A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday fixed Dec. 30 to decide the fate of a Briton, Gareth Wilcox, and four others, charged with N15 billion fraud. Wilcox, a former Managing Director of Ibom Power Company and LYK Engineering Company, is standing trial alongside Prince Johnson Adebami and Uche Uwechia, on a 21-count charge. Adebami is a former Managing Director of the defunct Gulf Bank Plc, while Uwechia is a former legal adviser to the bank. Also charged with the accused are Ibom Power Company and LYK Engineering Company, owned by Wilcox. The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusa, fixed…
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An Ikeja High Court on Friday dismissed three applications filed by an oil marketer, Abdullahi Alao, who is being prosecuted for an alleged N1.1 billion fuel subsidy fraud. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the trial judge, Justice Lateefat Okunnu, dismissed the applications for “being an abuse of court processes.” One of the dismissed applications had prayed the court to set aside its Oct. 21 ruling which dismissed Alao’s previous application to quash the charges. The other application had urged the court to stay further proceedings on the trial, pending the determination of Alao’s appeal against the ruling…
Ex-Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has urged supporters of All Progressives Congress (APC) to close ranks and be more accommodating to ensure the victory of the party at all levels in 2015. Fani-Kayode made the call on Thursday in Yola while speaking with newsmen. The APC chieftain , who spoke against the backdrop of leadership tussle facing the party in Adamawa, Kano and Sokoto states, said stakeholders needed to come together to face the challenge of edging out PDP. “We are fighting PDP. We must come together, close ranks and fight it.”, Fani-Kayode said. He urged those labelling APC as a…
The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, on Thursday, 26th December advised political leaders to refrain from making unguarded comments capable of destabilising the polity. The minister, who gave the advice at a Christmas carnival at his village, Wakama, near Akwanga, Nasarawa State, advised the politicians to pursue peace and development of the country. He said that comments credited to some notable Nigerians about the 2015 elections were unnecessary and against the interest of the masses. Maku, who decried the negative campaigns against the present administration, said that the collective interest of Nigerians should supercede the ambition of any individual.…
All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, on Friday in Yola said the party was representing the change Nigerians were yearning for. Ribadu told newsmen that the on-going defections to the APC was a manifestation that it would be the party to beat in 2015. “People are leaving PDP for APC because they needed change. APC symbolised the position of majority of Nigerians. “We are happy to be the platform for change that Nigerians are yearning for”, Ribadu said. The former EFCC boss said APC was committed to fighting the endemic corruption destroying the country. “APC is going to…
Five years after the meltdown of the Nigerian stock market, some investors and operators have shaken off their investment shocks by describing 2013 as the year of recovery and consolidation. The stakeholders say that their new zeal about the nation’s portfolio climate stems from the rebound of high rate of securities transactions, the recovery of the national economy and the rising public confidence in government and governance. In the first week of Dec 2013, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) overall transactions grew from a loss position, recorded during the downturn in 2008, to a level which is widely considered as…
The Nigerian Army Headquarters has issued its fourth quarter routine posting and designation of senior officers. This is comprised in a declaration handed out in Abuja on Friday by Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, Director of Army Public Relations. The declaration said some of the affected officers encompassed: Maj.- Gen John Kwabe, now Chief of Logistics, Defence Headquarters and Maj.-Gen Ugo Buzugbe, Commander, Nigerian Army Armoured Corps. It furthermore named Maj.- Gen. Ebiobowei Awala, Military Secretary (Army), Maj.- Gen. Olufemi Adeosun, Director of Policy, Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. John Nwaoga, General Officer Commanding 3 Division. Other ones are Maj.-Gen Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence of Information, Maj.-Gen.…
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan on Monday cautioned against sectional and ethnic politics that has been the bane of development and progress of the country.Uduaghan, speaking at a symposium with the theme, ” The Future of Warri and its Environs” put together by the Warri Rebirth Initiative called for mindset change that would enable the citizens to put national interest above ethnic and sectional interests.The Governor informed that his administration has embarked on concrete measures aimed at returning the city of Warri to its glorious days but that those actions were being slowed down by ethnic agenda.He explained that…
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has justified the support President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is giving the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. He made this clear when he paid a Christmas visit to Oritsejafor at his residence in Warri, commending the CAN’s President for the great role he played in restoring peace to Delta State. Uduaghan who was accompanied on the visit by the member representing Warri Federal Constituency, Mr. Daniel Reyenieju and other top government officials, praised the CAN’s President for supporting the administration of President Jonathan. The Governor also disclosed that…
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has commissioned 100 Toyota Hiace Buses and 30 Innoson High Capacity Buses with a pledge to continue to boost the Delta State Mass Transport programme. Governor Uduaghan noted that with this commissioning, the State now has over 700 18- seater Hiace buses and 130 Tata, Marcopolo and Innoson buses for Inter- and Intra-City Mass Transit Scheme with the broad goal of providing safe, reliable, efficient and integrated transport operations. The Governor explained that the State Government was in partnership with the private sector in the mass transit programme and charged the private operators participating…
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has described the Civil Service as the key to the growth and development of the society. Dr. Uduaghan who stated this during the swearing in ceremony of twenty-five Permanent Secretaries in Asaba stressing that no society that has diversified its economy has achieved growth and development without a strong and dedicated public service, calling on the State civil service to show more commitment and dedication to duty as they hold the key to the success of developmental programmes especially the “Delta Beyond Oil” initiative. He said Government was concentrating on agriculture, tourism, solid minerals…
The Delta State Government has boosted its Micro Credit Programme (DMCP), with no fewer than 1,211 persons in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the State benefiting from its free-interest loan. The beneficiaries, comprising 121 cluster groups made up of 885 women and 326 males, were presented with certificates for onward disbursement of the loan at their designated microfinance bank in the area. The disbursement exercise, which showcased ingenious display of creativity from some of the beneficiaries, saw a handful of the groups, particularly those returning for the second time, receiving economic lifeline up to the tune of N2million.Presenting the…
Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has presented a N391.51 billion (three hundred and ninety one billion, five hundred and ten million naira) budget proposal for the 2014 fiscal year to the State Legislature with an assurance that his administration will finish strong. Tagged, budget of “Consolidation, Sustainable Economic Growth and Development,” he disclosed that the amount which comprises N159.78 billion (one hundred and fifty nine billion, seven hundred and eighty million naira) or 48.8 per cent for recurrent expenditure and N231.72 billion (two hundred and thirty one billion, seven hundred and twenty million naira) or 59.1 per cent for…
Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Governor of Delta State, has been named the 2013 Man of the Year by Nigerian Pilot newspapers. In a letter to the Governor on behalf of the board and management of DOM Communications Limited, publishers of Nigerian Pilot, Uduaghan was applauded for the tremendous achievements of his administration since 2007. According to the letter signed by Prince Dennis Sami, publisher of the newspapers, Uduaghan came out tops after “critical appraisal of the performance of all 36 state governors in virtually all areas of assessment”. The award will be conferred on Dr. Uduaghan in a ceremony scheduled for…
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has said that constructive criticisms by newspapers’ columnists and media organizations in the country were useful tools for re-appraisal for positive change by public office holders. The Governor who stated this at the public presentation of ‘Conversations With My Country’ – a book written by Mrs. Funke Egbemode, an editor with The Sun newspapers, yesterday in Lagos, noted that rather than anger and antagonize those in authority, constructive criticisms would have been very useful. He said that at these challenging times in our country Nigeria and the essence of criticisms as contained in ‘Conversations…
Delta State Governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has warned community leaders to desist from protecting criminals in their midst as they would be prosecuted as accessories to the crime, just as the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar presented his scorecard to Nigerians. He gave the warning in Asaba during the Scorecard presentation to Nigerians by the Inspector General of Police(IGP), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, said it was criminal for anybody to protect criminals urging elders and community leaders to help fish out criminals in their communities since the State Government was not in support of this criminal attitude and would not…
LAGOS (Reuters) – Nigeria’s naira weakened marginally on Monday due to strong dollar demand but the local currency was expected to be supported later in the week by energy firms selling forex, traders said. The local unit closed at 158.75 to the dollar, slightly weaker than the 158.70 it closed on Friday. Traders said about $141 million sold by a unit of French oil firm Total on Friday helped to limit losses and more energy firms were expected to come to the market this week. Most energy companies operating in Africa’s top crude exporter sell dollars to banks on a…
Jos (Nigeria) (AFP) – Some 300 gunmen stormed a mostly Christian village in central Nigeria on Sunday, killing five people and burning scores of homes, police said. The early morning attack targeted the village of Kuka in Plateau state, which roughly falls on the dividing line between Nigeria’s mainly Christian south and predominately Muslim north. “Five people were killed and many houses were burnt,” said Plateau’s police spokeswoman Felicia Anslem. “About 300 attackers invaded the community early on Sunday,” she added.The decade-long mostly sectarian conflict in Plateau has left thousands dead. Herdsmen from the Fulani-Hausa ethnic group, which is mostly…
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — Survivors say militants screaming “God is great!” killed at least 12 civilians and set homes ablaze as they rampaged through a village in northeastern Nigeria, an area that has been attacked several times.Villagers who trekked nearly 100 kilometers (60 miles) to Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, said 30 Islamic extremists bearing guns and explosives rode into Sandiya village on Thursday in all-terrain vehicles and on motorbikes. The news came when survivors arrived Saturday since cell phone service has been cut by the military.Reports of similar attacks in neighboring Yobe state could not be confirmed immediately. The…
ONITSHA, Nigeria (Reuters) – Nigeria set November 30 for the rerun of parts of a state governorship election that were annulled because of suspicious actions by a polling official, in a test of the national electoral commission some 18 months before presidential polls. Organisers said parts of Anambra state would hold a re-run after an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) official distributed the wrong voting materials to polling stations, forcing the vote in those areas to be cancelled. He was later handed over to the police for investigation. Past elections in the continent’s most populous country and biggest oil producer…