2023: We’ll have a rethink if Ndigbo fails to succeed Buhari – Ohanaeze youths

 Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council has vowed that the Igbos “will have a rethink” if major political parties fail to cede their 2023 presidential ticket to the South-East.

They told the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) not to deny the region, their desire to succeed President Muhamamdu Buhari in 2023.

Speaking to reporters in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, the Secretary-General, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, warned those plotting against the zone.

“It is our turn. Anybody destabilizing any party because of our interest is making a grave mistake”, Nnabuike warned.

On Governor David Umahi’s defection to the APC, he wondered why the development generated uproar.

The scribe noted that any one has a right to make a decision they consider appropriate.

“We want peace in the South-East region. The opinion of the Governor of Ebonyi State should be respected. He has chosen to go to APC, the stakeholders should allow peace to reign.”

Nnabuike disclosed that Igbo youths have agreed not to be used for political thuggery.

- DAILY POST

‘We want justice’ — Lekki shooting victims storm judicial panel

 

Some persons who said they sustained injuries during the shooting incident at Lekki tollgate in Lagos on October 20, 2020, stormed the Lagos Court of Arbitration on Friday.

Led by Adesina Ogunlana, a lawyer, the victims demanded justice just as the lawyer narrated their experiences on the day #EndSARS protesters were forcefully dispersed.

Ogunlana said he was forced to bring the victims to the court because of the suit the police filed against the panel.

A victim of Lekki shooting

“It beholds in us to present the fact we know to the world. There’s been a deliberate effort by the agent of the government, specifically Lagos state government to run #EndSARS protesters down, either by inducement or by quack scene and not allow them come out to the panel,” he said.

“There are frantic efforts, I can say authoritatively, even over the weekend to prevent this action (protest) by their agents and their lawyers

“They got to know that we’re coming here (court of arbitration) to present and do this demonstration to show the world that actually people were shot at, that actually people were severely injured and that people actually died.

“There are contacts made to prevent this particular action and we refused it and we are saying you cannot compromise this level of atrocity. People were shot and attacked by security agencies including the Nigeria military and the police.

“This is the truth and if not that this matter was adjourned till December 11, 2020, we might not have done this… in the magnanimity of the panel, they considered that it is good to adjourn and it created a lull.

“There was fear on our part and reasonable fear too. There’s a deliberate intention to scrap this panel and armstrong it but way of illegal process.

“We were proved right when a suit came up two days ago and that the police themselves are asking that these panels to stop.

“We are in this struggle not only for the people that died, or the people suffering now but for the future of our children. Government must not continue with the culture of reckless impunity.”

The suit was withdrawn after Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police, complained about it publicly.

A spokesperson of the victims said: “We have people with amputated legs; we have people with brain surgery in this van; we have dozens of them that are yet to be discharged. This is from Lekki tollgate massacre 2020. We want justice. We don’t want to be silenced; we don’t want to be marginalised even in our own country.”

- THECABLE 

Amotekun not setup for trivial issues – DAWN

 The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, DAWN, has admonished the Western Nigeria Security Network, otherwise known Operation Amotekun from going against the rules setting it up.

DAWN, which is the coordinating agency for Amotekun in a statement on Friday, stated that the security outfit was not setup to address irrelevant issues.

The commission was reacting to the plan by some state commands of the Amotekun Corps to arrest persons with indecent dressing as well as those involved in the abuse of Yoruba language.

According to the commission, the creative expression, culture and language of people living in Southwest zone of the country are beyond the scope of the security functions of Amotekun.

While emphasizing that the function and responsibility of the security outfit had been enshrined in the legal framework which set it up, DAWN maintained that attempt to violate the rights of the citizens will be frowned at.

“This is to formally inform the general public that the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed “AMOTEKUN” was not set up to address trivial issues outside the law establishing it.

“The creative expression, culture and language of people living in Southwest Nigeria are beyond the scope of the security functions of AMOTEKUN.

“The outfit was set up as a complementary structure to the Statutory Security Agencies to guarantee freedom of expression, protection of lives and property, and by extension, the prosperity of Southwest Nigeria.

“Any abuse or violation of any citizen living within the Region by any member of the AMOTEKUN Corps will not be tolerated by the relevant authorities in the States.”

- DAILY POST

Napoli name stadium after Diego Maradona

 

Napoli have named their stadium after late football legend, Diego Maradona who died last week at the age of 60.

The Argentine star had most of his exploit at Napoli, a club he played for between 1984 and 1990.

The Stadio San Paolo will now be known as the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, after the Napoli city council approved the resolution.

According to BBC, Napoli owner Aurelio de Laurentiis proposed renaming the stadium in an open letter after Maradona’s death.

The mayor of Naples, Luigi de Magistris, also backed the idea.

Maradona spent seven years at Napoli after joining from Barcelona in 1984, also winning the 1987 Coppa Italia and 1989 Uefa Cup with the Italian club.

Fans gathered at the stadium to pay tribute to him after his death on 25 November and Napoli honoured him before their Europa League match against HNK Rijeka, each player wearing a shirt with ‘Maradona 10’ on the back.

“The resolution was signed by the entire city council,” said the council in a statement.

They added that Maradona was “the greatest footballer of all time” who “with his immense talent and magic honoured the Napoli team shirt for seven years” and “receiving in exchange from the whole city an eternal and unconditional love”.

Maradona made 188 appearances for Napoli, more than he made for any other club in his career, and scored 81 goals.

- PM NEWS

CBN directs banks to close naira ledger dom accounts

 

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed banks in the country to close all naira ledger accounts opened specifically for the purpose of receiving proceeds from international money transfer operator (IMTO) with immediate effect.

The apex bank, in a statement released on Wednesday, jointly signed by Bello Hassan, director banking supervision of the CBN, and O.S. Nnaji, director trade & exchange of the CBN, said IMTO beneficiaries/recipients are to receive their proceeds in foreign currency (USD) or have it deposited in their domiciliary account in a Nigerian bank.

“It is the sole discretion of the recipients to either choose foreign currency cash or have the proceeds deposited into their domiciliary accounts in Nigeria.” the statement said.

This is coming days after the CBN relaxed rules on foreign remittances and dom accounts.

The CBN had said the changes are necessary to deepen the foreign exchange market, provide more liquidity and create more transparency in the administration of Diaspora remittances into Nigeria.

Under the new guidelines, operators of export domiciliary accounts will continue to operate based on existing regulations which allow account holders use their funds for business operations only with any extra funds sold in the import and export window.

Also operators of ordinary domiciliary accounts where accounts are funded electronically or wire transfer, would be allowed unfettered and unrestricted use of these funds for eligible transactions. And where accounts are funded by cash lodgments, existing regulation will continue to apply.

- THECABLE

Africa’s confirmed COVID-19 cases exceed 2.21m

 

The Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) says the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in the African continent has reached 2,215,216.

Africa CDC made this known in a statement released on Friday.

The continental disease control and prevention agency said a total of 1,892,013 people infected with the virus have recovered across the continent, adding that the death toll from the pandemic stood at 52,824.

According to the Africa CDC, the most affected African countries with high positive cases include South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, and Ethiopia.

It also said the Southern Africa region is the most affected region both in terms of the number of confirmed positive cases as well as the number of deaths.

”The northern Africa region is the second most affected African region while South Africa currently has a total of 800,872 cases.

”The country also has the highest number of deaths related to COVID-19, at 21,803.

”Morocco has 368,624 confirmed cases and 6,063 deaths, followed by Egypt with 117,156 confirmed cases and 6,713 deaths,” Africa CDC said.

- DAILY POST

Over 100 Nigerians dead through illegal migration

 

Rarduja International, a group known for its campaign against irregular migration, said that over 100 Nigerians lost their lives through irregular migration in 2020.

It said that 74 persons out of the number drowned while trying to cross through Libya to Europe on the Mediterranean sea on Nov.12.

The leader of the group, Mr Eddy Duru, said this at a press briefing in Owerri on Friday while re-educating the public on the risks and dangers of unplanned journey abroad and reviewing the group’s activities in the year.

He advised individuals, especially the youths, against irregular travels outside the country, saying that they portended dangers, sufferings and loss of lives.

“74 lives drowned in the sea on Nov. 12 while trying to migrate. This figure may not have been reported. In all, we lost over 100 migrants this year to the sea who were trying to cross through Libya to America,” he said.

Duru said that his group had engaged in many activities in schools and NYSC camps and had visited some states to create awareness on the best way to travel without incurring pains and lost.

He said the media should be stakeholders in propagating the message that Nigerians should begin to do things right and differently to succeed.

Mrs Comfort Agboko, the Zonal Commander, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in South East, said the agency had been working with Rarduja as partners to sensitise people against irregular migration.

She expressed displeasure at the rate Africans, especially Nigerians, got themselves drowned in the Mediterranean sea and advised the people to travel properly.

''Victims of irregular migration are victims of trafficking, sexual exploitation, sexually transmitted diseases and death,” she said.

Cecilia Osakwe, the Special Adviser to Imo Governor on Diaspora Affairs, called on all stakeholders to come together with one idea and one mind to curb irregular migration, saying the government could not do it alone.

She said that 71 per cent of human traffickers were women and commended Rarduja for the good work it had been doing.

Osakwe said her office was absolutely committed to the objectives of Rarduja.4.

- PM NEWS

Train ride from Lagos to Ibadan to cost between N3K-N6K

 Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has announced the fares on the the new Lagos-Ibadan train service, which would begin operations by January, 2021.

Amaechi made the announcement disclosure during the inauguration of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA) in Abuja on Friday.

Amaechi said: “I have received the mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari to inaugurate the Lagos/Ibadan rail project by January 2021 which will make Nigerians see the way the standard gauge railway looked like.

“Today I approved the charges on passengers from Lagos to Ibadan. We just transfer how we charged from Abuja to Kaduna.

“We charge N3,000 per Economy seat, N5,000 for Business class and N6,000 for First class, the same is applicable to Lagos to Ibadan.

“It should have started running by now before Mr President inaugurates it by January.”

The minister said that the ministry would collaborate with CIOTA to enable them achieved their objectives.

He said that CIOTA role was critical to the growth of transportation in Nigeria, adding that the country had advanced a lot in the area of transportation.

Meanwhile, the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA), says the institute has begun the process of making transportation a professional sector in the country.

Dr Bashir Jamoh, the National President and Chairman of Council said the move is to ensure that the sector achieves the global best standards and practices.

He said the institute would draw up a curriculum to keep the professionals abreast of developments in the transport sector.

- PM NEWS

Maina buys $2m house in Jabi Abuja, trial continues today

 

The trial of Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman, Pension Reform Task Team, (PRTT) will continue today at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Justice Okon Abang adjourned the trial after listening to more evidence by EFCC detective, Rouqayyah Ibrahim, prosecution witness No. 9.

As at yesterday, Maina was being tried in absentia, having jumped bail and refused to present himself for trial.

But after his extradition to Nigeria from his Niger Republic sanctuary, he was brought to court today to face the trial.

Ibrahim, told the court on Thursday how Maina acquired properties in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, and a $2million property in Jabi, Abuja.

The witness revealed that a prosecution witness, Adamu Modibbo, who testified to the EFCC regarding the said Jabi, Abuja property, allegedly died of Covid-19 after his statement to the Commission.

She also revealed that about 32 documents, hard discs and flash drives relating to properties linked to Maina and his family and details of some of his investments in Dubai and in the US were recovered from him.

“Particularly in Dubai, investigation revealed that his company, Northrich Company owned over 50 cars that were used for transportation business and he owns a villa in a High Ground area in Dubai.

“His wife Laila Abdurrasheed also owns cleaning services, called Spotless and Flawless. We also recovered pay slips during our investigation,” she said.

The witness also disclosed that investigation proved that another of Maina’s company, Kangolo Dynamic does no business.

But she said Maina created a bank account for it in which his name did not appear anywhere on the account documentation even though he was in control of all the deposits in it.

She also told the court that investigation showed that Colster Logistics, belonging to Maina had a Fidelity Bank dollar account which had an inflow of over $400,000, 00 (Four Hundred Thousand Dollars) from cash deposits as at the time the company was investigated.

She further told the court that over N500 million was discovered in the account of Kangolo Dynamic, within the years Maina was chairman, PRTT.

According to the witness, in the course of the investigation, letters were written to the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, to verify the authenticity of the driver’s license used in opening some of the accounts; Code of Conduct Bureau ( CCB) for Maina’s declared assets; Federal Civil Service Commission, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation (HOSF) and Accontant General of the Federation, (AGF), to confirm if Maina was still a civil servant and for his pay slips.

Also written was the Federal Inland Revenue Service,FIRS, for the tax returns of his companies and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for the registration documentation of the companies and their annual returns.

All the documents and written responses of the government agencies were tendered as exhibits with prosecution counsel, M.S. Abubakar, praying the court to foreclose the right of the defendants to respond to the admissibility of the documents; hence they had no legal representation.

Justice Abang upheld the prosecution’s prayer, noting that opportunity was offered to the defendants to be in court to oppose the admissibility of the document in evidence, but they failed to appear and also failed to engage counsel of their choice.

The trial continues today.

- PM NEWS

‘We are under threat’ — Nigerians in Bangladesh raise the alarm

 

In a letter sent to TheCable, Gideon Onyeoma, a representative of the Nigeria Community Association in Bangladesh (NCAB), said security operatives in the country have illegally arrested over 70 Nigerians since June.

He added that the arrested persons have neither been granted bail nor charged to court.

Onyeoma explained that some of the arrested persons had travelled to Bangladesh to purchase clothing materials but were unable to return to Nigeria due to the coronavirus pandemic which led to a lockdown.

“Since the month of June 2020, more than seventy Nigerians have been arrested by the security operatives in Bangladesh with no evidence and with no proper chance for bail,” the letter read.

Some Nigerians affected by the situation

“In the month of July 2020, the police operatives went to arrest a Nigerian suspect and forced him to take them to where many Nigerians live. After taking them to the firm of a Nigerian around the area, thinking that he will be saved, thy still didn’t release him. They arrested all the 15 men they found in the office.

“These men all came from Nigeria legally to Bangladesh earlier in 2020, before the pandemic started, to buy garments products to be sent home but because of the pandemic and the lockdown they couldn’t travel back.”

The association said the Bangladesh police made subsequent arrests of Nigerians, including Frank Jacob, the community’s president.

The arrested person are said to be in jail while their passports have been seized over allegations of false Bangladesh visas.

“It is very hard for Nigerians to renew or extend their visas in Bangladesh before or towards the expiration of their visas, but it is not the same case for other nationals,” the letter read.

“To make matters worse, whenever our people are arrested, the police will invite the media houses (print and electronic), they will take pictures and videos of the suspects and start showing and writing that they are criminals even when the court has not made any pronouncement. This is the biggest threat to our security in the land.

“When that is done, you automatically lose many things like your apartment and everything inside and your office, then you will face attacks by the people on the street.

“The Nigerians who have registered business are losing it gradually. The community president’s restaurant has been branded as a meeting point for Nigerians, and this made his landlord to lock up the place for months, accruing lots of losses for the owner.”

The Nigerian community called on the federal government to review its relationship with the South Asian country and initiate actions in defense of its citizens.

When contacted AbdulRahman Balogun, spokesman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), told TheCable that he is not aware of the situation in Bangladesh.

“I am not aware of it until I see a copy of that letter. Most times, those letters go to chairman and our legal unit to investigate. Maybe I will investigate tomorrow,” he said.

“I can’t be aware if I haven’t seen a letter complaining about it. I am not aware.”

- THECABLE

Borno massacre: Act before we all die – CAN to Buhari, security agencies

 The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Friday condemned the murder of Borno rice farmers in the strongest terms.

More than 40 Zabarmari indigenes were slaughtered by Boko Haram last Saturday and buried on Sunday.

CAN President, Samson Ayokunle, in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Oladeji, told President Muhammadu Buhari and security agencies to crush the terrorists before they murder more Nigerians.

The body lamented that criminals now operate with impunity all over the country, especially in the North-East and North-West regions.

CAN said as usual, the number of victims of the Koshebe attack remains disputed by the federalgovernment.

“To us at CAN, 43 casualties was not only frightening but inexcusable by those who should have prevented it. The massacre was wicked and completely satanic.

“A situation where farmers are being taxed by the terrorists and bandits before they are allowed to work on their farms is unprecedented and it must be stopped by the government before it is too late.)

“We are in a recession in the country, yet, criminals are still preventing farmers from going to farm to harvest. We are not aware of any country where similar lawlessness is taking place without being adequately checked.”

CAN urged the government to think out of the box and take adequate steps to bring the terrorists to their knees.

Noting that mass burials without a full scale war is unprecedented and unacceptable, the Christian leadership regretted that killings and kidnapping had become the norm in Nigeria.

“Why should we be watching for a nation well situated by God to become a land that is swallowing its inhabitants?”, the statement quipped.

The body added that continuous sympathy through press statements and condolence visit after many souls have been wasted is no longer acceptable.

CAN assured that it would continue to advise the authorities. It prayed that God will comfort the relatives of the deceased.

- DAILY POST

Video: Female soldier beats up physically challenged man in Ibadan

 

A physically challenged man in Ibadan, Olumuyiwa Bolade Adedeji has narrated his ordeal in the hands of a female soldier, identified as Mamman H.

The woman dressed in military uniform, and damning Adedeji’s condition, assaulted him twice on Thursday.

She was in company of another woman and three men, Adedeji said.

Olumuyiwa Bolade Adedeji: the victim

In a story posted on his Facebook page, Adedeji said his offence was that he cautioned the soldier’s child against running across a moving vehicle.

The man also said he has lodged a complaint at Letmack Barracks in Mokola, also in Ibadan.

Read his story:

I was beaten up by this military woman this morning…(Thursday 3 December)
My offence was that her child ran in front of our moving vehicle but was not touched.
I got out of the car to warn the child not to run in front of a moving vehicle again..
That happened yesterday.. (Wednesday 2 December).

This morning, this military woman waylaid me in front of the school, Josabig Nursery and Primary School Oke Itunnu, Mokola Ibadan.. She and another woman with 3 other men slapped severally. We couldn’t do much myself and only the children in the vehicle..

On our way back, she was fully kitted in Nigeria Army Uniform as seen below, I knew a foul play will happen told my daughter to start recording, she started beating me again as seen in the attached video. Her accomplices wanted to join until they realised they were being recorded..

I am currently on my way to Letmack barracks Mokola to lodge a formal complaint..

For the avoidance of doubt I am a physically challenged man. On crutches

Watch the video: https://www.facebook.com/100031523554587/videos/378515236542592/

- PM NEWS

COVID-19: Arik Air lays off 300 workers over redundancy

 

Arik Air says the COVID-19 pandemic made 300 of its staff redundant.

In a statement on Friday, the airline said the pandemic has limited its ability to complete maintenance needed to return its planes to operations, reduced revenue amid rising costs.

The statement signed by Adebanji Ola, Arik’s manager for public relations and communications, said the 300 employees are now redundant to the current level of operations.

The spokesman said the company has contacted the leadership of the impacted unions to negotiate a redundancy package for the affected workers.

“The leadership of the impacted unions has been contacted to negotiate a redundancy package for the affected staff,” the statement read.

“It is important to note that over 50 percent of Arik Air’s workforce of over 1,600 staff have been on furlough in the past six months on a base allowance.

“Decisions to let go of staff is naturally a difficult decision. Arik Air wishes the impacted staff well in their future endeavors.”

Airlines in the country could not operate for six months during the lockdown imposed to control the spread of the coronavirus.

In November, Azman Air sacked six pilots “due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the aviation industry”.

- THECABLE

Fourth Mainland Bridge: Almost 800 houses to be demolished in Lagos

 

The Federal and Lagos State governments have said about 795 houses would be demolished, to pave way for the construction of the proposed 37-kilometre Fourth Mainland Bridge.

The two authorities revealed a lot of efforts had been made to reduce the number of affected structures from about 9,000.

However, the state government assured that owners of the affected property would be adequately compensated.

Speaking at the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Stakeholders’ scoping workshop with the Federal Ministry of Environment in Lagos, Environment Minister, Mamoud Abubakar said there would be a commitment on the part of Lagos State government on the compensation for owners of affected properties.

The minister, who was represented by a director in the ministry, James Kolawole, explained that though the project would have about 16 alignments, the best had been selected.

“There was an alignment that will affect about 9,000 structures along the corridor, but we have reviewed it and gone for the alignment that will affect about 795 houses, instead of the one that will take more houses. It is an ongoing thing on how best to minimise the negative impact,” he said.

The bridge, which will connect Lagos and Ogun States, will pass through Abraham Adesanya in Lagos and Sparklight Estate near the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State.

- DAILY POST