Sola Ogundeko's Blog: January 2014

Friday 31 January 2014

Imo Poly Expels 26 Students, Suspends 22 Over Misconduct

The Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Imo State has expelled 26 students and suspended 22 others for examination malpractices and other offences in the first semester of the 2012/2013 academic session.

A statement signed by the registrar of the institution, Mr. Mathew Aligbe, said that one of the affected students was asked to retake some courses while five were warned from further engagement in misconduct.

The registrar said that about 54 students appeared before a disciplinary panel set up by the management of the institution to investigate their alleged involvement in examination malpractice.

Aligbe maintained that the institution will not compromise its academic standard, adding that any student caught in the act of misconduct would be punished accordingly.

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Soldiers removed our posters, replaced them with PDP’s, APC claims

The APC said it has evidence of the action

Soliders, in the late hours of Monday in Adamawa, removed posters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and replaced them with those of Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the opposition party has claimed.

The Interim National Vice Chairman of the APC for the North East Zone, Umar Duhu, told PREMIUM TIMES that soldiers of the 23^rd armoured brigade carried out the action ahead of the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the state on Tuesday.

The APC had on Monday inaugurated the state’s interim committee. Mr. Duhu said prior to the event, the party had cause to put up is posters, billboards and fliers across all strategic locations in Yola, the Adamawa capital.

“However, later in the night; immediately after the curfew period has set in, we visibly saw military men with their guns hanging on their necks, busy removing our posters and replacing them with that of the PDP and President Jonathan 2015,” Mr. Duhu said.

Mr. Duhu said his party had evidence of the allegation describing it as “very unbecoming of the military that was supposed to be non-partisan”’

The APC leader advised the military to stay out of politics. He said the military should know that they are being paid with tax payers’ money to protect the integrity of Nigeria, and they are not supposed to be partisan.

We will resist impunity

Mr. Duhu also accused the ruling PDP of trying to intimidate the opposition using the military. He said the APC is ready to face the challenges.

“All this draconian method of ensuring that the president is returned by hook or crook ; we will make sure we resist it, even if it means we will lose our lives, we are ready to lose it to make sure that democracy in Nigeria survives. So we will not allow that,” he said.

He also restated the position expressed by the APC in the past that the PDP had decided to merge with security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

“All we are telling Nigerians is that we are determined to challenge them head on. If you look at all revolutions around the world, the military will continue to shoot the people until they get tired and also drop their guns and join the crowd.

“So we are ready to upturn the system we have today to ensure that probity and rule of law hold supreme in Nigeria and we are ready to do that even if it means we lose our lives in the process,” he said.

Jonathan shields corrupt elements

Mr. Duhu also accused President Jonathan of shielding corrupt elements in his government. He said there was massive corruption involved in the construction of the secondary school built by the Nigerian Air force, which Mr. Jonathan had gone to Adamawa to commission.

Mr. Duhu cited the reported incident of the harassment of journalists by Air force officers just to stop them from witnessing the event and reporting what they saw.

“What happened with the harassment of journalists during the president’s visit is unfortunate. The President said the CDS was appointed because he was prudent with resources, then why were they preventing journalists from taking inventory of the materials there.

“What the president said about the CDS is not correct and that is why people say he is shielding corruption. Anything Jonathan tells Nigerians about corruption is just lies; Nigerians should begin to say no to impunity. Impunity is what is keeping the PDP alive and we are not going to allow it to thrive in Nigeria,” he said.

There were reports that some journalists working for various media houses were stoned by Air force personnel at the venue of the project commissioning.

According to the Guardian Newspaper, the reporters were stoned out of the venue by men of the Air force on an order from an officer suspected to be the head of the school Mr. Jonathan visited to commission.

The paper said trouble started for the journalists at the venue when the Public Relations Officer of 75 Strike Force, Yola, Ishaku Abdullahi, a Flying Officer, asked journalists to wait in one of the classrooms for their accreditation.

It said later on an officer with a nametag A.A. Dogo, suspected to be the head of the school slated for commissioning, came and asked who directed the reporters to sit inside the classroom. But after an explanation from the chairman of the correspondents’ chapel, Umar Dankano, of the Peoples Daily Newspapers, the aggressive officer left without a word.

A few minutes after, another man dressed in a rough suit with a name tag SPA Emmanuel C. Anita, arrived and ordered the reporters who were waiting to be accredited to get out of the venue, saying that their presence was not needed. Before Mr. Dankano could offer some explanations, some men of the Air force started throwing stones at the reporters.

It took the intervention of some military officers from the 23 Amoured Brigade, Yola, to rescue the journalists out of the venue

PREMIUM TIMES tried unsuccessfully to speak to the spokesperson of the 23^rd Brigade, Nuhu Jafaru, throughout Wednesday. Several calls to his cell phone failed to connect, and he also did not respond to an SMS sent to him.

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N30 million fraud: FCMB moves to settle customer

The Special Fraud Unit, SFU, on Thursday, asked a Federal High Court, Lagos, to adjourn a N30 million fraud suit against First City Monument Bank Plc, FCMB.

The adjournment according to the police was at the instance of the bank.

FCMB was charged alongside a former manager of its Oke Arin branch, Rosemary Usifo, on a one-count charge of fraud.

On January 30, the prosecutor, Effiong Asuquo, informed the court that the bank had urged the police to seek an adjournment to enable them repay the money to the victim of the crime.

He said that after a meeting with the bank, it indicated its intention to repay the money obtained by the second accused, Ms. Usifo, from the account of one Archibong Nkana, a Deputy Inspector General of Police (rtd).

According to the prosecutor, the bank said that its moves were aimed at having the name of FCMB struck out from the charge.

Mr. Asuquo told the court that he was instructed to seek for an adjournment, to afford the bank time to regularise its position on the matter. He, however, added that the SFU would proceed with the prosecution of the case, if the bank reneged on its promise.

Justice Saliu Saidu adjourned the case to March 3, for trial, while the accused would remain in the Kirikiri prisons.

The accused was arraigned on December 5, 2013, for fraudulently obtaining N30 million from a fixed deposit account, belonging to Mr. Nkana.

She had pleaded not guilty to the charge and the judge ordered her be remanded in prison, pending determination of her bail application.

In the charge, the accused was said to have committed the offence in 2011 after forging a letter with which she withdrew the money from the customer’s bank account.

According to Mr. Asuquo, the accused had been at large since then and was only arrested by the police in November, 2013.

He said that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 1(2) (a), (c), and Sections 3 (1) (2) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

(NAN)

Labour Party suspends factional Ogun secretary, Sunday Oginni

Mr. Oginni

The National Working Committee, NWC, of the Labour Party, LP, has suspended the controversial secretary of the Ogun State Chapter, Sunday Oginni.

Mr. Oginni was suspended alongside another chieftain of the party, Femi Onigbinde.

The duo, described as dissenting members, were directed to appear before the disciplinary committee of the party in the state on February 17.

A statement signed by the party’s National Secretary, A. A. Salam, declared that Messrs Oginni and Onigbinde were also suspended from all party activities until further notice, in exercise of the powers of the National Working Committee (NWC) under article 13:3(8) (i) (v) page 15 of the Party’s Constitution.

The charges made against the factional leaders included: breach of the provision of constitution by falsely assuming official party titles; giving wrong, false and misleading information to organs of the party in Ogun State; causing to be publicised party-related grievances without exhausting all avenues of settlement; and taking the party and its officials to court without following the laid down procedures under the constitution.

They were also accused of having conducted themselves in a manner likely to embarrass the party or bring it into hatred, contempt, ridicule, or disrepute.

“By this suspension, Femi Onigbinde and Olaposi Oginni have been warned to desist from any party activity in Ogun State, including using the name of the party for whatever purpose contravention of which they will be handed over to security agencies for immediate prosecution,” the letter read.

Nigeria2015: Atiku in Ibadan to “consult” Governor Ajimobi

A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, visited the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, in Ibadan on Thursday to seek the governor’s view on the former’s proposed move to join the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Atiku, who was a presidential aspirant under the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, during the run-up to the 2011 general elections, recently declared his resolve to consult widely before deciding on the attempt by the APC leadership to woo him to their fold.

He told the governor that he was in the state to continue his nation-wide consultations with stakeholders on his political ambition.

The former number two Nigerian also relived his days as a customs officer in Ibadan, saying that the experience formed part of the high point of his life.

“Any time I’m in Ibadan, I always recall my happiest days as a civil servant of 30 years. I always feel like it is a home-coming anytime I am here. It was from Ibadan here that I was catapulted three or four times on my ranks to become a deputy head of Customs. I have quite a number of memories. I remember it was in Ibadan here when the late Gen. Murtala Mohammed was assassinated. Because I had the same work ethics with Gen. Mohammed, I was always referred to as Murtala Mohammed. So, each time I come to Ibadan, this historic and great city, I always come back with a lot of memories,” he said.

Mr. Abubakar also commended Mr. Ajimobi for the facelift Ibadan had received since the governor came to office.

In his response, Mr. Ajimobi commended the former Vice President for the visit, describing him as a broad-based, patriotic and consummate politician with impeccable character and humble disposition. He prayed that Mr. Atiku’s consultation would result in the consummation of a relationship between the former vice president and the APC.

CHAN 2014: Only God kept me alive – Uzoenyi

Super Eagles midfielder, Ejike Uzoenyi, has revealed that he almost passed out when Ghanaian defender, Kwabena Adusei, elbowed him in his head and nether regions, causing him a minor concussion mid-way into the first half of the African Nations Championship, CHAN, semi-final clash between Nigeria and Ghana in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Team medics described Uzoenyi’s condition at the time as ‘cortica artery seizure’, noting that it took quite a while to get his pulse back from the leg region.

“It was scary but we thank God, it didn’t degenerate more than that and the player’s recovery rate was phenomenal,” one of the medical official attached to the team noted.

The player himself was quoted by Team Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, as saying he momentarily passed on and didn’t know what was happening until he was stretchered out for treatment.

“That player wanted to kill me with that vicious elbow and I was blank and did not know where I was until I started hearing noises, but I was determined to continue that was why I was rushing back to the pitch. But I think it was God that saved my life because some lesser cases have resulted in fatalities,” Uzoenyi said.

He also said that he was still sad that the Eagles lost the match after his near fatal accident and promised that he would be ready for the third place match against the Warriors of Zimbabwe.

“It’s the only thing we have to leave here with and we are determined to compensate Nigerians with a third place finish”, he said.

Zambian referee, Janny Sikwaze, also received blame from football fans across South Africa for being too casual and at times absent minded in the handling of the Nigeria-Ghana match.

“It was really scary that a player will commit such an offence and still was left on the pitch by the referee, CAF must take note and deal with this matter before players like that commit murder on the pitch”, declared Emmanuel Addo, a Nigerian at the tournament.

Lucia Sanele, a South African said she saw the bestial side of football from the Ghanaians and wondered if the organisers were taking notes of what was happening on the pitch.

“We must find a way to excuse brutes from the game of football if the game must maintain its entertainment values”, she said.

Man ties his 7 children to wheel-barrow, solicits for buyers; Accused Imo State Governor

Palpable confusion reigned in Owerri, yesterday, as a father tied his seven children, including his triplet, to a wheel-barrow and was heading to an unknown destination before officials of Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development intervened.
Vanguard investigations revealed that the 44-year-old man, Israel Dike, is a native of Odenkume, Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State, but resides in Ugwu Ekwema, Egbu Road, Owerri.
The children’s hands were securely tied to a wheelbarrow while the man was soliciting for buyers for the children, saying he was fed up with his dwindling economic fortunes.
A staff of the ministry told Vanguard: “Following a tip off, a high powered team led by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Nma Onyechere, quickly went and rescued the children.”
Apart from disclosing that he planned selling some of them with a view to enabling him take proper care of others, Dike equally lamented that Governor Rochas Okorocha put him in the mess he has found himself today.
“Owelle Okorocha is the cause of what I am passing through today. He made me a promise in the past and has failed to redeem it till today,” Dike said.
Speaking to newsmen at the scene, the commissioner described Dike as a “depressed man, who is mentally deranged.”
While urging Dike’s wife to go for family planning, the commissioner equally promised that government would carefully ascertain the level of the man’s mental problem.
Answering a question, Mrs. Onyechere said the ministry would find a way of giving out the children to foster parents with a view to ensuring adequate care and their education.
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Husband, wife accuse each other of infidelity

A couple, Mr Suraju Omolabi and Fumilayo Omolabi, on Thursday, urged an Abeokuta Grade II Customary Court in Ake to dissolve their 11-year-old marriage over alleged infidelity.
The couple is accusing each other of infidelity.
Fumilayo, 30, a trader who resides at No. 3, Agura Road, Abeokuta, had earlier told the court that Suraju beats her regularly and that she is tired of his infidelity.
“My husband beats me at any little mistake. He had battered me to the extent that I had miscarriage.
“He usually beats me to the extent that he will tear my clothes into pieces. I have also heard him receive calls from different women.
“I am no more interested in the marriage. Please I am fed up.”
Suaju, 42, a businessman, also accused his wife of receiving strange calls from different men at midnight.
He said “my wife sneaks out of our matrimonial room at night to receive calls from many different men late
at night.
“She deliberately installed a security code on her phone so that I will not access it.
“I am also no more interested in the marriage because I am tired of fighting everyday. I have reported the matter to her family but all my efforts proved abortive.”
The court’s President, Mr Isreal Fajebe, who said there was still room for reconciliation, adjourned the case to
Feb. 13 for possible reconciliation and judgment. (NAN)

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Osaze will shine again – Hughes

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has tipped outcast Eagles forward, Osaze Odemwingie to resurrect his career at Stoke City, after the Potters completed the signing of the former West Brom striker from Cardiff City in a player-exchange deal that saw Kenwyne Jones move in the opposite direction.
Osaze signed an 18 month contract with the Potters and Hughes is already talking up the prospects of the player regarded as the bad-boy of Nigerian football.
“We’re delighted to have signed Peter. Things haven’t perhaps gone as well for him at Cardiff as he would have hoped and he’s really keen to start afresh with us.
“He has a good goal-scoring record in the Premier League and will bring a different dimension to our attacking options. I’ve no doubts he will prove to be an excellent addition to our squad. He will find his range again”, Hughes told the club’s website.
Stoke City’s Chief Executive Tony Scholes said the hunt for Osaze had been one for a long time, adding that he was relieved that the club have finally gotten their man.
“We were interested in signing Peter last summer when he left West Brom but we’re really pleased to have finally secured his services.”
Odemwingie joined Cardiff from West Brom in September of last year and has scored twice in 17 league and cup appearances for the South Wales outfit.
After spells in Nigerian, Belgian, French and Russian football, the 32-year-old shot to prominence in this country with West Brom, scoring 30 goals in 87 top flight appearances for the Baggies.
Odemwingie has earned 55 caps for the Super Eagles and has scored nine goals in senior international football. But Coach Stephen Keshi appears not to be too keen in extending an invitation to Osaze, whose behaviour has been a source of worry to his former coaches in England and Nigeria.

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2015: Campaign posters flood Ibadan metropolis

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the campaign posters of aspirants have started appearing in different parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
akalaThe News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the posters were largely those of aspirants in the PDP, APC and Accord.
Those sighted included that of the immediate past governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao- Akala, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Jordan, Taofik Arapaja, and Asim Gbolarunmi, all of the PDP.
Arapaja and Gbolarumi were both former deputy governors to Alao-Akala .
Another aspirant, whose poster was pasted conspicuously in the metropolis, was Mr Seyi Makinde of the PDP.
The posters of Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and former Gov. Rashidi Ladoja of Accord were also pasted in various parts of the metropolis.
Areas where the posters where pasted included Mokola, Iwo road, Challenge, Sango, Bodija, Adamasingba, Felele, Queen Elizabeth Road, Secretariat Road, Oja’Oba, Molete, Ring Road as well as some neigbouring towns.
Speaking on the upsurge in the pasting of campaign posters, Mr Akin Oke, the Acting Chairman of APC in Oyo State, said that the development was not in line with due process.
“People are just jumping the gun; those who are pasting posters are just trying to outsmart the others.
“At least, INEC has not given the go ahead to do so,” he said.
Mr Kehinde Olaosebikan, a PDP stalwart, told NAN on phone that even though INEC had not given the go-ahead to campaign, aspirants were merely creating awareness about their candidature.
“It is not illegal to do such a thing since they have not indicated the positions they are contesting for,” he said.
He, however, cautioned the aspirants involved not to do so in an indiscriminate manner.
The Public Relations Officer of Accord Party, Mr Nureni Adeniran, told NAN that aspirants were just pasting posters to create awareness within their parties that they would contest.
“ Take for instance, PDP, where we have the posters of aspirants like Seyi Makinde, Alao-Akala and Arapaja; this does not imply that anybody has been given the ticket,” he said.
But the spokesman of INEC in Oyo State, Mr Ayodele Folami, said the aspirants were wrong to display their posters without the consent of the electoral body.
Folami, who said the aspirants were “ jumping the gun,’’ warned them against violating the commission’s guidelines. (NAN)

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Yobo joins Norwich on loan

Defender on loan for rest of season

CITY can confirm the signing of Nigerian international central defender Joseph Yobo on loan deal until the end of the season from Turkish side Fenerbahce, subject to international clearance and governing body approval.

Yobo, 33, played for Standard Liege, Marseille, Tenerife and Everton before joining Fenerbahce in August 2010. Initially joining Everton on loan from Marseille, he made a total of 258 appearances in all competitions for the Toffees and scored ten goals.

Commenting on the transfer City boss Chris Hughton said: "As most know we’ve got a problem with Michael Turner, who’s got a hamstring pull which will continue to keep him out for a fair amount of time, so it’s an area we needed to fill. Of course what Joseph is about is that he’s someone who knows this division very well, and has great experience."

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Former Chairman Of NAICOM Insurance Sentenced To 15-Years In Prison For Fraud

Former Commissioner of the National Insurance Commission(NAICOM) Okechukwu Chukwulozie was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison over fraud to the tune of N10.4 million fraud.

He was convicted yesterday at an Abuja High Court on 5 counts charge for using private interest to furnish his official residence and demanding for a percentage in a contract he awarded.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission(ICPC),in 2007 jointly charged Chukwulozie, his wife, Angela; and a former Deputy Commissioner in charge of Finance and Administration, Adedolapo Ogungbe to court the N10.4 million fraud without option of fine.

It was yesterday that Chief Chukwulozie began his journey to Kuje prison from ICPC detention cell as it was late yesterday to convey him to Kuje after securing his conviction papers.

Delivering judgment, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, said that the court sentenced Chukwulozie to three years on each of the five counts he is convicted for and it will run concurrently.

Oniyangi, held that the ICPC had proved all the ingredients of Section 19 of the the ICPC Act against him.

“The ICPC has proved beyond reasonable doubt that a commissioner of NICOM, Chukwulozie, demanded fifty per cent of fees paid to liquidators of Gateway Insurance Plc. Beyond reasonable doubt is the standard of evidence required to validate a criminal conviction. Generally the prosecution bears the burden of proof and is required to prove their case.

“The prosecution has presented to court evidence to support its charges against the convict.

“In this case, they have done so. The court hereby sentences you to three years each on each of the five counts level against you, which will run concurrently.

However, Justice Oniyangi held that the ICPC had failed to prove its case against the second (Angela) and third accused (Ogungbe) persons. The court discharged the second and third accused persons charged with aiding and abetting the crime.

Two FCMB Workers Rob Bullion Van Of N13.5m

Two workers with the First City Monument Bank Plc, Adeyemi Adebayo, 32, and Ogundare Julius, 46, have been arraigned before an Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s court for allegedly stealing €50,000 belonging to the bank.

The men were asked to transport the money in a bullion van from the bank’s headquarters at Marina, Lagos, to a branch of FCMB at Adetokunbo Ademola, Lagos Island.

Adebayo, the cash transit officer, allegedly connived with Julius, the bullion driver, to divert the money to an agreed place. The matter was said to have been reported at the police station when the bank officers at the receiving branch did not see the funds.

They were subsequently arrested and arraigned on Tuesday on four counts of conspiracy and stealing. The charges reads in part, “That you, Adeyemi Adebayo and Ogundare Julius, on December 31, 2013, at First City Monument Bank Plc Headquarters, Marina, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District did conspire between yourselves to commit felony to wit: Stealing. That you being the cash transit officer and bullion driver respectively to First City Monument Bank Plc, Marina in the aforesaid magisterial district, did steal the sum of €50,000, property of FCMB.”

The defendants said they were not guilty and elected summary trial. The defence counsel, Ola Ogunbiyi and Lekan Ayinla, asked for the defendants bail in liberal terms.

The magistrate, Mrs Demi Ajayi, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N1m each with two sureties in like sum.

“The sureties must be at least 40 years, gainfully employed and resident in Lagos. One of the sureties must be a blood relation of the defendants with evidence of tax payment and affidavit of means. The address and means of livelihood of the sureties must also be verified,” she added.

The matter was adjourned till February 19, 2014 for mention.

Thursday 30 January 2014

Nigeria Senate Today, Thursday-23rd January 2013

Today, Thursday-23rd January 2013, the Senate sitting in the Committee of the Whole, considered the Report of the Joint Committee on Defence and Army, Navy and Air Force on the screening of the following nominees for appointments ad Chief of Defence and Service Chiefs for the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and confirmed their nominations thereafter.

They are:
i. Air Marshall Alex Badeh - Chief of Defence Staff
ii. Major General Kenneth Minimah – Chief of Army Staff
iii. Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin - Chief of Naval Staff
iv. Air Vice Marshall Adesola Amosu - Chief of Air Staff
The Senate also heard Sen. Saraki on a Point of Order he raised, notifying the Senate and drawing the attention of the Deputy Senate President to a notice of Change of Political Party submitted at the Senate President’s office the previous day. The Presiding Officer, who happened to be the Deputy Senate President stated that the Senate President is currently not available and requested that the matter be stood down till the Senate President’s arrival next week.
Sen. Goje raised another point of Order noting that the matter raised is a matter of Privilege and according to the Standing Rules of the Senate must be discussed immediately.

Sen. Akume also reminded the Senate that it is the constitutional thing to do and that the notice of change of political parties must be read at the floor of the Senate immediatley and discussed. This caused a rowdy session with Senators all speaking loudly at same time. The Deputy Senate President however insisted that the matter be stood down till next week for the Senate President to be present before any action is taken.

The consideration of the 2014 budget was resumed and Senators once again aired their views on the economic situation of Nigeria. some of them blamed the shortfall in government revenue on Crude Oil theft and pipeline vandalism. The debate was stood down again till Tuesday - 4th Feb. 2014.

- Senator Bukola Saraki
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