All Posts in "Day: August 23, 2022"

FCCPC Staff Dies In Fisticuffs With Female Colleague

Mr Julius Haruna, Assistant Director and Head of Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) North-West Zonal Office, Katsina has died in the Commission’s office in Katsina, following a fisticuff with a female colleague.

Tam Tamunokonbia, Director Legal Services/Secretary to the Board of FCCPC,confirmed this in a statement.

He said although “investigations are at early and inconclusive stages, information known suggests that Haruna was involved in a dispute which escalated to, and included physical contact with Ms. Muibat Taiwo Abdusalam, another employee of the Commission.”

He explained that the Katsina State Police Command is currently seized with, and continuing investigations.

“The deceased is currently deposited in the morgue of Katsina General Hospital and awaiting an autopsy. Ms. Abdusalam is currently detained by the state Police Command.”

He further explained that the Commission visited the deceased’s family in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, and is continuing to provide support to the family.

He added that the Commission has been in communication with the family of the detained Ms. Abdusalam with respect to answering their questions and providing any legitimate and applicable support in the circumstances.

“The Commission is also assisting and supporting the Police investigation of the sad occurrence.There are current, and indeed a record of past cross allegations of conflict and abuse/aggression by the deceased and Ms. Abdulsalam; which current claims include an assertion of insufficient remedial action by the management of the Commission.In response to this sad incident, and events leading thereto, the Governing Board of the Commission held an emergency Board meeting yesterday, August 22, 2022.

The Board meeting decided by resolutions:
“To immediately and forthwith institute an independent internal investigation, to conclude within 21 working days or any extensions granted by the Board; Appointed Dr. Ben Nwoye (Legal practitioner and non-executive Commissioner/Board member) as Chair of the Independent Internal Investigation Panel (Panel); and Air Vice Marshal Wakili Abdullahi Ahmed (Rtd), (also a non-executive Commissioner/ Board member) as Co-Chair of the Panel; and to invite representatives of the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment and Office of the Head of Service of the Federation as members of the panel.”

Other resolutions of the Board include directing Executive Management of the Commission to immediately engage an experienced and independent legal counsel as member, guide and support to the Panel as well as Immediately but temporarily relieve relevant leadership and operatives within the Commission in order to ensure a fair, transparent and credible investigation.

The statement assured that the Commission would continue to make appropriate, full, and frank disclosures of information, any investigative outcomes and or judicial processes (where applicable).

admin by — August 23, 2022 in Crime/Metro 0
Alaafin Stool: Atiba Lineage Kicks, Accuses Oyo Govt Of Excluding Nine Royal Houses

 One of candidates aspiring to become the new Alaafin of Oyo from Adeitan Atiba Royal Lineage, Prince Afolabi Ademola Adesina has accused the Oyo state government of insincerity in the selection process of the new Alaafin of Oyo.

In a statement,he said that the state government has ignored nine other ruling houses been enlisted since 8 December, 1976 by the then Oyo State Military Government and Gazetted, viz the 1995 White Paper, on 16 July, 2001 by the state government during the administration of the late Governor Lamidi Onaolapo Adesina.

According to the statement, “My attention has been drawn to a statement by the Oyo State Government to the effect that it will not interfere in the process of selecting a new Alaafin of Oyo.

“The process of selecting a new Alaafin, which started with transparency by the Head of Oyo Royal Princes (Baba Iyaji) and Oyo Mesi in general has been since altered by the agent of the government.

“The chairman of Atiba Local Government Area, in a letter dated 9 August, 2022, claimed that he has been directed by the state government, through the Oyo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftancy Matters, to commence the process of picking a crown prince from the Agunloye Royal House.

“This is being done in exclusion of the other nine ruling houses that have been enlisted since 8 December, 1976 by the then Oyo State Military Government and Gazetted, viz the 1995 White Paper, on 16 July, 2001 by the state government during the administration of the late Governor Lamidi Onaolapo Adesina.

“The chairman of Atiba Local Government Area in the letter, dated 9 August, 2022, through the Director of Administration and General Services, Alhaji Ayoola A.A, relied on the Oyo state Chieftancy Law of 1961 which had been declared defective since 8 December, 1976 because it is not consistent with the Customary Law governing the appointment of the Alaafin of Oyo or any oba in Yorubaland.

“In the letter, the local government chairman, directed Baba Iyaji to liaise with Agunloye family to choose a Crown Prince and present him to the Oyo Mesi, through High Chief Yusuf Ayoola, the Basorun of Oyo.

“With due respect to our Acting Governor, Chief Bayo Lawal and our darling Governor Seyi Makinde (in absentia), the directive is contrary to the claim by your aide that the Oyo State government will not interfere in the process of selecting a new Alaafin.

“What more can demonstrate the fact that the state government has, indeed, interfered in the selection process? How else can you prove that you are not interfering in the process?Sir, what you have done, through the letter by the chairman of Atiba Local Government Area, shows that you have, indeed, totally hijacked the process. You can only prove to us by publicly disowning the letter.

“As an unbiased umpire, we expect that the state government will call for the publication of all the 119 princes that applied for the vacant Royal Alaafin Stool and the criteria for the selection process to be made public.

“This should be done in line with our tradition and also allow the Oyo Mesi to evaluate each and every applicant, based on the culture of Oyoland. I am aware that Baba Iyaji has submitted all the applicants’ letters to the Oyo Mesi, through the Basorun of Oyo”

 

 

admin by — August 23, 2022 in Oduduwa 0
Union To FG: Use Oil Swap To Defray $464m Aviation Debt

The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) has implored Sen. Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation over the continuous failure of foreign airlines to repatriate their funds out of the country in the past six months, warning that it’s a disaster waiting to happen.

The union also advised the Federal Government to engage in crude oil swap agreement with the airlines to defray the backlog in the first instance.

NUATE in a letter signed by Comrade Ocheme Aba, the General Secretary, NUATE, dated August 22, 2022 said that the inability of the airlines to repatriate their funds had caused colossal collateral damage to Nigeria’s image.

He maintained that as the trade union to which all workers in the foreign airlines belong, its stake in this imbroglio was, without question, much higher than most other stakeholders.

NUATE appealed to Sirika to use his industry experience as aviation professional to intervene in the crisis and resolve the issue to avoid further damages to the country’s image.

The union warned that if the challenge persisted it may lead to loss of jobs of hundreds of Nigerians working for the foreign airlines, adding that it would also affect the numerous service providers like the ground handling companies, catering services, logistics, aviation security and others working directly in the industry.

The union said: “First of all, knowing who you are convinces us that this unpleasant situation must have preoccupied you already, and that your office must already has been working very hard to find a workable solution.Secondly, being that you are, yourself, an aviation professional means that we need not bore you with enumerating the many dangers the continuation of this very adverse situation poses to the health of the aviation sector, the national economy, and Nigeria’s standing in the comity of nations.”

The union decried that the sordid situation was already being felt by the reductions of operations that have come into effect in the past weeks by the operating airlines.

The union however admitted that the country was currently going through economic difficulties with regard to the acute shortage of foreign exchange earnings, but emphasised that there is apparent calamity that would befall the nation if the situation was not ameliorated quickly by the government.

The union suggested for oil swap to defray the debt as a way out of the quagmire.

“We urge you to prevail on the Federal Government to take extraordinary measures to resolve the quagmire. Such a measure could include the use of crude oil swap to defray the backlog in the first instance.

“Please, do not be cowered by the enormity of this, and other, problems presently mitigating the sector’s projected growth. We offer our hand of support, whatever that counts for, at this very trying time. We equally make ourselves available for any stakeholders meeting convened to address the matter. And we are hopeful that God helping we shall overcome,” the union said.

admin by — August 23, 2022 in Aviation 0
Take Over: BEDC’s Boss Stay In Office Illegal -Malami

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN has declared that the refusal of the sacked Managing Director of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company BEDC, Funke Osibodu to vacate office is acting beyond her legal power or authority.

Malami made the declaration in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin.

He cited the recent restraining order paraded by the ousted BEDC Boss which she reportedly obtained from an Abuja High Court as lawless, ultra vires, and of no effect, saying that the 14 days granted by the Federal High Court had slumped to vacate her from the office.

In the statement titled: Legal opinion on the possession and management of BEDC Electricity Plc, dated August 18, 2022, with reference number LE/14/1.7/95, the Attorney General cited Order 26 Rule 10(1-3) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 which states in Part to buttress his advice:

“An application to vary or discharge an order made ex-parte may be made by the party or person affected within 14 days after service and shall not last for more than 14 days after the application has been argued unless the court otherwise directs” and “Where a motion to vary or discharge an ex-parte order is not taken within 14 days of its being filed, the ex-parte order shall lapse unless the court otherwise directs in the interest of justice”.

He also noted that the interim order being relied upon by the sacked Managing Director was granted on July 8, 2022, while an application to set it aside was filed on July 22, 2022.

He added: “Since the application to set it aside is yet to be argued or heard to date and the Court also did not grant an order of extension or order exempting the application of the 14 days rule, the interim order may be deemed to have lapsed 14 days from July 22, 2022(when the set-aside application was filed) by order 26 Rule 10(1-3) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019.

“The foregoing position of the law on the life span of an ex-parte order is supported by the Supreme Court in Titilayo Plastic Industries Ltd & Ors V. Fagbola (2019(LPELR-47606(SC)
Per Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, JSC stated at (Pp.46-52, paras. E-B)”

He also explained that BEDC, BPE, and NPF were not listed as parties (Defendants) in the suit by the sacked MD rather they were merely listed in the schedule as persons to be affected by the order and that “all the foregoing raises issue of lack of fair hearing which voids the affected proceedings conducted therein”.

He added that the interim order being relied upon by the sacked MD “is not meant to operate in perpetuity, especially against BEDC, BPE, NPF and others who were listed as parties in the suit, therefore by effluxion of 14 days from July 22, 2022, when that application to set aside the order was filed but not heard till date, the interim order can be deemed to have lapsed”.

admin by — August 23, 2022 in News 0
NNPC-SNEPCo Launches Weeklong Free Eye Care In Lagos

L-R: Chairman, Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area, Mr. Muibi Folawiyo; Lead, Sustainable Community Development, National Petroleum Investment Management Services, Mrs Tolulope Derin-Adefuwa; Business Opportunity Manager, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), Mrs Ibiyemi Asaolu; Director for Administrative Training, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Olufunmilayo Shokunbi; and Shell’s Regional Community Health Manager, Dr Akin Fajola, at the opening session of NNPC/SNEPCo’s Vision First programme, a free medical eye care outreach for Lagos Island community… on Monday
admin by — August 23, 2022 in News 0