Blog

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Wedding

By Muhammad Bashir

Dutse, Sept. 23, 2016 (NAN) Birninkudu Local Government Council of Jigawa has asked the state’s committee for mass wedding to determine the number of widows and divorcees in the area.

The Information Officer of the council, Alhaji Mustafa Namadi, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Dutse.

Namadi said the identification of such persons would enable the state government to conduct mass weddings for them in the 27 Local Government Areas of the state.

He said the council would ensure that the committee succeeded in the assignment.

The information officer added that the committee is also expected to obtain the consent of both parties for the marriage, as well as establish the trade or profession of the would-be husband.

According to the Namadi, the committee is expected to verify the health status of the widows and divorcees as well as obtain vows that will bind them to the Islamic faith, among others.

He, therefore, urged members of the committee to discharge their duty with the fear of God in view of the significance of the task.

NAN recalls that on July 16, the Jigawa Government set up a 19-member committee to organise mass weddings for widows and divorcees in the state.

The committee is headed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abdulkadir Fanini.

The state government said the aim of the exercise was to check the incidence of social vices in the society. (NAN)

MNB/EEM/YEE

Edited by Emmanuel Mogbede/Emmanuel Yashim

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NAN-ELS-3
Awards
Washington, Sept. 23, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) President Barack Obama awarded medals to 24 American giants of the arts and humanities, lauding their accomplishments and sharing some laughs.

Comedian Mel Brooks, who Obama has said he admires for his over-the-top Western satire “Blazing Saddles’’, looked as if he were dropping down to receive a knighthood after a citation for “a lifetime of making the world laugh’’.

Obama shook Brooks’ hand, and warned that he would catch him if he tried to sell his National Medal of Arts on eBay.

He also joked with Broadway star Audra McDonald, whose citation was misplaced, and admired the spiked sneakers of poet Louise Glück.

Obama said, “I do think Mel Brooks kind of set the tone for this thing; this has been a much more staid affair.”

Also among the honorees are Motown producer, Berry Gordy, and composer, Philip Glass, as well as author Sandra Cisneros.

Others include Ron Chernow, Rudolfo Anaya and James McBride.

“We believe that the arts and the humanities are in many ways reflective of our national soul.

“They are central to who we are as Americans: dreamers and storytellers and innovators and visionaries.

“They are what helps us to make sense of the past the good and the bad, and how we chart a course for the future,’’ Obama added.

Obama gave a medal to Spanish celebrity chef Jose Andres, whose restaurants have been favourite haunts during his time in Washington, and has worked with the White House on immigration reform issues.

The American President deadpanned that Freeman, who has been involved with the foundation raising money for his presidential library in Chicago,“ undoubtedly is off playing a black president again; he never lets me have my moment,’’ Obama said. (Reuters/NAN)
ERO/IGO
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara)

President Buhari approves 56th independence anniversary programme

NAN-H-41
Anniversary
By Monday Ijeh
Abuja, Sept. 23, 2016 (NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the programme of events for the commemoration of Nigeria’s 56th independence anniversary.

Mr Bolaji Adebiyi, Director of Press in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) stated this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Adebiyi said in the statement that an interdenominational thanksgiving church service had been scheduled for Sept. 25 at the National Worship Centre, Abuja at 4p.m.

According to him, a public lecture and Jumma’at prayers are slated for Sept. 30 at 11a.m and 1 p.m. respectively at the National Mosque, Abuja.

He said the Church service, public lecture and Jumma’at prayers were open to members of public.

Adebiyi added that attendance to the Presidential Change of Guard scheduled for Oct. 1 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja at 3 p.m. would be strictly by invitation. (NAN)
IMC/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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NAN-DS-3
Arrest
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Sept. 23, 2016 (NAN) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested two persons for internet fraud in Ibadan.

This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by Mr Ayo Oyewole, EFCC’s Head of Public Affairs in the Ibadan Zonal Office of the commission.

The statement stated that the suspects aged 26 and 29 were involved in various internet fraud activities.

It stated that one of the suspects was engaged in internet love and romance scam while the other , the self styled Fashion Director of Datsol Industries Limited , often surfed the internet for online purchases through auction sites.

The statement alleged that the first suspect had on the internet impersonated two American Army Officers– Sergeant Shaft Pagan and Perrie Edingson—said to be serving in Afghanistan.

It said the suspect engaged unsuspecting ladies on the internet in a dating and romance scam through which he fleeced them of their money.

The statement said the last scam involved one P. J. (full names withheld) from the United States.

The suspect, the statement said, claimed he obtained about four million naira in tranches, an amount which he used in buying a car.

The other suspect, who the statement said lived at No. 3, Adeniyi Avenue, old Bodija, Ibadan, lived an ostentatious life without a definite job.

The statement said the EFCC had from series of intelligence gathered that the suspect was always indoor surfing the internet.

It said though arrested differently, both suspects had confessed in their statements to internet fraud.

An envelope containing several documents, one laptop, three modems, one iphone and two Nokia phones were recovered from one of the suspects.

“Others are an international passport, forged Union Bank Statement of Account with NUBAN number:10141411389 for Datsol Industries Limited, ” the statement said.

It said the EFCC also recovered three identity cards bearing different names and biodata, a 2010 Black Toyota Lexus car with registration number (Lagos) SMK 475 EH.

The statement further said that the EFCC recovered two laptop computers, one Blackberry phone and several love scam mails from another suspect.

It said that the suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as investigation was completed. (NAN)
TAA/ORO/OJO
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(Edited by Razak Owolabi and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-40

Violation

By Edith Nwapi

Abuja, Sept. 23, 2016. (NAN) Two Abuja-based lawyers on Friday expressed concern  over alleged incessant violation of fundamental human rights by law enforcement agents.

The lawyers expressed the concern considering the large number of cases of alleged rights violations involving law officers and agencies.

The agencies include the police, the army and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

In some cases, the courts have fined government agencies, such as EFCC, for wrongful detention of suspects.

In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday, two lawyers called on the National Human Rights Commission to be proactive.

They also called on the citizens to channel their complaints to the right quarters to obtain remedies.

Mr Mathias Ejeh, said that the law enforcement agents had the tendency of abusing their offices.

“Once they are in uniform, they don’t look at other Nigerians as fellow human beings` When they are wrong they are right.

“And also when citizens try to complain to the proper agency responsible for such complaints, what they meet would be disappointing.

“It becomes difficult since the citizens themselves cannot go after those security agents themselves,  that is why people take laws into their hands at times,“ he said.

Ejeh narrated the story of a mechanic beaten by four policemen  and lost two teeth during the process but the police authorities failed to punish the culprits.

“Why I raised this issue is that if their superiors had allowed them to be punished others would learn from it and desist from such acts.

“ We have laws to protect the rights of the citizens but the implementation or enforcement is an issue and the citizens should also be well informed about their rights.

“The agency in-charge should be proactive and also obey court orders when such is issued,’’ he said.

He said most violations of right were never  recorded or reported and people, for fear or not being properly informed, shied away from reporting such cases.

Another lawyer, Mr David Umahi said that the situation was getting better with the coming of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

“Before the coming of this Act, our law enforcement agents could do anything to anyone  and decide not to obey any order from a court.

“ It is not that we do not have enough laws to protect the right of citizens but the enforcement of it.

“The enforcement of the order of the court too, and the commission in-charge of human rights are not helping out; they should work without fear or favour,“ he said.

Umahi said that Chapter four of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended guarantees the fundamental human rights of every Nigerian citizen.

“The New Administration of Justice Act of 2015 went further to provide that when a person is arrested, if the person cannot be taken to court, he should be taken to a magistrate who shall make a remand order,’’ he said. (NAN)
NEO/JCE

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(Edited by Chukwudi Ekezie)

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Amaechi

By Taiye Edeni

Abuja, Sept. 23, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, said on Friday that the Federal Government embarked on “restructuring various parastatal agencies to foster an economy that is robust, transparent and accountable’’.

Amaechi made the statement at the inauguration of the governing boards of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in Abuja.

“The FG in its efforts to creating an economy that is vibrant and sustainable and in line with best international practices, embarked on restructuring and repositioning various parastatals under the ministry, including the NPA and NIMASA.

“NIMASA has two broad mandates — to promote the development of indigenous commercial shipping capacity in international and coastal shipping trade.

“And, to also regulate and promote maritime safety, security, marine pollution and maritime labour.

“Your responsibilities as governing board members include setting operational administrative policies in accordance with government policy directives aimed at assisting the agency.

“To achieve its mandate, your assignment will also involve formulation of broad policies aimed at achieving the set objectives of the agency,’’ the minister declared.

Amaechi, however, urged the board of NIMASA to ensure that the cabotage fund was fully utilised for the right purpose and the fund properly accounted for.

The minister said that the boards were responsible for setting operational administrative policies in accordance with government’s policy directives, aimed at assisting NPA and NIMASA to achieve their mandates.

He said that they were charged with responsibilities of fulfilling the mandate of the authority to construct, develop ports, docks, harbours, piers, wharves, canals, water courses, embankment, revetment and jetties.

The Chairman of the NPA board, Mr Emmanuel Adesoye, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for giving the board members the privilege to serve the nation.

“Indeed, the role of NPA in the industrialisation and growth of Nigeria’s economy particularly at this period of economic recession cannot be overemphasised.

“When it is realised that the maritime sector is one of the most important revenue earners after the oil sector, it behoves on our board to come up with concrete policies,’’ he said.

He said that the objective of the board members was to ensure that the NPA was elevated to a higher pedestal that would make it the hub of maritime business in both the west and central African sub-region.

Adesoye said the board would be collaborating with the management of the ministry of transportation to ensure speedy passage into law of the Ports and Harbour Bill at the National Assembly.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the NIMASA board, Mr Jonathan Garba , said that the board members would work together to achieve the objectives of setting up NIMASA.

He said that they would review the operations of the Maritime Security Implementation and Regulatory Agency and other critical issues to actualise the mandate of NIMASA.

Garba said that they would also work diligently to ensure compliance with extant laws to achieve the president’s vision and mandate of accountability.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that members of the governing board of NPA and NIMASA were appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Aug. 26.

Other members of the NPA board are Olasupo Shasore, Suleiman Halilu, Constance Mashal, Umar Shu’aibu and Charles Sylvester.

The other members are Hadiza Usman, Mohammed Koko, Sekonte Davis, Idris Abubakar and Uche Okoro.

Members of the NIMASA board are Adeniyi Osinowo, Bashir Jamoh, Joseph Fashakin, Gambo Ahmed, Asekomhe Kenneth and Mohammed Muazu.

Other members are Ebele Obi, S. U. Galadanchi, Nene Dike and Dakuku Peterside. (NAN)

TY/DO/SN

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(Edited by David Onilede, controlled by Silas Nwoha)

NAN-H-27

Fraud

By Chinyere Omeire

Lagos, Sept. 23, 2016 (NAN) Four unemployed men, who allegedly defrauded a businesswoman of N5.3 million under guise of supplying her jewellery, were on Friday arraigned in Lagos.

The accused– Joe Nwaneri, 45; Udochi Obimba, 36; Emmanuel Olorunisola, 53; and Jeremiah Omosofe, 26 — are facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and fraud at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Innocent Odugbo told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 29 in Egbe area, a Lagos suburb.

He said the accused had the intention of defrauding the complainant (name withheld) when they presented themselves as dealers and suppliers of jewellery.

“They convinced her that they will supply her with gold jewellery when they collected the money.

“When the complainant did not get any feedback from the accused, she called them to refund her money but they refused and she reported the matter to the police.”

The offences contravened Sections 312, 316 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Magistrate, Mr O. M. Ajayi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

She said the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government as part of the bail condition.

The case was adjourned to Oct. 20 for mention. (NAN)
OCC/EOB/DA
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(Edited by Edith Bolokor & controlled by Dele Akinsola)

NAN-H-26
Warehouse
By Teniola Ibitola
Lagos, Sept. 23, 2016 (NAN) Two men were on Friday brought before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly breaking into  a warehouse and carting goods worth N27.6 million naira.

The accused — Chibueze Sunday, 32, and Usman Babale, 33 — are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, burglary and stealing.

Both pleaded not guilty.

The Chief Magistrate, Miss Abimbola Awogboro, granted them a bail of N2 million each with two sureties each in like sum.

Earlier, the Investigating Police Officer,Insp. Isiaka Ayole  told the court that the accused  committed the offences on April 17 at Live Wire Safety Ltd, Apapa, belonging to SCOA Motors.

He said the accused burgled the  warehouse and carted away goods including batteries, fire extinguishers and car parts all valued at N27.6 million.

The offences contravened Sections 285, 307 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

The magistrate adjourned further hearing to Oct 24. (NAN)
OAT/DA
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(Edited & controlled by Dele Akinsola)

EGM launches naira trading platform for global markets to eradicate currency exposure

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Market

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Lagos, Sept. 23, 2016 (NAN) Eagle Global Markets (EGM), a derivatives global market company, has introduced an indigenous naira platform tagged, “CloudTrade”, to enable both retail and institutional investors in Nigeria to play the global markets.

Mr Gbite Oduneye, EGM’s Chief Executive Officer, speaking at a news conference on Friday in Lagos on the features of the platform, said that all global markets trades through the online trading platform were done in Naira.

Oduneye said the company had succeeded in eradicating the bureaucratic bottleneck in trading the global market.

“It does not put pressure on the foreign exchange because all global markets trades through its platform are done in naira.”

“It gives more value to the naira because more people will have to look for it to trade global markets,” Oduneye stated.

Oduneye said that the naira platform would eliminate the need for currency conversion in deposits and withdrawals and would also offer competitive spreads.

Oduneye said the company was the first PAN African brand to offer such an opportunity to Nigerian clients who previously had to face the hassles of operating a U.S. dollar-denominated account in order to access even less attractive markets.

“To achieve this feat, the company took into consideration the most pressing needs of traders and investors and went ahead to build their proprietary platform called the “CloudTrade,” he said.

According to him, CloudTrade promotes ease of market access by ensuring that competitive and affordable capital can be used to commence trading the financial markets.

Oduneye said traders in the past had to source for foreign currencies to fund their trading accounts, or deposit Naira equivalents, thereby limiting their trading capability and volume.

He said that the strain the currency conversion process put on the traders and even the economy in general had been eliminated with the introduction of CloudTrade.

“With CloudTrade, EGM clients are able to define their trading volumes in naira, while getting up to the minute financial data in the form of economic news and a bird’s eye view on market performance using the powerful built-in indicators,” he said.

“Retail and institutional investors in the Nigerian finance space who have for long craved for an indigenous platform that could provide and combine world class functionality into a user friendly interface now have answer to their requests.”

Oduneye said the company was offering the highest level of transparency, ease of transacting and most importantly constant innovation that would lead to client development.

He said EGM had over 600 active trading clients that qualified to trade on its platforms within three months in Nigeria.

The chief executive officer said that about 50 per cent of trading applications were declined due to Know Your Customer (KYC) requirement and other regulatory checks in line with international standards.

He said that the reason for necessary checks on every single trading application was to ensure best practice.

“EGM provides a trading platform that brings to the table fast order execution with a depth of analytical tools to access over 3,000 assets such as equities, commodities, forex and spot metals,” he said.

Oduneye assured potential clients that global industry standards would be applied in the client on-boarding process.

He said that the company was committed to education to help traders improve on their short and long-term financial expectations.

Oduneye said EGM had earmarked the sum of one million dollars for training and retraining of its clients for better results.

Also speaking, Mr Kola Adebayo, EGM Head of Education and Market Analysis, said that the company had developed a curriculum that would aid its clients to become sound in market analysis.

Adebayo said the company, through intensive education, would help clients to achieve both their corporate or individual financial goals.

He said EGM had an intensive programme that taught clients on risk management.

“A lot of people lost money trading online and for us to win their trust, we need to change their views about potentials available in the market,” Adebayo said.(NAN)
JNC/TA

Edited/controlled by Tajudeen Atitebi

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Diseases
By Chinyere Bassey
Lagos, Sept. 23, 2016 (ANN) The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Commission on Health and Economic Growth has called for global increase in the employment of health workers to protect outbreaks of communicable diseases.

The commission said in a statement in Lagos on Friday that ageing populations and increasing rates of non-communicable diseases were projected to generate demand for 40 million new health workers worldwide by 2030.

It said that without action there would be a shortfall, primarily in low- and lower-middle-income countries of 18 million health workers needed to achieve and sustain universal health coverage.

“The commission’s vision is for an expanded, transformed and sustainable health workforce to promote health, prevent disease, meet the needs of populations and drive inclusive economic growth.

“Countries have seen health workers as just another cost to be managed instead of an investment with a triple return for health, economic growth and global health security,’’ it said.

The commission said that there was the need to harness the power of cost-effective information and communication technologies to enhance health education, people-centred health services and health information systems.

It said that investing in skills and expanding health employment would also contribute to the economic empowerment of women and youth.

The commission called for immediate action by March 2018 to secure commitments and accountability for accelerated health workforce investments. (NAN)
CHIN/FF/PDE
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(Edited Fela Fashoro and Controlled by Peter Ejiofor)