All Posts in "Day: May 24, 2022"

Court Stops Mc Oluomo From Collecting Levies In Lagos Motor Parks

A Lagos Federal High Court, Tuesday,barred the sacked chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Lagos branch, Alhaji Musilu Akinsanya, a.k.a. MC Oluomo and others from collecting union levies from commercial drivers in all motor parks in Lagos

The court also stopped Registered Trustees Of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW); Registered Trustees Of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN); Registered Trustees Of Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) from exercising similar function

Justice Peter Lifu gave the order while granting Exparte application marked FHC/L/CS/224/2022, filed before the court by a lawyer , Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje

Ogunbbeje,who sued for himself and a new transport union, Transport Union Society of Nigeria (TUSON), had dragged Mc Oluomo and other transport unions before the court alongside, Alhaji Lawal Yusuf Othman; Lagos State Government; Attorney-General of Lagos State; Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and Director of State Security Service (SSS), for today’s orders.

According to his prayer,Ogungbeje had asked the court for an order restraining all the respondents jointly and severally, whether by themselves, their agents, officials, servants privies, officers and/or whosoever called from forceful imposition, collection, extortion, further forceful imposition. extortion and collection of any transport union levies. dues, fees or monies motorparks levies, dues, fees or monies, bus stop levies, dues, fees or monies, vehicle garage levies, dues, fees or monies or any transport union monies, dues or levies from any person, commercial vehicle diver and or transporter that is not a member of the respondents in connection with the facts of this case pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating motion filed before the vourt.

He further prayed the court for an order restraining Lagos State Government and it’s Attorney-General, jointly and severally, whether by themselves, their Ministries, Organs, agents, officials. servants, privies, officials, officers and/or howsoever called from further enforcement ard or implementation of the N800, 00, Transport Union levy due and money imposed on every transporter and commercial vehicle driver in Lagos State commenced on February 1, 2022, in connection with the facts of this case pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating motion filed before the court.

He also asked the court for an order restraining all the respondents jointly and severally, whether by themselves, their agents, officials, servants, privies, officers and or howsoever called from arresting, detaining, harassing, embarrassing, humiliating, inviting, seizing and confiscating any commercial vehicle, disturbing and or interfering with the lawful Transport Business operations of the applicant and his transport union members in connection with the facts of this case pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating motion filed before the court.

After listenening to Ogungbeje’s submissions, Justice Lifu had earlier in the month,ordered all the respondents in the suit to show cause within seven days from today or from the day they were served with the application, why the orders sought for should not be granted.

When the matter resumed on Tuesday, Ogungbeje,told the court that all respondents have been served with all the processes as directed by the court.

He added that the respondents despite being served failed to show cause within seven days as directed by the court.

He asked the court to grant all his reliefs.

Justice Lifu granted all the reliefs sought for by the applicant and adjourned till June 6, ruling on applicant’s motion to join other parties to the suit.

Those seeking to be join in the suit by the applicant are: Commissioner of Police, Lagos State; Nigeria Police Force; Mr. Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa; The Registered Trustees of Motorcycle Operation Association of Lagos State (MOALS) and The Registered Trustees of Tricycle Owners and Operator Association of Nigeria (TOOAN).

admin by — May 24, 2022 in News 0
COVID-19 Creates New Billionaire Every 30hrs -Oxfam

A  non-governmental organization, Oxfam International,says new billionaires are created every 30 hours during in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This development  could push nearly a million people  into extreme poverty in 2022 at nearly the same rate, a press statement by Gabriela Bucher, Executive Director of Oxfam International said.

The organisation also said as the cost of essential goods rises faster than it has in decades, billionaires in the food and energy sectors are increasing their fortunes by $1 billion every two days.

The statement said:“Profiting from Pain” is published as the World Economic Forum — the exclusive get-together of the global elite in Davos — takes place for the first time face-to-face since COVID-19, a period during which billionaires have enjoyed a huge boost to their fortunes.

“Billionaires are arriving in Davos to celebrate an incredible surge in their fortunes. The pandemic and now the steep increases in food and energy prices have, simply put, been a bonanza for them. Meanwhile, decades of progress on extreme poverty are now in reverse and millions of people are facing impossible rises in the cost of simply staying alive”

“Oxfam brief shows that 573 people became new billionaires during the pandemic, at the rate of one every 30 hours. We expect this year that 263 million more people will crash into extreme poverty, at a rate of a million people every 33 hours”

” Billionaires’ wealth has risen more in the first 24 months of COVID-19 than in 23 years combined. The total wealth of the world’s billionaires is now equivalent to 13.9 percent of global GDP. This is a three-fold increase (up from 4.4 percent) in 2000″

“Billionaires’ fortunes have not increased because they are now smarter or working harder. Workers are working harder, for less pay and in worse conditions. The super-rich have rigged the system with impunity for decades and they are now reaping the benefits.They have seized a shocking amount of the world’s wealth as a result of privatization and monopolies, gutting regulation and workers’ rights while stashing their cash in tax havens — all with the complicity of governments.

“Meanwhile, millions of others are skipping meals, turning off the heating, falling behind on bills and wondering what they can possibly do next to survive. Across East Africa, one person is likely dying every minute from hunger. This grotesque inequality is breaking the bonds that hold us together as humanity. It is divisive, corrosive and dangerous. This is inequality that literally kills.”

“Oxfam’s new research also revealed that corporations in the energy, food and pharmaceutical sectors —where monopolies are especially common— are posting record-high profits, even as wages have barely budged and workers struggle with decades-high prices amid COVID-19”

admin by — May 24, 2022 in Uncategorized 0
Court Orders Arrest Of Teacher For  Assaulting  Student

A  High Court  in Abuja,Tuesday,issued a warrant of arrest against a 39-year old man, lgoche Daniel Ada, over allegation of sexual assault on a 14-year-old school girl.

Igoche, a teacher at Destiny Christian Academy Airport Road FCT, Abuja, owned by Dunamis International Gospel Centre,  was charged to court by the FCT Command of the Nigeria Police.

During today’s proceedings, the prosecution counsel, John Ijagbemi, informed the court that this was the second time the accused person would be absent in court.

He added:”The defendant has chosen to be absent in court for the second time since he was released on bail. He had been duly served with the charges. He is yet to be arraigned in court.The accused and his surety assured that they will be in court but we are surprised to note that he is not here. We are asking the court to issue an arrest warrant against him to enable him appear in court”.

In his  ruling, Justice Akeem Fashola, said:”An arrest warrant is hereby issued against the defendant.This case is hereby adjourned to June 23, 2022, for the arraignment of the defendant”.

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command, arrested Igoche Ada, last year.He was arrested at his apartment in the Church building  in Lugbe and taken away in handcuffs.

He has since  been dismissed from the School after he was allegedly caught assaulting the school girl.

admin by — May 24, 2022 in Law/Human Rights 0
Group Rejects Lagos APC Primaries Committee Members

A pressure group, All Progressives Congress Professionals for Change, has rejected the committee inaugurated by the leadership of the APC in Lagos to conduct the National Assembly, Governorship and House of Assembly primaries in the state.

They  alleged that the composition of the committee does not reflect a level-playing ground for all the contestants.

The chairman of APC in Lagos State, Cornelius Ojelabi, had on Monday inaugurated the committee which is to be headed by the APC Zonal Organising Secretary, Lateef Ibirogba,

However, the All Progressives Congress Professionals for Change flayed the state chapter of the party for setting up the committee saying it is a usurpation of the functions of the national body which is constitutionally empowered to perform such duties.

The other members of the committee include Olayinka Oladunjoye, Bola Badmus-Olujobi, Hakeem Odumosu, Gbolahan Idris, Adebayo Sanwo-Olu, Sodiq Ademola, Oluremi Shopeyin and Muritala Seriki.

The group alleged that many individuals in the committee have strong ties with some of the contestants thus allowing them to play the role of umpires could jeopardize the interest of other aspirants in the race.

A statement  signed by the Publicity Secretary of the group,Engr.Bayo Aderibigbe,quoted its
national president,Hakeem Ogunsanya, as wondering  why an elder brother of Governor Babajide Sanwoolu would be named in the committee that would conduct an election in which his sibling will participate.

According  to him, allowing the committee, as presently constituted, to conduct the election could taint the integrity of the exercise which could ultimately affect the chances of the party at the poll.

He  also wondered why the state chapter of the party would be the one to set up the committee without the input of the national body, saying such move is against the constitution of APC and shouldn’t be allowed to stand so that a bad precedent wouldn’t be set which could lead to further chaos in the party.

He added:”The composition of the committee shows the desperation of some aspirants to subvert the process in their own interest. We have some elements in that committee who have close ties with some of the aspirants. It beats my imagination that our great party in the state would appoint the elder brother of the Governor to the committee that will conduct an election in which he is a contestant; this is like taking impunity to another level, what signal are we giving to other aspirants in the race? This is an aberration that shouldn’t be allowed to stand.

“Our concerns are to protect the integrity of our party and the process; it shouldn’t be the business of the state chapter of the party to set up primaries committee, it is an obligation constitutionally reserved for the national body. If we allow this aberration to scale through, we would be creating problems for the future because other states may want to copy that which will lead to further chaos,” he said.

He implored the national leadership of the party to dissolve the Ibirogba-led committee and reconstitute another one that will reflect neutrality in fairness to all aspirants.

“We in the All Progressives Congress Professionals for Change are calling on the National Chairman of our great party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu to take the bull by the horn and prevent the party from falling into a trap by exercising his powers to constitute a fresh primary committee according to the constitution of our party,” he said.

admin by — May 24, 2022 in Politics 0
A’Ibom, African Delta Power Ink Agreement On Phase 2 Of  Power Plant

Akwa Ibom State Government has signed a co-location and power production pact with African Delta Power Limited to add additional 366megawatts to the existing 191megawatts of the state-owned Ibom power plant.

The new deal shows that the aggregate maximum capacity of the gas turbine generator units is capable of producing up to 732Megawatts.The  Ibom Power would need to apply to the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for licence expansion to cover the expanded license. Currently, the company has an on-grid license for 685MW.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, SAN,signed the agreement on behalf of the state government.The Board Chairman of Ibom Power, Engr. Etido Inyang and Secretary of the company, Barr. Ime Asibong signed for Ibom Power; while Jemeriah Oluwaseun and Christabel Nwagum (CEO of African Delta and Secretary respectively) signed the agreement on behalf African Delta Power.

Speaking at the signing  ceremony,  Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government and Chairman of the One-Stop Shop on Investment Committee, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, said that the proposed power plant will be developed as part of the Phase 2 of the IPP.

“The proposed power project is under the ‘Power for All’ initiative of Governor Udom Emmanuel, which was inaugurated about two years ago by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.”. he said

He  urged investors to follow up the agreement by living up to the letters as enshrined in the terms of the contract.

He also spoke on the implementation of the project and implored the African Delta Power team to speed up the processes and abide by the roadmap agreed to by government for the project.

The chairman of Ibom Power Company Limited, Engr. Etido Inyang said the first phase of Ibom power is already operational with an installed capacity of 191megawatts,adding that  Ibom Power has a license to generate 685megawatts of power which the proposed power plant will leverage on.

He added:“We have a delta of the remainder of the license that which is 685megawatts. They are coming in with their first phase of 366megawatts with plans to expand to 732megawatts which we will get an additional license to support”.

He  revealed that the company had received many bids from several investors that had shown firm interest to partner Ibom Power for its Phase 2 but African Delta Power has proven to be ‘outstanding’.

”Their technical partners have been supportive and we have seen the turbines that are coming in. We have seen that they have evidence of funding that will be deployed in the installation of these turbines and they are going to commence groundbreaking within the first week of June”, he stated.

In his remarks,the Managing Director of Ibom Power, Engr. Meyen Etukudo ,described  the pact as ‘mutually rewarding’ for both parties with great prospects for the future,adding that Phase 2 of Ibom Power,  will ensure the company continues to break more frontiers.

On how the project will be implemented within the stipulated nine months period, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of African Delta Power, Jeremiah Oluwaseun said, most of the turbines and the systems have been prefabricated so they are ready to be deployed with their foreign technical partners from the United States.

He added:”Once a few other things are put in place, these equipments will be shipped in, in phases for onward installation here”.

Oluwaseun, who led his team consisting of the GM-Operations, Kelechi Samuel Anyamele; GM-Admin, Christabel Nwagum and the CLO, Etim Ayara said that Akwa Ibom was selected for the project because the state had the prerequisites for the project.

He said:” Akwa Ibom State ‘has the gas, a welcoming environment, good partners and a state government that is willing to go ahead with the project”

admin by — May 24, 2022 in Power 0
Dismissed Cop Gets Life Jail For Defiling Minor

An Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court has sentenced a dismissed policeman, Mohammed Alidu, to life imprisonment for defiling a nine-year-old school girl in a police barracks.

In her verdict,Justice Abiola Soladoye, held that Alidu was a disgrace to the police because he failed to uphold law and order and went about frolicking with an underage girl.

According to her, the prosecution had convincingly proved the charge of defilement against the convict beyond any reasonable doubt.

She also said the survivors’ evidence was fully corroborated by the medical evidence.

She added:“The evidence of the survivor is the most credible evidence in identifying the perpetrator.The vivid and oral testimony of the survivor satisfies the court that prosecution has proved every inch of the ingredients.

“He is a disgrace to the entire police because he failed to uphold law and order as he went on a frolic of his own by engaging in a bizarre and irresponsible behaviour turning the barracks into a sex den.

“It is most chilling. The defendant is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment without the option of a fine.He should have his name entered in the Sex Offenders Register of the Lagos State Government,” the judge added.

Four witnesses testified against Alidu in the trial.

According to the prosecution team, Mr Olusola Soneye, Mrs Olufunke Adegoke and Ms Abimbola Abolade, Alidu committed the offence on June 29, 2018 on Makinde Police Barracks Road, Mafoluku, Oshodi.

The prosecution said Alidu grabbed the survivor into a wooden house on her way to school and defiled her.

They submitted that the defendant was apprehended after the survivor reported the case at a police station.

The prosecutors said the defendant confessed to defiling the survivor, blaming it on the devil, but later denied it as an afterthought.

admin by — May 24, 2022 in Crime/Metro 0
Stop Promoting Money Rituals, APCON Warns Advertisers

The Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria has warned advertisers against promoting money rituals and other disgusting contents in the country.

Besides,the body said the era of flying advert messages on social media which promotes social vices such as money rituals and unnatural body enhancement (breast enlargement) has come to an end.

The APCON Registrar, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, who spoke at a press conference in Lagos,said digital media had become a safe haven for unscrupulous elements to publicise advertising messages which violate the laws guiding the practice in Nigeria.

He said APCON had been empowered by the National Assembly to clamp down on the promoters of practices that denigrate the professional practice of advertising.

He added: “With the increase of digital media activities in Nigeria and accessibility of online media platforms, we have been faced with a new threat of unethical and provocative advertising and marketing communication materials which have every potential of inflaming religious crisis, moral decadence and misleading information when allowed to thrive with attendant negative effect on the country, its economy and value system.”

“The advent of the Internet and new media, characterised with social networking sites such as blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp etc., has revolutionised communication globally. All the giant tech and primary digital media platforms owners such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc have been exploring the Nigeria digital media space with all sort of advertisements some of which are in violation of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice, pre-exposure vetting and ethical requirements of an advertisement.”

He warned online platforms (websites, blogs) as well as social media influencers to desist from promoting content in contravention of its laid down canons to avoid punitive measures.

admin by — May 24, 2022 in News 0
LASG Promises Improved Energy Access,Unveils Off-grid Electrification Strategy

The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has said that it was working tirelessly to improve energy access in the state.

The government has  also unveiled the Lagos State Off-Grid Electrification Strategy and Action Plan with support from the British-funded Africa Clean Energy Technical Assistance Facility.

The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Olalere Odusote, disclosed  that the programne, which is being implemented by Tetra Tech International Development and funded by the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, was geared towards the improvement of the off-grid energy access in Lagos State.

Odusote said the government developed the Lagos State Electricity Policy in 2021 to articulate its vision for creating a viable sub-national electricity sector that caters fully to the needs of its citizens while also enabling significant socio-economic growth.

He added  that the government’s plans follow the arrival of the off-grid solar sector as an important component in achieving access to energy – for all-in the state.

admin by — May 24, 2022 in Power 0
Africa Won’t Face Food Crisis -Adesina

Africa will not experience food crisis contrary to reports of an imminent food crisis,Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the President of the The African Development Bank (AfDB), has said

Adesina,who spoke at a meeting with journalists, ahead of the Bank’s 2022 Annual Meetings in Accra, Ghana said the Bank was ready with plans to avert any looming food crisis.

He explained that his conviction was based on the `High 5’ programmes of the AfDB which centered on Feed Africa.

He said:“Our Feed Africa `High 5’ work has already benefitted over 76 million farmers with access to improved agricultural technologies,” Adesina said,adding that the continent must be a solution for food to the world because it has 65 per cent of the arable land.

The president said though Africa was faced with a lot of challenges, the Bank was not deterred by the challenges.

Adesina said the AfDB and the African Union Commission had developed the Africa Emergency Food Production Plan.

He said the plan would provide 20 million farmers with improved seeds and fertilizers, as well as other farm inputs to produce 38 million tonnes of food worth 12 billion dollars.

Adesina said the food would include 11 million tonnes of wheat, 18 million tonnes of maize, six million tonnes of rice and 2.5 million tonnes of soybeans.

”I am not scared of food crisis. To deal with anything that is a crisis, you must have a plan.Africa must be a solution for food for the world because we have 65 per cent of the arable land. Noise is not equal to data and fear is not a statistic.

”You may ask, why am I so confident that we will be able to avoid a looming food crisis?It is because our plan is based on the incredibly successful work of the African Development Bank through its `High 5’ on Feed Africa.

“The Bank has also been implementing a very successful programme Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) which is getting agricultural technologies to farmers at scale.Africa does not need bowls in hand, Africa needs seeds in the ground.Africa should not be begging for food; Africa must produce its own food. There is no dignity in begging for food,’’ he assured.

Adesina said the Bank would be celebrating the African Development Fund (ADF) which would turn 50 years this year.

He said the ADF had contributed 45 billion dollars to support Africa’s low income countries.

The president said that the Bank would be discussing with the Board of Governors, how to raise more resources for the ADF to better support low income and fragile countries in the continent.

admin by — May 24, 2022 in News 0
How Nigeria Can Stop Threats To Cybersecurity -NCC

The Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC) has emphasized the need  for holistic engagement of critical stakeholders that would bolster defensive capabilities that ward off threats to cybersecurity on the cyberspace.

Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, spoke  at a two-day symposium on Internet Governance and Safeguarding the Cyberspace organised by the Attorney General Alliance, Africa in collaboration with NCC in Abuja.

Danbatta advocated  the need for government, regulators, law enforcement agents and advocacy groups, the private sector and members of the public to work together to defeat cybercrime.

He said: “The Internet has created a new environment, a complex and dynamic “cyberspace.”As we learn to live our lives on this cyberspace, there is the concomitant need to avert malicious actors and to bolster defensive capabilities that ward off threats to cybersecurity.

“This calls for holistic engagement of all stakeholders including government and regulators, law enforcement agents and advocacy groups, the private sector and individual members of the public.”

He  said that several policy and regulatory initiatives of Government in Nigeria are focused on harnessing the cyberspace and ensuring that the dividends of digital economy cascade to the citizens.

He added: “We recently successfully auctioned the 3.5 GHz spectrum for deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) Technology to support the delivery of ubiquitous broadband in the country. Not resting on its oars, the Commission has through the instrumentality of consultation and international best practices made tremendous milestones in the areas of standards, information security, consumer protection and regulatory excellence generally.”

He further  highlighted other measures taken by Nigeria along the journey towards internet governance and cybersecurity.

Such measures, he said, include the development of Nigeria National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy 2021 , the Cybercrime Act 2015, proposed Data Protection Bill, NCC’s Consumer Code of Practice Regulations, NITDA’s Nigerian Data Protection Regulations, the National Broadband Plan (NBP) 2020-2025 and the Nigerian Internet Code of Practice 2019.

He said the commission, has partnered  with the Office of the National Security Adviser to establish a Communications Sector Computer Security Incident Response Team(CSIRT) to track cybersecurity incidences and to manage incidence reporting and investigation.

He said his agency has continued to publish several cybersecurity incidence reports and warnings/public notices on cyber threats and the necessary mitigation measures for adoption by the general public.

admin by — May 24, 2022 in Business 0