Blog

NAN-DS-5
Navy
By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt, Oct. 7, 2016 (NAN) The House of Representatives on Friday has said that it will consider better budgetary provision for the Navy in the 2017 Appropriation Bill.

Alhaji Adbulsamad Dasuki, Chairman, House Committee on Navy, made the disclosure when he led other committee members on oversight function at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, in Port Harcourt.

Dasuki said that the Navy lacked needed hardware to enable it fight effectively current attacks on oil and gas installations; piracy and other criminal activities on the waterways.

“We started our oversight function from Calabar, and now in NNS Pathfinder in Port Harcourt to see for ourselves what is on ground, what has been done and what is expected.

“We have seen what has been achieved in the fight against crude oil theft and piracy with focus to addressing challenges faced by naval personnel in the discharge of their duties.

“From what we have seen, virtually everything in the Navy is inadequate, especially in the areas of welfare and operations.

“A lot is expected from government with regards to better funding, and so, we will go back and see how we can consider better budgetary provision for the Navy in 2017 Appropriation Bill,” he said.

Dasuki observed that current shortage of funds experienced in the country might become an impediment for improved funding for the Navy in the coming year.

He said this informed why the committee was collaborating with the Navy to seek other avenues to generate revenue to fund its operations.

The committee chairman said that one of such ways was the creation of a maritime transport route covering the about 5,000 creeks in the Niger Delta.

“This maritime transportation initiative will generate funds for government with a percentage from it going to the Nigerian Navy,” he said.

Dasuki thanked the Navy for its improved operations, and assured of the committee’s support in its fight against oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism and piracy on the waterways. (NAN)
DES/KOLE/OFN
Edited by Remi Koleoso//Felix Nwadioha

Money laundering: Court dismisses application by aide to ex-president Jonathan

NAN-H-50
Ruling
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Oct. 7, 2016 (NAN) A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday dismissed an application by former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, seeking to reverse a guilty plea of four companies charged with him.

Dudafa is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside two others; Amajuoyi Briggs and Adedamola Bolodeoku, and four companies, over alleged $15.5 million fraud.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi, in his ruling, described Dudafa’s application as an abuse of court process and therefore dismissed it.

The accused were arraigned by the EFCC on Sept. 15.

The four companies joined in the charge are Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd; Seagate Property Development Co. Ltd; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Ltd and Avalon Global Property Development Company Ltd.

Dudafa and the two other accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges, while the four companies pleaded guilty to the charges.

The companies admitted that they conspired with Dudafa and others to launder the $15.5 million.

The guilty plea taken by the four companies was entered on their behalf by four individuals, who were registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission as directors in the companies.

One Friday Davies pleaded guilty on behalf of the fourth accused company, Agbo Baro, for the fifth accused company; Bioghowri Frederick, for the sixth accused company, and Taiwo Ebenezer for the seventh accused company.

Following their guilty plea, the court had adjourned for the EFCC to review the facts of the case after which the judge would determine the fate of the companies.

Meanwhile, Dudafa and Briggs, through their lawyers, Messrs Gboyega Oyewole and Tochukwu Onyiuke, respectively, had filed two separate applications.

The two lawyers urged the court to change the plea of the companies from guilty to not guilty.

Oyewole argued that there was no document before the court to prove that Davies, Baro, Fredrick and Ebenezer were authorised by the companies to take a plea on their behalf.

He told the court that the four persons, in their statements to the EFCC, stated that they were neither director of the companies nor had anything to do with the companies.

Oyewole also urged the court to note that there was a fundamental right suit filed by the wife to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Patience.

He said that in the suit, Patience claimed ownership of the $15.5 million over which his client was being prosecuted.

“Neither the Federal Government nor any of its agencies; or state nor its agencies claimed ownership of the fund, nor that it was stolen from them,” Oyewole added.

He argued that allowing the guilty plea by the companies and convicting them of money laundering charges would amount to an attack on the principle of fairness and justice.

This, Oyewole further argued, became obvious in the face of Patience’s claim.

He said his client was afraid that the guilty plea entered by the four companies would adversely affect him since the proceedings were joint proceedings and the first count bordered on conspiracy.

On his own part, Onyiuke challenged the jurisdiction and competence of Justice Kuewumi to entertain the arraignment of the four companies in the first place.

The lawyer said that accepting the guilty plea of the companies who admitted that they conspired with his client to launder the money would occasion a miscarriage of justice against his client.

In response, EFCC’s counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to throw out the two applications, which he described as an abuse of court processes.

Oyedepo argued that it was too late for Briggs to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the charges after the defendants had submitted themselves and had been arraigned.

He said that the accounts were opened pursuant to documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission, where Davies, Baro, Fredrick and Ebenezer were registered as directors in the companies.

EFCC’s counsel submitted that the applications by Dudafa and Briggs were intended to annoy the Federal Government, the complainant in the case and urged the judge to dismiss them.

In his ruling, Justice Kuewumi dismissed the applications by Dudafa and Briggs.

The court noted that Dudafa had already gone before the Court of Appeal to challenge the guilty plea entered by the four companies.

Kuewumi said that he could no longer take a decision on the issue, same having been taken before the Court of Appeal.

“Once an issue is pending in the Court of Appeal, it will be inappropriate for a lower court to pronounce anything on the same issue.

“The instant application constitutes an abuse of court process; same is hereby dismissed,” the judge held.

The court adjourned the case to Nov. 2, for EFCC to open its case. (NAN)
UNS/DUA/MST
Edited by Dada Ahmed and controlled Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-52
Ayade
By George Odok
Calabar, Oct. 7, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River has said that he was called by God to govern Cross River to provide needed dividends of democracy to the people.

Ayade made the statement on Friday while addressing thousands of supporters who came to receive him at Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar on arrival from Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the supporters besieged the airport in solidarity with Ayade ahead of the Dec. 9 Supreme Court judgement in a case of alleged falsification of his age.

The case was instituted by Mr Joe Agi, Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

Agi, who contested the 2015 PDP governorship primary with Ayade, had challenged the eligibility of the governor to contest the primary.

Ayade told his supporters at the airport that since power comes from God, he was called by God to govern the state at this particular time.

He said: “I was preparing to run election for the senate when God called me and said I should come and be governor. I am a servant of God and I urge you all to put me in prayers.

“God shall not forsake us at this point; His miracle will prevail at the appointed time. When the righteous people are ruling, God will take control.

“God has the final say in this case. You can have the capacity to manipulate man, but you cannot manipulate God.

“I came into this office as governor under the inspiration of God.

“Today, we are before the court of man to decide the faith and destiny of Cross River people. God shall take control and establish himself.

“Truly, in the name of God, I am totally innocent. If I come before the court of man, I come with supplication for clemency from God.’’

The governor said that his administration had not failed in paying salaries of civil servants in the state and urged the people to continue to support his administration.

“I dedicate today to God that if I truly came to serve the people, He will surely see us through. If the worst happens, then it is God’s will.

“We have no capacity to appeal at this level. We are now appealing to God that knows our hearts in this case in question.’’

Mr George Ekpungu, the state Commissioner for New Cities Development, told NAN in an interview at the airport that the people of the state would resist any attempt to remove Ayade from his seat.

Ekpungu said that the people of the state voted massively for him, hence they entrusted him with their mandate. (NAN)

GNO/DOE/AEA
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Edited by Dianabasi Fffiong and Controlled by Archibong Asuquo

NAN-H-18
Ships
Lagos, Oct. 7, 2016 (NAN) Fifteen ships are currently discharging petroleum products and other commodities at Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said on Friday.
According to NPA shipping position, other commodities the ships are discharging included general cargoes, wheat, fertiliser, frozen fish, yellow corn, base oil, containers, gypsum, butane, diesel and petrol.
It said that 36 ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods were expected to arrive in Lagos ports between Oct. 7 and Oct. 21.
NPA said that the expected ships would also ferry into the country, bulk sugar, frozen fish, bulk gypsum, base oil, tugboat, containers, bulk charcoal, diesel, crude palmolein, bulk wheat and petrol.
NAN also reports that 28 ships were expected on Oct. 4; 25 ships on Oct. 5 and 31 ships on Oct. 6.
The document noted that nine ships had arrived at the ports, waiting to berth with petrol, container and bulk fertilisers. (NAN)
AIC/WOJ
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Court remands 31-year-old man for alleged possession of dangerous weapons
NAN-H-51
Weapon
By Elusogbon Dorcas
Ile-Ife (Osun), Oct 7, 2016 (NAN) An Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court on Friday remanded a 31-year-old man, Mutiu Olalekan, in prison for alleged possession of dangerous weapons.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Elisha Olusegun, said the accused, and others now at large, committed the offence on July 26 around 6:30 a.m. at Oke-Sokun Zone 4, NTA Road, Ile-Ife.

Olusegun said that the accused conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit: unlawful possession of one locally made pistol, one live cartridge with other firearms which he could not give satisfactory account of.

He added that the offence was contrary to sections 6b, 8 and punishable under sections 1 (i), 3 (1), 27 (1), (b), (11) of the Robbery & Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap R 11, Vol. 14, Laws of Federation, 2004.

No plea was taken.

Magistrate Olalekan Ijiyode ordered the prosecutor to duplicate the case file to the office of Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

Ijiyode remanded the accused in Ile-Ife prison pending his arraignment in court and adjourned the case till Nov. 15 for mention. (NAN)
EDA/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-17
Travelex
By Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Oct. 7, 2016 (NAN) Travelex, a global foreign exchange dealer, on Friday resumed sale of dollars directly to travellers at N356 to a dollar.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the firm’s office inside the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos terminal was besieged by hundreds of travellers.

NAN gathered that some Bureaux de change operators within the terminal were also selling from N470 to N472 to a dollar to travellers.

Travelex, which recently got the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to sell dollar, however, gave stringent conditions for the transaction.

The requirements include presentation of valid international passport, visa to destination, Biometric Verification Number (BVN) card, airline boarding pass and signed copy of transaction.

The firm also directed that cash would only be handed over to the traveller at the boarding gate after security and immigration checks.

According to the firm, these conditions are to ensure that dollar is sold to only genuine travellers, and discourage racketeering.

Consequently, some of the travellers were unable to buy dollars from Travelex because they could not produce their BVN cards.

One of them, Mr Uche Ikediashi, told NAN that he was hearing about the card for the first time.

“Yesterday I bought dollars from a BDC at N470. Today I was told that Travelex is selling at N356; that is why I came here, but they said I needed to bring my BVN card and I don’t have it,’’ he said.

Another traveller, Mr Samson Uduak, commended the CBN for the initiative which, he said, had created easy access to forex for travellers.

Uduak said: “Buying directly from Travelex is very good but the CBN needs to sensitise Nigerians to go and obtain their BVN cards from their banks.’’ (NAN)
ASO/ENN/IGO
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu and controlled by Ijeoma Popoola)

NAN-DS-4
Outbreaks
By Bosede Olufunmi
Kano, Oct.7,2016 (NAN) The Kano State Fire Service said it had recorded 24 cases of fire outbreak in September that consumed goods worth N10.8 million.

The Director of the Service, Alhaji Mustapha Rilwan, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Friday.

Rilwan also disclosed that property worth N33.5 million was saved from the various fire outbreaks that occurred during the period.

“We also received 105 rescue-calls and 15 false alarms from the public,’’ he said.

Rilwan said that 185 lives were saved from various fire incidents, while seven lives were lost.

He advised the general public to be vigilant and to shun any act capable of causing fire outbreaks.(NAN)
BO/AMY
Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

Stakeholders urge FG to make CNG kits duty free

NAN-HE-1
Accessories
Lagos, Oct. 7, 2016 (NAN) Stakeholders in the oil and gas sector have urged the Federal Government to make importation of kits on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) duty free to encourage effective vehicular gas utilisation.

They made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos, while speaking on the slow pace at which vehicles switched to the use of CNG

Mr Sunday Dawodu, Managing Director, Skylop ultimate gas Ltd., observed that the high cost of CNG accessories contributed to the sluggish manner at which motorists were converting their vehicles to gas-fired utilisation.

Dawodu said that the removal of duty fees on imported CNG accessories would reduce the cost of converting vehicles to gas.

According to him, this will also facilitate the use of compressed natural gas in the country so as to curtail pollution.

He, however, added that CNG was cheaper and environment friendly.

“I have five cars already converted to CNG; I use Prado jeep, since the conversion, I usually spend about N2,800 on gas for journeys that could have gulped petrol worth N5,000.

“I have also come to realise that maintenance of gas driven cars is cheaper than vehicles that use petrol,’’ Dawodu said.

Mr Idris Awobokun, an energy consultant, said that motorists were challenged in the swapping of conversion kit due to huge amount involved.

Awobokun said that if government should formulate policy on duty free for CNG kit, it would go a long way to attract motorists to convert.

He added that the government should make conversion very low to enable them to switch their kit to another vehicle.

Awobokun also appealed to government to create a more pocket-friendly price for gas in view of the numerous associated benefits with CNG.

Mrs Jummai Adamsom, Managing Director, Excel Gas Ltd., urged government to make gas distributing companies to make payment for gas in local currency instead of dollars.

Adamson said that the impact of the increasing price of natural gas on the manufacturing sector and companies was alarming.

She said that manufacturing and distribution companies were facing challenges due to the rising cost of gas in the face of depreciating value of the naira.

The gas distributor said that in the light of the falling value of the naira against the dollar, it was not proper for manufacturers to continue to pay for gas in dollars.

“In order to avoid further misunderstanding on the issue of settlement of bills with our numerous franchisers, our members are advised to pay their bills henceforth on the naira unit,’’ she said. (NAN)
YO/ENN/IA
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(Edited by Idris Abdulrahman)

Court remands man in prison for alleged attempt to attack mother’s tenant
NAN-H-48
Remand
By Elusogbon Dorcas
Ile-Ife (Osun), Oct. 7, 2016 (NAN) An Osun Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ile-Ife on Friday remanded a 25-year-old man, Damilola Ajayi, in prison for alleged attempt to attack mother’s tenants.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Sunday Osanyintuyi, said that the accused committed the offence on Sept. 27 around 3:50 p.m. at Fashina Area, Ile-Ife.

Osanyintuyi said that the accused broke into the resident of Olaitan Adegboyega and stole his two laptops, 24 inches Plasma TV, wears, international passport, one small Nokia and Holy Bible, all  valued N283, 000.

He said that one small iron axe and small quantity of weed suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from the accused.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Criminal Code.

No plea was taken Mr Martins Awe.

The accused admitted the fact presented by the prosecution, confessed that he intentionally took Indian hemp to energised him in attacking his mothers tenants.

Ajayi added that he wanted to used the axe to amended his shoe, though he was not a shoemaker.

Magistrate Iyabo Salami said that the offence against the accused were bailable, but according to his convention, the lives of accused mother’s tenants needs to be protected.

Salami therefore, ordered for the remanded of the accused in Ilesa prison custody to safeguard the tenants life and adjourned the case to Nov 3, for trial. (NAN)
EDA/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha

NAN-HG-9

Treatment

Kano, Oct. 7, 2016 (NAN) The Adamawa Government on Friday announced the release of N4 million to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) for the treatment of Mr Isa Hamman, an indigene of the state.

Hamman is a patient with kidney challenge, which started back in Adamawa.

Dr Garba Ahmed, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Adamawa, announced the donation when he visited the Acting Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Mohammad Mijinyawa, in Kano.

According Ahmed, Hamman’s kidneys were “recklessly” removed by a surgeon in Yola.

He said that Adamawa Governor, Mohammed Bindow, had already directed the ministry to pay the money into AKTH’s bank account for the treatment of the patient, pending when the kidney transplant would commence.

He said that the state government had also given N1 million to the relations of the patient who were currently with him in the hospital.

The permanent secretary who led a delegation of medical practitioners to the hospital also visited the patient at the male surgical ward.

He assured that the state government would continue to support the patient to ensure the success of the kidney transplant and his speedy recovery.

Mijinyawa, the acting medical director, commended Adamawa government for its concern for the patient.

“We will make sure we give you the best to ensure his speedy recovery,” he said.

He said that the hospital which started kidney transplant in 2002, had successfully conducted 35 kidney transplants.

Also speaking, Prof Aliyu Abdu, Consultant Nephrologists in the hospital, said that the patient came to the hospital with an infection, adding that “that was why we had to battle for his life first.”

He attributed the delay in the transplant to lack of suitable kidney donor, pointing out that most of the voluntary donors were not compatible with the patient.

“The matter does not stop at transplant as the patient has to be on drugs for life,” he explained. (NAN)

MTM/EMO/OPI

Edited by Ejike Obeta and controlled by Olisa Ifeajika