Blog

U.S. Poll: Look inward, Ex-INEC boss advises FG

NAN-H-39

Election

By Lydia Ngwakwe

Lagos, Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) Prof. Lai Olorode, a former National Commissioner of INEC, on Thursday advised the Federal Government to look inward to develop itself rather than hoping on the election of the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

Olorode told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the regime that would come to power soon would not save any African country.

NAN reports that Trump defeated his opponent, Mrs Hilary Clinton, to become the 45^th American President on Wednesday.

“Nigeria as an African country cannot develop if it looks up to America for its salvation because Donald Trump election portends nothing good for Africa.

“If we are to rely on the utterances of the President-elect before the election and after the election there is nothing that I can say that is hope that will come for Africa.

“Africa should not look for salvation from the United States; Africa is not going to develop through dependency on any other country.

“Nigeria will have to look at the culture of the people of this country, its economy, and look at how to empower herself and not hope that the outcome of that election is anything.

“It is going to be disastrous for Nigeria at home and for Nigerians who are in America,’’ Olorode said.

He also urged Nigerians who are in America to rethink their continuous stay in that country.

Olorode said that Africa had the people, the population and the resources to move on and develop as continent but lacked credible leaders at the managerial level to push forward the developments.

He said it could only take a credible and patriotic leadership to think and accept that only their creator, Africa and Africans could bring development to herself and its people.

While noting that the only lesson that Nigeria could learn was a lesson in tolerance from Clinton, the Ex-INEC boss enjoined Nigerian politicians to emulate her.

He said: “I think we can learn a lesson in tolerance from Hilary Clinton and how she has been able to demonstrate maturity throughout the period of campaign and even in the post-election phase.’’

Olorode criticised Nigeria for copying the American electoral system, adding that it is expensive, money guzzling and is what is killing Nigerian government.

He said Nigerian government borrowed a system that was not in tune with our culture and economy.

He said: “We have to do something that will reflect our social reality; you have legislators that you pay so much money, we have a governance system that will not allow election to hold at the local government level.

“We have a system that is not reflecting our reality and it is gulping so much money, we need to rethink our democratic practice, we need to rethink our election project, we need to rethink the way and mode of executing things

“It is a system of a winner takes all, and the loser loses everything, is not in tune with our cultural system,’’ Olorode said.

He said unless and until Nigeria retool, we would not be making a desirable progress anywhere.

Besides, he called for a total overhaul and rethink of our constitutional and democratic values, and electoral regime which the country currently upholds so as to be free from oppression. (NAN)

LED/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-61
Stealing
By Oluwatope Lawanson
Lagos, Nov.10, 2016 (NAN) Two men, Festus Ogbefu, 36, and Chidi Nwafor, 34, were on Thursday arraigned at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing N1 million belonging to their employer.

The accused are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, forgery and stealing.

Ogbefu, a barber, resides in Akute area of Ogun and Nwafor, a trader, lives in Oregun, Lagos.

They were alleged to have forged an invoice under the pretext of obtaining money from the complainant, Fred Ogunlana.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Yomi Egunjobi, told the court that the accused committed the offences between March 2015 and September 2015 at No. 1, Alhaji Jimoh St., Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos.

Egunjobi said that the accused were employed by the complainant to work as a stylist and manager in his barbing salon.

The accused were asked to be remitting N30, 000 monthly to the complainant who they never did but they converted N300, 000 meant for the rent of the shop to their own personal use.

According to the prosecutor, the duo have earlier connived and forged an invoice with no 0005671 dated Aug. 26 of Stankings Beauty Care shop which they used in obtaining money from the complainant.

“They were arrested and taken to the police station for further questioning,’’ Egunjobi said.

The offences contravened sections 285, 363 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes a three-year imprisonment for stealing.

The court granted the accused N500, 000 bail and two sureties each in like sum.

Chief Magistrate M.O. Osinbajo ruled that the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

Osinbajo adjourned the case till Nov. 24 for mention. (NAN)
LAW/ORO/MO

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Edited by Razak Owolabi/Morayo Omolade

NAN-H-59

U.S.

Abuja, Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) Chief Emmanuel Ogidi, National Vice Chairman, South-South, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the emergence of Donald Trump as President-elect of the U.S. classically demonstrated that only God could give power.

Ogidi said that this was so because many people currently believed that Trump’s emergence against all odds and permutations, was the “latest wonder of the world’’.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday that the result of the Tuesday election truly shocked most persons in the U.S. and the world because of the issues Trump canvassed during his campaign.

But, he said that Trump won the election because though a businessman, was a politician who understood Americans and “spoke their language’’ to them.

Allaying the fears of the people, Ogidi said “truth is that in the U.S., anybody in a position of authority cannot do whatever he likes.

“The U.S. has strong institutions to check people in government and their offices, and as such, Trump cannot have his way on the issues he canvassed during his campaigns.

“U.S. can sack anybody, no matter his position, who goes against the will of the people. The institutions are there to protect the system and the people.’’

Ogidi also said that the Democratic Party was voted out in the elections because of President Barak Obama’s support for gay activities and marriage, saying that God and humanity were angry with him.

He urged Nigeria and African countries to build strong institutions that would call people in positions of authority to order or hold them accountable for their actions.

“With strong institutions, there will be confidence in the people that whoever is in public office cannot misbehave, and when he does, there are processes to call him to order,’’ he said.

On his part, a former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Martin Okonta, said that Trump triumphed because those who were against him believed he was unpopular and relaxed.

He said that rather than working hard till the end and ensured victory for Clinton, her promoters and supporters underrated real politics and dropped their guards, in confidence that they had it.

According to Okonta, when the Democrats and their supporters relaxed, racists who love Trump, took advantage and pressed on.

He, however, said that the lesson from the result of the election, believed to have gone contrary to expectation, was that power was transient and belonged to God, “who gives to who He pleases’’.

He also said that the acceptance of defeat by Hilary Clinton, although already exemplified by former President Goodluck Jonathan, should be imbibed by politicians in Nigerian and Africa.

On ongoing protests in many states in America over the election result, Okonta said that it was intended to make Trump to sit up and face governance squarely. (NAN)

EEM/OPI/OPI

Edited by Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-H-58

Fani-Kayode

By Wandoo Sombo

Abuja, Nov.10, 2016 (NAN) The Federal High Court, Abuja has admitted Femi Fani-Kayode to bail in the sum of N50 million and one surety in like sum.

The court, however, remanded him in Kuje Prison pending the perfection of his bail condition.

Fani-Kayode was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice John Tsoho on a fresh five-count charge bordering on money laundering.

The ex-aviation minister was accused of allegedly collecting N26 million from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki and using the money for media campaign.

Count two of the charge reads: “You, Femi Fani-Kayode, converted N26 million cash paid from the office of the National Security Adviser for the purpose of media campaign.

“You ought to have reasonably known that the said funds formed part of an unlawful act contrary to section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering Act.”

His counsel, Mr Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) in arguing his bail application, told the court that his client had been kept in EFCC custody in the last 21 days without a warrant of arrest or detention from the court.

Adedipe called the court’s attention to a sister case where his client allegedly misappropriated N1.2 billion but had been granted bail and had not breached the terms of his bail.

He also said that the offence his client was accused of was a bailable one and urged the court to admit him to bail on self recognition or on liberal terms.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr Johnson Ojogbane, however, argued that even though, the defence had filed the bail application before the arrest and arraignment of the defendant, he responded to the application in good faith.

“Ordinarily, we should not have responded to the bail application since it was filed long before today, but out of respect to this honourable court and in good faith, we have decided to respond,” Ojogbane said.

While admitting that the defendant had been in the EFCC custody in the last 21 days, he said that the arrest and detention was for the sole purpose of bringing him before the court according to the constitution.

Justice Tsoho, in his ruling, agreed that the offence the defendant was accused of was bailable.

Tsoho said that the fears expressed by the prosecution in their counter affidavit that the defendant was a flight risk and was likely to temper with evidence were only speculative.

He also said that there was no evidence to show that when the defendant was granted bail in the sister case or that he breached the conditions of his bail.

Tsoho, therefore, set in the conditions for bail to include that the defendant would deposit his travel documents with the court.

Others are that the surety must be resident in Abuja, own landed property and produce the original documents of the property for citing and inspection.

Justice Tsoho also ordered that the defendant and sureties must produce two recent passport photographs and adjourned for commencement of trial till Dec. 25.

Fani-Kayode pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Fani-Kayode is already facing a 17-count charge of money laundering before the Lagos division of the court. (NAN)
WS/HAS/MO
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Edited By Hajia Sani/Morayo Omolade

ABS Promotion: Kwara SWAN congratulates Senate President

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ABS
BY Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) The Kwara Chapter, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), has congratulated the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, over the promotion of Ilorin-based Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC to Nigeria’s apex league.

SWAN congratulated Saraki in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Bibire and Secretary, Olayinka Owolewa on Thursday in Ilorin.

The statement praised Saraki’s support to the club which enabled it to return to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) after three years in the lower division.

“SWAN also appreciates the state government for providing the enabling environment for the privately-owned club and for its consistent support to the sports sector in the state,’’ it said.

The statement recalled how the Saraki boys thrashed Gateway United FC of Abeokuta on Wednesday in Ilorin 4-1 in rescheduled Match Day 14 of the Nigeria National League (NNL) encounter.

It urged Saraki to redouble his finances and support to the team as the campaign in the NPFL would begin in a few weeks.

The statement also thanked the players and the technical crew of the team for their doggedness throughout the season and for returning premier league action to the state.

It also congratulated the club’s Director of Football, Alloy Chukwuemeka, one of the national executives of the association, for his outstanding contribution to the progress of the club.

It equally rejoiced with Kwarans, especially soccer enthusiasts for their unflinching support to the team day and night.

The statement urged the soccer fans to continue to be law abiding, especially when the premier league season resumed.

It commended stakeholders in the state for their support to the team that made the journey to the country’s top flight football possible in spite of all odds. (NAN)
OOH/PDE
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(Edited by Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-S-5
Preparations
By Babatunde Ogunrinde
Lagos Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) Peter Ahmedu, the Head Coach, First Bank Basketball Club of Lagos on Thursday said that the team is preparing hard ahead of the forthcoming FIBA Africa Club Championships in Mozambique.

The elite women basketball competition that yearly crowns the continent’s club champions dunks off in Nov. 25 and ends Dec. 4 in the city of Maputo.

First Bank popularly called the “Elephant Girls of Africa’’ are the current champions of the national league tagged “Zenith Bank Women Basketball League’’.

The team defeated rival Lagos team, Dolphins, to pick the title.

Recently, at the Zone 3 FIBA Africa Basketball Club Championships held in Togo in October, the elephant girls emerged victorious defeating other contenders to the championship title.

Ahmedu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the team was getting ready for the big challenge ahead of them and is determined to win the FIBA Africa Club event.

“It has been awesome year for me, especially picking up two championship titles in one year and I am basically looking towards the coming challenge in Mozambique.

“It is definitely going to be tough as the best teams in Africa will be coming strong to challenge for the title as well, so we have to be well prepared.

“Having come fourth in the last edition, we just have to push harder and learn from the mistakes of last season,’’ Ahmedu said.

According to Ahmedu, the team has already added some new players to help challenge for the title and is also looking to recruit another player in the defence.

“We just have to go with a very strong team, I am not saying my current squad is not good, but everybody knows that the continental stage is a different ball game.

“We are bringing in four players for Mozambique, at the moment; we are expecting two players from the U.S. and two from Mexico and Cote d’ Ivoire respectively.”

“Our target is podium finish and I believe strongly that we can achieve that goal,’’ he said.

NAN reports that Mozambique holds fond memories for First Bank Basketball Club as they won their first FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women in Maputo back in 2003. (NAN)
BAO/ENN/MZA
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Maharazu Ahmed)

NAN-H-21
Security
Agwada (Nasarawa State), Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) The paramount ruler of Agwada chiefdom in Nasarawa, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq-Obagu, on Thursday appealed to the state government to beef up security in the area.
Sadiq-Obagu, who is the Osu Agada,
The traditional ruler made the appeal in Agwada at the presentation of the mantle of leadership to the Overseer of Agwada Council Development Area, Mr Adamu Kasimu-Danlami.
Represented by Ciroma of Agwada, Alhaji Musa Owuna, the paramount ruler said that regular police patrol would curb robberies and ensure the protection of lives and properties in the area.
“We are no longer safe; armed robbers are disturbing us day and night and this is affecting our lives and our socio-economic development negatively.
“Beefing up security in the area would not only help in curtailing armed robberies but will also help in checking the influx of criminal elements,’’ the monarch said.
Sadiq-Obagu urged the people of the area to be security conscious and to report the suspicious movement of persons or groups to the appropriate authority for necessary action.
He enjoined the people to be law abiding, respect constituted authorities, live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of ethnic, religion and political affiliations.
He commended Gov. Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State for constructing the Bokoko Bridge which connected Agwada with other communities in the state.
He appealed for the rehabilitation of Kofar Gwar/Agwada/Udege road so as to reduce the hardship of the people, boost food production, improve revenue base and socio-economic activities of the people.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the mantle of leadership was presented to the Overseer by Alhaji Adamu Aliyu-Giza, Director of Personnel of Management of Kokona Local Government. Receiving the mantle of leadership, Kasimu-Danlami thanked Gov. Al-Makura for the appointment and promised to be just and fair while discharging his duties.
He has also promised to operate an open door policy by carrying everybody along and solicited the support of his people to enable him succeed in his new task.
Earlier, Aliyu-Giza, assured the new council overseer of the maximum support and cooperation of workers in order to move the area to greater heights. (NAN)
AKW/EAL/WOJ
(Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi / Wale Ojetimi)

FCT women flays discrimination against marrying younger men

NAN-ELS-3

Discrimination

By Justina David Auta

Abuja, Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) Some women in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Thursday criticised discrimination by the society on their decision to marry younger men, why applauding the men for doing similar act.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, some of the women alleged that they have been discriminated, judged and labelled “Sugar mummy” for their decision to marry men they were older than.

Mrs Esther David, a businesswoman, said she was five years older than her husband, who is also into the same provision business with her.

David said her decision to marry her husband was borne out of love, admiration and respect she had for him, and not because she was desperate to get married as alleged by some persons.

“Our society tend to judge women negatively for marrying younger men, even if that relationship was born out of love and respect for each other.

“But the same society see nothing wrong if a man marries someone that he is old enough to even be her grandfather,’’ she lamented.

According to her, she faced a lot of challenges from her in-laws due to their age differences before she was fully accepted as his wife, despite performing the traditional, Christian and even the court wedding.

Similarly, Mrs Bose Ade, a mother of two, said even though she was eight years older than her husband, whom she has been married to for over a decade, said it does not change the love, affection and respect they had for each other.

“At first, it was very difficult for me to accept his marriage proposal because I was far older than him with over eight years.

“But I was later convinced by his persistence and support from his family that he was not dissuaded by our age differences,’’ Ade said.

However, she added that even though she was accepted by her in-laws she still faces discrimination due to their age differences from some of his relatives and the neighbourhood they reside.

According to her, she ignores all those subtle attacks on her person, urging other women that are facing similar challenges to ignore gossip and concentrate on building their home.

“I don’t have problem with my in-laws, it is just some distant relatives of his and people in our area still gossip and call me names like old woman, and all sorts because he looks younger than I do.

“I choose to ignore them and make sure I exhibit love and affection for my husband just to spite them,” she said.

However, Miss Fatima Musa, an unemployed graduate said she cannot marry a man she was older than because the society would see her as “desperate’’ and she would not get the respect she deserves from him.

Musa also added that women naturally look older physically than the men, so the age difference between an older woman and her much younger husband would be too glaring, particularly when the woman starts giving birth to children.

“Women naturally look older than men. So if you marry someone younger in age, one might end up looking like his mother or elder sister than his wife, especially when she starts bearing children,’’ she said.

On his own part, Malam Idris Samaila, said there was nothing wrong in a woman marrying a man she is older than, as long as mutual trust, respect and love was between them.

“Age is just a figure that people put so much emphasis on. It does not matter if a woman is older than her husband or the husband is older than the wife as it is commonly practiced in our society.

“The main issue we should be concerned about is how to build our homes within the tenets of our religious believes, as well as sharing love and understanding.’’

Samaila said the fear of marrying a younger man by some women, whom feel the age difference might bring disrespect between them, was uncalled for, as respect was earned and not deserved.

“When some people claim that marrying a younger man would make him disrespectful to them in the future is a flimsy excuse because I have seen instances, where a matured man marries a younger one like his daughter’s age mate and she still does not have respect for him.’’

He therefore appealed to the society to shun any form of discrimination against men or women, who marry much younger spouse and encourage the sanctity of marriage within the religious or traditional belief so as to reduce the rates of illegitimate children in the society. (NAN)

JAD/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-19

Robbery

By Boboye Moronke Tinuola

Lagos, Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) A 26- year -old unemployed man, Adewale Abiodun, who allegedly robbed a house and stole N396, 500 worth of goods, was on Thursday docked at an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The accused, who resides at New-site area of Ijoko Oyero, Ogun State, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and robbery.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Donjor Perezi, told the court that the offences were committed on Oct. 15 at no 9, Sabitiyu St., Iyana-Ipaja, a suburb of Lagos.

Perezi said that the accused and others now at large, robbed two neighbours–  Adedipupo Jinadu and Abomere Prosper– in their apartment at night.

“The accused and others at large robbed the two neighbours at gun-point and went away with mobile phones, laptops, gold wrist watches and N80,000 cash.

“The total value of the properties stolen was N396, 500,’’ he said.

Perezi also said that the accused was apprehended by security men in the area, while his accomplices escaped.

The offences contravene Sections 295 (2) (a) (b) and 297 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs O. A Layinka, granted the accused a bail of N200, 000, with two sureties in like sum.

Layinka adjourned the case to Dec. 8. (NAN)

MTO/DEB/BOS

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Edited by Debo Oshundun/dele bodunde

NAN-H-52
Fraud
Abuja, Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) A Wuse Zone 2 Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday in Abuja granted two bureau de change operators N1million bail each for allegedly defrauding a man of N17million.

The defendants are Abdullahi Garba and Musa Abba, both of Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

The duo are facing a three-count charge of joint act, criminal breach of trust and cheating.

The prosecutor, Asa Oyeyemi, told the court that one Abuh Danjuma of  Mararaba, Abuja, reported the case at the Wuse Police Station on Nov. 1

Oyeyemi, said that the complainant reported the case on behalf of his brother, Francis Okolie, who is in New York, U.S.

He said Okolie on Oct. 26 deposited 18,000 U.S. dollars(N17.3million) into the account of the defendants’ bureau de change to convert the money to Naira equivalent and deposit it into his bank account in Nigeria.

The defendants, he said, failed to deposit the money and rather converted it to their personal use.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened sections 79, 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against them.

Chief Magistrate  Mohammed Tahir, who granted the duo bail, ordered them to produce a reasonable surety each.

Tahir also ordered that both sureties must be civil servants within the jurisdiction of the court and adjourned till Jan. 10 for hearing. (NAN)
UMD/HAS/OJO
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(Edited By Hajia Sani/Mufutau Ojo)