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Indicted for mace theft but endorsed by APC, Omo-Agege emerges Deputy Senate President

'Kunle ADEBAJO
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Indicted for mace theft but endorsed by APC, Omo-Agege emerges Deputy Senate President

OVIE Omo-Agege, senator-elect representing the Delta State central district and the candidate favoured by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has emerged as the Deputy Senate President, despite allegations of leading hoodlums to steal the house’s mace in 2018.

He was elected and sworn-in on Tuesday at the ninth senate’s inaugural session, after the Senate presidency poll where Ahmed Lawan emerged victorious.

Omo-Agege polled a total of 68 votes, defeating former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu who got 39 votes. A total of 107 lawmakers voted.

Ahmed Baba Kaita, a senator-elect, representing Katsina North, has nominated Omo-Agege for the office, and his motion was seconded by Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, senator-elect representing Niger North.“With charity and indeed with gratitude to all, and with malice towards none of my colleagues, with a heart full of humility,” Omo-Agege said in accepting the nomination, “I rise to accept the nomination to serve as the Deputy Senate President of the ninth Senate.

“A couple of minutes ago, we carried out our constitutional functions as provided for in section 50 of the Constitution to elect a Senate President. In the course of that, we’ve elected the president. I stand here today as one who is willing to assist the president we just elected to carry out the obligations of that office.”

Omo-Agege is infamous for leading thugs into the red chamber, and stealing the mace in April 2018. He was arrested by the police in connection to the unlawful action and, in July, a joint ad-hoc committee of the National Assembly recommended that the senator should be suspended for 180 legislative days and prosecuted.

Ekweremadu referred to the incident during his speech as he accepted his nomination.

“There is one point that I must note before I take my seat, and that is the fact that on a fateful day in this chamber, something unusual happened; and that was the day I was presiding here on your mandate,” he said.

“Some people came into this assembly, passing the first gate, second gate and passed through this entrance, came here and brutalised our staff, and eventually took away our mace. So distinguished colleagues, what we are doing today is appropriately a referendum on that conduct. So, I will like to appeal to our colleagues that this is an opportunity for us to decide what we want.”

Omo-Agege, a lawyer, was executive assistance to the Delta State governor between 2003 and 2005, commissioner on special duties to the state government between 2005 and 2007, secretary to the government in 2007.  He is also the chief executive officer of TechSprings Ltd, a Port-Harcourt-based dredging and oil services corporation.

On the platform of the Labour Party, he was elected a senator in 2015. He however defected to the APC in March 2017.

Ex-NDDC director asked me to pay N3.6 billion to pacify Niger Delta youths, witness tells court

Amos ABBA
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Ex-NDDC director asked me to pay N3.6 billion to pacify Niger Delta youths, witness tells court

THE Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, adjourned the trial of Touyo Omatsuli, a former Executive Director on Projects of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and three others for allegedly laundering funds belonging to the commission to the tune of N3.6 billion.

Tuoyo Omatsuli was arraigned alongside Francis Momoh and two companies, Don Parker Properties Ltd, and Building Associates Ltd to by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on 45 counts bordering on corruption, gratification, fraud and money laundering.

Justice Saliu Seidu, the presiding judge at the resumed hearing allowed the cross-examination of the prosecution witness.

A fourth prosecution witness, Ibinabo Micheal-West, told the court how the NDDC, recovered over N100 billion from International Oil companies, IOC, when he was awarded a contract with the commission, to recover the debt owed by the oil companies operating within the Niger Delta region.

“The oil companies were to remit a three per cent annual budget to the NDDC which they had not remitted in full rather they were doing it at will.the oil. I served them demand notices, and also wrote petitions against them to the National Assembly.

“After the meeting with the National Assembly, the oil companies started paying, each time an oil company paid, they would send us payment advice.

“I agreed to be paid 10 per cent of any amount that was recovered from the oil companies and I was given a four-year mandate.

“In total, I recovered over N100 billion and I was paid N12 billion as my commission,” he explained.

At the cross-examination, led by the  EFCC, prosecutor, Ekene Iheanacho, Micheal-West also explained to the court how he made payments through his company Starline Consultancy Ltd to Building Associate Limited, owned by the second defendant Francis Momoh, at the instruction of the first defendant, Touyo Omasuli to pacify restive youths in the area.

“I was approached by the then executive director finance, directing my attention to the harassment by the Niger Delta Youths, that they sometimes lock up their gates and made several demands, so he said in order to cushion the effects on them, each time I am paid, I should appreciate them, so they can reach out to the youths.

“A Diamond Bank account was sent to me belonging to Building Associate Limited and I transferred a total amount of N3.6 Billion Naira to that account in tranches,” he said.

While he stated that the third and fourth defendants were not involved in the recovery of the debts owed to NDDC, he admitted to transferring money to the third and fourth defendants amounting to over N1 billion.

The Sub Consultancy makeup letter, Offer of Contract Letter and Acceptance Letter was tendered by the prosecution counsel, Ekene Iheanacho, and admitted in evidence by the court.

During cross-examination by the first defendant’s counsel, Kehinde Aguda, SAN, he said the payments to the Niger Delta youths was not a proceed of crime also stating it wasn’t to bribe officials of the NDDC.

Norrison Quakers, counsel to the second, third and fourth defendants, during his cross-examination asked the witness whether he knew him.

Micheal-West told the court that he knew Quakers when they were invited to the EFCC office and were asked to look for a SAN to bail them.

“I, the first defendant and the third defendant were asked to bring a SAN to take us on bail, so I paid the SAN to take the third defendant on bail as I already had another SAN taking me on bail,” he said.

He further asked if he made a statement at the EFCC office. Ibinabo admitted that he made statements to the EFCC when he was invited by the Commission.

However, Justice Seidu admitted it in evidence and marked it exhibit ET 09 A & B.

According to the charge, the defendants were alleged to have committed the offence between August 2014 and September 2015.

The first defendant was alleged to have procured the third and fourth defendants Momoh and Building Associates, to utilise a total sum of N3.6 billion paid by Starline Consultancy Services Ltd into an account operated by the fourth defendant.

The prosecution inferred that they ought to have known that the said sums, formed part of the proceeds of their unlawful activities which included corruption and gratification.

The offence, the EFCC said, contravenes the provisions of Sections 15(1), 15(2), 15(3) and 18 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011, as amended by Act No 1 of 2012.

Justice Saidu adjourned the case until June 11 for the continuation of trial.

Lawan defeats Ndume to emerge Senate President

'Kunle ADEBAJO
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Lawan defeats Ndume to emerge Senate President

AHMED Lawan, senator representing Yobe North district, has been declared and sworn-in as president of the Senate of the just-inaugurated ninth assembly after a secret ballot election.

He gathered 79 votes while Ali Ndume, another candidate for the position who is representing Borno South senatorial district, had 28 votes.

“I am happy to report that the 107 senators cast their votes,” announced Mohammed Sani-Omolori, clerk of the National Assembly following the counting process.

“And at the end of the voting, this is the result: Senator-elect Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, 79 votes; Senator-elect Mohammed Ali Ndume, 28 votes; total votes cast, 107.

“On the strength of this, therefore, it is my pleasure to announce that senator-elect Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan having scored the highest vote of the total number of votes cast is hereby returned as duly-elected president of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Both Lawan and Ndume are members of the All Progressives Congress, but the party leadership had openly endorsed the former’s candidacy.

Earlier while accepting his nomination by Yahaya Abdullahi, Senator-elect from Kebbi North, Lawan promised to collaborate with all the chamber’s lawmakers in performing his duties.

“This is an opportunity for us to work together, to remain united as an institution to deliver interventions sustainable for growth of the society,” he said. “If you elect me and I become the president of the ninth Senate, I will work with all of you.”

Lawan was elected to Yobe State’s House of Representatives in 1999 and first became a senator in 2007, participating as a member of various committees including the Joint Committee on Constitution Review in 2008 and Senate committee on Public Accounts in 2009. He was reelected in 2011, 2015, and 2019.

He was the majority leader of the Senate in the eighth Assembly.

Former ministers’ photos still appear on ministries’ websites as heads weeks after exit

YEKEEN Akinwale
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Former ministers’ photos still appear on ministries’ websites as heads weeks after exit

IT is more than two weeks since the tenure of ministers who served in the President Muhammadu Buhari first term ended, yet pictures of many of them are still hovering the official websites of their respective ministries as heads.

President Buhari had told the ministers at a valedictory Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on 22nd May 2019, that they could continue with their job until May 28, a day to his swearing-in for his second term rule.

“Today’s Federal Executive Council meeting is the last time we will meet as a cabinet before the commencement of the second and final term of this Administration,” the president told members of the cabinet who has ceased being ministers from May 28.

By the president’s directive, the out-going ministers were expected to hand over to the permanent secretaries who are the most senior civil servants in their respective ministries.

Then the permanent secretaries became the acting ministers pending when the new appointments are announced.

However, findings by The ICIR revealed that websites of ministries such as Ministry of Finance , Education, Environment, Budget and National Planning, Sports and Youth Development, and Justices still keep pictures of immediate past ministers as the heads of their respective ministries.

For instance, picture of Zainab Shamsuna Ahmad is displayed as the Honourable Minister of Finance on the website of Federal Ministry of Finance, while Adamu Adamu and Anthony Anwukah are still showing on the website of the Federal Ministry of Education as Minister and Minister of State for Education respectively.

Others are ministries of Power, Works and Housing, Information and Culture, Agriculture and Rural Development, Defence and Interior.

The ministries of Niger Delta Affairs and Petroleum Resources have also not pulled down pictures of ex-ministers from their webpage.

In all, 15 websites of ministries checked by the ICIR  still display photographs their former ministers

In contrast, ministries of health, labour and employment have since removed the pictures of the ex-ministers from their official websites, though Isaac Adewole, immediate past minister of health still addresses himself as Nigeria’s Minister of Health on his Twitter handle @IsaacFAdewole.

Meanwhile, ministries of Communications and Science and Technology headed by Adebayo Shittu and Ogbonaya Onu respectively do not have their own official websites.

The president is yet to announce a new appointment since his inauguration on May 29.

Tribunal resumes sitting, strikes out petition against Buhari’s victory    

Olugbenga ADANIKIN
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Tribunal resumes sitting, strikes out petition against Buhari’s victory    

THE Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal on Monday resumed sitting with Justice Mohammed Garba as the new chairman, replacing Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa.

Garba emerged after Justice Bulkachuwa withdrew from the tribunal following a petition from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the judge is related with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator-elect from Bauchi State.

The PDP presidential candidate in the last general election, Atiku Abubakar also called for her removal from the case.

But the new tribunal chairman disclosed plans to recall the petitions in order to allow him prepare for the hearing.

He pleaded for support from all parties involved to better hear the case, adding that the proceedings would be carried out in line with the provisions of the law.

Until his new assignment, Garba was the Presiding Judge of the Lagos Division of the Appeal Court.

Meanwhile, the Tribunal today dismissed a petition brought forward by a group – Coalition for Change (CAC) challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the last presidential election.

The Defense Counsel representing the president and the APC, Wole Olanipekun and Lateef Fagbemi told the court that their clients have not been served a copy of the petition.

According to Olanipekun, the panel had earlier granted an application for substituted service such that the petition could be submitted to the first respondent’s address if it cannot be reached personally but as at Monday – the day of the hearing, the petitioners were yet to serve the processes.

The counsel to the petitioner Obed Agwu, however, claimed that an application for the withdrawal of their petition against the president was earlier filed on Monday but yet to be served.

The panel eventually granted the petitioners application and dismissed the case.

Internet fraudster sentenced to prison, fined for disguising as English citizen

'Kunle ADEBAJO
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Internet fraudster sentenced to prison, fined for disguising as English citizen

 

OKHIEMWEN Roland Ekata, also known as Zamani Baron Wellington, has been convicted of intent to defraud and impersonation by the Federal High Court sitting in Benin, Edo State, on Monday.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which handled the prosecution, disclosed this through a press release made public the same day. The release was signed by Tony Orilade, the agency’s Acting Head of Media and Publicity.

The agency established that Ekata’s actions violated Section 484 of the Criminal Code Act; and the defendant had pleaded guilty to the amended one-count charge.

“That you Okhiemwen Roland Ekata ‘M’ aka Zamani, Baron Wellington,” read the charge, “on or about the 3rd day of June 2015 at Benin City,  Edo State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a citizen of Nigeria, with intent to defraud, you falsely represented yourself as Molton Cole, a citizen of England, which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Act  Cap, C38 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2004, and punishable under Section 484 of the same Act.”

Fredrick Dibang, the prosecution counsel, and Osama Idehen, the defence lawyer, agreed to a plea bargain arrangement; and based on it the defendant was sentenced to a year imprisonment. The court also set a fine to the N250,000.

The judge, A.A. Demi-Ajayi, also ordered for the forfeiture of an HP Pavilion laptop used by the defendant in connection with the offence.

“Ekata’s journey to prison began when he falsely represented himself as Molton Cole, a citizen of England, with the intent to defraud unsuspecting victims,” Orilade said.

SEC restrains Oando from holding AGM

Amos ABBA
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SEC restrains Oando from holding AGM

The Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, on Monday announced its decision to suspend its initial directive that Oando Plc should hold its Annual General Meeting slated for Tuesday.

The apex capital market regulator in a press release indicated its desire to suspend punitive measures imposed on the oil firm to ensure compliance with its regulations while it awaits the court’s pronouncement.

“The Securities and Exchange Commission hereby notifies the public that further to the ex-parte order of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi Lagos in Suit No: FHC/L/CS/910/19 in Jubril Adewale Tinubu & Anor V Securities & Exchange Commission & Anor, the Annual General Meeting of Oando Plc (a company listed on the Nigerian and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges) scheduled to hold on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. has been suspended till further notice.

“Accordingly, the commission has directed the suspension of the Annual General Meeting of Oando Plc to allow the parties to maintain the status quo,” the statement reads.

The commission stated it would update relevant stakeholders and the public on the outcome of the ongoing litigation.

The ICIR had earlier reported that SEC ordered Oando’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Wale Tinubu, and other affected board members to resign. The company in a rebuttal said the alleged infractions and penalties were unsubstantiated, invalid and calculated to prejudice the business of the company.

The oil firm said it had not been given the opportunity to see, review and respond to the forensic audit report and so was unable to ascertain what findings (if any) were made in relation to the alleged infractions and defend itself accordingly before SEC.

SEC announced on June 2 that it had set up an interim management team to oversee the affairs of the company and conduct an extraordinary general meeting on or before July 1, 2019, to appoint new directors who would subsequently select a management team for the company.

However, the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos granted an interim injunction on June 3 following an application by Oando’s Group CEO and his deputy, restraining SEC from executing the sanctions.

JAMB releases 15,490 withheld UTME results, de-lists four more CBT centres

YEKEEN Akinwale
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JAMB releases 15,490 withheld UTME results, de-lists four more CBT centres

THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Monday announced that it has released 15,490 results of candidates that were withheld over allegation of examination malpractices in the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

When JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede announced the release of the UTME in May, he said a total of 34,120 results of candidates suspected to have engaged in various forms of examination malpractices were withheld.

But in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the Spokesperson of the examination board, Fabian Benjamin, JAMB said the release of the results followed the expert review of the cases of this category of candidates who were requested to upload certain credentials for scrutiny.

“The board probed the identity and involvement of some candidates who were suspected of being involved in one examination infraction or another, the Board has further cleared and released the results of 15,490 candidates in this category,” he said.

He explained that the category of candidates with suspected infractions were further classified into five groups, adding that the first category involves those who have sufficiently proved their innocence.

Fabian said the second category includes those with inconclusive evidence of culpability and were given the benefit of the doubt because of the guiding principles of the Board that it is better for many criminals to go free than to punish one innocent candidate.

”Consequently, the results of categories (i)and (ii) were part of the 15,490 released on Saturday, 8th June 2019. They are to send RESULT to 55019 for their result,” he said.

He said category three includes those whose evidence necessitated further interrogation

”The third categories have been notified and invited (through phone call, their profile, text message and email) to designated centres across the country for further clarification of the evidence against them. It is in their interest to attend otherwise the evidence will be taken as conclusive,” he said.

”For category four, those whose culpability has been firmly established thus necessitating the cancellation of their results.”

Fabian disclosed that a total of additional 321 results were conclusively cancelled while the concerned candidates have been notified.

He said candidates in the fifth category are those who did not heed the advice to upload evidence of their identity vis-a-vis the other impersonators.

According to him, there is incontrovertible evidence of their culpability, just as he added that four additional CBT centres found culpable have also been de-listed.

 

Federal government declares Wednesday, June 12, public holiday

Editorial
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Federal government declares Wednesday, June 12, public holiday

THE Federal Government on Monday declared Wednesday, June 12, as a public holiday, to commemorate Nigeria’s National Democracy Day.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Georgina Ehuriah, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement signed by Mohammed Manga, Director Press & Public Relations, of the ministry, on Monday in Abuja.

The Federal Government’s decision followed the enactment into law of June 12 as Democracy Day annually in Nigeria.

Ehuriah congratulated all Nigerians at home and abroad for the entrenchment of democratic rule in the country.

The permanent secretary called on Nigerians to continue to cherish the sacrifice made by heroes of democracy in the country.

She emphasised that those who lost their lives in the struggle for the actualisation of Democratic Governance in Nigeria in order to make the country a better place for all, must not be forgotten.

Ehuriah further called for the collaboration and cooperation of all Nigerians with President Muhammadu Buhari towards achieving the nation’s collective aspiration for unity, peace and socio-economic development.

She wished all Nigerians, at home and abroad, a happy democracy day celebration.

(NAN)

One million cases of sexually transmitted infections occur daily, says WHO

Rebecca Akinremi
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One million cases of sexually transmitted infections occur daily, says WHO

One million new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among people age between 15 to 49 occur every day, according to new research published by the World Health Organisation.

That means more than 376 million new cases annually on four infections including gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis, chlamydia and syphilis.

The research was published online by the Bulletin of the WHO on Thursday. It noted that STIs still remains a persistent and endemic threat worldwide.

“Since the last published data for 2012, there has been no substantive decline in either the rates of new or existing infections,” the report read partly.

According to the latest figure, one in 25 people globally have at least one of the STIs with some experiencing multiple infections at the same time.

There were 127 million new cases of chlamydia, 87 million of gonorrhoea, 6.3 million of syphilis and 156 million of trichomoniasis in 2016.

Trichomoniasis is caused by infection by a parasite during sexual intercourse while chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhoea are bacterial infections.

STIs lead to serious issues

If untreated, the WHO said it could lead to serious and chronic health effects that include neurological and cardiovascular (heart) disease. It could also lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirths and increased risk of HIV. The infections are also associated with significant levels of stigma and domestic violence.

According to the research, syphilis caused an estimated 200,000 stillbirths and newborn deaths in 2016, making it one of the leading causes of baby loss globally.

STIs spread predominantly through unprotected sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex.

Peter Salama, executive director for Universal Health Coverage at the WHO said: “We’re seeing a concerning lack of progress in stopping the spread of sexually transmitted infections worldwide.

“This is a wake-up call for a concerted effort to ensure everyone, everywhere can access the services they need to prevent and treat these debilitating diseases.”

Safe sexual practices, especially through condom use and better access to testing and treatment are crucial for reducing the burden, says WHO.

Pain when urinating, vaginal discharge, bleeding between periods are some of the symptoms of STIs. However, some people may not be aware they have an infection prior to testing.

For treatment, bacterial STIs could be treated and cured with widely available medications.

But Syphilis treatment has been difficult because of shortages in the supply of specific penicillin needed. Gonorrhoea treatment is being threatened as a result of its resistance to antimicrobial medications.

In Nigeria, Gonorrhea is identified as the most common sexually transmitted diseases with a recent survey putting its prevalence at 28.1 per cent of the population.

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