid says
that if Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is chosen to head the World Bank, it would give the
institution credibility in countries that do not trust it.
“The
significance is the fact that the leadership of the World Bank will be going to
the global south. Historically, the global south has seen itself as a
victim of the World Bank, not as a beneficiary of the World Bank,” said
Abdu.
On
the streets of Nigeria’s capital, locals say that if the selection process is
fair and transparent, their finance minister is the obvious choice. A
graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University,
and a former World Bank managing director, Okonjo-Iweala is competing for the
bank’s top spot with Colombia’s former finance minister, José Antonio Ocampo
and U.S. President Barack Obama’s nominee, Dartmouth College President Jim Yong
Kim.
On
a sweltering sidewalk in Abuja, local election official Abdullahi Bello smiles
as he discusses Okonjo-Iweala’s nomination.
“I
think [the] World Bank will need someone like her - an insider,” said Bello.
“I see [her] as an insider because she has worked with the World Bank
before. I think she will do well, if given the opportunity.”
But
not everyone in Nigeria supports the finance minister, especially earlier this
year when she helped Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan cut a decades-old
fuel subsidy that economists say institutionalized corruption and slowed
economic development.
Prices
from virtually everything to gas to food to school fees soared, causing
nationwide protests.
At
a market in Abuja, Shaibu Anibe, 42, a businessman and father of three
children, says most Nigerians no longer blame the minister for the country’s
situation. He says people now better understand the cut, and object only
to the abruptness of the decision.
“If
you know you are going to remove the fuel subsidy, give six months, eight
months, one year notice. You should be able to convince Nigerians on why
it should be removed,” said Anibe.
As
Okonjo-Iweala’s bid gains momentum, experts say the World Bank is under
increasing pressure to consider her for the seat. Originally nominated by
South Africa, Nigeria and Angola, the minister later won endorsements from the
African Union, regional leaders, the Nigerian presidency, and news organizations
across the continent and beyond, including from The Economist magazine and The
Guardian newspaper in Britain.
Other
leaders, including World Bank President Robert Zoellick, who is stepping down
at the end of June, have said that picking a non-American might be a mistake
because it could lead to loss of American interest in and funding for the
international organization.
Political
scientist Hussaini Abdu calls the idea “ridiculous.”
“We
don’t actually think that the world should continue to be blackmailed by what
America is actually putting out there,” said Abdu. “I think America
should accept that when America is making such contributions, it is only making
the contribution to increase its influence.”
The
World Bank has promised a fair and transparent process and is expected to
announce its decision later this month. Although all of candidates have
powerful supporters around the world, some Nigerians are calling their finance
minister, “Africa’s pride.”
ACN alleges threat to Aregbesola’s life
Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s life is under threat,
his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), said yesterday.
The party raised the alarm in a statement by its National
Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed
According to the statement, the “credible threat to
Aregbesola’s life is within the context of a dastardly plot being engineered by
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to destabilise the Southwest and soften the
ground for the PDP ahead of the 2015 general elections”.
According to the ACN, Osun State is being targeted in the
pilot scheme “of this act of desperation by the PDP because it is hell bent on
causing chaos in the region.”
The statement reads: “The architects of this plot believe
that unless the PDP destabilises the Southwest and gets rid of the man they see
as an implacable foe of the party (PDP), the President’s putative plan to run
for re-election in 2015 will be in jeopardy, especially as they are afraid -
for reasons best known to them - that the President will not get the backing of
the Northwest and the Northeast in his quest for re-election.
“The first step in the dastardly plot is the fabrication
of an ‘intelligence report’ alleging that Aregbesola is nursing a secessionist
plan; that he now plays Osun’s anthem in place of the national anthem; that he
has since dispensed with the services of the SSS operatives attached to him and
replaced them with Islamic extremists called ‘Tawun’; that he has officially
changed the uniforms of secondary schools in Osun, made the wearing of hijab
compulsory for female students and enforces that through Islamic militants, and
that he has sent militants for revolutionary training in Cuba.
“The cooked intelligence report concluded that all legal
and constitutional means must be used to stop him. Reading between lines, the
measures being advocated in the report could only be impeachment (this is
impossible, considering the clean sweep of the PDP’s footsteps in the state),
creation of chaos and anarchy to pave the way for the imposition of a state of
emergency in the state, or the final solution, which is physical elimination,”
it said.
The ACN said it listed physical elimination because of the
inexplicable disappearing acts involving some security agents attached to the
governor in recent times, and the growing suspicious activity of some security
agencies in the state.
The party warned the plotters to desist from any act that
will further threaten the tenuous peace and security in the country, reminding
them to learn from history.
The party said: “There is no iota of truth in the
allegations detailed in the so-called intelligence report engineered by the
PDP. No SSS operative has been sent packing and the governor neither has the
intention nor possesses the authority to do so; no private militia is being
trained anywhere, except in the warped minds of the PDP desperadoes; and no
uniform change or hijab-wearing law has been passed in the state.
“We hope that the plotters remember that since the First
Republic, all attempts to destabilise the Southwest have ended with dire
consequences for the nation. Also, such acts have always been motivated by the
desperation to win federal elections. The ACN will, therefore, like to put the
PDP and its collaborators on notice that it (ACN) will guard its mandate in
Osun and other states jealously against political hawks. The so-called
intelligence report should be shredded and packed in a dust bin where it
belongs because it is nothing but the PDP master-plan to destabilise Osun
State, in particular, and the Southwest region, in general.
“We also warn the security and intelligence agencies to be
independent and not to allow themselves to be used for political gains. They
should put national interest above partisan or sectional interest, and remember
that the PDP is not synonymous with the Nigerian nation.
“It is just a bull in a China shop that will soon be
ejected by the peoples’ votes.”
Blackout as PHCN workers begin strike today !
Workers
of the Power Holding Company of Ni-geria, PHCN, said they would commence their
nationwide industrial action today to protest the alleged breach of agreements
by the Fed-eral Government and the Ministry of Power concerning their fate
af-ter the privatisation of the different units of the power utility. The PHCN
workers alleged that there was a deliberate attempt by the government to
short-change them at the end of the ongoing negotia-tions, which would be
concluded on April 16.They added that gov-ernment had been taking actions that
would make the negotiations counter-productive.
In
an interview with journalists on Wednes-day, the PHCN work-ers unions-the
National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, and Senior Staff Association of
Electricity and Allied Companies, SSAEAC, also said they had writ-ten a letter
to the Min-ister of Labour and Pro-ductivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, drawing his
at-tention, to “the obstinate posture of the Minister of Power, Prof. Barth
Nnaji, in tackling the challenges and labour-re-lated issues in the power
sector.”
NUEE
General Secre-tary, Mr. Joe Ajaero, and his counterpart in SSAE-AC, Mr. Abiodun
Ogun-segha, said that “the un-paid 50 per cent salary increase, regularisation
of casual workers, staff biometric verification exercise, winding down of
corporate headquar-ters of PHCN and sack of top executive officers are part of
the grievances of the workers.” They said the agree-ments reached at the
on-going negotiation with the Federal Government team and the labour unions,
under the chair-manship of Comrade Hassan Sumonu, were lopsidedly implemented,
“bringing severe pains to our members.”
According
to the letter, “It took the ministry and the PHCN management six months after a
signed agreement to commence implementation of this head of agreement
pay-ments, which up till this moment are still being done piece meal. The
payments in the distribu-tion companies are done in batches, old salary at a
time and the 50 per cent at another time. “In most cases, the 50 per cent
increase batch has fallen into arrears of more than three months.
All
attempts to prevail on the ministry and management of PHCN to capture the
increase on the old and pay once had fallen on deaf ears. “It was agreed
dur-ing the first round of negotiations that ended in May 2011 that casu-als in
PHCN be regular-ised and integrated into employment. This issue had been badly
handled by Bureau of Public En-terprise, BPE, which engaged the services of a
consultant to conduct biometric verification on the casuals. “Up till this
moment, several of the casuals are yet to receive their letters of
regularisa-tion. Despite the fact that there was no agreement reached on
verification of regular staff, the min-istry mandated staff to submit
themselves for verification, for which the union encouraged them to do.
“However, several of staff names who were at their duty posts dur-ing
verification and took part in the exercise were missing from the list compiled
by the consul-tant.
Those
whose names were not included in the consultant’s list were directed not to be
paid salaries. Some staff re-mained without being paid salaries since De-cember
2011. “We decided to bring these matters to your attention and inform you that
if these se-vere violations are not addressed by April 11, 2012, we shall be
left with no option than to inform our members to stay out of their duty post,”
the letter added.
However,
sources within the unions told our correspondent that the sack last week of the
former Chief Ex-ecutive Officer of the Transmission Com-pany of Nigeria, TCN,
Mr. Akinwumi Bada; the former Market Op-erator, Mr. Uzoma Achi-nanya and the
former Executive Director of Human Resources, Mr. Olusoga Muyiwa, by the
minister pushed the unions into declaring the strike.
Two
of the three sacked top PHCN of-ficials have since been replaced by the
minis-ter. Ajaero had told Na-tional Mirror that the minister was trying to
“behead” the workers with his actions, and that sacking the top of-ficials may
just be the beginning.
However,
while speaking with our correspondent on the phone, the Special Ad-viser to the
Minister of Power on Media, Mr. Cdon Adinuba, said the laws of the coun-try
does not permit the union from going on strike. He said there were consequences
for vio-lating the laws on going on strike by workers, or embarking on
industri-al action by any union.
According
to him, trade disputes have pro-cesses before unions or workers can down tools,
adding that the NUEE and the SSAEAC have not complied with any of the laid down
proce-dures for embarking on an industrial action. While describing the actions
of the unions as “braggadocios”, Adinu-ba added that Nigeria is not a lawless
country, and that those planning to go on strike should be prepared to face the
consequences of their action.
Pension task force team offered us bribe –Senate
The
Senate Joint Committee on Estab-lishment, State and Local Government
Admin-istration, currently investi-gating the administration of the pension
funds in the country, has alleged that the special task force team that exposed
huge pension fraud made efforts to bribe the senators. Chairman of the probe
panel, Senator Aloyius Etok, yesterday alleged that the Abdulrasheed Maina-led
team had ap-proached the committee with huge sums of money, which he said the
commit-tee rejected. Etok, who did not dis-close the amount of mon-ey involved,
said the task force team sent some “big people to bribe the Senate committee to
soft pedal.” The committee, in a re-action to a statement by the task force
team, accusing the Senate panel of bias in its assignment, also dis-closed how
“the task force team had sent some big people to offer us bribe and we refused
because we are not ready to compromise our work.”
The
committee noted that the task force resort-ed to blackmail “when it became
obvious that the committee was not ready to compromise its assign-ment.”
According
to Etok: “We cannot be intimidated and we see the media war or-chestrated by
the task force as a blackmail and an at-tempt to distract the com-mittee. Let
the task force make public any form of bias by the committee.
“The
media are the watchdogs of our assign-ment, we have not shown any sign of bias,
we work according to our con-science, these men in the task force have resorted
to blackmail because we have refused to be compromised. Nigerians would judge
us at the end of the day.”
The
task force had in a statement yesterday in-sisted that the committee was
biased. It alleged that the Senate committee had already passed judgement
against it even before the commencement of the pub-lic hearing when it asked
the Federal Government to dissolve the team.
But
the task force team in a statement yesterday by its Information and Media
Relations Officer, Hassan Salihu, however, insisted that the probe panel never
asked for bribe from the task force team. He said that there were evidence that
the commit-tee was biased against the team.
The
statement reads in part: “Though, the Pen-sion Reform Task Force agrees that it
suffered fierce attack and senti-ments and harassment by the Senate committee,
and strongly feels that the committee will not be fair to the task force team
in the ongoing probe, it still does not qualify anybody to make judgement that
the Senate committee de-manded bribe.
“We
have documents, newspaper reports and TV clips of such sentimental harassment
and the task force team views it as a de-liberate attempt to tarnish its image
and it further buttresses our claim that the distinguished Senator Aloysius Etok-led
com-mittee had declared judge-ment against the task force team even while the
probe is ongoing."
Subsidy: Govs protest heavy deductions
Fresh trouble is brewing between governors
of the 36 states and the Federal Government over heavy deductions from the
Federation Account in the name of fuel subsidy.
A hefty N304 billion was deducted from
federally collected revenue between January and February this year, instead of
a budgeted N148 billion for the two months, representing N74 billion monthly.
It was learnt, yesterday, that the
governors will formerly protest to President Goodluck Jonathan after its next
Governors’ Forum Meeting in Abuja, as competent sources at the secretariat
disclosed that the matter will be discussed after which a strong delegation of
the forum will be mandated to meet the president.
Vanguard gathered that the huge deductions
from the federation account has become a great concern to the governors as they
watch their income from the centre continually dwindling.
Secretariat sources said the governors
acknowledge the few challenges of the federal government following the strike
embarked on by the organized labour against the policy of government on the
then new fuel pump price which later led to the present price of the product.
The issue of arbitrary deductions from the
Federation Account, especially from oil revenue has continued to generate
tension between the first two tiers of government.
On several occasion in the past few
months, state commissioners of finance, acting on directives from their
governors had to reject distributable funds as declared by the Federal Ministry
of Finance, until more money was added.
As learnt, the fiinance commissioners have
officially sent a memo to the governors on the need to be firm against the
unilateral deductions by the federal government from what should be a common
fund for the three tiers of government, as well as, other statutory bodies such
as the National Assembly, the Judiciary, and the Independent National Electoral
Commission, INEC, that receive fund based on statutory transfers.
Sources said a stand should have been
taken on the matter by the governors at their last meeting in Abuja, last week,
but for the National Economic Council meeting which didn’t allow them adequate
time to exhaustively discuss it.
Bamanga’s election undemocratic — IBB
Former military president Ibrahim
Babangida has said the consensus arrangement that allowed Alhaji Bamanga Tukur
to emerge as PDP national chairman was an undemocratic process.
Tukur became chairman of the
People’s Democratic Party unopposed after all other candidates announced a
last-minute withdrawal from the race on March 24.
Babangida, who spoke on the Hausa
service of the Voice of America radio monitored yesterday, said the consensus
deal was no democracy.
“A situation where some people would
sit and select someone by consensus is undemocratic,” he said.
A few days to the PDP national
convention, Tukur had lost ground to main rival Dr. Musa Babayo, who was chosen
as Northeast candidate for the post. But Babayo and other candidates withdrew
on voting day following reported pressure from President Jonathan’s men who
preferred Tukur.
Also, all the positions for the
national working committee were filled by the so-called consensus after other
contestants announced withdrawal from the races.
Babangida said in true democracy,
all interested people were allowed to contest for elective positions without
hindrance, such that losers would know they lose fairly.
“If we could remember it was in this
country we have seen there was an election in Kano, for example, during NPN
regime, there was an election between Abiola and Akinloye,” he said.
“There was convention and everyone
was given chance to go round for campaign and stated all their missions and
visions for the development of the people and votes were cast and in the end
Akinloye won.
“Even in the United Nations, if
there are people, let’s say 10, contesting for a particular position, all those
10 people will be allowed to contest. The highest three for example will go for
second round up to the time when one person will emerges as winner. That way,
everyone has been given a chance.
“But in something like what happens
now, people will be suspicious and there would accusations that some people
were given money. So if 20 people show interest, (the party should) provide 20
ballot boxes, and in this process the winner will emerge even after the second
or third round,” he added.
Babangida sought to be PDP
presidential candidate for last year’s elections, but dropped out of the race
before the primaries after an arrangement in which former vice president Atiku
Abubakar was named consensus candidate for the North. Abubakar went on to lose
the primaries to President Jonathan in January last year.
Despite his criticism of the ruling
party’s leadership selection process, Babangida said in the VOA interview that
he was still a member of the PDP.
The former president also spoke
about how political parties are run today compared to what obtained in the
First Republic when he said parties were run by members.
He said, “I grew up in this country,
and I experienced that at the time of NPC, NEPU and so on, you will see people
are sponsoring the party. Someone like Malam Aminu Kano, he will donate penny
and pound to the party and they collect and write his name and the date he paid
the donation to the party and with this money they run the affairs of the
party. But now things have changed.”
Bamanga’s aide replies IBB
One of the aides to Bamanga Tukur,
Malam Ahmed Shuaibu Gara, said yesterday that Babangida’s comments on the PDP
consensus arrangement were belated and unfortunate.
In an interview with Daily Trust,
Gara said the emergence of Tukur through consensus was better than a military
coup, apparently referring to the manner through which IBB became president in
1985.
He said the 10 other candidates for
PDP chairmanship “voluntarily” withdrew for Tukur on the convention day.
Gara said, “If that statement that
is coming from the former Head of State is on print and not on electronic, I
would have said he was misquoted. But the airwaves don’t lie. After listening
to what he said, I was shocked.
“If IBB is complaining about the
process that brought Bamanga Tukur to office now, then it’s belated. He could
have reacted earlier than now. Also, what does he gain to achieve by this
statement: that PDP should go back and do another convention or to go back and
review the process because the Almighty emperor has spoken?
“I believe the worst consensus in
any democratic arrangement is far better and more honourable than a military
coup. He is an architect of a military coup; a beneficiary of a military coup.
“I will like to say that the last
PDP convention that produced Bamanga Tukur is one of the most organised, most
keenly contested and most interesting PDP convention in history. The convention
that produced about 13 chairmanship aspirants and all of them voluntarily
withdrew for Tukur…. This time around, the candidates were given free hand.”
Ex-Intercontinental Bank workers battle Access Bank in Ghana
Access Bank has
been dragged to the National Labour Commission (NLC) in Ghana by 70 former
employees of Intercontinental Bank of Ghana (IBG) who are yet to receive their
severance package.
However, the bank says 395 of the 448 employees of IBG had accepted their
absorption into Access Bank Ghana, and were now fully absorbed into the
combined entity.
It, therefore, considers the said employees as having resigned since they
failed to sign the 'Absorption Letter' offered IBG employees as at the March
20, 2012 deadline.
"Although all IBG employees have been offered job opportunities with no
diminution in their terms and conditions of service, we are aware that a few
have not accepted the offer, and have petitioned the National Labour Commission
demanding severance pay," a statement by Access Bank read in part.
Access Bank completed a hostile takeover of IBG in very questionable
circumstances, in a move, industry watchers described as
"reprehensible" and "obscene", and the new entity has been
battling an avalanche of litigation which has raised fundamental questions
about the relevance of the merger.
At the time of the merger, Access Bank assured all IBG employees that “there
will be no diminution in the terms and conditions of service of any employee.
Our intention is to ensure that ultimately, the terms and conditions of the employees
are harmonised with the terms and conditions of Access Bank…You have been
absorbed into Access Bank Ghana in accordance with your existing contract of
service with Intercontinental Bank, Ghana," noted a letter that was
circulated to IBG staff following the merger.
The IBG workers were given March 19, 2012 to sign onto the new deal, failure to
which they would be considered as having resigned their positions.
The deadline was later extended to March 20, 2012.
However, eyebrows were raised when it was discovered that in the last two
paragraphs of the same letter, Access Bank stated that: "Employment shall
also be governed by the terms and conditions in the staff handbook, as may be
amended from time to time and any other policy (ies) that may be in force in
the bank."
According to IBG's policy handbook on redundancy, in the circumstance of a
merger, its staff would be entitled to three months gross salary for each year
served.
Further comparing the Human Resource (HR) policy of IBG to that of Access Bank
Ghana, the staff discovered vast differences. Assuming correctly that they were
going to suffer diminution of their terms and conditions of service, the
aggrieved workers wrote to the management of Access Bank Ghana to seek further
clarification on the matter.
In a swift response to the concerns of the workers, the new Managing Director
of Access Bank, Dolapo Ogundimu, sent a mail headlined: 'Statement on Employee
Integration Issues' dated March 19, 2012, explaining the rationale behind the
bank's approach, and states in part: "The purpose of this approach is to
ensure that the employees are not worse off as a result of the merger
process…On behalf of Access Bank, I wish to assure all employees that there
will be no diminution in the terms and conditions of service of any employee.
Our intention is to ensure that ultimately, the terms and conditions of the
employees are harmonized with the terms and conditions of Access Bank,"
the letter in part clarified.
But, some IBG staff argued that the response from their would-be employer was
not satisfactory, and could be considered as misrepresentation of facts, and
therefore, decided not to sign onto the new deal offered them until their
concerns were addressed.
The aggrieved workers again petitioned their would-be employers, but got
no response, and so sought the services of a lawyer who later wrote to Access
Bank to grant audience to the petition filed by the IBG staff, but to no avail.
With no response from Access Bank Ghana, the aggrieved workers petitioned the
NLC, based on the advice of their lawyer to seek redress, but before the NLC
would hear the matter, the bank went ahead and disabled all the profiles of the
70 aggrieved workers.
Hit by the unilateral decision of the bank, the aggrieved workers went back to
the NLC to update them on what had transpired between them and their would-be
employer.
The NLC, upon hearing the matter, subpoenaed Access Bank, and ordered the bank
to reinstate the workers.
"The Commission, having met representatives of the parties on Wednesday,
28th March 2012, acknowledges that the substantive complaint of
"Redundancy" filed by the aggrieved workers will be handled through
due process and until the matter is determined, the status quo remains,"
the NLC ruled. It added: "The parties are reminded that once there is a
complaint filed by petitioners against their respondent in respect of
termination, which they view as "unfair", they are obliged to stay
all action until the matter is determined by the Commission. Please refer to
section 133 (2) of Act 651. Thus, the workers shall continue to be employees of
the bank."
Having had a ruling on the said issue, the aggrieved workers reported to work
on March 29, 2012, but after a short meeting with the new management, they were
advised in their own interests to vacate the premises of the bank. The
aggrieved workers left as ordered and again informed the NLC about their ordeal
through their lawyer.
While the group contemplated their next move, the bank wrote to them drawing their
attention to the fact that they were deemed to have officially resigned from
the bank for failing to sign onto the "Absorption Letter" which
deadline had elapsed.
Alarmed by this ordeal, they went back to the NLC, informing it about the
bank's behavior, and the NLC in turn gave the bank 14 days to respond to the
query brought against it.
A statement from Access Bank in reaction to media reports on the aggrieved
workers ordeal said: "Access Bank has maintained a fair, objective and
transparent process during the business combination, in line with international
best practice. As such, the bank remains committed to working with the Labour
Commission and all other relevant bodies to uphold the laws of the land, and
address any residual issues arising from the merger," it added.
‘If competition follows normal process, Kim stands no chance’
If
the competition to become the World Bank’s next president were a normal
process, Jim Yong Kim wouldn’t stand a chance. The Dartmouth College president
lacks two of the traditional qualifications for running an international
lending body: financial savvy and diplomatic experience.
But
the race to lead the World Bank is everything but ordinary—particularly this
time.
Americans
have always helmed the bank, which doled out some $57 billion in loans and
grants to poor and middle-income countries last year alone. Except for a
congressman (Barber Conable) and a Ford Motor boss (Robert S. McNamara), all 11
chiefs were Wall Street veterans. Even outgoing president Robert Zoellick spent
some time on the payroll of Goldman Sachs.
Not
so the Korean-born physician Kim. At 52, he’s spent the past three years in
bucolic Hanover, N.H., where his biggest diplomatic challenge appears to have
been quelling—with mixed success, according to a recent Rolling Stone exposé—a
fondness among its fraternities for painting their pledges in vomit.
But
there’s logic to the Obama administration’s choice for the job.
Though
it was decreed at the 1944 Bretton Woods confab that the United States would
name the bank’s president, it has 186 other stakeholders. And for the first
time ever, they’re making their voices heard.
When
the World Bank board meets this week in Washington, it will have two other
candidates to interview: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and José Antonio Ocampo, the
former finance ministers of Nigeria and Colombia, respectively.
In
another contest, their backgrounds would give them an edge. But here’s why Kim
may be an inspired choice: if poverty’s insidious bedfellow is disease, it
knows few enemies like Kim. He has a superhero’s résumé of fighting the dark
forces of illness.
Kim
was a cofounder of Partners in Health, which is seeking to eradicate infectious
diseases like tuberculosis in the poorest nations on the planet. He chaired the
Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School. In
2003 he moved to the World Health Organization and directed its efforts in
fighting HIV and AIDS.
True,
none of this has anything to do with making loans. But that’s sort of the
point. Kim’s career has focused on the outcomes of development rather than the
process.
At
a moment when U.S. control of the bank is being challenged by the primary
recipients of its largesse, that’s a critical distinction.
Kim
may not gain the consensus of all 25 World Bank directors when he sits down
with them on Wednesday. BRIC nations are keen to flex their influence—last
month in New Delhi they even discussed creating their own version of a World
Bank.
But
putting a development specialist in charge for the first time would certainly
beat replicating past precedent. Imagine President Obama naming Goldman Sachs
CEO Lloyd Blankfein to lead a global effort to eliminate poverty.
Sylva in double trouble as NDLEA set to charge him for drug related offences !
EMBATTLED former governor of Bayelsa
State, South-South Nigeria Chief Timipreye Sylva will have his plate full; when
he eventually turns up to answer questions that bothers on the way he
administered state funds during his four year and nine months tenure as the
Chief Executive Officer of the oil rich state.
While criminal breach of trust
charges are pending against him at the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja over
allegations that Sylva defraud Bayelsa state to the tune of N7bn during his 54
months tenure as the occupant of the Creek Haven. The National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives have concluded investigation into the
role of the former Bayelsa governor played in the smuggling into the country
massive catches of illegal drugs and substances.
National Daily sources at NDLEA said
evidence abound that Sylva used his executive passenger ocean liner, which is
widely adjudged to be the most prestigious individual owned passenger vessel in
the country to consistently smuggle drugs in and out of the country during his
tenure as the Bayelsa State CEO in league with an international drug cartel in
South America.
Several factors were responsible on
why the agency had been silent on Sylva involvement in the illegal trade the
source added. The agency had to respect the constitutional provision of
immunity from prosecution provided for state chief executives; which Sylva
enjoyed at the time, also the active role he played in the implementation of
the Amnesty programme, served as an hindrance for the agency from inviting him
to answer questions nor conducting a thorough investigation when tipped off by
credible informants.
National Daily learnt that the
presidency did not want to do anything that will cause disaffection and
mistrust among the militants and citizens of the state; as the federal
government was desirous for peace to be enthroned in the oil rich geopolitical
zone, going against Sylva would have been a gross miscalculation.
It was however gathered that there
has been silent and sustained investigation into his involvement in the illicit
trade. With his removal from office by a Supreme Court judgement earlier this
year, the agency upped her game and has now gathered enough evidence with which
to go to court.
This will be water shed in the
history of the agency as she is poised to arraign a top political figure for
drug related offences and would want to do this successfully.
NDLEA case against him is now before
the National Security Adviser General Patrick Aziza R.td with the view to
advice both the presidency and the agency on how to go about it, since there is
an international drug cartel involved in the drug heist and this cartel might
be providing refuge for the runaway former governor.
The thinking in the security circle
and the presidency is that even if Sylva make himself available for prosecution
based on corrupt charges; no matter how stringent the bail conditions are, he
will meet it and may drag the case as long as possible given the financial
war-chest available to him, but with an iron cast drug offence, he will cool is
heels behind bars, which will delight the presidency to no end.
This is among the many reasons why
Sylva has decided not to make himself available for prosecution based on
corrupt charges as he is aware there is a grand design to nail him at all cost.
Barr Henry Newman chairman Bayelsa
New League in a chat with National Daily said the former governor Chief
Timipreye Sylva is not only into financial sleaze as a governor but had his
hands in many illegal pies, which includes active involvement cultism,
providing political cover for illegal oil bunkering and illegal oil refinery
activities; the preponderance of which was an hallmark of the Bayelsa creeks
under his watch as Bayelsa state Chief Security Officer.
Travellers to pay more as aviation fuel price rises again .
AN increase in airfares may soon pose a fresh challenge to stakeholders
in the aviation sector as oil marketers have again raised the price of aviation
fuel
With the rise in the pump price of the commodity, otherwise known as JET
A1 from N170 to N195 a litre, airline operators are in a fix on what to do to
break even as aviation fuel consumes about 60 per cent of their revenue. The
aviation fuel industry is deregulated.
This is about the third time in eight months that the price of the
commodity would be raised. The price had gone up from N160 to N165 in August.
It rose to N170 in January before the latest increase last Saturday to N195 in
Lagos, Abuja and more in the North.
This was disclosed yesterday by the Secretary General, Airline Operators
of Nigeria (AON), Captain Mohammed Joji, as key aviation stakeholders met in
Lagos to proffer solutions to the problems confronting the sector.
The conference was organised to find solutions to the alleged incessant
infringement on passengers’ rights and airlines obligations, economic
regulations and problems of the sector as a whole.
At the meeting were the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation
Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren; Managing Director of the Federal Airports
Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), George Uriesi, airline operators, airlines service
providers, aviation oil marketers, travel agents and others.
Joji said with the development, the operators were in a fix on how to
raise fares because of the threats posed by road transporters, adding that
raising fares could force people to take to the road.
“NCAA has been given the right to regulate fuel pump. If at all, you
tell me I cannot raise my airfares after it has been deregulated. Just last
Saturday, fuel marketers raised fuel price and it has gone up from N170 to
N195. You need N9,375 for passengers to pay for fuel. How much are you
charging? N21,000, N23,000?, What about maintenance? What about the charges? If
you increase your air fare, people will go to the road to take night buses,
then you lose passengers,” he said.
He, however, called on the Federal Government to come up with a policy
to protect airline operators as done in the United States where airlines are
protected under the bankruptcy law.
His words: “We are lucky from 2005 till today, no accident has happened.
Remember the three accidents that claimed the lives of 331; we had been given
some concessions under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo
on waiver on aircraft spare parts. Since 2005, Nigeria Customs Service has been
coming, and most of the things arrived at have not been implemented. If you
look at the general agreement on tariffs and trade, general agreement on trade
and services, no airline paid waivers.
“Sometimes, we had to go to Ghana to change an engine and bring it back
to Nigeria, why should we do that? That is what we are saying that there are so
many issues, which we have to look at; the cost of operations is very high. If
you have a bird strike, remember the birds getting into your engine, that
aircraft will remain on the ground for about one month and there is no
compensation from FAAN. If I operate that aircraft in America or England,
within two hours I will get an engine. The recommendation is straightforward.”
The airline scribe tasked government to revisit the exemption of
airlines from payment of customs duties, just as he decried the huge interest
rate on loan for the sector, describing it as too outrageous.
“If I borrow for instance $10 million from abroad for three year period,
I pay an equivalent of N353 million on it. If I do the same thing in Nigeria, I
will pay equivalent of N1.35 billion, how can you survive? How much will you
charge? If I say I am going to bring an aeroplane for lease, the Customs will
demand performance bond. Performance bond is given just for a year, renewable
twice every six months, what happens to the balance of three years? The
business is anti-airline.”
Joji further disclosed that without aviation, there would be no single
drop of oil because of the services of helicopter operators to get to the rigs.
He lamented that the carriers’ over N3 billion investments were
seriously under threat, questioning the motive for the bailout funds. He
explained that the over N200 billion fund was “just to relieve the banks from
the toxic debts that airlines owe them and although they were given the money
on one per cent, they charge us seven per cent to spread our debts for many years.
“All we are saying is give us a single digit loan and use the assets as
security. America has chapter five, chapter six, chapter 12 bankruptcy
protections. They protect the industry from going bankrupt. An American airline
alone, one of them has over 750 aeroplanes, employs over 200,000 people;
government has to protect them because if that airline collapses, the entire
economy of that region will collapse including fuel suppliers.”
Factory machine grinds 20-year-old to death
A 20-year-old boy, Mike Aghanenu, who worked at a
Lebanese-owned company, Aliberty in Ikotun, Lagos, was ground to death on
Tuesday while attempting to repair the firm’s faulty machine.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the deceased, who recently
scored 240 in the just concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination,
had been working for the company for the past two years.
Our correspondent learnt that Mike reportedly bled to death
as his right arm down to his ribs was chopped off by the machine.
According to reliable sources, around 11am, the deceased
was working on the machine when he noticed that a nail had hooked it thereby
preventing it from working properly.
Mike was said to have attempted to remove the nail from the
machine and get it working again but failed to take necessary precautions
before doing so and was subsequently killed in the process.
Our source said, “Everyone was working as usual when all of
a sudden there was a scream by the supervisor, Mr. Olotu Fredrick, on noticing
an obstruction in the operation, as the machine used to grind fibre was
grinding Mike’s arm instead.
“Effort to save Mike failed as he was confirmed dead at
Holiness Hospital where he was reportedly rushed. The hospital is not too far
from the factory.”
PUNCH Metro learnt that the parents of the deceased
however berated the company for the manner it handled their only son’s death.
First, they claimed the company did not intimate any of
them about the tragic incident, wondering why it had to deposit their son’s
corpse at the morgue without contacting the family members.
The deceased father, Festus, said, “As I speak, we have not
been briefed on the exact circumstance that led to my son’s death. We heard
about it on Tuesday evening and had to rush to the Isolo General Hospital mortuary
where we were told his corpse had been deposited. But can you imagine that we
were prevented from seeing my own son’s corpse?”
The family alleged that there was an attempt to cover up
the case as they claimed they were prevented from seeing the corpse by some
plain-clothes policemen.
Members of the deceased’s family gathered in front of the
company on Wednesday and demanded to see the management of the company to no
avail.
However, after a while, a woman, who claimed to be the
company’s spokesperson, came out to attend to some journalists and the bereaved
family.
But when asked what transpired, she said all questions
should be directed to the police.
A mini-drama immediately ensued as members of the
deceased’s family threatened a showdown with the company.
The Divisional Police Officer, Ikotun, Mr. Austin Akika,
arrived at the company and assured the family that the matter would be
investigated.
When contacted, spokesman for the Lagos State Police
Command, Mr Joseph Jaiyeoba, said he was yet to get the signal of the incident.
He however stated that the police could not have prevented
the bereaved family from seeing the corpse of their son, maintaining that the
plain-clothes men who claimed to be policemen at the morgue could be impostors.
Gunmen kill Lagos doctor three days after he was threatened over a patient that died in his hospital
Days
after his demise, controversy has continued to trail the killing in Lagos of a
medical doctor, Lasisi Samuel Adegboyega. He was fatally shot by a gang of
gunmen in the early hours of Easter Monday, April 9, at his hospital on 13,
Ogundele Street, Orile-Agege.
Dr. Adegboyega was killed three days after a woman (names withheld) died in his hospital after childbirth due to complications. Relatives of the dead woman, including the husband, were said to have threatened to “deal with” the doctor.
Why the yet unidentified gunmen shot Adegboyega has not been ascertained, but reactions in discordant tunes have been following his demise.
Some residents of the area are suspecting the husband of the woman who died in his hospital, claiming the man had threatened to deal with the late doctor a day before he was shot. But a resident of the area who claimed to be close to the deceased woman’s husband, said what happened could have been a coincidence. The man, who did not want his name in print, said his friend could not even hurt a fly. He said the woman’s husband was only expressing his anger by merely threatening to deal with the deceased doctor.
“The allegation that my friend could have killed Dr. Adegboyega does not hold any water. I know him too well. He was only expressing his anger at the sudden death of his wife. After all, that was not the first time he was patronising the doctor. I know three of his children who were delivered by the doctor and they were from the same woman that died. They said the police did not meet anyone in his house but they forget that he and his people had to go home to the east to bury his wife. That is why no one would be there,” he said.
But to other residents of the area, such statements amounted to nothing. Some of them who spoke to Daily Sun said the husband of the woman that died in Adegboyega’s hospital had threatened to deal with Adegboyega after his wife lost her life shortly after delivery. They said that the man also brought several men numbering up to 20 to the doctor’s hospital the evening before the doctor was shot and threatened to deal with the late Adegboyega.
“We had to intervene to prevent the doctor from being lynched by the people who followed the woman’s husband to threaten the doctor. They were so desperate that they shouted at the doctor, threatening to deal with him for killing the woman. What surprised us was that it was not the first time the late woman would patronise the doctor. In fact, many of us know that the woman had given birth to three of her children in the doctor’s hospital. The one that led to the woman’s death could have just been a fatal case,” another resident said.
A man who gave his name as Tunde, told our reporter that he was sure that the man who threatened Adegboyega had some information about the doctor’s killers. He told Daily Sun how the doctor died. Hear him: “On Sunday evening, the man came in company with several men and threatened to deal with Doctor Adegboyega. The men in his company were also threatening the doctor, shouting at him that he had killed the woman. Meanwhile, the doctor was pleading with them and explaining to them that the man’s wife had died under circumstances beyond his control as a medical doctor. He was explaining to them that the late woman died of inexplicable medical complications. But the men were not convinced as they continued to threaten him.
“That was last Sunday evening. The second day, which was Easter Monday, as early as 6:30 am, the gunmen came and some of us were around. We overheard them calling some people and asking what the doctor’s name was and if they were in the right place. After that, they went in. And, within a twinkle of an eye, we heard gunshots. We rushed in to see the doctor in front of his hospital in the pool of his own blood. He was shot at the back, exactly at the back of one of his arms. Now, tell me, if those men had come to threaten to deal with him just the day before, who would have sent hired assassins to him the next day?”
If the concerned residents were angry at the killers of Adegboyega for their murderous act, they were even more furious with the hospital where they rushed the dying doctor to before he passed on. The residents maintained that Adegboyega would have survived the gunshot wounds if the hospital staff on duty at the time had attended to him promptly without asking for police report.
Hear one of them: “The doctor would have made it if the staff of the hospital had attended to him the moment we brought him there. But they delayed his treatment and were asking for police report. They stood their ground, saying that they would not treat him without a police report. We pleaded with them, telling them that the victim himself was a doctor but they turned deaf ears. When we threatened them, they eventually obliged, but that was after about an hour. The poor man had lost a lot of blood.”
The doctor’s wife, Mrs. Iyabo Adegboyega, was in tears as she recalled her last moments with her husband. Said she: “That morning that they came for him, I was with him in the hospital but I think he probably had a premonition of the eventual tragedy. He just told me to leave and go home. I didn’t want to leave the hospital that time but he insisted that I should go and not worry about him. I was worried that anything could happen to him since the men had threatened him the evening before. But he insisted that I should leave at that moment and I did.
It wasn’t up to five minutes that I got home that I received a phone call that he had been shot and was being rushed to the hospital. I was shocked.“I am sure he is in heaven now because he was observing a three-day fast when he was shot. Those who killed him have done their worst but I am sure my husband has made heaven. He was smiling before he eventually gave up the ghost. He had told me he would make heaven and I am sure he made it.”
Adegboyega’s firstborn, Adeboye Adegboyega, 23, fought back tears as he spoke about the bright moments he shared with his dad. “My father was a very simple man,” he said. “He hardly quarrelled with people. He was a man of very few words and a lover of every body. He was so dedicated to his job that he usually fasted and prayed every Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. He was doing this because of the sensitive and spiritual nature of his job. I don’t know why they killed him.
“But I want to say that if the hospital staff had attended to him on time, he would probably have survived the attack. I want the government and the police to please help fish out his killers and bring them to book.” Mr. Tolu Abeleje, one of Adegboyega’s friends who described him as a peaceful man said he was shocked to hear of his death. He told Daily Sun that he never thought his friend would lose his life that way. Abeleje said the incident had been reported to the police, adding that the matter was currently being investigated by officials of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Lagos.
He confirmed that a patient actually died in the hospital three days before his friend’s murder. Abeleje asserted: “Although we cannot say that it was the patient’s husband that killed our friend, what remains unclear to us is the fact that the man’s family have since vacated their house in the neighbourhood. The police were there too but discovered that they have all fled the home.”
A friend to the husband of the deceased woman said, however, that the family only travelled home to the east to bury the deceased woman. He said the family would return to Lagos after completing the burial rites.
Dr. Adegboyega was killed three days after a woman (names withheld) died in his hospital after childbirth due to complications. Relatives of the dead woman, including the husband, were said to have threatened to “deal with” the doctor.
Why the yet unidentified gunmen shot Adegboyega has not been ascertained, but reactions in discordant tunes have been following his demise.
Some residents of the area are suspecting the husband of the woman who died in his hospital, claiming the man had threatened to deal with the late doctor a day before he was shot. But a resident of the area who claimed to be close to the deceased woman’s husband, said what happened could have been a coincidence. The man, who did not want his name in print, said his friend could not even hurt a fly. He said the woman’s husband was only expressing his anger by merely threatening to deal with the deceased doctor.
“The allegation that my friend could have killed Dr. Adegboyega does not hold any water. I know him too well. He was only expressing his anger at the sudden death of his wife. After all, that was not the first time he was patronising the doctor. I know three of his children who were delivered by the doctor and they were from the same woman that died. They said the police did not meet anyone in his house but they forget that he and his people had to go home to the east to bury his wife. That is why no one would be there,” he said.
But to other residents of the area, such statements amounted to nothing. Some of them who spoke to Daily Sun said the husband of the woman that died in Adegboyega’s hospital had threatened to deal with Adegboyega after his wife lost her life shortly after delivery. They said that the man also brought several men numbering up to 20 to the doctor’s hospital the evening before the doctor was shot and threatened to deal with the late Adegboyega.
“We had to intervene to prevent the doctor from being lynched by the people who followed the woman’s husband to threaten the doctor. They were so desperate that they shouted at the doctor, threatening to deal with him for killing the woman. What surprised us was that it was not the first time the late woman would patronise the doctor. In fact, many of us know that the woman had given birth to three of her children in the doctor’s hospital. The one that led to the woman’s death could have just been a fatal case,” another resident said.
A man who gave his name as Tunde, told our reporter that he was sure that the man who threatened Adegboyega had some information about the doctor’s killers. He told Daily Sun how the doctor died. Hear him: “On Sunday evening, the man came in company with several men and threatened to deal with Doctor Adegboyega. The men in his company were also threatening the doctor, shouting at him that he had killed the woman. Meanwhile, the doctor was pleading with them and explaining to them that the man’s wife had died under circumstances beyond his control as a medical doctor. He was explaining to them that the late woman died of inexplicable medical complications. But the men were not convinced as they continued to threaten him.
“That was last Sunday evening. The second day, which was Easter Monday, as early as 6:30 am, the gunmen came and some of us were around. We overheard them calling some people and asking what the doctor’s name was and if they were in the right place. After that, they went in. And, within a twinkle of an eye, we heard gunshots. We rushed in to see the doctor in front of his hospital in the pool of his own blood. He was shot at the back, exactly at the back of one of his arms. Now, tell me, if those men had come to threaten to deal with him just the day before, who would have sent hired assassins to him the next day?”
If the concerned residents were angry at the killers of Adegboyega for their murderous act, they were even more furious with the hospital where they rushed the dying doctor to before he passed on. The residents maintained that Adegboyega would have survived the gunshot wounds if the hospital staff on duty at the time had attended to him promptly without asking for police report.
Hear one of them: “The doctor would have made it if the staff of the hospital had attended to him the moment we brought him there. But they delayed his treatment and were asking for police report. They stood their ground, saying that they would not treat him without a police report. We pleaded with them, telling them that the victim himself was a doctor but they turned deaf ears. When we threatened them, they eventually obliged, but that was after about an hour. The poor man had lost a lot of blood.”
The doctor’s wife, Mrs. Iyabo Adegboyega, was in tears as she recalled her last moments with her husband. Said she: “That morning that they came for him, I was with him in the hospital but I think he probably had a premonition of the eventual tragedy. He just told me to leave and go home. I didn’t want to leave the hospital that time but he insisted that I should go and not worry about him. I was worried that anything could happen to him since the men had threatened him the evening before. But he insisted that I should leave at that moment and I did.
It wasn’t up to five minutes that I got home that I received a phone call that he had been shot and was being rushed to the hospital. I was shocked.“I am sure he is in heaven now because he was observing a three-day fast when he was shot. Those who killed him have done their worst but I am sure my husband has made heaven. He was smiling before he eventually gave up the ghost. He had told me he would make heaven and I am sure he made it.”
Adegboyega’s firstborn, Adeboye Adegboyega, 23, fought back tears as he spoke about the bright moments he shared with his dad. “My father was a very simple man,” he said. “He hardly quarrelled with people. He was a man of very few words and a lover of every body. He was so dedicated to his job that he usually fasted and prayed every Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. He was doing this because of the sensitive and spiritual nature of his job. I don’t know why they killed him.
“But I want to say that if the hospital staff had attended to him on time, he would probably have survived the attack. I want the government and the police to please help fish out his killers and bring them to book.” Mr. Tolu Abeleje, one of Adegboyega’s friends who described him as a peaceful man said he was shocked to hear of his death. He told Daily Sun that he never thought his friend would lose his life that way. Abeleje said the incident had been reported to the police, adding that the matter was currently being investigated by officials of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Lagos.
He confirmed that a patient actually died in the hospital three days before his friend’s murder. Abeleje asserted: “Although we cannot say that it was the patient’s husband that killed our friend, what remains unclear to us is the fact that the man’s family have since vacated their house in the neighbourhood. The police were there too but discovered that they have all fled the home.”
A friend to the husband of the deceased woman said, however, that the family only travelled home to the east to bury the deceased woman. He said the family would return to Lagos after completing the burial rites.
BUSINESS
& ECONOMY
Domestic airlines owe banks N200 billion !
DOMESTIC
airlines are owing banks N200 billion.
This was disclosed yesterday by the General Secretary of Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Mohammed Joji.
Joji made the revelation while speaking on the N200 billion intervention funds made available by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the power and aviation sectors as bailout package.
Speaking at the presentation of passengers' bill of right by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) held at the Training Centre, NCAA headquarters Annex, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, he said that the intervention fund that was supposed to bail out the airlines has not achieved the desired result, alleging that it has only succeeded in bailing out banks that the airlines were indebted to.
The airline operator also hinted that price of aviation fuel has skyrocketed from N170 per litre to N191 per litre, lamenting that the price was 31 kobo in the 70s “but today, it has risen even beyond the reach of many operators.”
He said that despite the fact that the cost of operation is very high, the airlines have not increased airfare at the same proportion.
“The intervention fund that was supposed to bail out the airline has not achieved the desired result. It has only succeeded in bailing out banks that the airlines are indebted to”.
Joji said that these debts have been spread for over a period of 10 years at seven per cent interest rate.
He said that the Federal Government, in 2005, after some air crashes, gave the airlines waivers on spare parts “as part of efforts to ensure that airlines stop cutting corners but up till this moment, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has not allowed the waivers to be implemented”.
The essence of the waiver then, he said, was to ensure that the cost of operation for airline is reduced and the act of cutting corners is reduced to avoid air crashes.
He alleged that banks and the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) colluded to make things difficult for airlines, adding that this has led to airline’s debt being spread for a period of 10 years.
This was disclosed yesterday by the General Secretary of Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Mohammed Joji.
Joji made the revelation while speaking on the N200 billion intervention funds made available by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the power and aviation sectors as bailout package.
Speaking at the presentation of passengers' bill of right by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) held at the Training Centre, NCAA headquarters Annex, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, he said that the intervention fund that was supposed to bail out the airlines has not achieved the desired result, alleging that it has only succeeded in bailing out banks that the airlines were indebted to.
The airline operator also hinted that price of aviation fuel has skyrocketed from N170 per litre to N191 per litre, lamenting that the price was 31 kobo in the 70s “but today, it has risen even beyond the reach of many operators.”
He said that despite the fact that the cost of operation is very high, the airlines have not increased airfare at the same proportion.
“The intervention fund that was supposed to bail out the airline has not achieved the desired result. It has only succeeded in bailing out banks that the airlines are indebted to”.
Joji said that these debts have been spread for over a period of 10 years at seven per cent interest rate.
He said that the Federal Government, in 2005, after some air crashes, gave the airlines waivers on spare parts “as part of efforts to ensure that airlines stop cutting corners but up till this moment, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has not allowed the waivers to be implemented”.
The essence of the waiver then, he said, was to ensure that the cost of operation for airline is reduced and the act of cutting corners is reduced to avoid air crashes.
He alleged that banks and the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) colluded to make things difficult for airlines, adding that this has led to airline’s debt being spread for a period of 10 years.
Naira appreciates as oil firms boost supply with $86m
The Naira, yesterday, appreciated by 10
kobo at the interbank and official foreign exchange markets following dollar
sales of $86 million by three oil firms. Investigations reveal that Chevron
sold $70 million on Tuesday, while Total sold $6 million and Addax $10
million, yesterday. The boost in supply caused the interbank foreign
exchange market to drop by 10 kobo to N157.4 from N157.5 per dollar on Tuesday.
The official exchange rate also dropped by
10 kobo to N155.8 from N155.9 per dollar at the bi-weekly foreign exchange
auction conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), yesterday. The apex
bank offered $150 million while it sold $150 million.
On the international scene, the euro
strengthened from a seven- week low against the yen as Spain’s bonds climbed
after a board member of the European Central Bank indicated it may buy the
nation’s debt to reduce borrowing costs.
Europe’s shared currency gained against
the dollar after Italy sold 11 billion euros ($14.4 billion) of bills, meeting
the target for the auction. The yen weakened against all but one of its 16
most-traded peers The dollar declined as the Federal Reserve prepared to
release its Beige Book regional business survey.
“The euro is recovering as risk, overall,
is getting a little bit better,” said Brian Kim, a currency strategist in
Stamford, Connecticut, at Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc.
“It’s all about the peripheral
spread-widening concerns. They’re still at pretty high levels, but it’s a
slight moderation, so that’s helping the euro recover a little bit.”
The euro advanced 0.5 percent to 106.04
yen at 11:30 a.m. New York time, after falling earlier to 105.45 yen, the
weakest since Feb. 22. Europe’s shared currency rose 0.2 percent to $1.3110,
after reaching $1.3033 on April 9, the lowest since March 15. The yen declined
0.3 percent to 80.90 per.
The British pound rose the most this month
against the dollar after an industry report showed retail sales increased in
March, boosting the appeal of U.K. assets.
Sterling advanced for the first time in
six days against the yen as European stocks and Spanish bonds rallied, easing
concern the region’s debt crisis is worsening. Gilts fell as the retail-sales
data added to signs the U.K. economy is improving, damping demand for the
safety of government debt.
Subscribers Task NCC On Telecom Operators
The National Association of Telecom
Subscribers (NATCOMS) on Tuesday appealed to the Nigerian Communications
Commission (NCC) to prevail on telecom operators to improve their customer care
services.
Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, the President of
the association, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the appeal
became necessary because of poor services being offered by the service
providers.
He said that the customer care units of
some operators were not responding adequately to queries from subscribers any
longer.
“Customers find it difficult to get
responses to their enquiries through the customer care representative numbers.
“Even. when the a call is through to them,
the response you get is “all our agents are currently busy, please call back,”
he said.
According to him, this is now common to
all the service providers.
He advised them to open more customer care
units to hasten response to queries.
Ogunbanjo, said that this was the
appropriate time for the NCC to prevail on the operators to improve on their
services as their subscriber base was increasing daily.
“Now that the subscribers are increasing,
there is the need for adequate customer care agents to attend to customers’
issues promptly.
“Customers cannot enjoy better services
from telecom operators if they cannot get response to their enquiries,”
Ogunbanjo said.
The NATCOMS president advised operators to
employ more hands to accommodate the growing number of customers on their
network.
POLITICS
2015:
South-South Endorses Jonathan
Contrary to the declaration by President Goodluck
Jonathan that he would run for only one term, his kinsmen have insisted that he
has no option than to contest the 2015 presidential election.
Prominent Ijaw leaders and south-south elders last
week met in Lagos for two days during which they deliberated on the 2015
presidential election and the way forward for the region.
The meeting, which was held at the Civic Centre,
Lagos, reportedly had in attendance the National Security Adviser, General
Andrew Azazi, Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark, Niger Delta Volunteer Force
leader Mujahid Asari Dokubo, special adviser to the president on Niger Delta,
Mr. Kingsley Kuku, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Water Resources Dr.
Godknows Igali, pioneer president of Ijaw Youth Council Dr. Felix Tuodolo, oil
magnate Mr. Dumo Briggs, NIMASA director-general Mr. Ziakede Akpobolokemi and
ex-militant Ateke Tom, among others.
The meeting, which had as its theme, “Strategic
Programme for the Development and Progress of the Niger Delta”, was meant to
draw attention to the development of the region, but the participants used the
platform to examine the political implications of Jonathan’s declaration and
the future of the region.
The details of the meeting were, however, not made
public. But a source at the meeting said the leaders of the region were not
leaving any stone unturned in ensuring that the region retains the presidency
beyond 2015. The source said the South-South leaders expressed worry over the
statement by the president that he would not go for a second term, a
development that could cause a serious political setback for the region.
It was learnt that, after many of the leaders had
spoken on the dangers of conceding the top political post to another region on
a platter, it was resolved that Jonathan should be persuaded to run for a
second term.
According to a competent source who attended the
meeting, there is a compelling need for Jonathan to change his stance, so as
not to mortgage the opportunity of the South-South to enjoy eight years
presidency.
The source said, “Jonathan is the only person in
the South-South who could run and win the presidential election in 2015.”
The meeting generally agreed that there was the
need for all Niger Deltans to rally round the president to ensure his
re-election in 2015.
A former president of the Ijaw National Congress
(INC), the umbrella body of all Ijaws in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, Joshua
Fumudoh, who attended the two-day conference, told LEADERSHIP in Port Harcourt
that the meeting considered that the statement by the president at the time was
meant to douse tension in the land.
Fumudoh argued that such a highly sensitive
political decision could not have been taken by the president alone without
recourse to the elders and leaders of the Ijaw nation and the south-south in
particular as well as certain individuals and groups across the country.
The ex-INC leader and member of the PDP said the
president’s “desire to serve only one tenure of four years” did not take into
consideration what would happen to the remaining four years that would have
been Jonathan’s second tenure.
Recalling Nigeria’s past presidents and
their tenures in office, backed by the necessary constitutional provisions,
Fumudoh said it would be against the principle of fairness, equity and natural
justice not to allow the South-South to complete their eight years tenure.
FG approves N2.6b for INEC permanent voters’ cards
The Federal Government has approved the sum of N2.6billion
for the Independent National Electoral Commission for the printing of 40million
permanent voters’ card.
The unit cost of the electronically enabled voters’ cards is N65.00 and it is expected to be ready within the next seven months.
The printing contract for the new cards was awarded to ACT Technologies Limited.
Besides, the cards are expected to allow voters to participate in elections irrespective of the location in the country.
The printing of 40million Permanent voters’ cards which is the first phase of the project is to replace the temporary cards issued to electorates at the point of registration last year. It would be recalled that about 73.5million voters registered during the 2011 nationwide registration exercise.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the FEC meeting chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan, Information Minister, Labaran Maku, alongside Minister of State, Finance, Yerima Ngama said INEC is expected to print additional cards by next year to meet the requirement of voters in the country.
Maku noted that the issuance of the permanent cards was in line with 2010 Electoral Act, and they will replace the 73.5 million temporary voters’ cards issued by the commission for the 2011 general elections.
He also explained that the new cards will remain valid for minimum of 10 years and contains security features and other bio data of voters.
The unit cost of the electronically enabled voters’ cards is N65.00 and it is expected to be ready within the next seven months.
The printing contract for the new cards was awarded to ACT Technologies Limited.
Besides, the cards are expected to allow voters to participate in elections irrespective of the location in the country.
The printing of 40million Permanent voters’ cards which is the first phase of the project is to replace the temporary cards issued to electorates at the point of registration last year. It would be recalled that about 73.5million voters registered during the 2011 nationwide registration exercise.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the FEC meeting chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan, Information Minister, Labaran Maku, alongside Minister of State, Finance, Yerima Ngama said INEC is expected to print additional cards by next year to meet the requirement of voters in the country.
Maku noted that the issuance of the permanent cards was in line with 2010 Electoral Act, and they will replace the 73.5 million temporary voters’ cards issued by the commission for the 2011 general elections.
He also explained that the new cards will remain valid for minimum of 10 years and contains security features and other bio data of voters.
ANPP: Amosun plans to rig LG polls
Ogun State
chapter of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) yesterday accused Governor
Ibikunle Amosun of plotting to rig the forthcoming local government elections
in the state.
The state ANPP Chairman, Mr. Sunday Sowunmi, who levelled the allegation in Abeokuta, the state capital, accused the governor of fielding two members of his party, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), as members of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC).
Amosun contested the 2007 governorship election on the platform of the ANPP before dumping the party for the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and eventually ACN.
Speaking with reporters yesterday, Sowunmi also assessed the performance of the incumbent administration in the state and contended that the immediate past government was far better off in terms of developmental projects.
He condemned the composition of OGSIEC, which was inaugurated two months ago by the governor, adding that ANPP and other opposition parties in the state have lost confidence in the electoral commission.
He blamed Amosun for the failure of OGSIEC, headed by Alhaja Risikat Ogunfemi, to fix date for the council elections.
Sowunmi said: “It is not good for democracy because this present government is not yet ready for any election and the cause of the problem is internal problem they have in their party. Amosun wants to be in control of the party, he wants to impose all the candidates and the ACN hierarchy is not ready to dance to his tunes; that is the cause of OGSIEC foot-dragging.
“I can tell you one or two members of OGSIEC are card-carrying members of ACN. Therefore, they may want to do everything possible to make their party win the election.”
“As far as developmental programmes are concerned, I can say I have never seen any developmental projects. We are close to one year anniversary of Amosun’s government; I have never seen any kind of developmental programmes from his government.
“I can rate past administration higher than the present government. Though we can say, give this one benefit of doubt because it has just started and it is about to clock one year in office but during the OGD era, by the time he spent one year in office, things have developed unlike this present government.”
When asked to name the alleged card-carrying members of ACN in OGSIEC, the ANPP chairman said: “I will name them but not now, because we are still mounting pressure on them. But if they don’t make corrections, we are ready to come out to the press. We want the government to disband OGSIEC and constitute another that will not have any party members and inaugurate them accordingly.”
He, however, threatened to sue the state governor if OGSIEC failed to conduct the local government elections within three months, adding that ANPP was in consultation with other opposition parties to resist the impending fraud of the incumbent administration.
“It is not only ANPP but all opposition parties because it is now very clear that it is over due for them to conduct local government elections. In the next three months if the election was not conducted, we would take them to court,” he stated.
The state ANPP Chairman, Mr. Sunday Sowunmi, who levelled the allegation in Abeokuta, the state capital, accused the governor of fielding two members of his party, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), as members of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC).
Amosun contested the 2007 governorship election on the platform of the ANPP before dumping the party for the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and eventually ACN.
Speaking with reporters yesterday, Sowunmi also assessed the performance of the incumbent administration in the state and contended that the immediate past government was far better off in terms of developmental projects.
He condemned the composition of OGSIEC, which was inaugurated two months ago by the governor, adding that ANPP and other opposition parties in the state have lost confidence in the electoral commission.
He blamed Amosun for the failure of OGSIEC, headed by Alhaja Risikat Ogunfemi, to fix date for the council elections.
Sowunmi said: “It is not good for democracy because this present government is not yet ready for any election and the cause of the problem is internal problem they have in their party. Amosun wants to be in control of the party, he wants to impose all the candidates and the ACN hierarchy is not ready to dance to his tunes; that is the cause of OGSIEC foot-dragging.
“I can tell you one or two members of OGSIEC are card-carrying members of ACN. Therefore, they may want to do everything possible to make their party win the election.”
“As far as developmental programmes are concerned, I can say I have never seen any developmental projects. We are close to one year anniversary of Amosun’s government; I have never seen any kind of developmental programmes from his government.
“I can rate past administration higher than the present government. Though we can say, give this one benefit of doubt because it has just started and it is about to clock one year in office but during the OGD era, by the time he spent one year in office, things have developed unlike this present government.”
When asked to name the alleged card-carrying members of ACN in OGSIEC, the ANPP chairman said: “I will name them but not now, because we are still mounting pressure on them. But if they don’t make corrections, we are ready to come out to the press. We want the government to disband OGSIEC and constitute another that will not have any party members and inaugurate them accordingly.”
He, however, threatened to sue the state governor if OGSIEC failed to conduct the local government elections within three months, adding that ANPP was in consultation with other opposition parties to resist the impending fraud of the incumbent administration.
“It is not only ANPP but all opposition parties because it is now very clear that it is over due for them to conduct local government elections. In the next three months if the election was not conducted, we would take them to court,” he stated.
CRIME FILE
Gunmen kill schoolboy in presence of mum in Kaduna
Barely
three days after the Easter Sunday bomb explosion that claimed scores of
innocent lives in Kaduna and 24 hours after the Chief Army Staff declared war
against terrorists, unknown gunmen yesterday stormed Rigasa, a suburb of Kaduna
metropolis, killing a schoolboy in the presence of his mum.
The victim identified as Mohammed Sani Adamu according to Daily Sun investigation was a final year student of Imam Secondary School, Makarfi Road. Daily Sun gathered that, his killers mistook Adamu who was on his Man’O War uniform for a soldier.
Elder brother of the deceased, Alhaji Mohammed Maikudi who confirmed the incident to Daily Sun said the gunmen shot Adamu twice in the presence of their mother who had sent him on errand.
According to Maikudi: “My brother was shot twice in the presence of my helpless mother. The gunmen thought my brother was a soldier probably because he was in his man-O war uniform.“He came back home in his Man’O War uniform and his mother sent him on errand to buy something for her in the market. Immediately he steps out of the house, the gunmen approached him in front of the house and shot him twice,” he stated.
He said the attackers who rode on a motorbike were three young boys of about 22 years of age, adding: “when they shot him, the mother came out shouting; ‘My Son is a Cadet Man’O War not a soldier. “On hearing the cry of my mother, the attackers zoomed off on the same bike. I cannot really identify them, but they are small boys. I believe it is because of the uniform they shot him, they thought he was a soldier,” said Maikudi.
The elder brother also told Daily Sun that Adamu was a final year student of Imam Secondary School, Makarfi Road, Rigasa who was on the verge of completing his final exams. The Police Command’s Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Aminu Lawan confirmed the incident, saying, investigation has commenced into the killing with a view to bringing the killers to book.
The victim identified as Mohammed Sani Adamu according to Daily Sun investigation was a final year student of Imam Secondary School, Makarfi Road. Daily Sun gathered that, his killers mistook Adamu who was on his Man’O War uniform for a soldier.
Elder brother of the deceased, Alhaji Mohammed Maikudi who confirmed the incident to Daily Sun said the gunmen shot Adamu twice in the presence of their mother who had sent him on errand.
According to Maikudi: “My brother was shot twice in the presence of my helpless mother. The gunmen thought my brother was a soldier probably because he was in his man-O war uniform.“He came back home in his Man’O War uniform and his mother sent him on errand to buy something for her in the market. Immediately he steps out of the house, the gunmen approached him in front of the house and shot him twice,” he stated.
He said the attackers who rode on a motorbike were three young boys of about 22 years of age, adding: “when they shot him, the mother came out shouting; ‘My Son is a Cadet Man’O War not a soldier. “On hearing the cry of my mother, the attackers zoomed off on the same bike. I cannot really identify them, but they are small boys. I believe it is because of the uniform they shot him, they thought he was a soldier,” said Maikudi.
The elder brother also told Daily Sun that Adamu was a final year student of Imam Secondary School, Makarfi Road, Rigasa who was on the verge of completing his final exams. The Police Command’s Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Aminu Lawan confirmed the incident, saying, investigation has commenced into the killing with a view to bringing the killers to book.
Stillborn baby found alive in morgue coffin
An
investigation has begun after an apparently stillborn baby girl was found alive
12 hours after she was placed in a coffin for burial. The parents of the girl,
who was born three months premature, said they found she was still breathing
when they went to the local morgue to say goodbye. Analia Bouter said she never
got a chance to look at her baby after the birth because she had been sedated
by staff at the hospital in Chaco, northern Argentina .
“At the time of birth I don’t remember much because I was put to sleep,” she said.
“Rather, they never showed me the baby.” Born at 10.24am, the infant was taken directly to the morgue after aparently being declared dead.
Mrs Bouter and her husband, Fabian Veron, later visited the morgue where they say they forced open the tiny coffin to look at their daughter. “The baby was there and they put the little casket on a stretcher. We looked for a bar to prise it open. The casket was nailed shut,” Mr Veron said.
“I started to prise, took a deep breath and took the top off. My wife was the first one to look at the body and she uncovered it slowly. She saw the little hand and then uncovered the face. That’s when it let the first little cry out. My wife jumped back, like saying, ‘This must be my imagination’.” The baby girl, born a week ago, was reported to be in stable condition on Tuesday.
The parents had originally planned on naming her Liliana Abigail but have instead called her Luz Milagros - which means Miracle’s Light. “I went back to look again and she was moving. So I started to uncover the face and it was like she was just getting up, waking up,” Mr Veron said. “And that’s when the lady from the morgue grabbed her and brought her.” Little Luz Milagros is the couple’s fifth child. Provincial health officials have confirmed they are investigating the incident.
“At the time of birth I don’t remember much because I was put to sleep,” she said.
“Rather, they never showed me the baby.” Born at 10.24am, the infant was taken directly to the morgue after aparently being declared dead.
Mrs Bouter and her husband, Fabian Veron, later visited the morgue where they say they forced open the tiny coffin to look at their daughter. “The baby was there and they put the little casket on a stretcher. We looked for a bar to prise it open. The casket was nailed shut,” Mr Veron said.
“I started to prise, took a deep breath and took the top off. My wife was the first one to look at the body and she uncovered it slowly. She saw the little hand and then uncovered the face. That’s when it let the first little cry out. My wife jumped back, like saying, ‘This must be my imagination’.” The baby girl, born a week ago, was reported to be in stable condition on Tuesday.
The parents had originally planned on naming her Liliana Abigail but have instead called her Luz Milagros - which means Miracle’s Light. “I went back to look again and she was moving. So I started to uncover the face and it was like she was just getting up, waking up,” Mr Veron said. “And that’s when the lady from the morgue grabbed her and brought her.” Little Luz Milagros is the couple’s fifth child. Provincial health officials have confirmed they are investigating the incident.
Man kills girlfriend, buries her in room
Police in Rivers State said they have one Jim
Zaccheus in their custody, for allegedly killing and secretly burying his
girlfriend in his room on Saturday, last week, in the Elechi Beach end of
Diobu, Port Harcourt.
The state Police Commissioner, Mohammed Indabawa,
who revealed this during his maiden press briefing in Port Harcourt, on
Wednesday, also said the command had arrested four out of seven suspects who
gang-raped a 14-year-old girl in the Rumuodonmaya area of the city.
Indabawa, who recently took office as police
chief for Rivers, also said he planned to continue with the fight against
entrenched corruption among officers and men of the command, adding that he
would use everything in his powers to reduce crime rate in the state.
Indabawa, who said the command would charge
Zaccheus to court for the criminal act, added that the suspect had been accused
of killing his girlfriend, who was identified as Peace Mathias and carefully
buried her corpse in his room, to conceal the act.
Nigerian Tribune leant that the suspect had
been suspicious of his victim over a new hair style she made and demanded to
know how she got the money, a situation that led to a quarrel between them.
Not satisfied with her explanation, Zaccheus
was said to have beaten her to a pulp, while she died in the process, although
it was not clear if he used any object on her.
However, neighbours had suspected the movements
of the suspect, coupled with stench that was oozing out of the room and had
alerted security operatives who forced the door open and exhumed the victim’s
decomposing body.
“The suspect was arrested yesterday (Tuesday)
and has confessed to the crime. We are yet to contact the parents of the
deceased, but investigation on the incident is still on,” the police
commissioner said.
Suspected explosive device causes pandemonium in Kaduna
There
was pandemonium in Kaduna yesterday following the discovery of an object
suspected to be bomb in the city. This occured barely four days after the
Easter Day bomb blast that killed many people in the metropolis.
Daily Sun gathered that residents noticed a strange bag kept near a pole in the middle of the road near the Lagos Road Roundabout.
When contacted, spokesperson of the Kaduna State Police command, DSP Aminu Lawan confirmed the incident saying, “when I received the call about a probable Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the Lagos Road Roundabout, I detailed some men to go to the scene. On reaching there, they discovered that it was only a leather bag with rubbish inside and not an IED.
“We will continue to give people information and call on people to report any suspicious persons and incidences around their areas because that is the only way we can curtail this menace.”
Daily Sun, however, noticed that there was confusion in the area as motorists made detour to various routes, fearing that the bag might contain an explosive device. The police were immediately alerted and cordoned off the area, but an eyewitness said the police were not willing to go near the bag, The eyewitness added that a civilian dared the object with a long stick while the police looked on and the people hailed him.
”The boy came from Jemaa Road and his name is Abdullahi Olaya, he used the stick to touch the bag and nothing happened. The people around started to hail him and the police were also watching. “Realizing that the bag did not contain any explosive device, the boy picked up the bag, emptied the content and people around started clapping for him. But the police moved in and arrested the boy.”
As a result of the arrest, confusion ensued as people rose in defense of the boy and threatened a showdown with the police. The situation caused serious traffic in the area as motorists had to turn towards the Nasarawa Road and came into Kaduna Central area hrough the Katsina Road roundabout.
Daily Sun further observed that business activities in the area were temporarily paralyzed as shops were closed abruptly, while motorists abandoned the area to avoid being trapped in another explosion.
As at press time, normalcy had returned to the area as the police had released the boy.
Daily Sun gathered that residents noticed a strange bag kept near a pole in the middle of the road near the Lagos Road Roundabout.
When contacted, spokesperson of the Kaduna State Police command, DSP Aminu Lawan confirmed the incident saying, “when I received the call about a probable Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the Lagos Road Roundabout, I detailed some men to go to the scene. On reaching there, they discovered that it was only a leather bag with rubbish inside and not an IED.
“We will continue to give people information and call on people to report any suspicious persons and incidences around their areas because that is the only way we can curtail this menace.”
Daily Sun, however, noticed that there was confusion in the area as motorists made detour to various routes, fearing that the bag might contain an explosive device. The police were immediately alerted and cordoned off the area, but an eyewitness said the police were not willing to go near the bag, The eyewitness added that a civilian dared the object with a long stick while the police looked on and the people hailed him.
”The boy came from Jemaa Road and his name is Abdullahi Olaya, he used the stick to touch the bag and nothing happened. The people around started to hail him and the police were also watching. “Realizing that the bag did not contain any explosive device, the boy picked up the bag, emptied the content and people around started clapping for him. But the police moved in and arrested the boy.”
As a result of the arrest, confusion ensued as people rose in defense of the boy and threatened a showdown with the police. The situation caused serious traffic in the area as motorists had to turn towards the Nasarawa Road and came into Kaduna Central area hrough the Katsina Road roundabout.
Daily Sun further observed that business activities in the area were temporarily paralyzed as shops were closed abruptly, while motorists abandoned the area to avoid being trapped in another explosion.
As at press time, normalcy had returned to the area as the police had released the boy.
SPORTS
Man
United Loses, Man City Wins in Title Race
Manchester United stumbled on its path to the Premier
League title, losing 1-0 at Wigan on Wednesday night and allowing Manchester
City to close within five points with a 4-0 win over West Bromwich Albion,
reports The Associated Press.
Shaun Maloney scored on a curling shot in the 50th minute, sending
the defending champions to their first league loss since January 4.
City, which dropped eight points back last weekend, got
goals from Sergio Aguero in the sixth and 54th minutes. Carlos Tevez, in his
first start since September 21, made it 3-0 in the 61st and David Silva added a
goal in the 64th.
Manchester United (25-4-4), seeking a record 20th English
league title, has 79 points with five games remaining to 74 for Manchester City
(23-5-5), which hasn't won the league since 1968. The rivals play at Manchester
City on April 30.
Arsenal beat Wolverhampton 3-0 to move four points ahead of
fourth-place Tottenham
Bundesliga: Dortmund Set to Defend Title after Beating Bayern
Borussia Dortmund look set to defend their German league
crown after their 1-0 win over title-rivals Bayern Munich on Wednesday put them
six points clear at the top with four games left, reports AFP.
Poland striker, Robert Lewandowski scored his 20th goal of
the season in the second-half to give Dortmund three more priceless points and
open a considerable gap over second-placed Bayern.
Dortmund took their chance when winger, Kevin Grosskreutz's
shot took a significant deflection off Lewandowski on 77 minutes.
But there was drama four minutes from time when Dortmund
goalkeeper, Roman Weidenfeller felled Dutch winger, Arjen Robben in the penalty
area.
The Netherlands star picked himself up to take the penalty,
but he fired too close to the Borussia captain who saved the strike and was
immediately mobbed by his team mates.
Both sides hit the cross bar with time almost up as Robben
squandered a golden chance by shooting over with the goal at his mercy.
Lewandowski also hit the woodwork after he chipped over
Bayern goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer just before the final whistle.
"That was thrilling at the end, the last few minutes
were unbelievable," said Dortmund coach, Jurgen Klopp, whose team are at
bitter neighbours Schalke on Saturday in the Bundesliga.
"Hats off to my team, you can't play much better than
that.
"I think the victory was highly deserved, I am very
happy.
"Now the next step is against our friends in
Gelsenkirchen."
It was Dortmund's 24 consecutive game without defeat -
their last Bundesliga loss coming last September against Hanover - and
Dortmund's fourth straight win over the Bavarians, who will meet them again in
the German Cup final on May 12.
Bayern coach, Jupp Heynckes must now rebuild his players’
morale quickly as they face Real Madrid next Tuesday in the Champions League
semi-final, first-leg, and before that host Mainz on Saturday in the
Bundesliga.
"This was a first-class performance from both
teams," said Heynckes.
"The first half belonged to Dortmund, they played very
aggressively and were full vigour.
"After the break, the tables were turned and we took
command.
"We conceded a very strange goal and then we had a
huge chance to equalise with the penalty, but you can't single out anyone for blame.
"Things like that happen in football."
Third-placed Schalke suffered a shock 4-1 defeat at
mid-table Nuremberg which leaves them six points behind Bayern.
Hamburg's woeful form continues as they were thrashed 4-0
at Hoffenheim to leave them with just two wins from their last ten games and
only two points above the relegation places.
With just four games left, Kaiserslautern slumped to a 3-1
defeat at Bayer Leverkusen and they could be relegated if they lose at
Nuremberg on Saturday as they currently lie 10 points from safety at the foot
of the table.
Hanover enjoyed a 2-0 win over Wolfsburg to go seventh and
back amongst the Europa League places for next season.
On Tuesday Borussia Moenchengladbach's hold on the fourth
and final Champions League spot had weakened as they were held 2-2 by 10-man
Werder Bremen.
Nigeria slide in FIFA rankings, as Eagles battle Pharaohs
The Super
Eagles of Nigeria yesterday slide in the current FIFA’s rankings released by
the world football governing body.
Nigeria slide by three places to 60th position in the world with 554 points. This put the country in the ninth position in the African continent behind Tunisia and Egypt who were placed eighth and seventh.
The Elephants of Cote d ‘Ivoire despite not winning the Nations Cup title early in the year retained the number one spot in Africa with 951 points, which put them in the world 15th position, ahead of the Black Stars of Ghana who were placed 22nd in the world with 816 points and number two in Africa.
Algeria were placed 38th in the world with 667 points and third in the continent, Mali occupied the 39th place in the world and fourth in the continent.
African champions, Zambia placed 40th in the world and fifth in the continent with 640 points.
While Nigeria’s opponent in today’s international friendly scheduled for Dubai, UAE, the Pharaohs of Egypt were placed 55th in the world with 566 points and seventh in the continent.
Meanwhile, the friendly international between the Super Eagles on Nigeria and the Egyptian national senior soccer team comes up today in Dubai.
The friendly aimed to prepare the two teams for the 2013 African Nations Cup and the 2014 World Cup qualifiers in June was organised strictly to test the might of the home-based players of the two continental soccer giants.
The Eagles which would be led by goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim have promised to return to the country unscatched as they will try their best to win the game for the sake of the country’s pride.
The Nigerian home-based stars who defeated the Chipolopolo of Zambia enroute the 2012 African Nations Cup which the Zambians won after a superlative performance, have vowed to give the resilient Egyptians a run for their money in the game that would be played at 5.45pm Nigeria time and 7.45pm Dubai time.
Ahead of today’s game, the Eagles chief coach, Stephen Keshi, joined the team in their Dubai camp yesterday from his base in the United States to put finishing touches to the team’s preparation for the match which the former national team captain says he would like to win for the purpose of raising the confidence of the home-based stars.
Nigeria slide by three places to 60th position in the world with 554 points. This put the country in the ninth position in the African continent behind Tunisia and Egypt who were placed eighth and seventh.
The Elephants of Cote d ‘Ivoire despite not winning the Nations Cup title early in the year retained the number one spot in Africa with 951 points, which put them in the world 15th position, ahead of the Black Stars of Ghana who were placed 22nd in the world with 816 points and number two in Africa.
Algeria were placed 38th in the world with 667 points and third in the continent, Mali occupied the 39th place in the world and fourth in the continent.
African champions, Zambia placed 40th in the world and fifth in the continent with 640 points.
While Nigeria’s opponent in today’s international friendly scheduled for Dubai, UAE, the Pharaohs of Egypt were placed 55th in the world with 566 points and seventh in the continent.
Meanwhile, the friendly international between the Super Eagles on Nigeria and the Egyptian national senior soccer team comes up today in Dubai.
The friendly aimed to prepare the two teams for the 2013 African Nations Cup and the 2014 World Cup qualifiers in June was organised strictly to test the might of the home-based players of the two continental soccer giants.
The Eagles which would be led by goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim have promised to return to the country unscatched as they will try their best to win the game for the sake of the country’s pride.
The Nigerian home-based stars who defeated the Chipolopolo of Zambia enroute the 2012 African Nations Cup which the Zambians won after a superlative performance, have vowed to give the resilient Egyptians a run for their money in the game that would be played at 5.45pm Nigeria time and 7.45pm Dubai time.
Ahead of today’s game, the Eagles chief coach, Stephen Keshi, joined the team in their Dubai camp yesterday from his base in the United States to put finishing touches to the team’s preparation for the match which the former national team captain says he would like to win for the purpose of raising the confidence of the home-based stars.
FRENCH defender, Eric Abidal, who plays for Barcelona, is “improving” in
hospital, the Spanish club’s president, Sandro Rosell, said yesterday, a day
after the player underwent a liver transplant operation.
“Both Abidal and his cousin are improving, although I can’t give more
information at the request of the family,” he told reporters.
The 32-year old player received part of his cousin Gerard’s liver at a
Barcelona hospital in a lengthy procedure reportedly lasting nine hours on
Tuesday. The surgery started at about 3:00p.m local time and finished at
midnight, the Catalan daily, Mundo Deportivo, said. He was then taken to a
specialist unit for post-operative care, it added.
Barcelona’s Deputy Financial Director, Javier Faus, said the length of
the surgery was because the player was receiving a partial organ transplant
from a living donor: “It is a long operation during which you have to first
operate on the person who is donating the organ, then move on to the person who
is receiving it,” he said.
Barcelona announced on March 15 that Abidal needed a liver transplant
“in the coming weeks,” nearly a year after he had a tumour removed from the
same organ. Barca’s midfielder Sergio Busquets said at a post-training press
conference last Wednesday that all Abidal’s colleagues wished him well.
“I want to send him all my support and strength. I am sure he has
received the signs of support that have been sent out in recent days from the
squad, from fans and from people in general,” he added.
Abidal received a moving tribute from the fans at Barca’s 4-0 victory
over Getafe on Tuesday when, in the 22nd minute - the same number as his squad
shirt, they held up signs that read “Courage Abidal, see you in Munich.”
The German city will host the final of the Champions League on May 17.
Barcelona is in the semi-finals of the competition and faces English Premier
League side, Chelsea, next week.
The club did not give any indication of how long he would be out of
action but experts say recovery from a transplant may take up to six months and
there was always the risk that the body could reject the new organ. Abidal had
been a candidate for France’s Euro 2012 squad for the tourney on June 8 to July
1, but it is unlikely he will travel to Poland and Ukraine.
Club officials have expressed hopes that he would eventually return to
action but Spanish transplant experts have voiced doubts that he could play
top-flight football again, given the risk of complications if he picked up a
knock in his abdomen.
Abidal recovered rapidly from surgery to remove a tumour from his liver
in March 2011 and drew loud cheers by making a symbolic return in the final
minutes of Barca’s Champions League semi-final second-leg tie with Real Madrid
on May 3 last year.
Brilliant, very educative.
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