Sahara Reporters Latest News Saturday 15th June 2019
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 15/06/19
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target=_blank>Lampard Favoured To Land Chelsea Coaching Job
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has hired some of the world’s highest-profile managers during his 16-year reign, but relative rookie Frank Lampard is emerging as the favourite to occupy the Stamford Bridge hot seat.
With Italian Maurizio Sarri’s departure to Juventus being imminent, club talisman Eden Hazard already departed to Real Madrid and a FIFA transfer ban looming, Chelsea have arrived at a crossroads.
Derby County boss Lampard is adored by the Chelsea faithful for his record-breaking goalscoring exploits during a trophy-laden 13 years in west London.
The ex-Chelsea player could be the ideal candidate to lead them in a new direction.
The 40-year-old earned plaudits for taking Derby into the Championship playoffs in his first year as a manager.
Lampard team side Derby missed the opportunity on promotion to Aston Villa, for whom former teammate John Terry is part of the coaching staff.
During a playing career in which he won 11 major trophies with Chelsea, Lampard always stood out as a smart cookie.
He has taken his inquisitive mind into the managerial ranks and proved a fast learner at Derby where his blueprint was an intelligent passing game and a trust in youngsters.
Three of them — Chelsea loanees Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham — were involved in the playoff final at Wembley and could all be back at Stamford Bridge next season.
With teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi having made the breakthrough under Sarri last season.
Lampard would appear the ideal choice to construct a Chelsea side based on youth, perhaps with Derby assistant and former team mate Jody Morris, alongside.
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target=_blank>CBN Economic Intelligence Department To Investigate Oil Palm Importers
Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, said in a meeting with executives of indigenous oil palm producers in Abuja Friday that the bank has begun the investigation of the accounts of companies importing the cash commodity into the country.
At the meeting which was attended by the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, Emefiele said N30 billion has so far been disbursed to palm oil producers.
“We have started, our Economic Intelligence Department has started investigating the accounts of some of you or those of you who are involved in smuggling or dumping palm oil into Nigeria.
“We feel that before any action are taken against you in terms of blocking you from the foreign exchange market or blacklisting you from doing banking in Nigeria that we first invite you to say that we are drawing a line that importation of palm oil in Nigeria must stop.
“But stopping also means that we must as Central Bank and Deposit Money Banks create an opportunity for you to access credit to grow your plantations,” the returning CBN governor said. He further revealed that the bank has received a Presidential Order to blacklist any firm or individual that imports any of the 43 items on the foreign exchange banned list into the country.
“Part of that presidential directive so says that we should blacklist from the foreign exchange market and the banking industry all firms, their owners and their top management caught smuggling or dumping any of the restricted 43 items into Nigeria,” he told the gathering. The governor also informed them that the Presidential directive mandates the bank to expand access to credit for nine other crops besides palm oil.
“The presidential directive that we have received is not about palm oil alone. We have received a presidential directive to focus on the production of ten different commodities.
“And this is the programme we will be embarking upon in the next couple of years. The ten different products are rice, maize, cassava, tomatoes, cotton, oil palm, poultry, fish, livestock dairy and cocoa.
“The presidential directive that we received said that we must expand, seek to give support to people who want to expand the production of these products in Nigeria.” Nigeria has not yet attained sufficient production in lots of the items banned from accessing forex.
An outright ban of these products from accessing forex and blacklisting the companies doing so could lead to scarcity in the availability of these products pending the success of the government’s expansion programme. In March 2019, Emefiele said Nigeria’s spent $500 million annually importing palm oil. This implies that there could be a rush to the black market for forex as happened in 2016 before the set-up of the investment and Export window.
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E2%80%99s-life-not-defraud-me-%E2%80%93bamaiyi target=_blank>$8m Fraud: Ajudua Swore On Son’s Life Not To Defraud Me –Bamaiyi
A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, on Friday, told an Ikeja High Court that Fred Ajudua, an alleged serial conman, defrauded him in spite swearing on his son’s life.
Bamaiyi made the disclosure while being cross-examined by Ajudua’s counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo, at the resumed hearing in allegedly swindling Bamaiyi of $8.4 million at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons by Ajudua in 2004.
“I trusted him completely; you don’t understand the concept and level of trust I had. I’m a father and a grandfather. I understand these things. If as a father he (Ajudua) swears that his only son should die if he should defraud me; that is more than sufficient receipt.
“When he defrauded me, I initially kept quiet. It was after he ran away for six years that I decided to complain. By God, I never knew I will find myself in court,” Bamaiyi said, responding to a question on why he did not ask for receipts from Ajudua as proof receiving the funds.
Friday’s session was the fifth in the proceedings in which Bamaiyi was cross-examined by the defence since giving his evidence-in-chief on Nov. 26, 2018.
The former army chief said the funds given to Ajudua for payment for the legal services of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) were brought to him in prison by family members, friends, and staff.
He said prison rules allowed money meant for the payment of legal representation to be brought into the premises of the prison, adding that he recorded all money brought to the prison in his diary.
“Sometimes money was put in our food containers. The money is counted in the presence of the prison officers, so it was not hidden.
“My lord, I said it before and let me repeat it, when visitors come with the food containers, he who brings the food will taste it so that they will not poison the inmate.
“The food container has food on top; that is the one they will taste. Money is kept underneath the container.
“To me, the counting of the money is a record; the prison authorities knew about this money and constitute records to the prison authorities.
“I can remember the specific amount each person brought; my former ADC, Timothy Chechet, brought $1 million on two different occasions,” he said.
He said the individuals who brought some of the foreign currencies, gave statements to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) confirming that they brought money to the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons.
Explaining the source of the funds, Bamaiyi said the money was given to him by friends who did not want their identity disclosed.
He added that the funds were sourced from his personal savings, property and farming businesses, pointing out that some of the funds were withdrawn from his account at defunct Nal Merchant Bank.
Following the revelation, Ojo requested for a copy of Bamaiyi’s statement of account, saying that the prosecution had not frontloaded a copy of the statement to the defence.
On his part, the prosecuting counsel for EFCC, Mr. Tope Banjo, said an additional proof of evidence containing the requested bank statement would be filed in court by the prosecution at an adjourned date.
The judge, Josephine Oyefeso, adjourned the case until September 16 and 19, 2019, for a continuation of trial.
According to the prosecution, Ajudua was incarcerated at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons over alleged fraud while Bamaiyi was incarcerated over alleged involvement in the attempted murder of Mr. Alex Ibru, the late publisher of The Guardian Newspaper.
The prosecution alleged that Ajudua had alongside some accomplices, approached Bamaiyi in the prison in 2004.
The defendant had allegedly convinced Bamaiyi that he could hire the legal services of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to help secure his freedom from Kirikiri, and Ajudua allegedly fraudulently collected 8.4 million dollars as the legal fees.
When the alleged fraud came to light, the law chambers of Afe Babalola and Co. issued a disclaimer disassociating itself from the case.
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E2%80%93senate-president-lawan target=_blank>Orji Kalu Was My University Roommate in 1980 –Senate President Lawan
Nigeria’s new Senate President, Mr. Ahmad Lawan, says Abia State former Governor, Orji Kalu, was his roommate at the university.
Lawan and the Senate Deputy President, Mr. Ovie Omo-Agege, were on Thursday hosted to a dinner by Kalu, who has now joined the league of former-governors-turned-senators.
The event, which took place at Kalu’s residence in Abuja, was also attended by some senators, members of the diplomatic corps, among others.
Lawan disclosed that the two-term governor of Abia, Kalu, was his roommate at the University of Maiduguri in 1980.
Delivering his welcome remark, Kalu urged all lawmakers to see themselves as brothers by giving the necessary support that would help move Nigeria forward.
”We have the assemblage of men and women that know Nigeria very well. At the chamber, we are going to be voting on a bipartisan basis to ensure a better life for Nigerians,” he said.
Kalu added: No motion is going to be moved here and no motion is going to be seconded here. All we are here for is to eat and drink.”
Senator Ken Nnamani, who said the presiding officers of the 9th Senate were elected in a transparent manner described the senate as “an assembly of elders.”
”Nigerians are looking forward to a different outcome this time around because of the way you were elected,” he stated.
Nnamani, who congratulated Lawan and Omo-Agege said the nation’s interest, rather than the party’s interest, must prevail at all times at the assembly.
He urged the lawmakers to always ensure the quick passage of the budgets.
”If President Muhammadu Buhari succeeds, you have succeeded yourselves. Therefore, there is no more excuse,” he told them.
Speaking on behalf of the diplomatic community, the Ambassador of Israel to Nigeria, Shimon Ben-Shoshan, called on the lawmakers to put aside party differences and work for Nigeria’s progress.
The senate president, who thanked Uzor-Kalu for organizing the dinner, said: ”The Nigerian project is a project of the Nigerian people and not a political party’s project and everybody must ensure that it works.
”In the 9th senate, we are going to work together and we will distribute functions across party lines.”
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target=_blank>Protest In Ondo Over Raging Fire At Chevron’s Ojumale Oil Field
The coastal communities of Ugbo in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have protested over the harsh conditions they are passing through as a result of the explosion caused by the Ojumale oil field. Their protest came barely two months after the ‘Ojumole Oil field’ went up in flames and cause heavy inferno which spread to other areas.The protesters also carried different placards which inscriptions: “We are dying gradually due to poison”; “The Govt should come to our aide”; “Chevron doesn’t care about us”, lamenting their loss as a result of the fire. On April 18, 2019, the Ojumale oil field went up in flames in Ororo, Parable Field, Isan-West Field, Opokaba and Malu fields.Many of the communities affected by the incident are the Ehinmoghan -Ikorigho, Iluayo, Otumara, Ikorigho, Ajegunle-Ikorigho, Zion Ikorigho, and Kendo Ayeren.
The operating oil company, Chevron Nigeria Limited, had alleged that a “third party” tampered with the affected oil well which stopped production in 1998.During the protest, the residents said the devastation caused by the Ojumale fire had brought them untold hardship.
They added that Chevron had yet to put out the fire despite all promises to do so when the case was formally reported. The protesters explained further that the facilities owned by American oil giant, Chevron, had continued to ravage their communities within impunity. According to them, fishing and farming business, their main sources of livelihood, is badly affected by the oil well’s fire.They maintained that, on a daily basis, they are exposed to hazardous fumes and gaseous content from the burning oil well. Esimaje Brikinn, General Manager in Charge of Policy, and Public Affairs at Chevron Nigeria Limited said the oil company was working with some emergency response contractors to safely put out the fire as quickly as possible. “Due to the peculiar terrain of the well location, we had to create an access path to the slot leading to the well head. Having created the required access, we have moved heavy equipment and the personnel required to work on safely putting out the fire.”We continue to keep all stakeholders, including the government, regulatory agencies, media, and community leaders engaged on our efforts at putting out the fire in a safe manner,” he said .
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target=_blank>BREAKING: Naira Marley Released 14 Days After He Was Granted Bail
Azeez Fashola, Nigerian musician better known as Naira Marley has been released from prison custody after perfecting his bail condition.
The artiste was arrested and charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on an 11 count charge of advance fee fraud popularly called ‘yahoo yahoo’.
Azeez Fashola, aka, Naira Marley, who had been in prison custody pending when he would perfect his bail conditions following his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Nicolas Oweibo of Federal High Court, Lagos.
Justice Oweibo had said one of the sureties must be on Grade Level 10 in the federal or state employment.
The other surety must have a landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.
The judge directed the EFCC to verify the bail terms and adjourned until October 22 for trial.
The EFCC is prosecuting Naira Marley for alleged credit card fraud.
He was charged with 11 counts of violating the Cyber Crimes Act of 2015.
The defendant pleaded not guilty.
The musician risks seven years in jail if found guilty.
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E2%80%93-aisha-buhari target=_blank>Why I Chose To Be Called First Lady Of Nigeria – Aisha Buhari
The wife of the President, Mrs, Aisha Buhari, has announced her decision to be addressed as the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and gave a reason for doing so.
Buhari disclosed her new official title at the presentation of awards to the former and current wives of governors of the 36 states.
The event held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“When my husband was elected newly I personally chose to be called the wife of the President.
“But, I realized that it causes confusion from the state as to whether the wives of state governors are to be addressed as the first ladies or wives of the governors.
“So, forgive me for confusing you from the beginning. But now I chose to be called the first lady,” she said.
She said this would take effect immediately in order to also resolve the issue of the title of wives of governors.
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target=_blank>Oil Licence: Nigerian Claims To Be NNPC GMD, Dupes Korean Of N30 Million
A Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, on Friday, ordered the remand of one Jamiu Isiaka, 31, for allegedly impersonating the Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation ( NNPC ), Dr. Maikanti Baru and others.
The suspect, with others still at large, allegedly used the names of the senior government officials to scam a South Korean National, Keun Sig Kim to the tune of N30 million.
He said the defendant committed the act with the pretence of getting Kim NNPC approval/marketing form and licence to buy crude oil in Nigeria.
The prosecutor said that the defendant thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 of the advance fee fraud and other related offences act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.
The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Justice M Abdulgafar said Isiaka should be remanded in Mandala Prison custody until the next adjourned date.
The defendant is facing a four-count charge of impersonation, intent to defraud, among others.
Abdulgafar adjourned the case until June 19, for trial.
Earlier, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuting counsel, Mr. Andrew Akoja, told the court that between April and September 2018, the defendant impersonated Dr Baru, and the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, as well as other prominent citizens.
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target=_blank>Apapa Gridlock: Osinbajo Gives Presidential Task Force Two More Weeks To Clear Traffic
The Federal Government has extended by two weeks, the time given the Presidential Taskforce on the Apapa traffic gridlock to resolve the matter following a request for an extension by members of the taskforce and other stakeholders.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, approved the extension at a meeting of the Presidential Task Force with stakeholders held at the Presidential Villa, earlier in the week.
The task force which commenced its assignment on May 24 had up to June 7 to complete the assignment but is now expected to present a formal report at the end of its extended mandate on June 24.
The presidential directive was issued for the clearing up of the Apapa gridlock and the restoration of law and order to Apapa and its environs within two weeks.
The directive followed an emergency meeting convened by President Muhammadu Buhari and chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, on the 25th of April, 2019.
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While the Vice President chairs the task force, its daily operations are supervised by an Executive Vice Chairman, Comrade Kayode Opeifa. Membership of the team is drawn from the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigerian Shippers Council.
Other members include a special unit of the Nigeria Police Force led by a Commissioner of Police, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), representatives of the Truck Transport Union, the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), and other relevant MDAs. The vice-president said at the meeting held on Tuesday, “We will extend the tenure of the taskforce by two weeks and we must all work together to be able to resolve all the issues raised here today.”
Speaking on steps to be taken to find lasting solutions to the problem, Prof. Osinbajo added that “it will take both medium and long term solutions to ultimately enable us present to the users an efficient port environment for the economy and businesses to thrive.”
He warned that “we will not allow any interests to undermine our nation’s economy”. The vice-president directed the NPA and other stakeholders to expedite action on the opening of additional truck parks and parking bays around Lagos as well as the commencement of the electronic call-up system at the Port.
In his presentation at the meeting, Opeifa, the Executive Vice Chairman of the taskforce, summarised the progress made so far by the team.
He said despite challenges experienced in the course of the assignment, it was able to record a significant compliance level of the presidential directive on the clearance of the Apapa gridlock. According to him, efforts are ongoing to open new parking bays for trucks around the port area and in other parts of Lagos, preparatory to the commencement of the electronic call-up system at the port– one of the measures proposed to ameliorate the hardship at the port area.
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Don’t Re-appoint Ngige, Fashola, Adamu, Adewole -Nigerians On Facebook, Twitter Urge Buhari
Nigerians have asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to include Chris Ngige, ex-minister of labour and employment as well as Adamu Adamu, ex-minister of education, in the list of ministers that would work with him in his second term in office.
Following the dissolving of the cabinet by President Buhari on the midnight of May 29, 2019, SaharaReporters conducted an online poll asking Nigerians to pick who they did not want President Buhari to be reappointed based on their performances.
The poll had the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Minister of Labour and Employment, Ngige; Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole; and Adamu.
23,357 Nigerians participated in the poll with 40% of votes going to Ngige, while Adamu came next in the line for firing with 24%.
Fashola, whom many Nigerian had tipped to perform exceptionally as a minister, received fewer votes with 21% and Adewole got 15% of the votes.
Giving reasons for their votes, some Nigerians said the aforementioned ministers were not competent enough and could not surpass the citizens’ expectations.
Many, however, said all the ministers should be dropped, urging Buhari to look for fresh minds and hands.
One of the commenters on the poll, @Oseni Fatai Oludare, said, “Minister for health, I’ve never felt his or her impact in a Nigerian government hospital or is it d negligence of d federal government on our health, very poor 0% tolerance.”
Another commenter,@Rasaq T. Zubair, claimed: “Ngige has outlived his usefulness. And the fella with the red beret must be rescued from further embarrassing himself.”
But@Lucas Xavier stated: “How is everyone not voting the unprofessional and uncouth health minister nor are we playing politics with incompetence.”
“They all contributed to the failure of this government… They should all drop themselves from the top to bottom. Nigeria is in dire need of a brand new government…,” asserted@Austeen Ojie.
@Friday Omobude wealth, however, pointed out: “All these ones are not ministers, they’re kleptomanias. Besides, where is AMACHI (Amaechi) in this list? Ministers are supposed to be specialists and technocrats, not polithiefians.”
A fuming @KennethErhabor said, “Every single one of them should be dropped! Starting with the minister of darkness!”
@Omarbappah was even angrier that “Ngige, and Adamu Adamu kept me at home for more than 3 months of ASUU strike.”
Meanwhile, on Facebook, the same poll pitched Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed and Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola.
Of the 21,900 votes cast, Mohammed received 78 percent (17,100) while Fashola had 22% (4,800 votes).
Giving reasons for their votes, a Facebook user,@Balarabe Abdullahi, wrote: “I have chosen Lai simply due to his immense contributions that he gives on how to teach our children (younger generation) the easiest ways to spread lies in the society.”
“Nigerians suffers worst power outage throughout 4 years of APC rule under the watch of Hon. Minister of power Babatunde Fashola who have been providing PHCN with all forms of shelters and protections from being prosecuted by PMB,”@Aminnew pointed out.
“We pray and hope that God will expose and humiliate PHCN with all their affiliates in this political dispensation known as NEXT LEVEL.”
Another Facebook user, Mhizta Francis Chukwuneme, said: “Lai should be dropped immediately that man doesn’t know how to talk…I think Fashola needs time, even though we haven’t seen his work but I believe he isn’t sleeping.”
Itodo Itodo claimed: “Lie Mohammed… That man is just disgracing us that are bearing Mohammed anyhow.”
Liye Anthony Dallah: “Fashola is a complete failure, the electricity situation in Nigeria today is much worse than when he came onboard. I don’t even want to talk about his other two portfolios. No be by English and grand standings. Oh… By the way, what business has a lawyer with power? This is the second time that a SAN was made Minister of Power, the first one (Bola Ige) was killed by power, the second one (Fashola), killed power.”
“Let Fashola go. If the provision of housing and power is his mandate, then he has failed woefully. I have little or no business with Liar Moh’d. I don’t need his information. To me, that Ministry should be scrapped, the presidential media aides are taking care of that,” said Yakubu Musa.
@Smart Olufemi said: “All of them! They haven’t demonstrated an atom of competence.”
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