Buhari lacks vision, capacity to develop Nigeria –Saraki

Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, says that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, lacks the vision, capacity and the patience to develop the country.

Saraki made the comment on Thursday when he led his Presidential campaign team on a courtesy visit to Governor Seriake Dickson at Government House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The Senate President asked Nigerians to replace the current leadership provided by the APC, saying that the party had caused disunity in the country.

Saraki stressed that the country was in dire need of a leader like him with a demonstrable capacity to unite the deeply divided country and create a sense of belonging through fair distribution of appointments in the country.

He argued that it was indeed impossible for anybody to give what he doesn’t have as shown by the inadequacies of the current APC leaders.

He further said that the country was in need of a young vibrant leader with the capacity to withstand the rigours of governance at all times.

He said that running governance must be accompanied with the inseparable willingness and capacity to give all-round attention to the demands of the job.

The Senate President, who also spoke on the raging debate on restructuring, stated that it would be wrong to perceive restructuring as a move to develop a few states.

Saraki said that restructuring would create opportunities for the respective states of the federation to actualise their developmental potential and ensure national growth in the interest of the future generation of Nigerians.

He stated, “2019 is a very crucial election for this country; we are at the crossroads as we have never been so disunited as we are today.

“Wherever you go, people ask questions: where do you belong? We need to address the issue of unity in this country; it is time for everybody to have a seat on the table, a time for everyone to have a sense of belonging in this country. It is not about me.

“There is a new order in the world today, wherever we go, we see leaders that have a vision, that are ready to develop their countries. A lot of us talked about the Asian tigers, but they did not come by chance, or trial and error, they became tigers because they have visionary leaders.

“They are leaders that are ready to defend their countries, that have an idea of what they want to do.  As I keep on saying, you cannot give what you don’t have.

“Where we are now, we have a leadership that has no vision for us. We must bring visionary leadership to the presidential level so we can move this country forward.”

In his remarks, Governor Dickson said that the time had come for the country to move away from the evil of bigotry and indeed a leadership founded on feelings of sectional superiority.

Punch 

One killed as police, cult members clash in Lagos

   Deji Lambo

One person has been killed after operatives of the Lagos State Police Command clashed with some suspected cult members in the Owode area of Lagos State on Wednesday.

The operatives had reportedly received a report that the hoodlums allegedly stabbed a rival cult member, Sylvester Chikwendu, to death in the Alapera area of the state.

The policemen were said to have ambushed the suspects at Thomas bus stop, Owode.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, in a statement on Thursday, said in a bid to evade arrest, the cult members opened fire on the police team, adding that the operatives fired back.

A member of the group was said to have been hit by a bullet and died on the spot.

Oti noted that other members of the gang fled with bullet wounds, adding that their operational vehicle and ammunition were recovered from the scene.

He said, “The onslaught against the twin evil of armed robbery and cultism in the state ended on a high note on Tuesday, September 19, 2018, around 8:30pm, when operatives of the Lagos State Police Command not only intercepted a rampaging criminal gang, but killed one of them during a gun battle.

“A tip-off from a well meaning citizen to the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Owode Onirin, Ikorodu, Lagos, changed the game for the terror gang, who had around 6.40pm on the same day at Demuren Street, Alapere, stabbed one Sylvester Chikwendu, 32, suspected to be a rival cult member, to death.

“Sequel to the information, the DPO mobilised a crack team to Thomas bus stop, Owode. He told his men to narrow the road and gave them a clear description of the gang’s operational vehicle.

“When the gang approached the police zone, they became desperate and opened fire on the operatives in their last ditched effort to evade arrest, eliciting immediate response from the team

“However, in the ensuing gun battle, one of them was fatally wounded, while the others escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds. They abandoned the following items at the scene; their operational vehicle, a Toyota Camry saloon, one pump-action rifle, one locally-made revolver pistol, one locally-made single-barrelled pistol, five live 9mm calibre ammunition, three live cartridges, two expended cartridges, two cutlasses, charms and assorted clothing.”

Oti said the command’s swift response to the crime was a signal that the state was unrelenting in its quest to combat criminal activities in the state.

He said, “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Edgal Imohimi, said the quick resolution of a crime that started at Alapere should signal to criminal elements that security in place in the state is virtually impregnable.

“He added that now that the ember months had come, police personnel serving in the state are under firm instruction to decisively subdue perpetrators of violent crimes.

Punch 

Catholic priest dies four days after escaping kidnappers’ den

Theophilus Onojeghen, Warri

The Chaplain of the Seat of Wisdom Catholic Chaplaincy of the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, Delta State, Very Rev. Fr. Dr Louis Odudu, who recently escaped from a kidnappers’ den, is dead.

Odudu died on Wednesday, four days after he escaped from his abductors’ den.

Sources in the Catholic Diocese of Warri told PUNCH Metro that the priest was abducted last week Friday and he escaped on Saturday.

Although the immediate cause of death could not be ascertained by our correspondent, it was gathered that the incident was not unconnected with his abduction.

Family, friends and parishioners were still celebrating his freedom when the news of his death filtered into town on Wednesday.

He was said to have been pronounced dead at a private hospital in Warri, hours after he reportedly complained of pains and demanded to be taken to a hospital.

Odudu, who was ordained priest of the Catholic Diocese of Warri in 1987, had reportedly been in the United Kingdom for years.

He was said to have returned to the country about five months ago when he was abducted.

The deceased was a former Assistant Secretary-General at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria.

The news of the death reportedly threw the Catholic community in Delta into mourning, as worshippers discussed the incident in clusters after mass on Thursday.

A source said, “He was just assigned to the chaplaincy at PTI about two months before his kidnap and untimely death.

“It was a black Wednesday for the Diocese of Warri as Very Rev. Fr. Louis Odudu died on the day the diocese was holding a prayer vigil for one of the deceased priests, Very Rev. Fr. Stephen Ekakabor, who died early this month after battling with a brain injury he sustained when he was attacked by armed robbers. The robbers invaded the priest’s rectory in 2017 at his parish of St. Joseph, Okpare-Olomu, in the Ughelli South Local Government Area.”

The Director of Social Communications, Catholic Diocese of Warri, Rev. Fr. Dr Benedict Ukutegbe, confirmed the demise of the priest.

Ukutegbe, who declined to speak on the cause of death, also confirmed that he had just been released by kidnappers.

Catholic priests in the state have been under attack by some hoodlums in recent times, as no fewer than five priests had been abducted in 2018 alone.

“I’ll dance to the Government House” after Saturday’s Election – Senator Adeleke

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)‘s candidate for the September 22 Osun governorship election Senator Ademola Adeleke, has said that he’ll be victorious at the polls and will dance to the government house.

According to Punch, Adeleke, nicknamed “dancing senator” made this known at an interactive session organised by the Oduduwa Youth Development Initiative in Osogbo on Wednesday.

Adeleke had been marred with an examination malpractice scandal, causing the police to declare him wanted on Wednesday. President Buhari later reportedly ordered the police not to invite him until after the polls on Saturday.

“I will dance to the Government House after winning Osun governorship election on Saturday.

“I have been tagged dancing Senator, but this shouldn’t be used against me because everybody dances. Have you seen someone who doesn’t dance? I am winning this election and I will dance to the Government House after that.

“When I was in the university overseas, I used to go for dancing competition. Although, I am a Nigerian, I still won dancing competitions which is the reason why I was nicknamed ‘Jackson,’ but my real name is Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke,” Adeleke said.

Adeleke, who criticised the educational policy of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration, said the unpaid salaries and school merger were some of the reasons for the poor performance of pupils of the state in public examinations.

Criticising incumbent governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration, Adeleke said:

“Anybody who fails to pay his or her labourers is wicked and I can boldly say that the APC government is wicked for not paying its workers and pensioners in the state.

“The menace of non-payment of salary is responsible for the 29th position of this state in the ranking of WAEC; but when I get to power, I will turn it around by ensuring that the welfare of every worker in the state is catered for.

” insensitivity of the All Progressives Congress government is responsible for the state where LAUTECH is today and it is evidently clear to the masses that the PDP government takes education as a priority.”

A statement by the director general of Adeleke’s campaign organisation Lere Oyewumi also condemned the police invitation on the examination malpractice scandal.

He said the certificate issue had been tried and judgement given by an Osun State High Court presided over by Justice David Oladimeji.

He added that there’s an ongoing court case in Abuja on the same issue.

BREAKING: Amaju Pinnick wins NFF election

Olaide Oyelude, Katsina

Amaju Pinnick was on Thursday afternoon, reelected the Chairman of Nigeria Football Federation.

Pinnick polled 34 votes to beat three other contestants to retain his seat.

Alhaji Aminu Magari got eight votes; Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi got two votes while Honourable Chinedu Okoye did not have any vote.
In all, 44 delegates from states football federation and other bodies including coaches, referees associations and players unions, participated in the election which took place in Katsina State.

The chairman of the Electoral committee for the election, Muhammed Katu announced the results.

FIFA representatives, Luca Piazza and Solomon Mudege were among football chiefs who witnessed the election.

Elections into the offices of first Vice President, Chairman of Chairmen and other members of the NFF board were still in progress as of the time of filing this report.

See NFF tweet:.@PinnickAmaju re-elected NFF President. He scored a total of 34 votes, Maigari 8 votes, Ogunjobi 2 votes, and Okoye 0 votes.#NFFElections #NFFElections2018pic.twitter.com/8mUwc7nO77

— The NFF 🇳🇬 (@thenff) September 20, 2018

Punch

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULT & UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE

MATCH DAY 1

Wednesday 19th Sept 2018

5:55 pm - Ajax 3 VS AEK Athens 0

5:55 pm - FC Shakhtar Donetsk 2 VS Hoffenheim 2

8:00 pm - Benfica Lisbon 0 VS Bayern Munich 2

8:00 pm - Manchester City 1 VS Lyon 2

8:00 pm - FC Viktoria Plzen 2 VS CSKA Moscow 2

8:00 pm - Real Madrid 3 VS Roma 0

8:00 pm - Valencia 0 VS Juventus 2

8:00 pm - BSC Young Boys 0 VS Manchester Utd 3



UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE

FIXTURES

MATCH DAY 1

Thursday 20th Sept 2018

5:55 pm - PAOK VS Chelsea

5:55 pm - Vidi FC VS FC BATE Borisov

5:55 pm - Villarreal VS Rangers

5:55 pm - SK Rapid Vienna VS FC Spartak Moscow

5:55 pm - Marseille VS Eintracht Frankfurt

5:55 pm - Lazio VS Apollon Limassol FC

5:55 pm - Stade Rennes VS FK Jablonec

5:55 pm - FC Dynamo Kiev VS FC Astana

5:55 pm - Besiktas VS Sarpsborg

5:55 pm - KRC Genk VS Malmo FF

5:55 pm - Sevilla VS Standard Liege

5:55 pm - Akhisar Bld Spor VS FC Krasnodar

8:00 pm - AEK Larnaca FC VS FC Zurich

8:00 pm - Ludogorets  Razgrad VS Bayer Leverkusen

8:00 pm - RB Leipzig VS RB Salzburg

8:00 pm - Celtic VS Rosenborg BK

8:00 pm - FC Copenhagen VS FC Zenit St Petersburg

8:00 pm - SK Slavia Prague VS Bordeaux

8:00 pm - FC Spartak Trnava VS RSC Anderlecht

8:00 pm - GNK Dinamo Zagreb VS Fenerbahce

8:00 pm - Sporting Lisbon CP VS Qarabag FK

8:00 pm - Arsenal VS FC Vorskla Poltava

8:00 pm - F91 Dudelange VS AC Milan

8:00 pm - Olympiacos VS Real Betis

Alleged torture: Journalist seeks NUJ’s help to tackle LASPOTECH

Deji Lambo

A journalist, Folake Sokoya, has petitioned the Lagos council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists over alleged torture by security guards at the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu.

Sokoya, whose battle with the Lagos State’s owned institution had been in public space for a while, said she had been denied justice by appropriate government agencies.

She noted that the institution had manipulated the narrative in its favour, hence the need for the state NUJ to come to her aid.

The 40-year-old alleged that she and her son, Boluwatife Olowu, were manhandled by security guards at the school.

Olowu, a National Diploma student in the Hospitality Management Technology Department of the school, was reportedly seized by the guards for wearing earrings on the school’s premises.

He was said to have been brutalised before Sokoya showed up and challenged the guards for assaulting her son.

The freelance journalist said she was also beaten up, adding that she reported the case at the Sagamu Road Police Station.

Sokoya explained that her past experience from almost losing her son to kidnappers prompted her to visit the school when she was informed about the incident.

She said, “My son was abducted by some ritual killers on June 11, 2017; it took the grace of God to find him after four days. So, when he called to tell me that he had been arrested, I was scared. I quickly informed the police and the 174 battalion commandant before rushing out.

“I also called some of his classmates to know his whereabouts; one of them, Ajibola, told me that she saw him when the security guards were beating him up.

“I got back to the commandant and he told me to ask for the Chief Security Officer of the school. I saw my son seated on the floor when I got to the security unit. Immediately they knew I was there because of him, they refused to give me the CSO’s phone number, so I had to leave with my son. We were about three blocks away before my son identified two security officers and showed me the one who beat him up. I was surprised when they accosted him again and wanted to take him back to the unit.

“I challenged them as a mother and they pushed me out of the way. I held one of them. The other guard tried to remove my hand and in the process his clothes got torn. The guard became annoyed and punched me on the face and head butted me until I passed out.

“They dragged me into their office and injured me. I was admitted to a hospital for about three weeks. The police told me that they could not arrest them because it was a school matter.

 “I want justice; I have spent a lot on medical bills. They stole my son’s gold chain; they also spoiled his phones.”

Punch 

Train kills motorcyclist, passengers at PWD in Lagos

A moving train on Wednesday killed a motorcyclist and his passenger at the PWD level crossing along Ikeja-Oshodi route of the railway line.
Mr Jerry Oche, the Lagos District Manager of Nigeria Railway Corporation, confirmed the incident to theNews Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday.
Oche said that the incident, which happened in the morning, involved an Ijoko-Apapa train at the level crossing where the motorcyclist refused to stop for the moving train.

“We have warned passersby, motorists and other road users to stay away from railway tracks.


“Railway track is a very dangerous place to toy with; everything involved is iron both the rail tracks and the train itself.
“I learnt that he was trying to outsmart the train before he was crushed by the moving train.

“It’s an unfortunate incident.
“We are appealing to people to learn from such incident and exercise patience at the railway level crossings across the state,” he said.

The district manager said that the remains of the victims had been deposited at the mortuary, while the police were working towards contacting the family of the victims.

(NAN)

BREAKING: FG Suspends Planned National Carrier, Nigeria Air

Channels Television  

The Federal Government has suspended the proposed new National Carrier, Nigeria Air.

The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Serika, made the announcement on Wednesday through his Twitter handle.

“I regret to announce that the Federal Executive Council has taken the tough decision to suspend the National Carrier Project in the interim.

“All commitments due will be honoured.

“We thank the public for the support as always”.

I regret to announce that the Federal Executive Council has taken the tough decision to suspend the National Carrier Project in the interim. All commitments due will be honoured. We thank the public for the support as always.🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬

— Hadi Sirika (@hadisirika) September 19, 2018

He, however, gave no reason for the decision.

 The Federal Government’s decision to suspend a new national carrier follows its unveiling two months ago.

During its unveiling on July 18, the minister said the national carrier will be private sector driven and not a “social service”.

According to him, the Federal Government will not own more than 5% (maximum) of the new National Carrier.

Serika explained that the airline will create economic and job opportunities.

“We want to use this new private-sector-led airline to make a statement that, ‘Yes, Nigeria can do it!’ and we also want to promote our cultures and traditions. It will also create economic opportunities and jobs.”

I will contest Lagos gov election –Jimi Agbaje

Jimi Agbaje

Mr Jimi Agbaje, the 2015 Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, on Wednesday ended speculations about his re-run bid, saying he was back in the race.

Agbaje made the confirmation via a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria  in Lagos.

“It is true that initially I did not want to re-contest, but I had so many people urging me to run.

“I bought and submitted my nomination form shortly before it closed. I will be part of the PDP Lagos governorship primaries, billed for Friday, September 28th, “ he said.

Agbaje said that he was confident he would win the elections in Lagos state, if he picked the PDP guber ticket to run.

On the upcoming primaries, Agbaje said he was confident that the leadership would create a level playing ground for all the aspirants, as has been the norm of the party.

“Our primaries have always been open, fair and free for all.

“This is what we are known for, and that is the way I expect it to be,” he said.

Agbaje, who also contested for the National Chairmanship of the PDP in 2017, won by Uche Secondus, said that the recent defections from the party in the state would not affect him if he picked the ticket.

“It is the people of Lagos State that will decide. The issues in the party will not impart negatively on votes.

“Most Nigerians now vote for individuals rather than party,” he said.

NAN reports that Agbaje, popularly known as JK, was born March 2, 1957 in Lagos State to late Chief Julius Kosebinu (Banker) and Mrs. Margaret Olabisi (teacher).

(NAN)

WAEC confirms Adeleke sat for 1981 exams, shows candidate had F9 in English

Ade Adesomoju, Abuja
The West African Examinations Council has confirmed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Bwari, Abuja that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the governorship election scheduled to hold on Saturday in Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, sat for its examination in 1981.

WAEC stated this in a court filing which it made in compliance with an order issued by Justice Othman Musa on September 11.

In the results attached to the documents filed by WAEC, Adeleke was listed as number 149 out of the 221 candidates that sat for the May/June 1981 examinations of the Council at Ede Muslim High School in Ede, Osun State.

The results showed that he sat for only English Language in which he had F9.
He did not sit for other registered subjects which included Mathematics,  Literature in English, Islamic Knowledge and Geography.


He also did not sit for Economics and Biology.

Justice had directed WAEC to produce Adeleke’s results in a ruling on an ex parte application by two plaintiffs, Mr. Wahab Raheem and Mr. Adam Habeeb.

Justice Musa had in the ruling specifically ordered the examination body to produce in court the ledger containing results of Ademola and his mates with whom he sat for the examinations.

He also ordered WAEC to swear to an affidavit either denying or confirming that Adeleke, an incumbent senator representing Osun West Senatorial District in the Senate, sat for the Council’s May/June 1981 examinations conducted by the Council at Ede Muslim High School in Ede, Osun State.


The court ordered that WAEC should file the ledger and the verifying affidavits within five days of being served with the enrolled order.

Punch

APC shift Primaries to September 25

The Presidential Primaries of the All Progressives Congress earlier scheduled for Thursday, 20th September will now take place on Tuesday, 25th September, the party has said.

A statement signed by the National Organizing Secretary, Emma Ibediro also announced the shift in date of all other primary elections from the earlier date, with the governorship primary now scheduled to take place four day after the presidential primary on 29th September.

Similarly, the senate and House of Representatives primary will now take place on 2nd and 3rd October, while the state houses of Assembly primary will now take place on 4th October.

The National Convention of the party to affirm the party’s Presidential candidate is expected to hold on 6th October as earlier scheduled.



No explanation was offered for the shift in date of the primaries, but The Nation can report that screening of aspirants was yet to begin as at the time of this report as no committee has been inaugurated to handle the screening.

Also, the party was yet to name Committee to conduct the primaries.

It was gathered that the National Working Committee of the party was working round the clock to avoid major crisis after the conduct of party primaries.

Most states of the Federation are sharply divided over the mode of primary to adopt for the conduct of party primaries with some stakeholders pushing for direct primaries, while others are insisting on the use of direct primaries.

The Nation

Farmer bags six months for stealing 13 crates of eggs

A 28-year-old farmer, Amisu Bello, is to serve six months in prison after a Magistrates’ Court in Minna, Niger, convicted him of stealing 13 crates of eggs.
Bello was docked alongside one Shefiu Yahaya on a two-count of theft and receiving stolen property, contrary to Sections 288 and 317 of the Penal Code Law.

The Police Prosecutor, Emmanuel Ogiri, had told the court that one Isa Azeez, the Manager of IK Farms, Gidan Mangoro, Minna, reported the matter at the Kpakungu Police Station on Sept. 17.

Ogiri said that Bello went to IK farm and stole 13 crates of eggs and when he was arrested, he confessed to having previously stolen 12 crates on five different occasions.

He also said that police investigation revealed that Bello was in the habit of selling the eggs to Yahaya, the second accused person.
When the charges were read to them, Bello pleaded guilty and begged the court for leniency while Yahaya pleaded not guilty.

In her ruling, the Magistrate, Ramatu Adamu, sentenced Bello to six months in prison with an option of a fine of N10, 000.
Adamu also ordered him to pay N17, 000 to the complainant as compensation.

He, however, discharged and acquitted Yahaya of any wrongdoing after establishing the fact that he bought the eggs at their market value without the knowledge that they were stolen.


(NAN)

Cultists allegedly kill final year medical student, nine others during graduation party

A final year medical student of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, simply identified as Dr Einstein, alongside nine others were allegedly killed by cultists on Tuesday.

It was reported that the deaths resulted from a fight between two men at the venue of the graduation party of the students at Judges quarters in Ekpoma.

However, as other people attempted to stop the fight, one of the men, said his clothes had been torn by the peacemakers and he promised to make them pay for it.


It was reported that he left and later returned with his friends. They were all allegedly armed with guns. The angry man searched for the man, he had been fighting with earlier and on sighting him, he and his friends shot him and those, who had tried to make peace between them.

According to reports, about 10 people were killed, including Dr. Einstein, a final year medical student who would have been graduating next week.

Other casualties include one Ose Abulu, his girlfriend and Jerry Omobude, who was an engineering student of the institution.

Punch

Police arrest suspected bank robber, arms keeper

Samson Folarin

The Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team has arrested a suspected bank robber, Olatunde Adetunji, in the Isolo area of Lagos State.

A trader, Bashirat Akinmushire, aka Area Mother, who allegedly kept weapons for Adetunji and his gang members, was also arrested by the police team.

Both Adetunji and Akinmushire were said to be members of the Eiye Confraternity.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the gang specialised in robbing bank customers in the Ikeja and Isolo areas.

The suspects were alleged to have recently attacked and dispossessed a woman on her way to depositing money in a bank at Opebi, Ikeja.

Adetunji was reportedly arrested a few days later when the woman allegedly sighted him on Toyin Street, Ikeja.

She was reported to have raised the alarm as operatives of the IRT, who raced to the scene, apprehended the 31-year-old.

The suspect, during interrogation by the police, allegedly confessed that members of his gang usually carried out robberies and cult killings in the Ikeja and Isolo areas.

Adetunji also allegedly said the guns they used during operations were kept with Akinmushire.

A police source told our correspondent that the suspect led detectives to a market on Jakande Low Cost Housing Estate, Isolo, where Akinmushire was arrested.

However, the trader reportedly claimed to have passed the weapons to another member of the gang, identified only as Junior, aka Jungle.

“When she was asked to take the operatives to Junior’s house so he could be arrested and the weapons recovered, she misled the policemen and took them to a wrong location, where she also attempted to escape.

“She ran into a ditch in the process and sustained serious injuries, which made the policemen to stop their search and take her to a hospital,” the source said.

The whereabouts of Junior had yet to be known.

Adetunji said his gang usually paid Akinmushire N5,000 to keep weapons for them.

He said, “I am a member of the Eiye Confraternity and I joined the cult while at a university in Ogun State. When I dropped out, I came back home to join members of my cult on Jakanda Estate and I discovered that they had already procured an AK-47 rifle and a revolver pistol.

“They told me that they bought the guns from a soldier and they usually kept them at Area Mama’s shop, who is also a member of our cult. She normally hides the guns at the back of her shop where she sells pepper and tomatoes.

“She covers the guns with baskets and sacks. We have used the guns for several operations and we used to give her N5,000 after every successful operation. But the main thing we do with the guns is to fight our opponents, who are rival cult members.”

Akinmushire, in her statement to the police, said the gang forced her to keep the weapons because she was a member of their.

The mother of three said she did not know what the gang did with the guns.

She said, “Sometime in February 2016, Olatunde (Adetunji), Junior, and their friend started brining oneGhana-must-go bag containing some items which I did not know the content, to my shop. They usually bring the bag for me to keep for them.

“Initially, I did not know the content, but I asked them what was in the bag and they told me. They said I should not disclose it to anybody. Each time they came to pick the bag, they gave me N5,000 or more. I asked them what they were using the guns for, but they said it was none of my business.

“I know Olatunde and his friend belong to Eiye cult. I also belong to the same cult. But the guns in question are with Junior and their gang members and the reason I did not inform the estate management or security agencies was that they threatened me that if any third party got to know, they would kill me. I have never gone with them for any operation; I only keep their guns for them.”

Policemen brutalise LASTMA officials, vandalise car over cop’s arrest

Samson Folarin

Pandemonium broke out in the Idiroko end of Ikorodu Road, Lagos State, on Tuesday after two policemen attached to a bank in the area reportedly unleashed terror on two officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority.

The traffic officers were allegedly beaten up for arresting a mobile policeman, who had reportedly violated the state traffic law.

PUNCH Metro learnt that trouble started when the mopol, who was in a KIA vehicle with number plate, GW 113 AAA, allegedly drove through the reserved Bus Rapid Transport lane.

He was reportedly blocked by the LASTMA officials, who were in a branded KIA, with number plate, RTN 198 LA.

The policeman’s car key was allegedly seized by the traffic officials, who insisted he would face the consequence of his action.

In the ensuing argument, the two policemen who came from a bank opposite the scene, allegedly beat up the officials, vandalised their vehicle and aided the escape of the cop.

A clip of the incident, which went viral on the social media on Tuesday, showed the moment the armed policemen kicked and punched one of the LASTMA officers.

A man, who identified himself only as Jerry, said the mopol caused a traffic jam on the BRT lane while resisting arrest.

He said, “The incident happened around 9.30am. The motorist wore a police shirt which had mopol on it. He was coming from Maryland en route to Anthony and took the BRT lane. He was blocked by a LASTMA vehicle at Idi iroko.

“The man refused to drive out of the lane after a LASTMA officer entered his car. Before we knew it, two other policemen crossed over from a First Bank branch opposite the scene. They beat up the LASTMA officials and demanded the key of the man’s car.

“When they did not get the key, they attacked every LASTMA officer in sight until they got the key. They broke the glass of the LASTMA KIA that was used to block the car with the butt of their guns.

“After they succeeded, they opened the LASTMA car and pushed it to the expressway. The mopol then escaped, while they ran back to their duty post.”

PUNCH Metro obtained another clip of the incident showing the mopol saying the officials “scattered” his car.

“If you arrest me, must you scatter my car? Why will you scatter my car?” he queried.

Our correspondent learnt that two hoodlums, who allegedly joined in aiding the escape of the policeman, were arrested and arraigned before a mobile court.

The men were reportedly remanded in prison.

The Public Affairs Officer of LASTMA, Mahmud Hassan, expressed disappointment in the conduct of the cops.

He said, “Our men were on their lawful duties on the Ikorodu Road, manning the BRT corridor, when the motorist was seen driving on the BRT lane.

“When accosted by our men, he said nobody could stop him from driving on the BRT lane. At that point, our men told him that he was not above the law. The motorist started making trouble with our men.

“When the policemen manning the bank opposite the scene of the incident saw him, they crossed the road and in a bid to free the man from the hands of the law, they descended on our men. They beat up our men black and blue, tore their uniforms and damaged our vehicle. They chased our men away and used force to take the vehicle from the BRT lane. The injured officers are receiving treatment as I speak.

“We are disappointed that men trained to enforce the law of the state are the ones circumventing the law and turning around to beat those they should be supporting. It is a low point for those involved. I don’t know how they would be proud of their action. They should look at themselves in the mirror and ask if they have lived up to the expectation of their profession.

“While we will continue to count on the support and cooperation of the police hierarchy, the action of those officers has done a great damage; it happened in the full glare of the public on the busy Ikorodu Road.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, said the Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, had ordered an investigation into the incident.

Osun must remain APC state, says Buhari

Femi Makinde, Osogbo

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the electorate in Osun State to vote for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, in the election coming up on Saturday.

Buhari, who stormed the Osogbo City Stadium on Tuesday to solicit for votes for the APC candidate, urged the people of the state to support Oyetola. He also tasked the electorate to prevent corrupt politicians from coming to power in the state.

The President lauded the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola which has been in power for the past eight years, saying his performance had given the party the reason to celebrate and to be hopeful that the party’s candidate in the poll would emerge victorious.

Buhari described the governorship candidate of the party as the right man for the job while urging the electorate to vote Oyetola in order to continue with the development witnessed under the Aregbesola’s administration.

Buhari said, “Today, we are here to celebrate the past. On Saturday, your love and friendliness are clear for us to see. Some years ago, I was here with so many of you to get support for Governor Aregbesola for a second term. I was in Osun in 2015 for the presidential campaign.  I returned in October 2016 to commission Osogbo Government High School, one of the 11 mega schools constructed by Aregbesola.

“We are here to thank the Almighty God for the successful eight years of APC government in this state under the leadership of Rauf Aregbesola. We are also here to pray Almighty God to save us and consolidate on this through Gboyega Oyetola.

I’ll turn around Nigeria’s economy in two years –David Mark

A presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator David Mark,  has promised to turn around the economy of the country within two years if elected President of Nigeria in the 2019 general elections.

Mark, a former Senate President, made the promise on Tuesday at the PDP secretariat in Lokoja while on a campaign visit to solicit votes of the state delegates to the presidential primaries in October.

He pledged to do many things differently to revamp the economy saying, “a lot of research had been done on the economy and if given the chance, he would bring them to bear and turn around things.’’

Economic growth under his watch, he said, would experience tremendous change within 700 days, which would be physical rather than based on paper statistics.

He said, “I will do so many things differently. When we put our processes in, the woman who is selling groundnuts by the roadside will feel the impact.

“It is not by mere statistics or indices that we churn out. We want the ordinary people on the streets to feel the impact of the economy on their lives.

“We have young men and women who are neck dip into research and understand the economy of this country.”

On his acceptance by the electorate in the core northern part of the country, Mark said he had equally worked for candidates from the core north and that now it was their turn to support him.

“I think the core north should support us because we also have supported the core north. It is a give and take thing and we are talking about Nigeria.

“We are not talking about a section of this country. If I don’t have a national support, to be honest with you, I would not want to be a President of this country.

“I want to be President of a united and indivisible country called Nigeria. Call it core north, core south or core whatever, wherever they are, let them support me because we too have supported them,” he said.

On consensus candidate, the former Senate President said that would be left for the aspirants and the party to decide.

“Whatever we do, the most important thing is that whoever emerges should emerge through a process that is fair, transparent and credible; whether it is by consensus or by primaries,” he said

Punch 

How Obasanjo ran NNPC as one-man business for 8 years’

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A new book has told of how ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo ran the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, as a “sole administrator” for the eight years he led the country. 

Former president Olusengun Obasanjo According to the book, entitled, ‘Too Good to Die: Third Term and the Myth of the Indispensable Man in Africa,’ the former President, while serving as Minister of Petroleum Resources, never discussed activities of the corporation with government officials until his last days in office. 

Obasanjo, who was President from 1999 to 2007, made himself the minister overseeing the nation’s petroleum sector until January 2007 when he relinquished that position. 

The only official Obasanjo had in a similar capacity was Edmund Daukoru, his presidential adviser on petroleum and energy, whom he later made Minister of State for Petroleum Resources in 2005. 

In the book, the authors, former chairman of National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, and author of ‘Love Does Not Win Elections’, Ayisha Osori, said Obasanjo was “ultimately responsible for all the decisions made affecting the petroleum sector.” They told of how he secured approval for all his dealings as petroleum minister in one fell swoop, during one of the last Federal Executive Council meetings. 

The authors wrote: “In one of the last working sessions of the cabinet in May, 2007, Obasanjo required cabinet to give retrospective approval to all the measures he had taken over the eight years in which he acted as sole administrator of Nigeria’s oil industry. “Cabinet duly obliged him after recording Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s objection.  For this purpose, each minister received his share of the documents they were required to approve in a Ghana-must-go bag.

Vanguard 

SPORTS: UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES: MATCH DAY 1

Tuesday 18th Sept 2018

Inter Milan VS  Tottenham

Barcelona VS PSV

Monaco VS Atletico Madrid

Club Brugge VS Borussia Dortmund

 FK Red Star Belgrade VS Napoli

Liverpool VS PSG

Schalke VS FC Porto

Galatasaray VS FC Lokomotiv Moscow

Adebola Shabi: Cleaner Lagos Initiative Aimed to Reduce Waste Pollution

Adebola Shabi, the Special Adviser Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Cleaner Lagos Initiative, on Friday said the aim of the initiative was to reduce waste pollution in the state.

Shabi made the disclosure at the sensitisation programme on: “Proper Waste Disposal Adherence to Environmental Laws,” organised by Badagry Local Government and the CLI in Badagry, Lagos State.

He said the CLI idea was to invite experts who would be able to manage the waste in order to have good waste management system in the state.

He said: “What we had before was a situation in which Private Sector Participant operators collected waste from the residents and dumped it.

“It is now the responsibility of the Lagos State Government to manage it.

“When you dump waste in a dump site without proper management, it becomes hazardous to people’s health.”

Shabi said the Olusosun dump site was shut down because of public health, safety and environmental degradation it had caused in the past years.

He said: “We have reopened Abule-Egba dump site temporarily, pending the time engineered Landfill site will be ready in Epe.

“There is a plan to build other landfills in Badagry and Ikorodu.

“With the coming up of the Epe sanitary landfill, all dumpsites such as the one in the city centre, which are major sources of air and underground water pollution, have been closed to refuse disposal.”

Shabi commended the residents of the coastal town for maintaining a clean environment.

According to him: “This is the only town visited by our team that we did not find waste in your streets.”

In his remarks, Olusegun Onilude, the Chairman, Badagry Local Government, commended the state government for the initiative.

The chairman, represented by Kamorudeen Ajape, the Secretary to the council, said the initiative had impacted greatly on people of the town.

Onilude said a clean environment would result to a healthy society.

People from different communities in Badagry, including the young, old, market women and men attended the programme.

Ronaldo To Break Scoring Duck Against Sassuolo

Cristiano Ronaldo is sure to break his scoring duck Sunday against Sassuolo, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri insisted as he backed the Portuguese star to win the FIFA world player of the year award.

Ronaldo skipped Portugal’s Nations League win over Italy to focus on his new club after failing to score in their opening three Serie A games.

“Cristiano worked well and I think tomorrow he will score and break the ice,” Allegri told a press conference ahead of Sunday’s game against second-placed Sassuolo.

“I don’t expect Ronaldo to do more or less than what he did in the first three games, everyone was waiting for Ronaldo and he set up (Mario) Mandzukic.

“I believe tomorrow could be his day.”

Tanker falls, Drops Oil on the Road

Samuel Awoyinfa, Abeokuta
A tanker laden with 33,000 litres of petrol fell on Saturday along Iwoye-Ilogbo Road, in Iju-Atan-Ilogbo Local Council Development Area of Ogun State.
The tanker which bore the name of a popular oil company allegedly fell, due to the bad condition of the road.

Operatives of traffic agencies, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps and the Federal Road Safety Corps and policemen were seen at the scene of the accident to forestall harm.

They prevented residents from coming near the scene to scoop fuel. Vehicles and motorcycles also could not pass through the road.

Efforts are now being made to trans-load the content of the tanker into another one.

Punch

Recruitment: FRSC to commence screening, physical assessments Sept 24

The Federal Road Safety Commission has scheduled its screening and physical fitness assessment on recruitment for Sept. 24 to 29.


The FRSC Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem, said in a statement on Friday that the screening would be conducted in all the state capitals.
Kazeem advised applicants to check the email used for submission of the applications on Sept. 19 for information on the exercise.

“The information in the email will contain the venue, date, time of screening and required items to be taken along for the exercise,” he said.
According to him, shortlisted applicants are to come with the summary data page earlier received and the email notification slip which shall admit them to the screening venue.

The FRSC image maker said that any candidate without the printout of the summary data page and notification slip for the phase of the exercise would not be admitted into the venue.

The FRSC recruitment started on May 28, with the uploading of the application forms on the FRSC recruitment portal.

(NAN)

Buhari accepts Kemi Adeosun’s resignation, appoints Zainab Ahmed as replacement

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President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the resignation of Kemi Adeosun as minister of finance.

In a statement by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, the President thanked the minister for her services to the nation and wished her well in her future pursuits.

Buhari also approved that the Minister of State Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, should oversee the ministry immediately

Kemi Adeosun Clears Air on NYSC Certificate, Resigns As Minister... Read Letter

14th September, 2018

His Excellency

Muhammadu Buhari

President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

State House

Aso Villa

Abuja

Dear Excellency,

Let me commence by thanking you profusely for the honour and privilege of serving under your inspirational leadership. It has been a truly rewarding experience to learn from you and to observe at close quarters your integrity and sense of duty.

I have, today, become privy to the findings of the investigation into the allegation made in an online medium that the Certificate of Exemption from National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) that I had presented was not genuine. This has come as a shock to me and I believe that in line with this administration’s focus on integrity, I must do the honourable thing and resign.

Your Excellency, kindly permit me to outline some of the background to this matter. I was born and raised in the United Kingdom, indeed my parental family home remains in London. My visits to Nigeria up until the age of thirty-four (34) were holidays, with visas obtained in my UK passport. I obtained my first Nigerian passport at the age of thirty-four (34) and when I relocated there was debate as to whether NYSC Law applied to me. Upon enquiry as to my status relating to NYSC, I was informed that due to my residency history and having exceeded the age of thirty (30), I was exempted from the requirement to serve. Until recent events, that remained my understanding.

On the basis of that advice and with the guidance and assistance of those, I thought were trusted associates, NYSC were approached for documentary proof of status. I then received the certificate in question. Having never worked in NYSC, visited the premises, been privy to nor familiar with their operations, I had no reason to suspect that the certificate was anything but genuine. Indeed, I presented that certificate at the 2011 Ogun State House of Assembly and in 2015 for Directorate of State Services (DSS) Clearance as well as to the National Assembly for screening. Be that as it may, as someone totally committed to a culture of probity and accountability I have decided to resign with effect from Friday, 14th September, 2018.

Your Excellency, It has been an exceptional privilege to have served our nation under your leadership and to have played a role in steering our economy at a very challenging time. I am proud that Nigeria has brought discipline into its finances, has identified and is pursuing a path to long term sustainable growth that will unlock the potential in this great economy. Under your leadership, Nigeria was able to exit recession and has now started to lay the foundations for lasting growth and wealth creation. Repositioning this huge economy is not a short term task and there are no short cuts, indeed there are tough decisions still to be made but I have no doubt that your focus on infrastructural investment, revenue mobilisation and value for money in public expenditure will deliver growth, wealth and opportunity for all Nigerians.

I thank His Excellency, the Vice President and my colleagues in the Federal Executive Council for the huge pleasure and honour of working with them. I also thank most specially, the team in the ‘Finance Family’ of advisers and heads of agencies under the Ministry of Finance. Your Excellency, this group of committed Nigerians represent a range of backgrounds, ethnicities and ages. They have worked well above and beyond the call of duty to support me in the tasks assigned. The diversity in my team and their ability to work cohesively to deliver reforms, convinces me that Nigeria has the human capital required to succeed.

Your Excellency, let me conclude by commending your patience and support, during the long search for the truth in this matter. I thank you again for giving me the honour of serving under your leadership, it is a rare privilege, which I do not take for granted. As a Nigerian and committed progressive, I appreciate you for your dogged commitment to improving this nation.

Please be assured, as always, of my highest regards and best wishes.

Kemi Adeosun(Mrs)

LASG set to release 2018 Basic Education Certificate Exams Result

The Lagos State Examinations Board has concluded all arrangements to release the 2018 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) Result.

This was disclosed by the Director, Examinations Board, Mr. Oluwafemi Hassan while speaking at the 2018 Award Meeting which had in attendance the major stakeholders comprising of Chief Examiners, Directors of Schools’ Administration, Teachers, Representatives from the State Ministry of Education and President of All Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS).

Dr. Hassan explained that the essence of the meeting was to evolve a guideline for the gradings of ten school subjects in which nine are compulsory while Arabic is optional.

He maintained that the yardstick for promoting the students to Senior Secondary Schools must be a true reflection of their performance.

To this end, Hassan said it was resolved that for a student to move to the next class, he or she must have six credits, including English and Mathematics, adding that any student who failed the compulsory subjects (especially English and Maths) has to re-sit the examinations before being promoted.

The Director reiterated that education is key to the development and growth of the State, saying that all hands must be on deck to take the sector to greater heights.

Alleged resignation: My Boss Has Not Resigned, Adeosun's Aide Reveals

Ifeanyi Onuba

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, is still working in her office despite reports of her resignation.

Our correspondent who was at the ministry around 12pm saw the minister’s official vehicles and her personal staff at the ministry.

When our correspondent visited the minister’s office located on the seventh floor of the headquarters of the ministry, it was observed that she was in her office working.

Officials of the ministry, who spoke to The PUNCH on condition of anonymity, said they were not aware of  her resignation.

As of 4:10pm when this report was being sent the minister was still in her office, while journalists were waiting to interview her outside the ministry.

An aide of the minister, who spoke to journalists, said his boss had not resigned.


It was gathered that the Presidency would issue a statement on this issue later today.

Punch