If we can’t maintain aircraft, let’s use witchcraft to fly - Nigerian Senator

Sam Anyanwu, senator representing Imo east, says if aircraft cannot be properly maintained, witchcraft should be used as a means to fly.

Anyanwu said this on Tuesday while contributing to a debate on the need to minimise air mishaps in the country.

The senator asked government to pay more attention to the aviation sector.

“It is shameful that Nigeria does not have any national carrier. I think every responsible government should look at this issue. If the aircraft cannot be maintained, let’s use witchcraft and start flying. That is the truth,” Anyanwu said.

“Where is our national carrier? The government should look at the airline sector. Foreigners don’t come here (Nigeria) because it is not safe. Government should pay attention to the sector.”

He said the federal government may give bailout funds to the airlines to enhance their operations.

On her part, Stella Oduah, senator representing Anambra north, said the problem with the aviation sector is funding.

Oduah said government should provide the requisite fund to the sector at a single digit rate.

“The problem is funding, you need money to train and maintain aircraft,” she said.

“The issue is why is the [safety] protocol is not followed. The first person who has the responsibility to avoid any incident is the pilot.” - Cable Nigeria

Imo state : 18-year-old girl sells 2-month-old baby for N120,000

Imo State Police have arrested an eighteen-year-old mother, Chiamaka Njoku, and two child traffickers over the sale of her baby.
Chiamaka was on Tuesday paraded by the State’s Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, alongside others arrested for various crimes.

Ezike disclosed that the teenager who hails from Umuokpo Emeabiam Owerri West LGA of Imo state, took in outside wedlock, gave birth on December 10, 2017 and sold the baby girl at the cost of N120,000.00.

He said, “she was impregnated by unidentified man out of wedlock. She left her parents house and was harboured by Okere Justice of the same address who contacted one Franca Chukwukere, the Proprietress of an illegal orphanage, Franca Gold Orphanage Lagos, where she remained until on 10/12/2017 when she put to bed.

“The baby girl was sold out at the cost of N300,000 and the sum of N120,000 sent to Chiamaka Njoku through Justice Okere. Two baby girls of one month three weeks and one month two weeks old baby were recovered from the child trafficker.

“53-year-old Franca Chukwukere hails from Umuelem, Ihiagwa, Owerri West LGA of Imo state but resident at No. 2 Fasholade street,Ojokoro LGA of Lagos State.

“She is married with three children. She harboured the pregnant girl till she delivered. She forged documents and sold the baby as a licensed Orphanage homeowner at the cost of N300,000.and sent N120,000 to the biological mother through Justice Okere. She confessed to the crime.

“Okere Justice, 42, from Umuokpo Emeabiam, Owerri West LGA of Imo state, is married with children. He harboured the mother of the trafficked child and later sent her to Chukwukere, who operates the illegal Orphanage.” - Daily Post

Mohamed Salah makes incredible donation to Egyptian hospital

Liverpool star Salah is enjoying a fantastic season with his side and has been grabbing headlines on a regular basis since his move from Roma.

The winger is in sublime form and has helped his side enjoy a positive season thus far. However, it is not just his teammates who he is helping out, as shown by his heartwarming donation to a hospital back in his homeland of Egypt recently.

As reported by journalist Mootaz Chehade, the former Chelsea man has donated a huge sum of 12 million Egyptian pounds to enable a hospital back home to purchase new and improved equipment to aid their patients in a safer, more efficient manner.

Salah is a national hero in Egypt and produced moments of magic to help his side qualify for the World Cup this summer.

He’ll be keen to continue making a positive impression on and off the pitch. - Read Sport

The man who saved Sir Alex Ferguson from the sack

Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the most successful managers of all time, one who managed to create a football superpower from dust.

Every football fan knows how important he was for United and he had a key role in English football success. However, none of this would have happened if it wasn’t for a striker who saved Ferguson’s career in 1990.

It was January 7th, 1990 and United were under pressure as poor performances from the squad had led to them being in 15th place in the league table and they’d just suffered an early exit in the League Cup. After a Tottenham 3-0 win, the board gave a last chance to Ferguson to win or he’d be sacked.

United were drawn against Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup tie. A do-or-die match for Sir Alex against a tough opponent.

The first half ended 0-0, with the Red Devils looking unable to score a goal and secure Fergunson’s job. He had accepted his destiny. Until, after a weird pass, Mark Robins scored with a beatiful header. Forest scored, but in extra-time, Robins scored another to lead his side to victory.

He said a few years later that he never realised how important his goal was - no player knew that this match would judge Ferguson's fate.

The following year, Robins joined Norwich and, after many years, became a manager. Ferguson didn’t count on him as a part of the team that would later become a superpower. He wasn’t angry about that. Robins’ only grievance is that Ferguson never thanked him for saving his career.

We're sure that today’s United fans recognise his importance though! - Read Sport

Really ? I’ll turn Kano to China of Nigeria – Ganduje

Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has said his administration is determined to turn Kano into China of Nigeria through its policy of training youths in specialised skills.

This was as he said that, his government was reviewing the current Nigerian education curriculum with a view to adjusting it to cater for specific areas of manpower needs in the country.

Ganduje who stated these on Tuesday at the graduation of 150 trainees from Kano State at the Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) Learning Center in Kaduna, said the high unemployment rate in the country was because youths were not made to acquire the required skills needed.

Speaking to the trainees who acquired special training in different aspects of Automotive Engineering, the Governor told them that, the aim of their training was not only to get them employed but, turn Kano to China of Nigeria through their productivity.

According to him, “we are training you, not only for you to become self-employed and employers of labour. We are training you not to remain in Kano alone. We want to be like China is to the world that is what we want Kano to be to Nigeria. Chinese are all over the world, we want Kano to be all over Nigeria.

“This is can only be possible if you have some vital skills, skills that are not common, unless you have something to sell, something to offer, irrespective of your location. Wherever you go, your skill is something you can offer to the people.

“We want to remove ourselves from tribalism and useless sentiment. We want to build our economy, we want to build manpower. Because there are countries that don’t have a single drop of oil and yet they are one of the biggest economies in the world. How did they achieve that? It is their brain and skills.” He said.

Ganduje said his administration is identifying the needed skills so that youths can be trained for sustainable employment and it is building a N5 billion skills acquisition center in Kano to train the youths.

He said Kano as the most populous state in Nigeria must tap its vast human potential otherwise the human asset would become a liability. He said the current training in various forms of automobile engineering the youths from Kano are undergoing is one the ways the government is tackling the issue of unemployment in the state.

Earlier, the Managing Director of PAN, Alhaji Ibrahim Boyi said the youth empowerment initiative of the company is an extension of what the Kano state government is doing for youths as it is providing a platform for them to be productive.

He said it is the hope of the center that in five years from now, it would be offering degree program in auto engineering.

President of the trainees, Mohammed Saleh, who spoke at the occasion, thanked the governor for the opportunity given him and his mates to acquire skills saying they would put them to good use to develop the state and help their people.

He called on the governor to build a similar facility in Kano for the training of the youths so that the teeming number of youths in the state can equally benefit. - The Nation

Fraudster !!!! N3.2bn fraud: 2 witnesses testify in Kalu’s trial

A prosecution witness on Tuesday told a Federal High Court in Lagos in the ongoing trial of former Governor of Abia, Orji Uzor Kalu, for a N3.2 billion fraud, that a search report had linked Slok Nigeria Ltd to Kalu as the owner.

Mr Oladipo Ayoola, an EFCC witness, told the court that he was a compliance officer in Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on Oct. 31, 2016 preferred a 34-count charge against Kalu, his former Commissioner for Finance, Ude Udeogu and Kalu’s company —  Slok Nigeria Ltd.

All the accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The witness told the court that the EFCC requested some documents from the bank which the bank produced.

EFCC prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), tendered the account statements of Neya Nigeria Ltd, Zerok Construction Nigeria Ltd and Slok Nigeria Ltd in evidence.

Jacobs asked the witness if he knew the persons that conducted the transactions and the witness responded in the negative.

Jacobs: Look at Exhibit P 33, the search report done on the third defendant (Slok) on July 25, 2001. Who is the major shareholder?

Witness: Orji Uzor Kalu is.

Counsel to the first defendant (Kalu), Mr Gordy Uche (SAN),cross-examined the witness, who told the court that he had been working with GTB since 2004.

He said he did not make the entries in the statements of accounts or open the account as the account officer.

When asked if he knew that the companies were sister companies, he replied: I got to know about that during my conciliation of the accounts.

The commission had earlier called its second witness, Mr Olusegun Adesomoju, and while being led in examination-in-chief, told the court that he was a compliance officer in First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

The prosecution tendered the statement and certificate of identification of the third defendant’s (SLOK) account in FCMB.

The court had adjourned until today to enable the defendants go through the tendered exhibits and commence their cross-examination.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court at 1.02 p.m., the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the court that the prosecution witness was still on his way to the court.

Jacobs asked the court for a 15-minute “stand down” to enable the witness get to the court.

The court rose and resumed sitting about 1:45 p.m. with the witness arriving and mounting the witness box.

Counsel for the first defendant, Mr Gordy Uche (SAN) commenced cross-examination of the witness and asked if he had ever worked for First Inland bank to which responded “No sir”.

The witness told the court that other than the narrations of the third defendant’s statement of account, he knew nothing about the account.

Adesomoju further said that he was not the account officer of the account and that he merely read out what he saw in the documents.

When asked if he made any statement to the EFCC in relation to the matter, the witness responded in the negative.

Uche asked: ”Go through the statement, from the first page to the last, can you see the name Orji Uzor Kalu, on any of the entries? ”

Witness: No sir

Counsel for the second defendant, Mr Joseph Ochu, in his cross-examination asked the witness: Tell the court if you saw the name of the second defendant, Mr Ude Udeogu in any of the entries?

Witness: It is not there.

Mr Kingsley Nwofo (SAN), counsel to the third defendant also began his cross-examination and asked: “From the exhibit, is there any credit entry from you state government?”

Witness :No there isn’t.

Nwofo: Did you see the printer that printed this exhibit while it was printing?

Witness: It was printed from my computer in the office this year.

Nwofo: What date is written on the document?

Witness: Feb 10, 2006.

Nwofo: Do you realize this document has been front loaded to this court since 2007?

Witness: They were stored electronically but printed this year, even if you print it out tomorrow, it would still have the same date.

Nwofo: Do you see from the entries in the statement that the account was an active and trading account?

Witness : Yes sir, within that period.

During re-examination by EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi, the witness told the court: I was not the one that entered the records or processed the transactions.

Justice Idris adjourned the case until March 7 for continuation of trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the trial which started at about 1.45 p.m. ended at 4.15 p.m.

Orji Uzor Kalu was alleged to have utilised his company to retain in the account of a First Inland bank, now FCMB, the sum of N200 million.

The sum is alleged to have formed part of funds illegally derived from the coffers of the Abia State Government.

Slok Nigeria Ltd and a man, Emeka Abone, who is still at large, were also alleged to have retained in the company’s account the sum of N200 million on behalf of the first accused (Kalu).

They allegedly used Many Bank, (now Fidelity Bank Plc), Spring Bank Plc, the defunct Standard Trust Bank and Fin Land Bank, now First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

The accused were alleged to have retained about N2.5 billion in different accounts which funds were said to belong to the Abia Government.

Cumulatively, the accused were alleged to have diverted over N3.2 billion from the state government’s treasury during Kalu’s tenure as governor.

The offences contravened the provisions of Sections 15(6), 16, and 21 of the Money Laundering (Prohibitions) Act, 2005.

The offences also violated the Money Laundering Act of 1995 (as amended) Act No.9 of 2002 and Section 477 of the Criminal Code, Law of the Federation, 1990. - The Nation

England Could Pull Out Of World Cup In Russia

Boris Johnson has said England could pull out of the football World Cup in Russia, if Moscow is found to be responsible for the hospitalisation of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his 33-year-old daughter in Salisbury.

The foreign secretary said he was not yet “pointing figures”, but added “no attempt to take innocent life on UK soil will go unsanctioned or unpunished”.

Speaking in the Commons on Tuesday afternoon as well as imposing new sanctions, the UK would take “other measures”.

He added it would “be very difficult to imagine that UK representation” at this summer’s World Cup “could go ahead in the normal way”.

The 2018 tournament is being held from 14 June until 15 July across Russia. England is the only team from the UK to have qualified.

Sergei Skripal, a former Russian agent convicted of treason in Moscow for passing state secrets to British intelligence, is critically ill in Salisbury District Hospital hospital along with his daughter Yulia.

The pair were found slumped unconscious on a bench in the centre of Salisbury yesterday afternoon. 

The Kremlin has denied any involvement and said it has “no information” about what happened.

Speaking in the Commons on Tuesday afternoon, Johnson said the British government would take “whatever measures we deem necessary” to “protect the lives of people in our country, our values and our freedom”.

He added “it is clear that Russia is now a malign and destructive force” and said it was time to “bring Russia to heel”.

“If things turn out to be as many members suspect that they are,” Johnson said. “I think we will have to have a serious conversation about our engagement with Russia.

“And for my own part, I think it will be very difficult to see how, thinking ahead to the World Cup this July, this summer, I think it would be difficult to imagine that UK representation at that event could go ahead in the normal way. We will certainly have to consider that.”

Johnson added the hospitalisation of Sergei and Yulia Skripal has “echoes” of the death of Alecander Litvinenko in 2006. - Huffington Post UK

90 Million Nigerians Without Electricity Supply, Says Fashola

The Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), has said that the half of the global population of people without electricity live in Africa.

The minister said about 1.5 billion people lack electricity supply globally, out of which 90 million live in Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria.

Mr. Fashola represented by the Acting Director, Renewable and Rural Power Access Development, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Faruk Yabo, at the annual international conference of the Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law (CPEEL), University of Ibadan (UI), said despite the huge deposit of both renewable and nonrenewable energy in Africa, the continent still lacks electricity.

He said, “Africans have trillions standard cubic feet (SCFs) of natural gas reserves, billions of barrels of crude oil reserves and billions of tons of coal; but Africa has even greater abundance of renewal energy resources. Unfortunately, of the nearly 1.5 billion people estimated to lack electricity supply the world over, half live-in Africa. Nigeria alone is estimated to have over 90 million people living without electricity supply according to the world bank”.

The minister for Power said there must be combined upgrade of both renewable energy and conventional power plants to solve the power problem in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

The former governor of Lagos state said renewable energy is the fastest source power that can be deployed as the technology is compatible for decentralized, stand-alone electric sources and ideal for local, rural communities.

He noted that the huge energy deficit and the negative environmental impact of using fossil fuel for energy generation, as well as the falling costs of renewable energy technologies like solar power, are driving the current transition towards renewable sources as being witnessed across the world, including in Africa.

 “In 2018 we are making efforts to complete and commission the following renewable energy projects: 10 MW Katsina wind farm, 30MW Gurara Hydro Power, 29MW Dadin Kowa Hydropower and 40MW Kashimbila Hydropower, 700MW Zungeru Hydro Power and the 14 Solar IPP are expected to come on stream soon,” he added.

Also speaking at the event, Oyo state Chief of Staff, Dr. Gbade Ojo, who represented the state governor; Mr. Abiola Ajimobi, said that “the good Lord has blessed us with abundant diverse natural resources that are continuously replenished continuously. But we need the policy to encourage investors in developing the technology for Africa and to also embolden financials to allocate huge funds to renewable energy development in Africa.

“The outlook of us as policymakers, researchers and investors is a strategic partnership that will result to increase in the contribution of renewable energy generation in Nigeria and Africa as a whole, in a way that will make it attractive, accessible and affordable to the general public.

The host, Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Professor Idowu Olayinka said that the significance of the conference is not just for the town but also for the gown as the University spends very considerable amount of money to ensure stable electricity supply that can support research, training and other activities on campus that will impact the nation and the world positively.

He said, “I will like to remind the Hon. Minister that about two years ago, the Federal Government made a pledge of support to build a 10MW Solar Plant in collaboration with the German for the University. While other universities have been included in the scheme, the University of Ibadan is yet to record any progress on the plant.

“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the Minister and the Rural Electrification Agency to revisit the project given that the successful completion will further aid research and training activities in the University as we all work very hard to make UI the best among the rest. - Sahara reporters

UK-US Open Skies talks hit Brexit turbulence

The US is offering Britain a worse “Open Skies” deal after Brexit than it had as an EU member, in a negotiating stance that would badly hit the transatlantic operating rights of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

British and American negotiators secretly met in January for the first formal talks on a new air services deal, aiming to fill the gap created when Britain falls out of the EU-US open skies treaty after Brexit, according to people familiar with talks.

In a sign of the battle Britain faces to replicate its existing rights, the talks were cut short after US negotiators offered standard bilateral conditions that would reduce access and in effect exclude all main UK-based carriers because they would not meet the criteria for ownership and control.

One person attending the London meetings to “put Humpty Dumpty back together” said: “You can’t just scratch out ‘EU’ and put in ‘UK’.” A British official said it showed “the squeeze” London will face as it tries to reconstruct its international agreements after Brexit, even with close allies such as Washington.

Negotiators are confident of an eventual agreement to keep open the busy UK-US routes, which account for more than a third of current transatlantic flight traffic. But there are legal and political obstacles that could impede the two sides from reaching a deal in time to give legal certainty to airlines booking flights a year in advance.

“We have every confidence that the US and UK will sign a deal that is in everyone’s interests and that IAG will comply with the EU and UK ownership and control regulations post Brexit,” said International Airlines Group, which owns British Airways. Virgin Atlantic said it remained “assured that a new liberal agreement will be reached, allowing us to keep flying to all of our destinations in North America”.

Chris Grayling, UK transport secretary, declared in October that he was making “rapid progress” in reaching ambitious new airline agreements with the US and other international partners. According to FT estimates, the UK must renegotiate and replace about 65 international transport agreements after Brexit.

In its opening stance the US side rolled back valuable elements of the US-EU agreement, the most liberal open skies deal ever agreed by Washington. Its post-Brexit offer to the UK did not include membership of a joint committee on regulatory co-operation or special access to the Fly America programme, which allocates tickets for US government employees. Washington also asked for improved flying rights for US courier services such as FedEx.

The Americans will play it hard. The mood has changed [against liberalisation], it’s the worst time to be negotiating

Senior EU official

The UK has also yet to formally offer the US access to overseas territories such as the British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands, which were not included as part of the original US-EU deal, according to people familiar with the talks.

There are also potential issues over the continuation of antitrust exemptions, permitted by the US-EU open skies agreement, which allow airline alliances to set fares and share revenue, according to people familiar with talks.

The biggest sticking-point is a standard ownership clause in Washington’s bilateral aviation agreements that would exclude airlines from the deal if “substantial ownership and effective control” does not rest with US or UK nationals respectively. In effect it requires majority ownership by one of the two sides if an airline is to benefit.

London asked the US to adjust its long-held policy since it would exclude the three main British-based transatlantic carriers, which all fall short of the eligibility criteria. These are IAG, the owner of British Airways and Iberia; Virgin Atlantic; and Norwegian UK.

Sir Richard Branson owns 51 per cent of Virgin, making it majority UK-owned. But he is in the process of selling 31 per cent to Air France-KLM, which could complicate Virgin’s access rights to the US. US airline Delta owns the remaining stake.

The challenge is most acute for Willie Walsh, IAG chief executive, whose group must also clear the EU’s 50 per cent ownership threshold to avoid losing his European operating rights after Brexit, when UK nationals are no longer counted.

One senior EU official said the airline operator was heading for “a crunch”. “From the US point of view, there is not a single big airline that is UK-owned and controlled,” he said. “The Americans will play it hard. The mood has changed [against liberalisation], it’s the worst time to be negotiating.”

Andrew Charlton, an aviation consultant, said the negotiations with the US were likely to be “fraught with difficulties”.

“The EU has been arguing for a change to the ownership and control rule for decades but the US has never said yes. It’s been a sticking point forever. If the US has never bent before then why would they do it just for the UK?” he said, adding that such a change could set a big precedent.

British negotiators are hopeful the ownership issues can be addressed through a side agreement or memorandum of understanding giving airlines solid legal rights. But so far the US side has not gone beyond offering temporary “waivers”, on a case-by-case basis to airlines.

The UK’s EU membership also prevents the country from signing trade or aviation services agreements before the end of March 2019 when Britain is due to leave the bloc. The EU’s Brexit negotiators are insisting it seek permission for deals during any transition period.

British negotiators are hoping to convince partners such as the US to treat them as EU members during the transition period, so they do not automatically fall out of agreements during that period.

A senior UK government source said it was “nonsense to suggest that planes won’t fly between UK and US post-Brexit. Both sides have a strong interest in reaching an agreement and are very close to one.”

The US also played down fears of a looming crisis.

“Our shared aim with the United Kingdom is to ensure the smoothest possible transition in the transatlantic market,” said the state department. “Commercial aviation is key to the dynamic economic relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom. Discussions are going well and, while specific dates are not set, we plan to meet again soon.” - FT

Face of a fraudster !!! EFCC Re-Arraigns Alao-Akala, Two Others Over Alleged N11.5Bn Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes  Commission on Monday re-arraigned a former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, and two others in an Oyo State High Court sitting in  Ibadan over alleged N11.5bn fraud.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the other defendants are a former Oyo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Senator Hosea Agboola; and an Ibadan-based businessman, Femi Babalola.

The defendants are facing 11 counts bordering on conspiracy, awarding a contract without budgetary provision, obtaining by false pretence, acquiring property with money derived from an illegal act and concealing the ownership of such property, among others.

EFCC’s counsel, Dr. B. Ubi,  told the court that when Alao-Akala was the governor of Oyo State,  he awarded a  road contract worth N8.5bn between 2007 and 2009 to Pentagon Engineering Services.

Ubi alleged that the firm, owned by Babalola, handled the contract on behalf of the 33 local governments without budgetary provision.

The counsel further claimed that Alao-Akala ordered the supply of drilling machines on behalf of the 33 local governments in the state to the tune of N3.5bn.

He also alleged that Alao-Akala conspired with Ayoola to withdraw N2.9bn from Oyo State Local Government Joint Account.

The prosecutor told the court that Alao-Akala also illegally acquired some property on Old Bodija road, off Rotimi Williams road,  when he was the governor of the state.

He said the offences contravened Section 22 (4) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act and Section 1 (18) of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act.

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

Mr. Hakeem Afolabi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and counsel to Alao-Akala and Babaloa prayed the court to exercise its discretion in granting bail to the defendants.

Afolabi said the charge before the court was not a fresh one but a re-arraignment.

He said the matter was first filed on October 11, 2011 before Justice Moshood Abas and bail was granted after the defendants met the conditions.

NAN recalls that the defendants had also appeared before Justice Akintunde Boade and Justice Bayo Taiwo who was recently transferred out of Ibadan Division.

Afolabi said Alao-Akala was granted bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum; while the other defendants were granted bail in the sum of N3m each with two sureties in like sum.

Afolabi urged the court to allow the defendants to enjoy their earlier bail conditions.

Mr. Richard Ogunwole, another Senior Advocate of Nigeria and counsel to Ayoola, aligned with the submission of Alao-Akala’s counsel.

The EFCC’s  counsel said he would not oppose the bail applications.

Justice Muniru Owolabi granted the defendants’ prayers and adjourned the case till  April 16 for trial. - Punchng