Blog

N26m Registration Scam: Students, Bank  trade blame
NAN-H-10
Registration
Zaria (Kaduna State), Oct. 8, 2016 (NAN) The Students Representative Council of Federal College of Education (FCE), Zaria has accused the First Bank of Nigeria, Zaria main branch, of invoilvement in the alleged diversion of N26 million students’ registration fees.

The bank has however dismissed the allegation as spurious, saying that it had no case to answer.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of 1,128 students of the college were affected by the disappearance of their registration fees.

Mr Nathan Zakka, Chairman of the students’ council, described the development as “disheartening”, and appealed for thorough investigation to trace the missing money.

Zakka pleaded for patience and cooperation from the students as the union was liaising with relevant authorities to ensure the recovery of the registration fees from the bank.

“We have briefed the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Abuja and they are equally making arrangement to address the matter.

“We have also arranged with the college management through bursary department to help us verify all payments made through First Bank.

“This is because they are the operator of TSA who only have access to the remita code for verification and as soon as the exercise is done, we will ensure that your money is recovered,” he said.

According to him, the affected students paid their money through the bank and possess duly certified stamped tellers and numbers.

Mr Babatunde Lasaki, Head, Corporate Affairs, First Bank, however, debunked the allegation in a telephone interview with NAN, blaming the affected students for their misfortune.

He said: “From the initial report sent to us after an investigation, it actually shows that there are thousands of students who paid their registration fees in the branch.”

Lasaki explained that it was when the students went to the college for validation that the problem was detected.

“It was in the process of this validation they got to know that some of the students did not duly register.

“These affected students did not pay their money in the bank, they actually paid their money in cyber cafes, not in our branch.

“We understand that some of these cyber cafés encourage students to come and do all the registration with them instead of going to the bank, so in this situation, the bank has no case with the affected students,” he said.

Lasaki added that the case had been reported to the police and expressed the hope that the matter would be thoroughly investigated to ensure justice to both parties.

On its part, the Kaduna State Police Command through its spokesperson, ASP Aliyu Usman confirmed receipt of the case, assuring that investigation into the matter was on. (NAN)
KLM/MZA
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Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-H-9
Adoption
By Olawale Jokotoye
Abeokuta, Oct. 8, 2016 (NAN) The Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGISIEC) adopted simultaneous accreditation and voting system for Saturday’s election into the 20 local government councils and 37 LCDAs to ensure an orderly exercise.

A commissioner in OGISIEC, Mr Mutiu Agboke, told newsmen at the Muslim Model Nursery and Primary School Polling Centre, Abeokuta,  that the system had contributed to the peaceful  and orderly conduct of the ongoing exercise.

“The simultaneous accreditation and voting system adopted by the electoral commission has enhanced a peaceful coordination of the election process.

“Many of the voters left as soon as they voted and so there has been peace.

“I know  some of them are sceptical about what could happen after they might have left.

“For such people, they are allowed to stay a few metres away from the polling units,’’ he said.

Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who monitored the poll across the state, report that accreditation and voting commenced by 8. a.m. at many of the polling units visited.

NAN also reports that only voters with valid Permanent Voter Cards(PVCs) were allowed to vote.

Voters, whose names were missing on the Voters’ Register, were however allowed to vote with the production of valid means of identification.

Sen. Lanre Tejuosho (APC-Ogun Central) also commended OGISIEC for adopting the simultaneous accreditation and voting system.

Tejuosho, who addressed newsmen at the Muslim Model Nursery and Primary School Polling Centre, noted that the same system was adopted by INEC in the recent governorship election in Edo.

“It has fast-tracked the system and reduced the propensity for fraud as many of the electorate left after voting as early as possible, ” he said.(NAN)
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(Edited and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

5,000 wheat farmers register for CBN anchor borrower programme in Kano

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Registration
Kano, Oct. 8, 2016 (NAN) The Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria (WFAN) in Kano State said it had so far registered no fewer than 5, 000 wheat farmers for the CBN anchor borrower programme in the state.

The state WFAN Chairman, Alhaji Faruk Rabiu disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of (NAN) in Kano on Saturday.

He said the number was still far below the target number of 75, 000 farmers expected to participate in the programme in the state.

The chairman said the association had recently established four new offices in addition to the existing 24, to encourage more farmers to rtegister.

According to him, many farmers that collected the registration form have not returned them.

“We started the registration on Aug. 15, but we are yet to get the target number of farmers as expected.

“This prompted our decision to establish four additional offices to make it easier for our farmers to register in the offices nearest to them.”

Rabiu called on farmers who have not returned their completed forms to do so, pointing out that the wheat planting season would be flagged off by Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje on Thursday, Oct. 20.

“I want to advise farmers to make the best use of the opportunity provided by the Federal Government to boost wheat production in the state.”

The chairman disclosed that the association had recently constitutedy a loan recovery committee to recover all outstanding loans from defaulters.(NAN).
MTM/MZA
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Edited and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-H-8
Cooperation
By Suleiman Shehu
Ibadan, Oct. 8, 2016 (NAN)  The Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Oyo State, Mr Akeem Agbaje, has called for synergy between the lawyers and police for peaceful and secured society.

Agbaje made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Saturday.

He, however, urged the police not to look at lawyers as their enemies but rather friends that would complement their efforts aimed at reducing crime in the society.

The NBA chairman also advised the police to shun intimidation of lawyers in the performance of their constitutional responsibilities, stressing that lawyers were ready to cooperate with the police.

Agbaje said that lawyers and police were working toward the same goal of peaceful and secured society.

“It is rather sad and unfortunate to note that the Nigeria Police perceive lawyers as opponents and enemies in the performance of their constitutional responsibilities.

“The disdain for lawyers by the police is so deep rooted that even when the police are invited to provide security in court premises they treat lawyers as if they are common criminals. This situation must not be allowed to institutionalise,’’ Agbaje said.

He said that it would be better for both lawyers and police to cooperate and work together in order to rid the society of criminals. (NAN)
SYS/DUA/OFN
Edited by Dada Ahmed//Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-7
Teachers
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Abakaliki, Oct.8, 2016 (NAN) Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has directed that teachers who absented themselves from work for five times in a term should be sacked.

Umahi, who gave the directive when he inaugurated the newly constructed headquarters of Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in Abakaliki on Friday, said those who absented themselves from work once in a month would forfeit half of their salaries for the month.”.

He said that all local government caretaker committee chairmen, development centre coordinators and other relevant officials had  been empowered to carry out the directive.

The governor urged the teachers to the embrace the government’s initiated school agriculture programme, noting it would make them productive and supplement their income.

“I heard that the materials provided for the programme is being stolen in some schools and I mandate the Commissioner for Education to transfer any headmaster or principal in such schools to a remote area.

“The programme must be sustained and we are ready to give you soft loans even if everyone is not accommodated at the same time,” Umahi said.

He commended the NUT chairman for erecting the edifice and paid glowing tributes to its past leaders who initiated and tried completing the project.

“We are going to look into ways of reviewing your Teachers Salary Structure (TSS) and praying for improved resources to enhance it.

“The government would also donate the sum of two million naira to the state branch of the NUT to adequately furnish the building for optimum productivity,” he said.

Mr Joseph Nweke, NUT Chairman in the state, said that the building was initiated by Mrs Franca Egwu during the military administration of retired Capt. Walter Ferghabo.

“Successive leadership of the union tried to complete it and it became my leadership’s main priority on assumption of office in 2010.

He commended the governor for showing sufficient concern in the welfare of teachers through prompt payment of salaries, other entitlements, among others.

“Your presence to inaugurate this building is a source of inspiration, joy and deepening of the spirit of comradeship between teachers and the state government,” he said.

Mr Kelvin Nwankwo, a former NUT Chairman, and current NUT Deputy National President, commended the governor for his magnanimity toward teachers and workers in general.

“You are promptly paying workers salaries when other states are grappling with the payment and even slashing the salaries.

“You have also demonstrated unbridled commitment towards educational enhancement by providing basic facilities to ensure conducive learning in schools across the state,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlights of the occasion include the inauguration and inspection of the building by the governor, goodwill messages from relevant stakeholders, among others. (NAN)
RCO/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-6
Reactions
By Temitope Salami
Ijebu-Ode (Ogun), Oct. 8, 2016 (NAN) As the Ogun Local Government election got underway on Saturday, candidates and members of some political parties in Ijebu-Ode and its environs have expressed divergent opinions on the conduct of the electoral exercise.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that electoral personnel and voting materials arrived many of the polling units in the area as early as 7.30 a.m.

However, while members of the APC expressed optimism of a successful exercise, their counterparts in the PDP alleged abnormalities in the exercise.

NAN reports that the election is being supervised by the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC).

NAN also reports that candidates from four political parties–APC, PDP, Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN)—are contesting for positions in Ijebu-Ode Central Local Government Council   and Ijebu-Ode South Local Council Development Area(LCDA)

The chairmanship candidate of the APC for Ijebu-Ode South LCDA, Mr Lekan Adebanjo, expressed satisfaction with the level of preparation and security for the polls.

“I’m very happy with the level of preparation by OGSIEC.

“I’m very optimistic about the outcome of the election as the feedback from the electorate has been encouraging as far as I am concerned.

“My advice to the electorate is that they should not shy away from exercising their civic duties and come out en masse to vote the candidates of their choice.

“They shouldn’t be partisan but ensure they vote for candidates based on merit and track record rather than the party they represent,” Adebanjo said.

His counterpart from the PDP, who is contesting the  chairmanship position of Ijebu-Ode Central Local Government, Mr Lukman Agoro, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the elctoral  exercise, claiming bias.

“The conduct so far from OGSIEC has been very poor and biased.

“We observed that they nullified some of the existing polling units and created new ones for the exercise today and they were erected at the strong points of the APC candidates.

“I put some calls through to the OGSIEC headquarters yesterday but no one attended to me.

“Distribution of materials by OGSIEC has not been uniform as our agents observed that some polling units were yet to receive voting materials.

“This should not be so as we believe we are being marginalised and treated unfairly.

“We are taking note and taking our evidences to tender at the tribunal after the elections.

“Why are they not making use of the card readers for this election? So many questions will be raised after this exercise, I guarantee you,” Agoro said.

Efforts by NAN to speak with the Electoral Officer for Ijebu-Ode Central on the election process proved abortive as she declined to speak with the press.

However, the Electoral Officer for Ijebu-Ode South, Mr Bolaji Adesanya, gave an assurance that the exercise would be conducted smoothly and in conformity with electoral laws.

“We are optimistic that the election is going to be credible, free and fair without incidents of violence.

“Accreditation is going to be simultaneous with the voting though the voting exercise will not be electronic,” he said.

Adesanya said there were 20 wards and 116 polling units in Ijebu-Ode Central and seven wards in Ijebu-Ode South.

He, however, could not ascertain the number of polling units in Ijebu-Ode South due to some re-shuffling made.

The Divisional Police Officer of Igbeba Police Division, Ijebu-Ode, CSP A. Adebiyi, told NAN that adequate security was being provided at all polling centres to ensure a hitch-free exercise. (NAN)
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(Edited and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-4
Security
By Olawale Jokotoye
Abeokuta, Oct. 8, 2016 (NAN) There was a heavy presence of security personnel across major streets in Ogun as election into the 20 local government councils and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) got underway on Saturday.

Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who monitored the security situation in Abeokuta South, Ijebu-Ode, Ado- Odo/Otta and Sagamu council areas, report that security officials were sighted at strategic locations in the bid to ensure a peaceful electoral process.

NAN checks in other council areas also revealed a heavy security presence.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Ogun Command, Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi,  told NAN that a total of 5, 000 policemen were deployed for the election.

His counterpart in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kareem Olanrewaju, also told NAN that 5,500 uniformed men and 1,000 intelligence officers in mufti were deployed.

NAN further reports that officials of the state-owned traffic management agency and FRSC mounted road blocks on major highways to enforce the restriction order on movement.

Three security officials, made up of  two policemen and one NSCDC official, were stationed at each polling unit to maintain law and order.

NAN also reports that the electoral process so far had generally been peaceful across the various polling units as accreditation and voting, which commenced at 8.a.m., were being carried out simultaneously.(NAN)
OAJ/OJO
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(Edited and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-F-19

Bomb

Islamabad, Oct. 7, 2016 (Xinhua/NAN) At least eight people were killed while 19 others injured when two explosions hit a passenger train in Pakistan’s southwest Balochistan province on Friday, local media and officials said.

Federal Minister for Railways, Khwaja Rafique, said that the train, Jafar Express, was targeted by a remote-controlled device in Mach area of Balochistan, some 50 kilometres northeast of Quetta.

Railway authorities said that the train was on its way to the northern Rawalpindi city from provincial capital of Quetta when it came under attack.

Local Urdu TV channel, Dunya, said that the first blast hit two compartments of the train and as soon as the rescue teams gathered at the site, the second explosion happened.

The report added that two security personnel and a government official were among those that were killed by the blast.

All the injured have been taken to Quetta via army helicopters, where an emergency has been declared at all state-run hospitals.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

Rafique said there was a group in Balochistan involved in targeting railway tracks and trains, but he did not mention the name of the group.

The minister said that a suspect was arrested at the blast site, adding that Police had cordoned off the area for further investigations.

IAA/OPI/OPI

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola and controlled by Olisa Ifeajika

NiMet predicts cloudy, rainy weather for Saturday

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Forecast

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Abuja, Oct. 7, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudy weather conditions over the central states with prospects of thunderstorms over Bauchi, Jalingo, Ibi, Mambila Plateau, Lafia and Jos on Saturday morning.

The prediction is contained in NiMet’s Weather Outlook issued by its Central Forecast Office on Friday in Abuja.

It added that localised thunderstorms were expected over the region in the afternoon and evening hours with maximum temperatures of 27 and 32 degrees Celsius.

According to the agency, the southern states would experience localised rains in the morning with maximum temperatures of 30 to 32 degrees Celsius.

It also predicted prospects of localised thunderstorms over Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Oshogbo, Shaki, Benin, Asaba, Uyo, Eket, Owerri, Abakaliki, Onitsha, Yenagoa and Port Harcourt in the afternoon and evening hours.

NiMet predicted that northern states would experience partly cloudy to sunny conditions in the morning hours.

It added that thundery activities would prevail over Yelwa, Kano, Kaduna, Zaria, Potiskum and Gombe in the afternoon and evening hours with maximum temperature of 32 and 37 degrees Celsius.

According to NiMet, a steady influx of moisture into the country gives prospects of rainfall activities over the central, southern cities and some parts of the north within the next 24 hours. (NAN)
OYS/OU
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Edited by Obike Ukoh

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Kogi sets up panel to probe state finances from 2003 to 2016

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Probe

By Kola Adeyemi

Lokoja , Oct. 7, 2016 ( NAN) Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Friday in Lokoja inaugurated a seven-man panel to probe the use of state funds from May 29, 2003 to Jan. 27, 2016.

The panel is headed by a retired Kano State High Court judge, Justice Umar Rano.

Bello said that the terms of reference of the committee were clearly stated in the letters of appointment of the members.

He lamented the low development of the state since its creation 25 years ago, alleging that funds received on behalf of the state were not properly accounted for.

“While I am not saying that our state has made or received all the money she needs, I make bold to insist that our problem is not the LACK of money, but the THEFT of money.

“If what we did make or receive were used better this past 13 years, we would not have the current socio- economic disaster on our hands, “he explained.

According to him, the state past leaders basically engaged in a zero-sum game of shooting, in which corruption was their sharp-shooter, and the helpless populace their target.

“For every kobo they hit, our people lost lives, opportunities, hopes, visions and dreams.

“The result is that in 25 years of existence, Kogi is barely started on her journey to development.

“This is an atrocity and it should infuriate any reasonable person. We cannot bury the years of accumulated theft by politically exposed persons in the faulty foundations they laid over the years.

“ We must not also disregard the accumulated hurt felt by our excluded citizenry, and pretend it did not happen, or that they will forget.

“That can only earn us a society festering with sublimated anger that will explode sooner than later with disastrous consequences,” he explained.

However, Bello, told members of the committee not to see the assignment as a licence to witch-hunt or settle scores with anyone.

“Everyone must be accorded their due respect in line with the laws of the land.

“This is your chance to help this administration put Kogi firmly on the part to recovery,

“Please do not allow or do anything to cast a pall of doubt over its impartiality or integrity,” he warned.( NAN)
KKA/OU
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Edited by Obike Ukoh

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