The Nigerian Police has declared Akaninyene Jimbo Uko, nicknamed Isoakpaefit, wanted.
A statement by the Police spokesman in Akwa Ibom, Bala Elkana says Mr. Uko is wanted “in connection with series of kidnapping cases in Akwa Ibom State.
“The command is appealing to members of the public with useful information as to his where about to kindly contact the nearest police station or call the following numbers 08020913810, 08039213071, 08028916010,08026418716,” says the statement.
By Joseph Edegbo , Kaduna (Nigeria) — Leading pan African cement manufacturer, the Dangote Cement has maintained its strong hold in the Nigeria domestic cement market accounting for 65 percent of the country’s market volume. The Cement company has in the past months expanded its operations across Africa with the coming on stream of the 1.5 mta integrated cement plant in Mfila, Republic of Congo even as an acting chief executive officer has been appointed for the company. According to the unaudited results for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the plant which began operations last month has almost doubled the size of the cement sector in the country. The Congo plant brings to 10 the number of Dangote Cement plants across Africa. Analysis of the results indicated that the company recorded strong volumes in Senegal, Ethiopia and Cameroon. In the nine months under review, the 1.5 mta clinker grinding facility in Douala, Cameroon sold approximately 938 kt of cement, indicating an increase of 16.4 percent on the 806 kt sold during the same period in 2016. The company attributes the increase in sales to a number of factors ranging from strong brand recognition, increased point of sales branding, improvements in sales and marketing strategies to higher visibility through trade shows. Dangote Cement Ethiopia increased sales by 16.8 percent to nearly 1.7 mta in the first nine months of 2017 representing capacity utilization of approximately 88 percent. The cement plant in Pout, Senegal sold 1.0 mta of cement in the period under review, up by 21.7 percent on the comparable period of 2016. This represents almost 89 percent capacity utilization at the factory. Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Cement, Onne van der Weijde, speaking on the results said, “Our Pan-African operations are performing strongly with excellent sales growth in Cameroon, Ethiopia and Senegal. We are consolidating our success across Africa and have just commissioned our 1.5Mta factory in Congo, the tenth country in which we have established operations.” “In our key operations in Nigeria we have significantly improved our fuel mix and this has helped increase margins across the Group. It is especially good for Nigeria because most of the coal we are using is mined in our own country”. The Board of the cement company also announced changes in the leadership of the company with Mr. Onne Van der Weijde, stepping down as the company’s CEO at the end of 2017 having completed three years in this position, in order to return to his home country, The Netherlands. He will be appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Dangote Cement PLC, with effect from 1st January 2018. The Board expressed appreciation to Mr. Onne for his contribution during his period as CEO in the last three years, in which he managed an important growth phase in the company’s development. Engr. Joseph Makoju, Honorary Adviser to the Chairman and former MD of WAPCO/Lafarge, will be acting MD/CEO of Dangote Cement PLC. |
By Peter Usman
Abuja (Nigeria) — Chairman of Paradise Production Limited, Ambassador Israel Chukwuma Edward, has called on Nigeria to create the enabling environment that would woo investors into the country. This according to him will also encourage small and medium scale industries to strive towards boosting the economy of Nigeria.
Mr. Edward made the call at the 7th Nigeria International Trade Fair in Abuja, the national’s capital, with a theme: “Promoting made in Nigeria goods and others.
He noted that what develop the economy of any country is not government, but Small and Medium Scale industries coupled with foreign investors that come to invest in that country.
READ ALSO: Secret Of Nigeria’s Development Hinges On Empowerment Of Women – Female Politicians
“If government can create enabling environment, foreign investors, business men and tourists will come in to invest and also buy our goods and services, thereby bringing in foreign exchange into the country. With these two entities – local entrepreneurs and foreign investors, there will be abundant food, services and money in the country.
“And for these local and foreign investments to strive in any economy depend on government policies. If there is harsh economic policy, it drives away entrepreneurs from the economy. For example, if there are no infrastructures, investment will go into extinction,” he said.
As a way of making it easy for people to go into business and as well establish industries in the country, Edward advised that interest rate charged for lending money should be pegged between zero to five {0 -5%} percent, stressing that if lending policy is high and the requirements are too hard, they will be discouraged.
“This will lead to downsizing and retrenchment of workers from various establishments, both in private and public sectors. Entrepreneurs should be evolve stringent measures to dissuade importers from importing these things which are produced locally.
“These large influxes of foreign materials push out locally produced materials out of market, because they are cheap and are as well competing with our own products” he said.
By Peter Usman
Abuja (Nigeria) In view of the present economic hardship in the country, the Association of Contributory Pensioners has called for a review of pensions of its members like any other category of pensioner.
President of the association, Uche Chukwu Ekpo, who made the call at a press conference in Abuja, the nation’s capital, said it was heart burgling as pension of their members has not been reviewed since retirement.
Ekpo lamented that the situation of contributory pensioners in the country was pathetic considering the fact that nobody comes to their rescue.
He stated that constant and periodic review of their pension will enable them to overcome some economic challenges they have been facing.
Ekpo explained that the association was borne out of necessity looking at the plights of pensioners in this category, hence the need for government to come to their rescue .
“Association of Contributory Pensioners was borne out of necessity on the 27th of November, 2012 when a group of concerned pensioners in Abuja came together to deliberate on issues bordering payment of their pension, benefits due for them from time to time and irregularities discovered in the process of payment”
“The association has been registered with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), this making it a legal entity with over 3000 members across the country and we are expecting more members”
Ekpo also called on the media to come to their aid by exposing injustice going on in the system saying that media will help draw the attention of the government to implement the new policy they have been agitating for.
“When I retired some years ago, I was able to buy a bag of rice, but now, I couldn’t because the prices of rice and other commodities have gone up and yet my pension has not been reviewed. We want review of pension periodically as well as when workers salary is being amended upward”
The association also demanded that government should include its members in the National Health Insurance Services, NHIS, adding that government ought to create a way for the pensioners to borrow money to meet urgent needs.
Meanwhile a Symposium to discuss issues affecting the members of the association holds on Monday, 23rdof October, 2017 in Abuja.
By Joseph Edegbo
Kaduna ( Nigeria) — General Overseer and founder of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, has said that he has zero doubt about the integrity and person of Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the House of Representatives.
A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the Speaker, Turaki Hassan, quotes the Bishop when he hosted Dogara and some members of the House of Representatives in Canaan Land, Ota, Ogun State,.
Bishop Oyedepo described Dogara as a true follower of God.
“I have zero doubt about his integrity, I will stand with him anywhere. The testimony of his front-line role in the Christian youth Corper’s Fellowship in Akwa Ibom is there in the record today. In spite of the attack on his health, he still went back to complete his mission there. It’s not just about religion, it’s about the fear of God and the love for humanity.”
“The Honourable Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dogara is a follower of this Commission. And no wonder he’s manifesting the Grace of this Commission. How could someone do away with his six months of salary? If he told me I would tell him don’t do it. But he would do what his father does, and so he must see what his father sees. Your lifting has just started, your promotion has just begun. He has remained consistent in his walk with God.”
READ ALSO: Flooding: Nigeria To pass Climate Change Commission Bill — Speaker Dogara
Bishop Oyedepo admonished Nigerians to have faith in the country as according to him, “Nigeria is coming out” and prayed that “Every wish of the devil against Nigeria will not flourish. Nigeria will prosper again. And the kind of things we are hearing today are the only way out, let us sit down together and solve our problems. The whole world is watching, Syria is dead, no nation will come and take responsibility for you, we must wake up and take responsibility.”
Oyedepo revealed that his driving motivation is that it doesn’t have to be white, to be right because “the brain of man is the same world-over, same content, same weight, same color. There’s no white brain and black brain, same color, what’s the problem? With adequate engagement of this resource, we can solve our problems.”
Speaking earlier, Mr. Dogara, revealed that he committed his six months salaries to the project of building Covenant University and how God’s grace and favour has been upon him since then.
He showered encomiums on the man of God whom he said has been source of inspiration to him saying, “You have never ceased to inspire people like us and to inspire our generation. We pray that God will continue to increase and enlarge your coast. We pray God gives you uncommon and unparalleled wisdom. So that we can rescue not just Nigeria, but the black race. I see this as one of the arms of your investment that will achieve this in our life time. “
Members who accompanied the Speaker to Canaan Land include Aminu Jaji (Zamfara), Golu Timothy (Plateau), E. J. Agbonayinma (Edo), Jonathan Gaza (Nasarawa), Kayode Oladele (Ogun), Akinlade Olajide (Ogun), and Jimoh Olusola Ojugbele (Ogun)
By Destiny Ugorji
When controversial Lagos lawyer, Emeka Ephraim Ugwuonye, in a Facebook post on his group, The Due Process Advocates on September 18 2018, announced that he will not come back to Nigeria for any reason, not many took him seriously, considering the fact that he has myriads of cases (as defendant) pending in different courts in Nigeria.
A subsequent post on the day of the last adjourned date of the Ten Billion Naira (N10b) suit (21st September, 2017) instituted against him by husband of missing Abuja business woman, Charity Aiyedogbon, David Aiyedogbon, Mr. Ugwuonye said:
“Today, the case of David Aiyedogbon against me will come up in Abuja, where David had sued me for allegedly defaming him……Unfortunately, I will not be in Court in Abuja because I am still in the United States, seriously indisposed.”
In the same post, Ugwuonye alluded: “I am particularly disturbed that several women who had initially posed as Chacha’s friends have today abandoned her.”
This leaves one with the question of how Ugwuonye actually got involved in the matter. Some friends of Chacha whom he claimed consulted him on the matter all denied him. They are said to be at war with him presently. One of them, Pamela Nwansoh allegedly confronted him in a Police premises in Abuja over an obvious sense of disenchantment with his activities, alleging extortion of members of the public (in the name of looking for Chacha) using his Facebook Group, the Due Process Advocates (DPA). Ugwuonye had, via a post on the group, solicited financial contributions for his trip to Abuja to respond to Police invitation to explain himself over the case of the missing Chacha.
One of the ladies said to be involved in the search for Chacha, Viola Ifeyinwa Okolie, on the 14th of July, 2016, also made a worrisome post on her Facebook wall, expressing disenchantment with Mr. Ugwuonye’s antics.
As at today, Ugwuonye has neither responded to the issue of how he got involved in Chacha’s matter; nor rendered an account of the several millions of Naira contributed by concerned citizens in support of the search for Chacha. By the way, what really has he done and what exact steps has he taken to boost the search for the missing woman.
He earlier claimed to have been in the United States of America as at the time of Chacha’s disappearance and only came into Nigeria in June, 2016, after being briefed to handle the matter, but his call log betrayed him, showing that he was in Abuja on the 10th, 11th and 12th of May, 2016; same time Chacha is said to have got missing. Information from private investigators and telecommunication service providers revealed that he also made calls around Jabi area of Abuja, up till midnight same 10th and 11th and departed Abuja on the 12th of May, 2016. When confronted by the Police in Abuja with evidence of his movement, he owned up.
Key suspects earlier arrested by the Police in connection with Chacha’s disappearance were said to have been released at his instance. He claimed at the FCT Police Hqrs that they were his clients; but when brought face to face with Mr. Ugwuonye, they denied all his claims, saying they neither briefed nor identified any corpse to him as that of Chacha, as he earlier claimed.
As at the time of this report, Police sources reveal that Mr. Ugwuonye has not provided any evidence to substantiate his claims. The only person he claims showed and identified a corpse as that of missing Chacha (Jo) denied him.
Chacha’s car has been recovered. Two of her handsets have also been recovered and arrests made. Following several pointers to his possible complicity in the matter, Ugwuonye has been questioned more than thrice by the Police in Chacha’s case?
The first puzzle was solved, with the admission by one of Chacha’s lawyers, Nsikak Udo that Chacha’s signature was forged. He admitted that he lied on oath and his fate shall be determined by the laws of the land soon. Udo says he did not see Chacha, contrary to his earlier claim. He confessed to the Police that he forged Charity’s signature in an affidavit he filed in court. Apparently, Charity was not behind the filing of the suit, but her lawyer, Nsikak Udoh.
In one of those his posts, Ugwuonye claimed that “part of the protracted legal fight between Chacha and David was a fight over a real estate property in England, which was bought in Chacha’s company name, but which David was claiming as his. The conflict between the two led them to hire lawyers respectively in London and the matter was never resolved as of the date of Chacha’s disappearance.”
Investigations revealed that the claim is not only a misrepresentation of facts, but born out of mischief. Independent investigations revealed that there has never been any court case between Charity Aiyedogbon and her ex-husband, David Aiyedogbon in the United Kingdom. Even here in Nigeria, there was no pending court case between Charity Aiyedogbon and her ex-husband, David Aiyedogbon as at the time of her disappearance. The case that was filed at Lokoja was instituted by one of her lawyers, Mr. Udo, wherein he allegedly forged her (Chacha’s) signature. Police sources say he has already confessed to the offence in writing at the Police Headquarters in Abuja. The matter has already been decided in favour of David Aiyedogbon.
Chacha had left the husband’s house about two years before her disappearance and all efforts to bring her back to her matrimonial home failed, including those initiated by the Church and the both families. Available statistics suggest that there is no divorce petition pending anywhere instituted by Chacha, as claimed by Mr. Ugwuonye.
The bottom line is that there was no time Ugwuonye said he suspected David Aiyedogbon, as he is now claiming, but he was emphatic that he has evidence that he (David Aiyedogbon) murdered his wife. His posts on Facebook say it all:
“I now have overwhelming evidence that Mr. David Aiyedogbon killed his wife, Chacha. David has an idea of the kind of evidence at my disposal.”
In another post, Ugwuonye is quoted as saying: “this is the headless and dismembered body of Charity Aiyedogbon (posting a corpse on his DPA Facebook page). DPA has been able to identify this as her body within the limits of resources at our disposal.”
Continuing, on the 28th of June, 2016, he is quoted as posting: “I will describe David as a low-life and cold-blooded murderer of his own wife. The only reason I would not go further to describe David in the most despicable language that he rightly deserves is that I would rather focus my argument on points that would lead to justice for Chacha.”
In an earlier reaction to Ugwuonye’s allegation, Mr. Aiyedogbon washed his hands over the disappearance of the woman and wrote his accuser, through his lawyers, demanding an apology, failure which he would institute a suit against him for defamation of character.
The letter dated 21st June 2016, titled: “Defamation of the character of David Aiyedogbon; demand for apology,” signed by his lawyer, Obiora Ilo and made available to newsmen, expressly states: “It is our instruction to demand an unqualified apology from you to our client through our chambers for the defamatory publications you have made of and concerning our client.”
Aiyedogbon went a step further by writing a reminder to him, reiterating the issues raised in the earlier letter. The second letter dated 12th July, 2017, signed by Chinenye Ofoegbu, of Ogbulafor chambers and made available to newsmen, expressed his readiness to drag him to Court, in an event that he failed to apologize and issue a retraction.
Following his recalcitrance, David Aiyedogbon approached the Court to seek redress. He is asking for Ten Billion Naira from Ugwuonye, as damages for defaming him.
In addition to the Ten Billion Naira damages, the Suit, with number CV/2750/16, between David Aiyedogbon (Plaintiff) and Emeka Ugwuonye (Defendant) on defamation of character, before Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court 14, Apo, Abuja; also prays that the defendant be ordered to pay for the cost of the litigation.
The Plaintiff is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction “restraining the Defendant, his Agents, Privies, Associates or whosoever called” from making further defamatory publications against him and his family members. It is instructive to note that as at today, Ugwuonye is yet to produce any evidence to substantiate his allegations against Mr. Aiyedogbon.
Sources close to Mr. Aiyedogbon’s lawyer, Tony Ogbulafor say he may have also filed a personal suit against Mr. Ugwuonye for wrongly accusing him of giving a bribe (in an envelope) to a Police man to detain him, at the peak of Police investigations.
Meanwhile, following Ugwuonye’s evasive nature, the presiding Judge, Justice Kekemeke, on the 5th of October, 2017, made an Order for substituted service on him, since his last known address in Lagos has been under lock and key, while an earlier Order by the Court for him to provide an address for service within Abuja is yet to be complied with.
But, where is Emeka Ugwuonye? As the matter comes up for hearing on the 25th of October, 2017, one expects him to appear and prove to the court that David Aiyedogbon murdered his wife. It is time to present his “overwhelming evidence” against Mr. Aiyedogbon before the Court. His refusal to appear in Court on the next adjourned date (25th October, 2017) will be a confirmation that indeed, he is on exile. But for how long will he run? In my next piece, I will analyse the possible implications of his exile on the matter.
But, as a lawyer of over twenty-five years (as he always claims), Ugwuonye knows that he that asserts must prove. Is exile an option for him? Time shall tell.
By Ibrahim Yakubu ,
Kaduna (Nigeria) — Inhabitants, especially women of a seemingly forgotten community in Kaduna, north west Nigeria have cried – out for help, as they cover over 20 kilometers distance before getting access to medical facilities.
Cikaji-Ruhoki is the village with a population of over 700 and situated behind Kukkumake town in Igabi local government area, in the outskirt of Kaduna, the state capital.
It is a village where pregnant women and other residents including elderly persons and children usually use Tipper truck and motor-cycles while others Trek far distance to attend ante-natal and other medical services.
Majority of the inhabitants are Gbagyi by tribe ,and most of them are local farmers, Traders, while the women are into other business activities including selling of firewood.
Mrs Talatu Bamaiyi is one of the women interviewed by a Kaduna based journalist who paid a visit to the area.
Talatu expressed sadness over the increasing daily challenges confronting most of them living In the village due to lack of medical facility in the entire community.
She said most of them usually have high blood pressure as a result of the suffering they are passing through especially, pregnant women before reaching hospital to deliver their babies
“Pregnancy suppose to be a thing of joy for every women across the world, but due to fear of lack of hospital and distance barriers, many women among us are so afraid of getting pregnant in the village because of the sufferings they usually passed through, some even died in the process.”
“we need hospital in this village to save our rural women from the stressed and the sufferings they are passing through, and to reduce the rate of maternal mortality ”
Talatu said there are many pregnant women who died as a result of the suffering they usually experience while moving from the village to Kawo hospital,which is relatively far away from the local community,adding that they spend huge amount of money every time they travel to Kawo general hospital.
The distance from Unguwan cikaji-Ruhoki to Kawo Hospital, she said, is about 25 kilometers before getting to the hospital,
Talatu added “ every pregnant woman that wants to go for any medical check-up or anti-natal service , has to climb Tipper Trucks that are used for loading sand that is meant for building construction. This is because that is the only means of transportation in the village,as small cars cannot pass-by easily”
She further stated that, due to the bad nature of the road and affecting farming activities in the area ,most farmers find it extremely difficult in transporting their farm produce to Kaduna market.
”From our village to Kawo hospital ,its truly a very long distance for any pregnant woman ,and as such this problem usually put us in a pathetic situation, which usually lead to the deaths of some women, while others ended up in having miscarriage” she said.
According to Talatu, the village has been in existence for over 200 years and they have been living in peace and harmony with neighboring villages of other tribes
“Due to lack of electricity in the village, no one is informed about the happenings in and around them or current affairs in the country, not to talk of social media; we don’t have anything”.
Mr Solomon David is also another resident of the village, He also narrates the sufferings most pregnant women and elderly persons in the village face due to lack of hospital or clinic in the area.
READ ALSO: Nigeria: Ruling All Progressives Congress Waves 50% Cost Of Nomination Forms For Female Contestants
Solomon said,”We cannot estimate the number of women that have died as a result of lack of hospital in the villages. “lack of hospital is the greatest challenge everyone in the village is facing,can’t you see the nature of the road,it is only Tipper truck and motorcycles that pass here every day, it’s a pity seeing our pregnant women climbing Tipper Truck to go to hospital,
Solomon appealed to the Kaduna state government to establish primary health care centres in villages ,so as to reduce the large numbers of women that usually die while trying to go to hospital for delivery
Another resident Musa Dauda told the journalist that apart from lack of hospital , the people residing in the area, are also facing problems of lack of school and other basic amenities .
Mr Musa said politicians do usually come to the village during campaigns promising them many thing, but hardly they come back after winning the election\
He added that, “Nigerian politicians use to come to see us with their candidates for campaign in big cars , come to our community and make promises to improve our lives, but hardly see them returned once they are elected into the offices”.
According to Musa , this is the first time they are seeing a journalist in this village adding that they are really grateful for the visit,
He then appealed to the Kaduna state government ,Non-governmental organizations ,Civil society organizations and development partners to come to their aid.
