FG suspends national carrier project indefinitely

The federal government has suspended the national carrier project indefinitely.

Hadi Sirika, minister of state for aviation, made this known on Wednesday.

“I regret to announce that the Federal Executive Council has taken the tough decision to suspend the National Carrier Project in the interim. All commitments due will be honoured. We thank the public for the support as always,” he wrote on Twitter.

Sirika didn’t give any reason for the decision.

The airline, Nigeria Air, was unveiled in July at the Farnborough International Airshow in London and operations were scheduled to begin in December.

At the unveiling, Sirika had said the airline will be managed by private investors with the federal government owning a five per cent stake in the business.

“Nigeria has unfortunately not been a serious player in Aviation for a long time. We used to be a dominant player, through Nigeria Airways, but sadly not anymore,” he said.

“The Nigerian government will not own more than 5% (maximum) of the new national carrier. The government will not be involved in running it or deciding who runs it.”

The Infrastructural Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) had given zero government control as the condition for issuing the public-private partnership certificate.

Speaking on the defunct Nigeria Airways, Sirika said “Nigeria Airways died due to so many reasons, including governance issues and also that of finance.

“Nigeria Airways was owned by the government of Nigeria and over time it lost track and lost funding and someone, therefore, decided to shut it down and it died.” - TheCable

Mobil must reinstate sacked 860 staff, says Falana

Femi Falana, a human right lawyer, has asked Chris Ngige, minister of labour, to mandate Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited to obey the supreme court ruling on the 860 security staff sacked by the company.

In a letter dated September 19, 2018 to the minister, the senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) accused Exxon Mobil of flouting the ruling of the supreme court delivered on April 20, 2018.

The apex court had ordered the oil company to reinstate the staff and pay their outstanding entitlement.

Falana, however, stated that instead of obeying the ruling, the company neither reinstated the affected staff nor paid their terminal benefits with the conditions of service applicable in the oil industry.

The lawyer disclosed that Paul McGrath, the managing director of the oil company, decided to lay off the affected staff on July 13.

“In spite of your timely intervention, the oil company has continued to treat the judgement of the highest court of the land with provocative contempt. Contrary to the terms of the judgement, the oil company has decided not to reinstate the employees. As if that is not enough, the oil company has decided to ignore the relevant provisions of the Labour Act by refusing to pay the terminal benefits of the employees in strict compliance with the conditions of service applicable in the oil industry,” Falana’s letter read.

“Since the oil company cannot disobey the judgement of the Supreme Court of the United States of America, it should not be allowed to treat the Supreme Court of Nigeria with disdain. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of this case, we are compelled to urge you to use your good offices to ensure that the valid and subsisting judgements of the Supreme Court are fully complied with not later than September 24, 2018.”

The oil company has come under severe criticisms for its action. - TheCable

Real reasons Buhari removed Matthew Seiyefa as DSS boss – PDP

The Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has given reasons President Muhammadu Buhari removed former Acting Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Matthew Seiyefa.

Seiyefa was replaced with Yusuf Magaji Bichi, by President Buhari last Friday, after he acted for a brief period during which he tried to reposition the security agency.

Chairman of the state PDP, Cleopas Moses, in a statement in Yenagua, yesterday, said Seiyefa’s sudden removal was borne out of fear by the ruling cabal.

He said that members of President Buhari’s kitchen cabinet were not comfortable with a non-Northerner as the DSS boss.

According to Moses, Seiyefa’s service to the nation was cut short because he is not from any of the major ethnic groups in Nigeria.

He said that this was a continuation of the current Federal Government’s unfair treatment to the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta region.

He added, “The party believes if Seiyefa was from any of the major ethnic groups in Nigeria, he would not have been thrown out the way the Buhari administration did, not minding his acclaimed competence on the job.

“We have it on record that Mr. Seiyefa had nobody to run to as this ill-advised plot was hatched by the cabal in their government.”

The party chairman said the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government was being anti-Ijaw in its decisions and execution of policies and projects. - Daily Post

Osun guber: TMG accuses politicians of buying votes ahead of Saturday’s election

Ahead of the Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, the Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, on Wednesday alleged that vote-buying was ongoing in some Local Government Areas of the state.

The group’s Chairperson, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, disclosed that the organisation had received reports of distribution of money, food items and gifts by politicians at Boripe, Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Ife North, Ife South, Obokun, Ede North, Egbedore, Boluwaduro, Ila, Irepodun, Iwo Local Government Areas of the state.

Akiyode-Afolabi in a statement claimed that the ugly trend of voter inducement was inimical to the credibility of the electoral process.

The statement reads, “These ugly trends are dangerous recipe against the credibility of the electoral process. The rampant case of voter inducements does not portray the electoral process in good light as it creates serious questions on the integrity of the process and legitimacy of its outcome.

“TMG has also received reports of violence or threats of violence as political parties go out for campaigns, we, therefore, call on candidates and their supporters to remain civil in their campaigns.”

Akiyode-Afolabi called on residents of the state not to allow themselves to be used as instruments for violence.

She noted that the accusation and counter-accusation of vandalization of billboards by political parties are unfortunate and should be discouraged.

“This is indeed an early warning signal that security agencies should investigate to ensure a peaceful election comes September 22nd.

“TMG enjoins the Nigerian Police, State Security Service, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and other major election monitors to subdue the issue of voter inducement across the state ahead of the elections.

“We also urge citizens to say no to vote buying as any politician that gives citizens money for their votes does not have good plans for them,” she added. - Daily Post

28-year-old man remanded for allegedly raping 11-year-old girl in Lagos

A Tinubu Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos has remanded a 28-year-old man identified as Sunday Lazarus for allegedly defiling an 11-year-old daughter of his sister’s friend.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Hafsat Ajibode, told the court that the accused who committed the offences in July at No. 34, Surulere St., Oworonsoki, Lagos, Is facing a two-count charge of sexual assault and rape.

“The accused’s sister and the girl’s mother are friends and neighbours; the mother left her in the custody of her friend when she went to the market.

“The accused’s sister, who wanted to buy something outside the compound, left the girl and her six-year-old brother in the room while they were watching cartoon on her phone.

“The accused who lives with his sister saw her leaving the house and used the opportunity to sexually assault her.

“The six-year-old boy who the accused thought was too small to understand what happened, was the one that reported what happened to their mother.

“Your honour, the medical report showed evidence of penetration,” she said.

She alleged that the accused had carnal knowledge of the minor on two occasions.

Chief Magistrate Tajudeen Elias, however, ordered that the accused be remanded in Ikoyi Prison, pending advice from the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and adjourned the case until Oct. 19.

The offences contravened Sections 137 and 263 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

According to Section 137, “Any person who has unlawful sexual intercourse with a child is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for life.”

Section 263 carries five years imprisonment for offenders. - Daily Post

BudgiT: Despite high IGR, Lagos ‘weighed down’ by increasing debt

Despite having the highest internally generated revenue (IGR) in 2017, Lagos state may be on “shaky grounds” as a result of its increasing debt profile.

This is according to the 2018 edition of the State of States Report released on Tuesday by BudgiT, a civil society organisation.

The report measures the fiscal sustainability of the 36 states in the federation.

Fiscal sustainability is the ability of a government to sustain its current spending, tax and other policies in the long run without threatening its solvency or defaulting on some of its liabilities or planned expenditures.

According to the report, though Lagos state accounted for approximately 35.86 percent of total IGR collected in the country in 2017, its total debt stock rose from N456.8 billion in 2014 to N813.04 billion in 2017.

This made the south-west state the most indebted, accounting for 18.08 percent of the total debt stock.

“With its IGR not expected to grow significantly above N300 billion, and its share of FAAC revenue in the first six months of 2017 at N6.6 billion, Lagos is expected to meet its recurrent expenditure obligations,” the report read.

“However, Lagos’ unusually high overhead costs and debts continue to weigh its revenue down.

“Lagos’ 2018 spending plans suggest she may be borrowing heavily through the financial year.

“The state has a proposed budget of approximately N1.046tn, with 66.8% (or N699.082bn) going into Capital items, while the balance will be spent on Recurrent items, including the servicing of public debts, payment of salaries and emoluments of workers and other associated Overhead costs.”

The report said Rivers state is top of the index owing to its increased crude oil earnings and having a “significant share” of the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursement.

“Rivers state sits on top of the Fiscal Sustainability Index due to its robust revenue profile and manageable recurrent expenditure obligation,” the report read.

“The state’s actual revenue of N209.12 billion in 2017, when juxtaposed with its recurrent expenditure obligation of N141 billion in the same year, indicates Rivers is fiscally stable, and able to cover its recurrent expenditure without borrowing.”

Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Ondo were listed among the top ten states in the Fiscal Sustainability Index assessment.

Three major indices were used in the ranking.

Index A assesses the ability of states to meet their recurrent expenditure obligation with state-owned revenue like value added tax, 13 percent derivation and IGR.

Index B analyses states’ ability to cover all recurrent expenditure obligations without resorting to borrowing, while Index C focuses on states’ ability to manage their debts sustainably. - TheCable

Fayose allegedly owing lawyer N600m legal fees

Owoseni Ajayi, a lawyer based in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti state, has asked Governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose, to pay him professional fees amounting to N600 million for legal services he rendered.

Ajayi, who was Fayose’s lawyer before he was appointed Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, listed 13 high-profile cases he handled for Fayose which had not been paid for.

In a letter made available to reporters in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, he said he was demanding N600million at the rate of N50million for each of the case listed, subject to accruable interest.

“You will recall that you never paid our chamber, Owoseni Ajayi & Associates for the services rendered throughout the time because of your financial incapacitation despite numerous demands because you were already out of office at the material time,” the letter read.

“It should be stressed that we never acted free because we are legal practitioners working for our legal fee nor offered you ‘pro bono’ service because you were not a pauper to be qualified for such a service.

“We merely showed understanding up till now because of the prevalent circumstances verily known to you. And now that you have served another term as Governor of Ekiti State, you are financially strong enough to pay the said sum as demanded.

“Sir, you will agree with us that a labourer deserves his wages. We thank you for your patronage and we also deserve commendation for having discharged our professional responsibility with diligence and without compromise.

“And also for saving Your Excellency from several legal embarrassments.”

The cases include a defamation case: Ayo Fayose v Independent Communications Network Limited with suit number HAD/8/2004 and the appeal case emanating from the same suit marked CA/AE/58/2010.

Federal Republic of Nigeria v Ayo Fayose with charge number FHC/C/179C/2006 which was a criminal case heard both in Lagos and Ado-Ekiti federal high courts until Fayose was discharged and acquitted in October 2014.

Peter Ayodele Fayose v Comptroller General of Prisons Suit Number: FHC/AK/CS/08/2008, which was about Fayose’s ‘controversial’ release from Ikoyi Prisons to face murder charge in Ekiti.

Other cases listed include Peter Ayodele Fayose v EFCC appeal marked CA/I/144/2011, Peter Ayodele Fayose v the State marked HAD/16/2007 to stop his arraignment for murder by the Segun Oni administration, the appeal case that arose from it marked CA/14C14/2007 and the Supreme Court that emanated from it still pending marked SC449/2011.

Peter Ayodele Fayose v EFCC and Inspector General of Police with Suit No: FHC/A14CS/85/2006 following his illegal removal from office and the appeal case that followed it IGP & AG Federation v Peter Ayodele Fayose marked CA/B/44/2007. - Daily Post

PL news : Maguire hits back at claims over player unhappiness

Leicester City defender Harry Maguire has taken to Twitter to deny reports that several members of the squad were unhappy with the travel arrangements for the loss to AFC Bournemouth.

The Leicester Mercury write that Maguire stated the claims made by Sky Sports were ‘false information’ before later deleting the tweet.
The report stated that the Foxes squad travelled down to the South Coast by coach the day before the match instead of flying and that the five-hour journey frustrated some of the players.
Despite initially deleting his tweet, Maguire returned to the topic by posting a second tweet consisting of two emojis.

Maguire started the match at Vitality Stadium in which the Foxes were 3-0 down by halftime before eventually going on to lose 4-2.

The late goals, scored by James Maddison and Marc Albrighton, weren’t enough to stage a late comeback and leave the Foxes 11th in the Premier League table with six points from five matches.

Next up for Claude Puel’s men is a home clash with Huddersfield, where Maguire and his teammates will be hoping to really kickstart their campaign with a confident victory. - Read Sport

Transfer news : Chelsea fans notice something very odd about Ampdau's new contract

Chelsea recently confirmed that Ethan Ampadu has signed a new long-term contract at the club.

Blues fans were understandably delighted with the news. Ampadu has impressed whenever he has been called upon at Chelsea.

He has showcased maturity way beyond his tender years and has also impressed for his national team.

So much so, there are already suggestions he could be a future captain for both club and country.

However, some fans noticed something a little peculiar with the way that Ampadu’s new contract was announced.

The official pictures released online that show Ampadu ‘signing’ a contract are quite deceiving.

The main problem being that he was not signing any contract, but what appears to be a training schedule.

Now, we don’t doubt that Ampadu has signed a new contract, but it appears Chelsea misplaced the official copy!

Chelsea will be hoping that Ampadu can be more efficient on the pitch when he next gets his chance. - Read Sport

Danbatta: $100m debt delaying 9mobile takeover

Umar Garba Danbatta, executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), says a $100 million debt is part of the things delaying the handing over of 9mobile to Teleology.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ITU Telecom World 2018 conference holding in Durban, South Africa, Danbatta said the debt is outside the $1.2 billion owed to 13 banks.

According to the EVC, the debt is owed to equipment suppliers and contractors like Huawei, IHS and Nokia.

He, however, explained that the payment of the outstanding sum is part of the agreement reached by the parties involved in the sale of 9mobile, before handing over 9mobile to Teleology.

“Barclays Africa, the financial adviser handling the sale of 9mobile announced Teleology Holdings Limited as the preferred bidder of 9mobile and Smile Telecoms Holding as the reserve bidder in the ongoing sale of 9mobile,” he told THISDAY.

“Now the spectrum licence of 9mobile belongs to Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services (EMTS), but trading as 9mobile. Teleology had since paid a non-refundable deposit of $50 million and the record is there to show for it and we have verified the payment. Teleology also paid $251 million into an escrow account of the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

Danbatta said NCC’s due diligence report on Teleology would be released after all debts owed by the telecom company have been paid.

“Based on these payments, the NCC needed to transmit a letter of no objection to Teleology for the transfer of the shares of Etisalat from EMTS to United Capital Trustees, which is the receiver manager for the 13 local banks that gave Etisalat, now 9mobile, the loan of $1.2 billion,” Danbatta said.

“The shares will then be transferred from United Capital Trustees to Teleology. It is a two-phase transfer of shares and NCC has transmitted the letters of no objection for the two-phase transfer of shares from EMTS to United State Capital Trustees, and then from United Capital Trustees to Teleology. But what has not been transferred is the spectrum licence to Teleology because there is a caveat around it. So the operational and spectrum licences of 9mobile are still with EMTS.

“Again Teleology is expected to make another tranche of payment of $100 million to service the debts of equipment suppliers and vendors like Huawei, IHS and Nokia, which 9mobile is owing.”

The ownership of 9mobile, Nigeria’s fourth-largest telecommunications company formerly known as Etisalat, had to change hands after the company defaulted on the repayment of a loan owed to a consortium of 13 banks. - TheCable

Police summons Senator Adeleke over exam malpractice

The Nigeria police have summoned Ademola Adeleke, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Osun state governorship election, for alleged examination malpractice and criminal conspiracy.

Force Spokesman, Jimoh Moshood in a statement Wednesday said Adeleke and Sikiru, his brother, sat for the National Examination Council Examination (NECO) as internal candidates in 2017, “impersonating” students of OJO/Aro Community Grammar School in Osun state.

Moshood said the alleged crime was facilitated by the principal of the school, and two other members of staff of the school for which they are under investigation and being charged to court.

The force asked Sen. Adeleke and the four others allegedly involved to report to the force headquarters in Abuja for “immediate” arraignment in court.

The Statement read in full: “Examination Malpractice, Criminal Conspiracy, Personation, Breach of Duty, Aiding and Abetting against Senator Ademola Adeleke (PDP Governorship Aspirant in the 22ndSeptember, 2018 Gubernatorial Election in Osun State) and four (4) others namely; MR Sikiru Adeleke, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal of Ojo-Aro Community High School, Egbedore LGA, Osun State), Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (School Staff responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), Mr Dare Olutope (School Teacher who facilitated the commission of the crime).

“On 21st July 2017, the Osun State Police Intelligence Bureau (SIB) received and acted on an actionable intelligence about an ongoing examination malpractice involving Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke at OJO/Aro Community High School in Osun state.

2. When the Police operative arrived at the school, only Sikiru Adeleke was found seated for the examination while Senator Ademola Adeleke seat was vacant and was suspected to have escaped before the arrival of the Police operatives.

3. Further investigation revealed that both Senator Ademola Adeleke and his brother Sikiru Adeleke registered and were sitting for the National Examination Council Examination (NECO) 2017 as internal candidates impersonating students of the School at the ages of 57years and 42years respectively. This crime was facilitated by the principal of the school, and two other members of staff of the school for which they are under investigation and being charged to court.

4. The Principal of the school, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau, the staff responsible for registration, Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo and a teacher Mr dare Olutope were arrested on 21 July 2017. Senator Ademola Adeleke was arrested on 27 July 2017 and Sikiru Adeleke was arrested on 8 August 2017.

5. Senator Ademola Adeleke made cautionary statement and admitted that he registered for the 2017 NECO examinations as an internal student in the said school but he didn’t sit for the examination.

6. However, Police investigation revealed the following primafacial and culpability facts against Senator Ademola Adeleke andfour (4) others.

i. Senator Ademola Adeleke made cautionary statement and admitted that he registered for the 2017 NECO examinations as an internal student in the said school and did not sit for the examination but have a result from NECO with Seven (7) Credit and One (1) Pass, a copy of which was obtained from NECO by the Police.

ii. The Ojo/Aro 2017 NECO, SSCE school photo album (School’s copy), with Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke Photographs in school uniform in the said album. Senator Ademola Adeleke in the NECO 2017 Result obtained by the claimed that he was born on 12th June 1997 but in his statement to the Police, senator Ademola Adeleke wrote 13th May 1960 as his Date of Birth.

iii. The photographs of both Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke appearing side by side in the photo album have no NECO stamps on them.

7. Senator Ademola Adeleke and four others were arrested, investigated, granted bail and being charged to court. Charges of Examination Malpractice, Criminal Conspiracy, Personation, Breach of Duty, Aiding and Abetting against Senator Ademola Adeleke (PDP Governorship Aspirant in the 22nd September, 2018 Gubernatorial Election in Osun State) and four (4) others namely; MR Sikiru Adeleke, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal of Ojo-Aro Community High School, Egbedore LGA, Osun State), Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (School Staff responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), Mr Dare Olutope (School Teacher who facilitated the commission of the crime) have been filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja under the Examination Malpractice Act, CAP E15, 2004 today, Wednesday, 19th September, 2018.

8. Consequently, Senator Ademola Adeleke (PDP Governorship Aspirant in the 22nd September, 2018 Gubernatorial Election in Osun State) and four (4) others namely; MR Sikiru Adeleke, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal of Ojo-Aro Community High School, Egbedore LGA, Osun State), Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (School Staff responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), Mr Dare Olutope (School Teacher who facilitated the commission of the crime) are hereby advised in their own interest to report to the Special Investigation Panel, Force Headquarters, Abuja immediately for arraignment in court.” - Daily Post

Crazy Citizens ! slaves Of Criminal Politicians !! Mob sets suspected tricycle thief ablaze in Delta

Angry mob at about 7pm on Tuesday set a suspected tricycle thief ablaze at the popular Okumagba Estate in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

DAILY POST gathered that two other suspected members of the criminal gang were also arrested by officers from the Nigeria Police Force “B” Division while another managed to escape.

The four-man suspected robbery gang reportedly shot sporadically into the air in an attempt to rob and cart away a tricycle from its operator.

It was gathered that the tricycle operator raised alarm, attracting other tricycle operators as well as passersby who gave the suspects a chase.

In the process, one of them was apprehend and set ablaze before the arrival of the police at the scene.

After further combing of the area, the Police also arrested the other two suspects who are currently cooling off their heels in detention.

When contacted, Divisional Police Officer “B” Division, SP Ebi Orubiri, however, declined comments on the matter as he referred our Correspondent to speak with the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Andrew Aniamaka.

Contacted, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Muhammad Mustafa, confirmed the report in a chat with DAILY POST.

According to CP Mustafa, “It is confirmed. They were caught trying to rob a Keke. One escaped, two were arrested and one was set ablaze.” - Daily Post

83 percent of schools in Nigeria ‘lack water supply, improved sanitation’

A recent study by the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says only two out of every 10 schools in Nigeria have basic water supply and functioning sanitary services.

Zaid Jurji, chief of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), said this at a media dialogue organised by the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the ministry of information in collaboration with UNICEF.

The collaboration is part of efforts to addressed the challenges of poor water supply and hygiene in the country.

Jurji said the remaining schools could not access functional improved water source and usable improved toilet all times during the school day.

An investigation by TheCable in July had revealed how three students of Queen’s College, Lagos, died from a gastroenteritis epidemic resulting from contaminated water sources.

Jurji expressed the need to step up the provision of social amenities such as toilets and water so as to promote hygiene and prevent diseases and avoidable death of children.

He further said only 37 percent of the health facilities in the country have at least one usable toilet for the patients while the remaining 63 percent lack toilet.

He said any improvement that Nigeria makes on water, sanitation and hygiene will make a good impression on the African continent,  given the population of Nigeria and other factors.

He also noted the need to maintain existing water facilities across the country.

“Water systems need to be sustainable so they can serve communities for a long time” Jurji said. - TheCable 

Transfer News : Juventus interested in Kante

 Italian giants Juventus are interested in signing Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante next summer.
According to Spanish outlet AS, Juventus have Kante on their shortlist ahead of the 2019 summer transfer window.

The report claims that Real Madrid midfielder Isco, formerly linked to Chelsea, is their number one target.

If Juventus are unable to strike a deal for Isco with Real Madrid then they may look to do business with Chelsea.

Kante was heavily linked with a move to PSG in the window just gone, with the player himself confirming that there were talks with the Ligue 1 club.

The holding midfielder won the World Cup with his country over the summer and is widely regarded as one of the best in the world in his position.

Juventus are keen admirers of Kante and could make a serious move at the end of the season for the Frenchman. - Read Sport