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Witness tells court how Nyame’s friend got N470m stationeries fund

NAN-H-104

Nyame

By Sylvester Thompson

Abuja, Sept.29, 2016 (NAN) An EFCC witness, Mr Ishaq Salihu’ on Thursday told an FCT High Court how millions of naira approved for stationeries by former Taraba governor, Jolly Nyame, misappropriated

Salihu, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who investigated the alleged N1.64 billion fraud, said that N470 was released for stationeries in 2005.

He said that N250 million was first approved by Nyame on Dec.30, 2004 upon request made by the Commissioner for Finance, Abubakar Tutare, on Dec.28, 2004.

The witness said the purchase of these bulk stationeries and office equipment for Taraba ministries and parastatals was supposed to be by “direct labour’’as stipulated by Tutare.

He said the `direct labour’ consisted of a committee of civil servants and auditors who were to make the purchases directly from the market to cut cost and not through contract.

Instead, the money was paid into Salman Global Ventures account owned by Ibrahim Abubakar, a third party and friend of Nyame.

“A third party that neither bidded, applied nor requested for the purchase of stationeries issued a receipt of payment of N250 million which he supplied nothing.

“The money was lodged in Pacific bank in fixed deposit and it yielded an interest of N1.6 million ,’’ Salihu said.

He said in February, 2005, another N200 million was released for the purchase of stationeries again.

Salihu told the court that out of this figure, N165 million was paid into the account of Salman Global, N16 million was used for the purchase of stationeries from one Babangaru.

He also said that N15 million was given to the Deputy Speaker, Taraba House of Assembly, two million naira went to the Permanent Secretary and N10 million to the Commissioner for Finance.

He said the rest was shared to the staff of the Ministry of Finance who all testified to that and recoveries were initiated and part of the monies returned to the EFCC.

The witness said ion Oct 5, 2005, the Secretary to the State Government again applied for the purchase of stationeries for his office which was in lack and N20 million was approved.

During cross examination, by Hassan Fajimiti, Counsel to the defence, Salihu told the court that Salman Global was as elusive as air and could not be reach during investigation.

Justice Adebukola Banjoko adjourned the matter till Oct.19 (NAN)

SET/OFN

Edited by Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-66a

NAHCo

By Solomon Asowata

Lagos, Sept.29,2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCo) Aviance has been re-certified by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO), an official said on Thursday in Lagos.

The re-certification which runs till June 12, 2018 replaces the one that expired in June 2016, NAHCo’s Manager, Communications and Corporate Services, Mr Tayo Ajakaye, said in a  statement copied the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said the current certification had cleared NAHCo in major operational disciplines including Organisation and Management (ORM), Load Control (LOD) as well as Passenger and Baggage Handling (PAB).

According to Ajakaye, it also clears the company for Aircraft Handling and Loading (HDL), Aircraft Ground Movement (AGM) and Cargo and Mail Handling (CGM).

Also speaking, NAHCo’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr Yahaya Hassan, said the company would “always do the right thing, the right way and would get the right results”.

He said:”ISAGO is an audit programme for ground handling companies serving airlines at airports. The audit is built around a set of harmonised, globally recognized standards.

“ISAGO aims to improve operational safety within the airport ground operations environment by reducing damage to aircraft and equipment and improving efficiency by reducing the number of redundant audits done by airlines on Ground Service Providers (GSPs).

“GSPs that model their operations on the ISAGO standards are making a commitment to operate according to globally accepted industry best practices.

“Some international regulators and airport authorities are already considering ISAGO as a minimum standard of safe operations and have mandated the programme in their respective areas, countries or airports.” (NAN)

ASO/DA
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Edited & controlled by Dele Akinsola

NAN-H-108

Trafficking

Abuja, Sept, 29, 2016(NAN) The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, has called  major stakeholders to work toward tackling increasing human trafficking in Sub-Sahara Africa.

The minister made the call when the Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Sen. Shehu Sani, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja on Thursday.

He said it was time for the Nigerian Government and other relevant stakeholders to join the West in mapping out strategies toward finding solution to the problem.

Onyeama stressed the need to sensitise the youth, who often fell victim of traffickers, to avoid such exploitation which put their lives at risk.

“The British Prime Minister, Teresa May, raised the issue of modern day slavery and human trafficking at a meeting with President Muhammad Buhari and some other heads of government.

“The meeting held on the sideline of the UN General Assembly held in the U.S. recently.

“A number of the heads of state there talked about what they were doing in their countries to address the situation, including the legal frameworks put in place, enforcement and policy initiatives.

“Mr President spoke about the root causes of the issue, which are security, economy, education among others.

“ One thing was clear; they all acknowledged that it was really a modern day phenomenon.

‘’Everybody was challenged to come up with definitive ways of addressing the challenge,’’ he said.

The minister said it was about time Africans took control of their destiny, adding that there should be less emphasis on seeking solutions from the West.

He commended Sani for leading a fresh campaign aimed at sensitising the youth to be wary of traffickers, who were masters in the act of making fake promises of better opportunities in Europe.

Earlier,  Sani expressed concern that many youths from Nigeria and other African countries had  died in the course of illegally migrating to Europe for better opportunities.

He added that those who succeeded in getting to Europe were being enslaved by the traffickers or forced to join terrorist groups.

Sani, who said he had embarked on a campaign tagged, ‘The Pan-African Initiative against Illegal and Dangerous Migration’’, said he would stop at nothing to sensitise people to the risks involved.

“In the last few years, we have seen young people from our continent taking perilous journey through the Sahara Desert to the coastal states of Africa bothering the Mediterranean Sea.

“This is in an attempt to cross the sea to Europe, thereby putting their lives in danger and creating scenery in that part of the world.

“These are our young men and women who should be productive at home and useful to their country but they find themselves pursuing life that endangers their lives and that of their families.

“Human traffickers have taken the advantage of this, enticing young men and women who embark on such journeys.

“Such people pose a serious security challenge to the continent and their target continent,’’ he said.

He promised to engage relevant stakeholders from countries often used as transit routes by the migrants towards finding lasting solutions to the problem. (NAN)
CJM/JCE
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Edited by Chukwudi Ekezie

NAN-HE-10

Stimulus

Lagos, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government plans to reduce the income tax being payed by Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) in the country to encourage more start-ups in the sector.

A statement by the Federal Ministry of Finance on Thursday said the gesture was also to boost profitability of existing ones, generate new jobs and make higher contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The ministry said that the new incentives for SMMEs were part of the recommendations presented to the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, by the 12-member committee she established.

The committee, chaired by Professor Abiola Sanni, was to review the current National Tax Policy (NTP).

The Committee noted that lowering the taxes payable by Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises would encourage compliance, promote the growth of SMMEs and expand their manufacturing base.

Another recommendation suggested for implementation relates to the abolition of minimum tax which results in loss making companies being required to pay tax.

The minister assured that a team would be set up by the ministry to implement the recommendations of the committee through administrative measures without delay.

The minister said those that required legislations would be forwarded to the Federal Executive Council for consideration.

“We need to deal with legislations that need to be changed. Nigeria cannot afford to be running with antiquated tax laws,” she was quoted as saying.

The statement said that a new tax policy had also recommended the enactment of a number of legislation amendments.

The Chairman of the Committee, Professor Abiola Sanni said that the report contained some innovations in terms of suggestions, including 20 implementation strategies.

He said that some of the strategies required legislations while others could hit the ground running.

“We believe that at the end of the day if the recommendations contained in this report are implemented, Nigeria will witness a transformation of the economy as a whole,” he said.
PR/TA
Edited/controlled by Tajudeen Atitebi

NAN-H-111
Amnesty
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun has granted amnesty to six inmates serving various jail terms in Ilesha prison, Kirikiri maximum prison, Lagos and Ibara, Abeokuta Federal prison.

Information about the pardon is contained in a statement issued by Mr Adedapo Adeniji, the state’s Director of Public Prosecutions and Secretary to the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy on Thursday in Osogbo.

Adeniji stated that the governor granted the amnesty in commemoration of the 56th Independence Anniversary of the nation.

He noted that “pursuant to the advice and recommendations of the State Advisory Council on prerogative of mercy, Gov. Rauf Aregbesola, in exercising his powers under Section 212(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) has graciously granted amnesty to the following inmates.

He listed the names to include Ayodeji Olatunbosun (Ilesha Prison), Alfa Mukaila Salawu, Dayo Ilesanmi and Ojo Adeye (Kirikiri maximum Prison, Lagos).

Others are Tunde Adegoke and Sgt. Adam Baruwa (Ibara prison, Abeokuta).

A pardon is a government decision to allow a person who has been convicted of a crime, to be free and absolved of that conviction, as if never convicted.

Today, pardons are granted in many countries when individuals have demonstrated that they have fulfilled their debt to society, or are otherwise considered to be deserving.

Pardons are sometimes offered to persons who are wrongfully convicted or who claim they have been wrongfully convicted.

In some jurisdictions, accepting such a pardon implicitly constitutes an admission of guilt even though cases of wrongful conviction are nowadays more often dealt with by appeal than by pardon.

However, a pardon is sometimes offered when innocence is undisputed to avoid the cost of  retrial and clemency plays an important role when capital punishment is applied. (NAN)
VE/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NAN-AE-12

Agriculture

By Elusogbon Dorcas
Ile-Ife (Osun), Sept 29, 2016 (NAN) The Bank of Industry (BOI), Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi ‎and ‎Hephzibar Network are partnering to train 150 youths on agro-processing.

The Head of Osun Bureau of the BoI, Dr Emmanuel Ojowuro, made this known in Ile-Ife on Thursday at a news conference, to herald the Ife Youth Agro-entrepreneurship Summit expected to hold Oct. 6.

Ojowuro said BoI would be offering loan to some of the participants who have bankable agricultural ideas.

He said the partnership was not only to provide fund but to also support skill development among youths in the area of agriculture.

“This is a development oriented programme for the youths, we are not to just financing but participating in the development of youths.

“We will be financing some of the participants who have bankable ideas at nine per cent interest rate per annum.

“However, an arrangement between us and the Ooni crystalises, may not be more than five per cent interest rate per annum, we have different kind of scheme that the participants can benefit from,” BoI official said.

Ogunwusi, who was represented by Mr Moses Olafare‎, said promoting agro-processing would address the menace of poverty and staggering unemployment challenges in Nigeria.

The monarch said the partnership was one of the drives of Ooni to aid Nigerian economic growth and improve the agricultural policies.

“With several areas of support and budgeting from the government at all levels, and donor agencies both locally and internationally, farmers would have the chance to earn much more with a bit of extra effort.

“In order to achieve the benefits of agro-processing, it is important to improve the agricultural policy of the country.

“It is also vital to attract adequate budgeting, not only in the form of donations, but also regular business investments. This can be done through a proper investment policy of government,” he said.

According to the monarch, the productive use of technologies by the grassroots youth should be maximally encouraged as this will increase the speed and quality of the process.

Chief Executive Officer, Hephzibar Network, Mr Olamide Awosunle, said the participants were ‎limited to 150 to ensure effectiveness.

“It is a project in favour of the youths and the nation. We limit the participants to 150 to ensure effectiveness.’’

Awosunle said the summit would focus on cassava processing, maize processing, aquaculture and fish processing, mushroom cultivation, plantain processing, agribusiness start-up and development.

According to him, others are insight on exportation of local products and NAFDAC Registration Procedure among others. (NAN)
EDA/ADA/AFA
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab/Felix Ajide
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NAN-H-107
ITF
By Martha Agas
Jos, Sept. 29, 2016(NAN) The Industrial Trust Fund (ITF) has expressed its readiness to tackle Nigeria’s economic recession via innovative ideas toward fast tracking its mandate on human capital development.

Mr Joseph Ari, the new ITF Director General made this known, when he assumed duty at ITF headquarters in Jos.

“Economic recession can only be overcome by the ITF mandate of human capital development with the support of key stakeholders in the sector, which countries like Singapore, Germany Brazil, Canada, Brazil and Malaysia adopted through their various agencies similar to ITF,’’ he said.

He urged the management and staff to contribute innovative ideas to revamp and reinvigorate the industrial sector through their experiences, expertise and expansive network.

Ari said that he served as member of various committees in the last political dispensation which fashioned out the blue print of 10 years strategic plan.

He, however, expressed optimism that the fund could make it if the new policies as contained in its amendment Act of 2011 were well harnessed.

Ari said that the expansion of the present structure to the 10 departmental structures, four units and the four-year roadmap of the fund were some of the new policies.

He, therefore, pledged to operate an open door policy where transparency and accessibility would justify the confidence accorded to the organisation by President Muhamadu Buhari.

Earlier in his remarks, Mr Dickson Onouha, the former Acting DG said that ITF was able to restore access to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) which was formerly in comatose for almost a year.

Onouha said that the organisation maintained and sustained a healthy relationship with contributing employers with no outstanding reimbursement claims.

He said that the fund had commenced the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP) for 500 trainees in 18 states and an additional 600 selected from IDPs camp in Maiduguri, Borno State.

NAN reports that new DG served as the Director of Public Relations, External Affairs and Publicity of ITF, Director of Administration and Human Resources, later moved to Corporate Planning Department, Director and Business Training Development Department. (NAN)
MAA/AOM/GY
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Edited by Mohammed Abdullahi/Grace Yussuf)

Commission inaugurates committee to investigate killings in Abakaliki prison

NAN-H-103

Prison

By Wandoo Sombo

Abuja, Sept.29, 2016 (NAN) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has inaugurated a special panel to investigate the alleged extra -judicial killing of persons at the Abakaliki prison on Aug. 19.

The Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Bem Angwe, who inaugurated the committee in Abuja on Thursday advocated special funding for prisons across the country.

Angwe said that preliminary investigations by the commission revealed that a riot broke out in the prison which led to the killings.

He said that the cause of the riot would not be far-fetched from the deplorable state of the prisons, adding that the commission was concerned about how overstretched the prison facilities were.

He said it was necessary for magistrates to visit these prisons from time-to-time to see the facilities there as this could guide them in sentencing people to jail.

“Some of the inmates have been in prison for over five years, awaiting trial and have not been taken to court yet in one of the prisons a pregnant woman who was nursing was in prison for stealing cocoyam worth N400.

“She was granted bail, but needed two sureties who are grade level 16 officers in the civil service, where will a woman who steals that amount of cocoyam know a grade level 16 civil servant?’’

He also said that during the recent prison audit carried out by the commission, it was discovered that 1,800 inmates sentenced to death were yet to know their fate.

He said this was because the state governors had not yet decided when it would be carried out and this was creating a lot of tension in the prison.

The Comptroller-General of Prisons, Mr Ahmed Ja’afaru, told newsmen that if the prison authority had not acted promptly on the day of the riot, it would have been more catastrophic.

“Prisoners attempted to resist searching and as a result, attempted to break and scale the wall and that day if we did not do what we did, over 922 inmates would have gone.

“They already broke down the inner gate, broke their cells and dug holes on the parameter fence and some were attempting to scale the wall, but were stopped and about 10 inmates were injured while six died,’’ he said.

He said that contrary to public belief, the prisoners were not killed by trigger happy wardens.

He added that the investigation of the commission being an independent one would throw more light on what transpired on Aug. 19, inaddition to the investigation conducted by the prison authorities.

He said that the prison authority was working hard to address the issue of staff welfare, particularly in relation to the stagnation of officers, barracks accommodation and educational opportunity for staff.

Ja’far said it was expected that the new measures being put in place would motivate the staff for efficient performance.

The prisons boss said that some of the attempted jailbreaks or escapes were as a result of the poor prison structures, some of them are over 100 years old.

He, however, said that the issue would be addressed in the 2017 and 2019 budgets.

He added that measures were in place to address the issue of inadequate staff as not to over labour the staff.

He said that 23 staff found wanting in their duties had been dismissed, while 11 were placed on suspension, adding that this had made a lot of staff more efficient.

The panel which has Mr Tony Ojukwu as its Chairman is to ascertain the number of persons that were killed or injured during the incident and the immediate and remote causes.

It is to also establish the nature of human rights violations that occurred during the incident and the persons responsible for the violations.

The panel would also inquire into the situation of women with children in the prison.(NAN)

WS/AAB/
Edited By Adeboye Ajayi// Felix Nwadioha (more…)

NAN-H-99
Murder
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Abakaliki, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) The Ebonyi Police Command on Thursday confirmed the arrest of four persons over the murder of a liaison officer in Afikpo North Local Government Area, Mr Ali Agha.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr George Okafor, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki that the four were now helping the police to resolve the murder.

“We received a report of the murder from the younger brother to the deceased, Okpara, who claimed that Ali was killed by a group from Amaorie, Oziza community.

“The attack was purportedly led by the youth leader and the police moved into action immediately the matter was reported.

“We deployed more officers to the area to apprehend the suspects and have received useful information from stakeholders in the community.

“We will ensure that the culprits are prosecuted and we want to assure the people of the area of adequate security of lives and properties,” he said.

A source who spoke with NAN on the condition of anonymity said that many people in the area, especially youths, had fled their homes due to massive police arrest.

“The deceased was inflicted with machete cuts and was rushed to the Mata Miserocordae Hospital, Afikpo where he was pronounced dead,” he said.

The source linked the incident to an age-long dispute over the original founders of Amaorie village. (NAN)
RCO/YMU/MVO
(Edited by Mbadiwe Okwor)

NAN-S-2
Games
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) Team Delta on Thursday emerged the overall winner of the second edition of the National Youth Games (NYG) in Ilorin with a total of 9 gold, 7 silver and 10 bronze medals.

Ogun came second with 8 gold, 12 silver and 5 bronze, with host state, Kwara, in third position with 8 gold, 7 silver and 6 bronze medals.

Team Akwa Ibom finished fourth on the final medals table with 8 gold, 7 silver and 5 bronze while Anambra occupied the 5th position with 7 gold, 3 silver and 8 bronze.

Rivers had 2 gold, 5 silver and 5 bronze medals to finish sixth on the log with Ebonyi in seventh position with 2 gold 2 silver and 4 bronze.

Kano had 2 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze in 8th position with FCT in 9th with 2 gold, 1 silver and 5 bronze medals.

In tenth position was Nasarawa with 2 gold, 1 silver and 4 bronze medals while Team Kaduna had 2 gold, 1 silver and 4 silver in 11th position.

Team Niger occupied the 12th position with 2 gold and 4 bronze medals while Taraba finished 13th with 1 gold and 2 bronze.

In 14th position was Jigawa with 1 gold and 1 bronze medal while Plateau finished 15th with 3 silver and 5 bronze medals.

Yobe had 3 silver, 2 bronze in 16th position with Adamawa in 17th with 1 silver and 1 bronze, while Gombe with one silver was 18th on the final medals table.

Team Imo only managed to win 6 bronze medals in 19th position while Bauchi finished 20th on the log with 5 bronze.

Benue, Ekiti and Sokoto states all participated without winning a medal.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abia, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross Rivers, Edo, Enugu, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Zamfara states were absent at the games.(NAN)
OOH/OJO
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(Edited and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)