Blog

Ondo Election: AD scribe files suit challenging Oke’s eligibility to contest
NAN-H-10
By Tayo Ikujuni
Eligibility
Abuja, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) Mr Kehinde Aworele, the National Legal Adviser, Alliance for Democracy (AD), has filed a suit challenging the eligibility of Chief Olusola Oke to contest as the party’s candidate in the Nov. 26 Governorship Election in Ondo State.

Aworele, in a suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/881/2016 before a Federal High Court, Abuja, dated Nov. 4, prayed the court to determine whether Oke, who is the governorship candidate of AD is qualify to contest on the platform of the party in the election.

Other defendants in the suit are Chief Joseph Avaci, the National Chairman of AD, Mr Akin Fashogbon, AD National Secretary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The suit is attached with a 42-paragraph affidavit in support of the Originating Summons and disposed to by one Babatunde Tijani of No. 7, Kwali Close, Area B, Abuja.

The plaintiff urged the court to determine whether “Oke, being a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and contested in APC primary of Sept. 3 can surreptitiously become the candidate of AD in Ondo State in the 2016 Governorship Election having regard to the provisions of Article 21.4 of the Constitution of AD.

The court is also to determine:

“Whether by Article 21.4 of the Constitution of AD, Oke can be said to eligible to contest on the platform of AD.

“Whether having regard to the provisions of Article 21.4 of the Constitution of AD, Oke not being a member of the AD for duration six months can lawfully contest for the 2016 Governorship Election in Ondo State on the platform of AD.

“Whether in view of Article 6(a) of the Constitution of AD, Oke can be said to be a member of the party.’’

Aworele also sought the declaration of the court that: “By the virtue of the provisions of Article 21.4 of the Constitution of AD on issue of eligibility, Oke is not eligible to run for any election on the platform of the party.

“An order of the court setting aside the forwarding of the name of Oke as the party candidate to INEC by the party’s National Secretary, Mr Akin Fashogbon.

“A perpetual injunction restraining Oke from parading himself as the candidate of AD and for INEC not to recongnise him as the party’s candidate in the Nov. 26 Governorship Election in Ondo State.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that article 21.4 of the AD Constitution states; “No member shall be eligible to contest any election unless that member had been a financial member at least six months before the date of such.

“This clause shall not apply to anyone granted a waiver by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.’’

No date has been fixed to hear the case. (NAN)
IKU/TA
Edited by Tajudeen Atitebi

NAN-H-4
Hospital
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) Muslim Specialist Hospital, Zaria and the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Wa’iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), plan to spend more than N1.3 billion on a school of nursing and midwifery project in Zaria.

The General Manger of the hospital, Alhaji Abubakar Idris made the disclosure on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in his office in Zaria, Kaduna State.

He said that the two organisations had agreed to set up a committee to draw up terms of collaboration between them.

“This committee will work in close partnership with the hospital team to fashion out ways of achieving set goals and objectives,” Idris said.

He said that the school would provide additional manpower needs of hospitals and community health centres in the state.

Idris said that the N1.3 billion estimate was made in 2014, and may go up sharply due to  “current changes in prices of goods”.

According to him, the genesis of the collaboration was set in June after a visit to the hospital by JIBWIS National Chairman, Sheik Abdullahi Bala-Lau and National Secretary, Sheik Kabiru Gombe.

“After tour of the facility, the entourage were highly impressed by what they saw in place as well as the hospital’s mode of operation.

“They were later briefed on successes and challenges of the hospital as well as its future plan,” he said.

He added that Bala-Lau promised that JIBWIS would join hands with the hospital on the project.

“First of all, he promised to collaborate with us to build a School of Nursing and Midwifery, because JIBWIS had similar intention and no other place is convenient for such, than the hospital.”

According to Idris, JIBWIS would connect the hospital with some philanthropists in Nigeria and International Islamic Organisations, to fast track the development.

Idris added that the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the hospital, Alhaji Nuhu Shitu had visited JIBWIS headquarters in Abuja to concretise the deal.

He appealed to Nigerian Muslims to support the initiative for the good of all.(NAN)
KLM/KOLE/MZA
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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-H-8
Rice

By Boboye Moronke Tinuola

Lagos, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) A -36-year-old man, Adebayo Kehinde, on Monday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly pouring hot rice on his neighbour, following an argument on house cleaning.

The accused person, who is a trader, lives at 1, Olusegun Close, Mafoluku, Oshodi, a suburb of Lagos and he is standing trial for assault.

The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Benedict Aigbokhan, told the court that the offence was committed on Oct. 23 at the residence of the accused.

Aigbokhan said that an argument occurred between the accused and his neighbour, one Mrs Goodness Orizu, on who was to clean the house.

“The accused poured hot rice on the complainant’s chest and breast, which led to a severe injury,” he said.

The offence contravened Section 170 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011 but the accused pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mrs O. Olanipekun, granted the accused N100,000 bail with one surety in like sum. (NAN)

The case was adjourned till Nov. 30 for hearing.

MTO/IKU/YEMI

Edited by Tayo Ikujuni

Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju

SON takes campaign against sub-standard products to schools

By Blessing Odega
NAN-H-7
Campaign
Jos, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) The Plateau office of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has taken its campaign against sub-standard products to schools
in the state, according to the Coordinator, Mr Musa George.

“ We have embarked on an aggressive campaign against sub-standard products and have chosen to start from educational institutions,” George told the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN), in Jos on Monday.

He explained that the organisation chose to start with pupils and students in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions of learning to equip them with the knowledge to
identify sub-standard goods.

“ We want them to understand and appreciate the detriments of purchasing and consuming sub-standard products.

“We also want them to know how to identify these sub-standard and educate their peers and even their parents or guardians,” he said.

He said that during the campaigns, SON educated the students on the need to ensure that every product met certfied standards before being purcahsed.

“ Every product must be safe and of standard; that is the only way to qualify into the Nigerian markets,” he said.

George said that the organisation had held sensitization programmes in 16 secondary schools and the Bokkos University in the last two months.

He decried the alarming rate at which Nigeria was being used as a dump site for sub-standard goods from other countries, pointing out that such goods were harmful to the people.

“The main mandate of SON is to ensure that all manufactured products complied with standards prior to introduction into the market; we shall continue to pursue that mandate aggressively,” he declared. (NAN)
UBO/ORO/ETS
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Edited by Razak Owolabi and Ephraims Sheyin

We’ll resist caretaker committees for councils in C/River – APC
NAN-H-6
APC
By Benson Ezugwu
Calabar, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River says it will not accept appointment of caretaker committees to run the 18 local government councils in the state.
Mr John Ochala, the state APC Acting State Chairman, said this on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.
Ochala was reacting to speculations that the PPD government in the state was planning to set up caretaker committees for the councils as the tenure of the current chairmen will end next month.
“We are still watching events as they unfold. We have written to the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) to remind them of our willingness to participate in the election and the need for them to do the needful.
“We are saying that if they violate the electoral laws, we will have no option than to take all legal steps to challenge their actions.
“If they go ahead to set up caretaker for the councils when the tenure of present chairmen expires in December, we will act in accordance with relevant laws.’’
Ochala advised members and supporters of APC across the state to continue to warm up for the election, adding that the party was fully prepared for the polls.
“May be the PDP led government is afraid of losing to the `hurricane APC’ in the state, but we are ready to push them out of power at the local councils, ‘’he said.
NAN reports that there was no sign of activities at the SIEC in spite of the tenure of the current chairmen ending next month. (NAN)
BEN/KOLE/TA
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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Tajudeen Atitebi

Industrial Court orders ABU to pay N2.6b to 110 disengaged staff
NAN-H-3

Disengagement

by Ummul Idris

Abuja, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday ordered the management of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria to pay N2.6 billion to 110 staff whose appointments were illegally terminated in 1996.

The court has also ordered the the university to immediately reinstate all the 110 staff.

Justice Peter Lifu, gave the order in his judgment delivered in a suit filed by the disengaged staff against the university.

“The disengaged staff of the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria should be paid the sum of (N2,585,130,678.21) as their entitlements from the date of disengagement till June 2016,” he ruled.

Lifu held that the purported termination was illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

The judge therefore directed the university to immediately reinstate the claimants as bonafide staff of the institution.

He held that the university should comply with all the recommendations of the 2004 and 2010 Presidential Visitation panel of the university and ordered it to take the recommendations as binding on it.

The 110 claimants, in 2013, instituted the suit to challenge the alleged illegal termination of their appointments by the university authority.

The claimants, who are both academic and non-academic staff of the university, averred that they have variously served the institution for over 20 years without blemish before the unlawful termination.

The claimants joined the Minister of Education, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice as defendants in the suit.

Counsel to the claimants, Mr Femi Adedeji, expressed satisfaction with the court’s judgment.

“The judgment is very fair; they deserve their entitlements,” he said.

Mr Aliemeke Ewere, cousel to the university, however, refused to react to the court’s judgment. (NAN )
UMD /KOO/MZA
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-HE-14
Infrastructure
By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
Lagos, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) Some financial experts on Monday urged the Federal Government to ensure effective utilisation of all external borrowings to infrastructure-tied projects for growth and development of the economy.

 
The experts told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that borrowed funds should be invested in projects such as power, rail and roads.

 
Dr Uche Uwaleke, Head, Department of Banking and Finance, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, told NAN that the loans should be invested in infrastructure in partnership with the private sector to facilitate economic activities.

 
Uwaleke said that some of the loans should also be invested in agriculture to earn foreign exchange from food exports.

 
“I do not advise funding social sectors such as education and health with borrowed funds except they come in form of grants,” he stated.
 

He said that recovered looted funds could be applied to the social sectors.

 
According to him, the government should tie the funds to only projects with the capacity to pay back.

 
He stated that the first tranche of 600 million dollars from the African Development Bank (AfDB) should be used strictly for the purpose it was meant, in line with an agreement between the government and the AfDB.

 
“The provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 should be adhered to when applying the proceeds of foreign loans to the effect that they must be project-tied,” Uwaleke added.
 

He said that resorting to external borrowing appeared to be the best option for the country in view of the present economic circumstances.

 
“We cannot afford to increase taxes neither should we be selling critical assets in order to raise funds to stimulate the economy.

 
“The huge infrastructure gap in Nigeria justifies the size of the three-year borrowing plan.

 
“The country still has room for foreign borrowing in view of the low external debt to GDP ratio. The capacity to service public debt may be weak considering the high debt service to revenue ratio at over 30 per cent.

 
“However, this is mainly due to the huge domestic debt in our portfolio (over 80 per cent) and the high cost of servicing it,” he said.

 
Uwaleke urged that the government should not issue Eurobonds now at the international capital market because they could be underpriced with the economic recession and unfavourable global ratings.

 
Mr Sola Oni, the Chief Executive Officer, SOFUNIX Investment and Communications Ltd., said that investment in infrastructure would be the country’s much-needed and quick-win approach to economic transformation.
Oni said that investment in infrastructure would create an enabling environment, enhance productivity, boost employment opportunities and export promotion drive, generate foreign exchange and strengthen the nation’s currency.
 

He noted that the capital market was a barometer for the economy, adding that it mirrored the development in the economy.

 
Oni said that economic transformation would impact positively on the capital market.

 
“Once the quoted companies are operating optimally, and investors are assured of good returns, there will be flurry of activities.

 
“The corollary is what we are experiencing now. An efficient market cannot operate at variance with the fundamentals of the economy. Our market is forward looking,” Oni said.
 

NAN reports that a turnover of 873.84 million shares worth N8.02 billion were exchanged by investors in 15,944 deals last week, against 678.71 million shares valued at N6.88 billion traded in 11,808 deals in the preceding week.

 
Financial services sector led the week’s activity chart with 654.18 million shares worth N2.84 billion traded in 9,835 deals.

 
The consumer goods industry followed with 74.72 million shares valued at N4.14 billion achieved in 2,367 deals.

 
The third place was occupied by the conglomerates industry with a turnover of 61.62 million shares worth N93.37 million transacted in 666 deals.
 

NAN reports that the All-Share Index during the review period lost 312.61 points or 1.15 per cent to close at 26,981.60 compared with 27,294.21 achieved in the preceding week.

 
Also, the market capitalisation which opened at N9.375 trillion shed N87 billion or 0.93 per cent to close at N9.288 trillion due to price losses.

 
Oando recorded the highest loss in percentage terms, shedding 16.73 per cent or 87k to close at N4.33 per share.

 
University Press followed with a loss of 15.07 or 69k to close at N3.89, while UACN Property lost 13.85 per cent or 43k to close at N2 per share.

 
Conversely, Learn Africa led the gainers’ table for the week in percentage terms, gaining 23.44 per cent or 15k to close at 79k per share.
 

Airline Services and Logistics Plc followed with a gain of 15.45 per cent or 34k to close at N2.54, and Okomuoil Palm appreciated by 14.63 per cent or N6 to close at N47 per share.(NAN)
JNC/JPE/IGO
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(Edited by Joseph Edeh/ Ijeoma Popoola)

/Maharazu Ahmed

Domestic airlines record 7,722 cases of delayed flights in Q3

NAN-H-2

By Adekunle Williams and Solomon Asowata

Flights

Lagos, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said that domestic airlines operating in the country recorded 7, 722 cases of delayed flights in the third quarter of 2016.

This is contained in a document issued by the NCAA’s Consumer Protection Department which was obtained on Monday by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

The document indicated that 13, 097 flights were operated by eight domestic airlines during the period under review, while 253 flights were cancelled.

It said the airlines in operation were Aero Contractors, Arik Air, Air Peace, Azman Air, Dana Air, First Nation, Med-View and Overland.

Arik, which operated 4, 882 flights, topped the chart of delayed and cancelled flights with 2, 824 and 128 respectively.

This was closely followed by Air Peace, which recorded 1, 383 delayed flights and 16 cancellations out of its 2, 754 flight operations.

Dana Air operated 1, 665 flights with 1, 160 incidences of delayed flights and one cancellation.

The airlines had attributed the delays and cancellations to the lingering scarcity of aviation fuel in the country.

However, in a recent meeting with airline operators, the Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika, assured them that the government was working assiduously to end the scarcity of the product.

As part of the move, Sirika also held a meeting with oil marketers who informed him of their challenges regarding the importation, supply and distribution of aviation fuel to the airlines. (NAN)

WAC/ASO/FF/MZA

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Edited by Fela Fashoro

NAN-H-8

Documentation
By Uche Eletuo
Lagos, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) to instil discipline in its members and ensure that the name of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) remained sacrosanct, the association plans to picket members on false documentation.

Mr Obinna Okoafor, NAGAFF Secretary, Ikorodu Chapter, who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos, said that the national body was working to curb the falsification of documents among members, to enable it to remain a premium in the maritime sector.

Okoafor said that NAGAFF had maintained a brand over the years, which he said had acted as a kind of goodwill to members.

“The brand accords members preference in dealing with ports operators like the Nigeria Customs.

“It is true that some freight forwarders indulge in false documentation, to cut corners in the clearing business.

“The body, through its chapters, has issued warnings to members to desist from any transaction that can bring the image of the association into disrepute,’’ Okoafor said.

According to him, the sensitisation of members towards achieving this goal has started in earnest.

He said that the association was liaising with the Nigeria Customs Service and other operatives, to check the menace.

Okoafor said that as the wind of change blows across the land, members should follow suit to be part of the success story of the association.

The NAGAFF secretary, who urged members to live above board in their dealings, added that stiff sanctions awaited erring members. (NAN)
EUC/PIO/PIO
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Edited by Idonije Obakhedo

251 vigilante members complete intelligence training in Adamawa

NAN-DS-1

Training

Yakubu Musa Uba

Yola, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) No fewer than 251 Vigilante members from Adamawa and Taraba have concluded a five-day Basic Intelligence Training organized by Nigerian Police in Yola.

Dr Murtala Aliyu, Adamawa Commander of Vigilante Group of Nigeria, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola on Monday.

Aliyu said the training, conducted at the Mobile Police (MOPOL 14) Base in Yola, was to imbue in members, the necessary techniques to provide back-up to the police and other security agencies in curbing crime.

The chairman added that the training was to help members conform to standard security procedures during operations.

He lauded the support his members were enjoying from the general public in Adamawa.

The chairman, however, said the state and local governments were not doing enough to encourage the operations of vigilante groups.

Aliyu assured that, if fully supported, the vigilante members would play more effective role in intelligence gathering and crime prevention in the state.

He disclosed that the group would recruit more volunteers in 2017.

“Currently, Adamawa has 2, 800 members and we hope to increase the number in 2017,” the chairman said.

According to him, membership is voluntary but recruits must be responsible members of society endorsed by local chiefs and the police.

On discipline, the chairman said over 20 members had been sanctioned during the year for various offences, with some of them dismissed from membership of the group.(NAN)
YMU/ACO/MZA

Edited by Oluleye Abiodun/Maharazu Ahmed