Gboyega Oyetola Winner Of Osun Governorship Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gboyega Oyetola, the winner of the Osun governorship election.

INEC declared Oyetola the winner of the poll after the supplementary election held in seven polling units on Thursday.

Oyetola had trailed the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ademola Adeleke, by 353 votes going into the supplementary election.

His votes from Thursday were however enough to help him overturn the deficit and be returned as winner of the keenly contested governorship election.

The final votes announced by the electoral body shows that Oyetola got 255,505 votes, while Adeleke secured 255,023 votes.

Consequently, the Returning Officer, Professor Joseph Fuwape, declared Oyetola the winner of the election.

Channels TV

Breaking: APC Disqualifies Shittu From Oyo Gov Race Over NYSC Scandal | AgegePulse

John Alechenu, Abuja

The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress has disqualified the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, from contesting Saturday’s Oyo State APC governorship primary.

Shittu was disqualified for failing to participate in the mandatory one year National Youth Service scheme at the time he graduated from the university. He was 25 years old at the time and was eligible to participate.

The party, however, cleared Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode,  and his two challengers,  Obafemi Hamzat and Jide Sanwo-Olu.

This was contained in a report of the screening committee released in Abuja on Thursday night.

The list, which had a state by state breakdown of those cleared, also listed Chief Christopher Alao Akala, as one of those cleared to contest in Oyo State.

Prof. Pat Utomi and Cairo Ojugbo were among those cleared for the contest in Delta State. Senator Magnus Abe was also cleared to contest in Rivers State.

The party also postponed the conduct of the primary till Sunday. This was contained in a statement signed by the party’s acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena.

Copyright PUNCH.

I am Nigeria’s next president, says Kwankwaso

Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Kano State governor and PDP presidential aspirant, says he will “easily beat President Muhamadu Buhari” if given his party’s ticket to contest the presidential election in 2019.

Kwankwaso, who spoke on Thursday in Jos, during a consultation visit to the North-Central state, said he has the ability to wrestle power from the APC.

“I come from a state which has the highest number of voters that can sway an election in my favour.


“If I pick the PDP ticket, I will be the next president of this nation.
“I have the hunger to save Nigeria from its current troubles. I have my plan to make Nigeria a better country for all.

“I have massive support from the North-West and will get even more supporters if given the ticket,” he said.
The aspirant promised to run an all-inclusive government, a leadership virtue he accused the APC administration of lacking.

“A key solution to Nigeria’s problems is a participatory government that will ward off mutual suspicion and distrust. It will address the gap in communication which is largely responsible for farmer/herder clashes, religious violence and ethnic crisis in the country,” he said.

(NAN)

Punch

Independence Day: FG declares Oct. 1 public holiday

The Federal Government has declared Monday, October 1, as a public holiday to commemorate Nigeria’s 58th Independence Day.

The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Minister of Interior, retired Lt.Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, on Thursday in Abuja.
The statement was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Mohammed Umar.


Dambazau, who congratulated Nigerians on the anniversary, urged them to sustain President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s efforts at maintaining and strengthening the unity and peace of the country.
He emphasised the government’s commitment to promoting national unity, economic growth, social and political development based on democratic principles.

The minister added that in the past 58 years, Nigeria had made a lot of progress and positive impact not only on the lives of its citizens but also in terms of infrastructure development as well as international relations.

(NAN) Punch

Strike may delay September salaries, says Accountant-General

Ifeanyi Onuba, Abuja

The Accountant-General of the Federation, Alh Ahmed Idris, on Thursday called on the Nigerian Labour Congress to shelve it’s warning strike in order to allow the office complete the process of payment of salaries of civil servants.

Idris who said this in a statement issued in Abuja noted that the industrial action had led to a situation where workers who were directly involved in the release of funds for payment of salaries could no longer have access to their office.

He maintained that the payment of salaries could not be achieved under an atmosphere where critical stakeholders were not allowed access into their offices.

This, he noted, may make it difficult for the Federal Government to fulfil its promise of payment of salaries to workers before the end of the month.



He appealed to labour unions to shelve their strike in order to enable the office pay salaries to workers. Idris noted that while he had reported to duty on Thursday with members of staff of his office, they were denied access as the gates were shut.

Punch

Strike cripples govt, banks, schools’ activities in Lagos

Government offices, banks and public schools were on Thursday closed in Lagos State as the organised labour began its strike over delay by Federal Government in concluding negotiation on a new minimum wage.
The enforcement teams of the organised labour set out from Ikeja to the State Secretariat, Alausa, at 7:20 am and workers who arrived for work were being turned back.

The News Agency of Nigeria correspondents who went round the Lagos metropolis reported that the United Bank for Africa on Lagos-Ibadan express way and Wema Bank in Alimosho were closed.


NAN reports that the enforcement team of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions led by its President, Oyinkan Olasanoye prevented staff from gaining access to Stanbic IBTC Bank, Ikeja branch.

The ASSBIFI team stormed Polaris Bank (former Skye Bank) on Awolowo Way, Ikeja, as its gate was locked by the union, while workers and customers were prevented from accessing the premises.

Olasanoye said the enforcement was in compliance with the directive of the Trade Union Congress, which ASSBIFI was affiliated to.

She had on Wednesday at a news conference told journalists that ASSBIFI had dispatched letters to all its members in banks across the country, to join the strike.

However, Access Bank in Dopemu and First Bank in Iyana-Ipaja opened for business with many customers carrying out various transactions.
Meanwhile, fuel stations were seen attending to customers, while major roads, including Iyana-Ipaja to Ikeja and Ikorodu Road, were busy with the usual heavy traffic.

It will be recalled that labour demanded N65,000 national minimum, up from the current N18,000.

The wage was subject to negotiation by the 30-man tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee set up by the government in November 2017.
NAN reports that the Minister of Labour, Sen. Chris Ngige, said the tripartite committee would reconvene on October 4, 2018.

Ngige said the meeting would enable the committee continue the negotiation, assuring that the current administration was labour-friendly and would pay the minimum wage once agreed upon.

(NAN)

Coup’, not election ongoing in Osun – Adeleke

Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja

The Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, SenatorAdemola Adeleke, has described the ongoing rerun election in seven units in the state as a ‘coup ‘.

Adeleke, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone, said that supporters of the PDP were being denied access to ballot papers in the governorship rerun election.


“What is happening in Osun State now is not an election.  What we have is a coup.  That is what we are witnessing now.


“Our supporters are being harassed and are not allowed to vote at all. Let the whole world know that this is not the democracy, ” he said.

Punch

Police Nabs Man For Threatening To Kidnap Atiku, Rape His Wife, Daughters

POLICE PARADE NOTORIOUS CRIMINAL WHO THREATENED FMR VICE PRESIDENT, ATIKU ABUBAKAR GCON, TO WITHDRAW FROM PRESIDENTIAL RACE OTHERWISE HE WILL KIDNAP, RAPE AND KILL HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTERS (MENTIONING THEIR NAMES)

Statement released on the development is highlighted below:

Suspect

i.      Augustus Akpan (From Edemaya village, Ikot Abasi LGA, Akwa Ibom State) 43Years

Exhibits

i.      One (1) Samsung (Galaxy S6 Edge +) Mobile Phone and the SIM Card used by the suspect to send the threat messages to Fmr Vice President, Atiku Abubakar GCON, His wife and Daughter.

The Threat Text Messages

i.      Text Message to Fmr Vice President, Alh. Atiku Abubakar GCON

“Turaki Atiku, we are watching you and your family, we ask you right now to withdraw from the race for Presidency, we will kill, rape your wife and daughters. That your ambitious and black daughter Maryam who worked at CBN and left because we were going to mess her up. We will molest, rape, deform her and kill her. Your daughter Fatimah the former Commissioner of Health in Adamawa State, we have a lot of information about her. Also pictures of her naked body, we will mess your overly prostitute wife Jennifer up. We have a lot about. Let Buhari run against your PDP members. We know that you are bigger than all those candidates in PDP. That is why we need you to step down. We will blow your plane off from the sky and we will poison you and your family. Atiku Abubakar, take our words for granted and watch what will happen to your family before you. You are going to see what we will do to you and your family. We know where and where your children travel to. We have watched your daughter who is a strong supporter of her father (your daughter Maryam) at number 5, Buzi close and number 5, Lake Maracaibo close”.

ii.     Text Message to Wife of Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar GCON

“Jennifer. Tell your husband to step down. We will blow up his plane and kill all of you his family. We will rape you and all his daughters and also kill all of you out there. Do not underestimate us. We know your office at 13 Danube Street Maitama. We will blow up the place and rape all your step daughters that we know you don’t like already. Tell him to step down now and forget about running for the presidency’’

iii.    Text Message to Daughter of Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar GCON, Rukaiya Atiku

“Tell your dad to step down. He should forget about the Presidency. If he refuses, we will blow up his plane the Gulf Stream from the sky and also rape you and kill of his daughters. No amount of Police or protection will stop us. We know where all of you live in. We know number 5 Buzi close and number 5, Lake Maracaibo close. Try us and blood shall spread’’

 On the receipt of complaint of THREAT AND INTIMIDATION from fmr Vice President, Alh. Atiku Abubakar, GCON, the Forty Three (43) years old Augustus Akpan (From Edemaya village, Ikot Abasi LGA, Akwa Ibom State) was trailed and eventually arrested by the IGP Intelligence Response Team.

2.     The suspect, Augustus Akpan was arrested at toll-gate along Lagos-Ibadan express way, Lagos State by IGP Intelligence Response team IRT Operatives led by DCP Abba Kyari, while on the run to escape arrest by leaving the Country. During interrogation, he confessed to the crime and admitted that he resorted to the threat and intimidation when all efforts to extort money from the former vice president were unsuccessful.

3.    The suspect, Augustus Akpan also admitted in his confessional statement that he is a professional fraudster and not working for any political party, that his mention that ‘Let Buhari run against  your other PDP members’ in his threat message to the former vice president was merely to divert attention.

4.     The suspect is fluent in English, Ibibio, Russian and Portuguese languages respectively. The Phone and the SIM card he used for the threat and intimidation were recovered from him and were discovered to have been robbed by him from a lady (name withheld) who identified him as the person that robbed her few months back.

5.  The suspect, Augustus Akpan further confessed that he had threatened, defrauded and extorted huge sum of money in Naira and foreign currency from so many prominent personalities and their family members while posing as an Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agent.

6.     Investigation is being concluded and suspect will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.

Ag. DCP JIMOH MOSHOOD
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERS
ABUJA

Minimum wage: Labour orders nationwide strike

• As meeting with FG deadlocked

Everest Amaefule,  Adelani Adepegba, Ade Adesomoju,Olaleye Aluko, Tony Okafor and  Ogbonnaya Ikokwu

The Nigeria Labour Congress has directed all its members and affiliate unions to commence a nationwide strike on Thursday (today).

The organised labour had held a meeting with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, in Abuja on Wednesday, which did not produce the expected outcome.

 The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said the industrial action would commence due to the refusal of the Federal Government to reconvene the meeting of the tripartite national minimum wage committee to enable it to conclude its work.

He said, “In compliance with this mandate, all workers and private sector at all levels across the country have been directed to comply.

 “All public and private institutions, offices, banks, schools, public and private business premises, including filling station, are to remain shut till further notice,” Wabba said at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

The workers are demanding a new minimum wage of about N50,000 from the current national minimum wage of N18,000.

Punch

Viral Obaseki’s photo, handiwork of mischief makers – Edo govt

Alexander Okere, Benin

The Edo State Government has described the viral photos of Governor Godwin Obaseki sleeping during the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in the United States of America as the handiwork of mischief makers.

The government in a statement by the Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, said that Obaseki “succumbed to fatigue” due to his “rare work culture” and the long flight he had to endure subsequently.

It explained, “The disparagers have populated the internet with photographs of the governor when he momentarily succumbed to fatigue after a long flight, preceded by a chaotic itinerary in Edo State before heading to New York for the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, in the United States of America.

“The idle hands and mischievous minds behind the smear campaign against governor Obaseki are clearly not people to be taken seriously. Despite Governor Obaseki’s rare work culture, unmatched by his peers, we have never portrayed him as a machine.

“He can experience fatigue and exhaustion, an indisputable fact of life, to which all humans are susceptible.”

The government further stated that the development was not new as many political leaders had also experienced similar situations.

It said, “The internet is awash with photographs of outstanding world leaders who have at one time or the other yielded to fatigue at meetings.

“The list includes the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel; Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe; former United States President, Barack Obama; his Economic Adviser, Larry Summers; Pope Benedict XVI; former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown; former Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi and the former Austrian President, Heinze Fischer, amongst others.

“Those who are familiar with the daily work schedule of Governor Godwin Obaseki have attested to his rare and unique work ethics, devoid of fanfare and trivialities.”

Explaining further, it said that the governor had attended a long stretch of official events between September 21 to 23 before leaving for the UN meeting.

The statement added, “The governor’s activities in the days before his trip to New York give insight into his attitude to work and governance, and followed similar crowded itinerary, in China, where he sealed final investment agreements on the development of the Benin Industrial Park, the Benin River Port and the Modular Refinery project few days before.”

Punch

Breaking: My life is under threat‎, says Adeleke

 Dapo Akinnrefon 

THE governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ademola Adeleke has written a letter to diplomatic missions in Nigeria, raising alarm over threats to his life and alleged clamp down on his supporters ahead of Thursday’s supplementary polls. 

Adeleke In the letter already despatched to diplomatic missions, Adeleke catalogued the many infractions in the last Saturday polls,the refusal of INEC to declare him the winner in line with the constitution,the killing and maiming of his supporters ,the arrest of key leaders on trumped up charges and the manipulations of the electoral process. 

The letter was sent to the European Union,United States and several diplomatic missions in Nigeria and the United Nations. ‎The letter reads: “I am constrained to write this letter to intimate you, our diplomatic partners and friends of despotic happenings in Osun governorship polls which I won but for which I was not declared the winner. My life is under threat and leaders of my party are under siege before and after Saturday’s main polls. “During the campaigns, we were subjected to countless attacks.I escaped about four assassination attempts.Our campaign vehicles were severallly attacked and our rallies disrupted.

We went through the pre-election process under constant onslaught from political thugs and merchants of violence. “Despite the violence prone climate ,I still won the election. On live television, our votes were removed and protestations for re-addition of the votes were rejected. “Votes for the ruling party were jerked up and again the electoral umpire refused to correct the arithmetical errors.After all the manipulations which saw about 4000 votes removed from my total votes ,I still won by close to 400 votes. “In a brazen assault on democracy ,the returning officer in open breach of the constitution refused to declare me the winner even after fulfilling constitutional stipulations.

The officer erroneously justified declaration of the election as inconclusive based on violence in seven out of about 3000 voting units across the state. It w‎as a travesty of justice that is under challenge in court of law.‎ “Not satisfied with that rape of democracy, the ruling, APC immediately launched a coordinated manipulation agenda to rig the Thursday supplementary polls.Voters register of affected areas are been doctored ;unclaimed voters cards are been shared out;massive vote buying are ongoing ;and my supporters are been hounded.

Democracy is clearly under threats. “The agenda of the ruling party is to ensure that votes do not count.The target is to thwart the will of the people. The APC is out to subvert the will of the people ,an action that will have deeply negative impact on the sanctity of the electoral process ahead of 2019 polls.” 

Calling on the international community “to prevail on President Muhammad Buhari to allow votes to count by restoring my mandate” the PDP candidate said: “We count on you to mount pressure on the ruling party to restore people’s mandate in Osun state” “We make this request because Osun state is the cradle of Yoruba people.Denying them their inalienable right to pick their governor is a potent threat to democratic sustainability in Nigeria.Our nascent democracy has been under intense pressure and it is not in our collective interest to deepen the national stress index

. “We seek your intervention to prevent another rigging underway in Osun state. I am the holder of the sacred mandate of Osun people. We need the international community to assist Nigeria to make votes count”,he said. 

Vanguard

BREAKING! Osun Rerun: Omisore, SDP Agree To Form Alliance With APC

Channels Television  

The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Senator Iyiola Omisore, says his party is set to form an alliance with the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Osun rerun election.

Omisore told journalists in Ile Ife that the decision to work with the APC was based on the condition he gave earlier for his support.

He had said he would only support any party (between PDP and APC) that isready to uphold SDP’s core values.

More to follow…

Labour To Begin Strike, Directs Members to Comply

The Organised Labour has called on workers from all sectors of the economy to comply with the seven days nationwide warning strike over refusal of the Federal Government to reconvene the negotiation on Minimum Wage.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, President, Nigeria Labour Congress made the call at a joint news conference organised by NLC, Trade Union Congress and United Labour Congress on Wednesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria  recalls that the organised labour had accused the Federal Government of stalling the negotiation by failing to mention a figure as a new minimum wage for workers in the country.



The organised labour had also on September 12 issued the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum insisting that the Tripartite Committee on the new National Minimum Wage should conclude its work within the stipulated time frame.

The Organised Labour said it would commence nationwide warning strike over the non-implementation of the new National Minimum Wage with effect from midnight of Wednesday, September 26.

According to Wabba, the action is in compliance with the decision of the various organs of the organised labour, which endorsed the 14-day ultimatum served on the Federal Government by member of the unions who were part of the negotiation committee.

“The labour further mandated its leadership to take all necessary steps to  ensure compliance with the warning strike in the first instance.
“This is to compel the government to reconvene the meeting of the committee in order to bring it to a logical conclusion.

“In compliance with this mandate, all workers in the public and private sectors at all levels across the country have been directed to join the strike.
“Industrial unions, state councils, all workers organisation and our civil society allies have been directed to step up mobilisation of their members,” he said.

He also said that public and private institutions, offices, banks, schools, public and private business premises including filling stations are to remain shut till further notice.

Wabba said that all those who mean well for the country and want to see to the success of the action should cooperate with labour, saying that the action would remain in force until further directive are given.
The NLC president noted that the justification for the new national minimum wage cannot be over argued.

“We do believe that the reasons governors find it difficult to pay the national minimum wage are lack of political will, high level of corruption, excessive cost of governance, white elephants projects and among others.

“In any case, we are commending the governors that have indicated their readiness to pay the new national minimum wage and we advise those who are not prepared to pay to go back to their state and tell the workers in their state that they would not pay.

“We, therefore, find it necessary to caution against any attempt by government at any level to blackmail workers or/and their unions because we have been patient, considerate and patriotic.
“Indeed government had to commend workers and their union for waiting patiently for two years before commencing negotiations for a new National Minimum wage.

“We advise that our disposition should not be taken for granted,’’ he said.
NAN also reports that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige would be meeting with Organised Labour over the nationwide warning strike.

The National Minimum Wage Committee was inaugurated in November 2017 and commenced sitting in March 2018 with a timeline to deliver on its mandate of arriving at a new national minimum wage by August/ September 2018.


(NAN) Punch

BREAKING: AMBODE DECLARES READINESS FOR PRIMARIES.

… Says Second Term Needed For Stable, Robust Economy
… Thanks Tinubu, Party Leaders, Members For Opportunity To Serve

AgegePulse Magazine

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday expressed his readiness to participate in Saturday’s Primary Election where members of the All Progressives Congress across the State are expected to choose the party’s flagbearer through direct primaries.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, the Governor said he is restating his readiness in line with the choice of the party in Lagos State and the validation given to the direct primary preference by the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC).

“As our great party approaches Saturday, September 29th, 2018, earmarked for the direct primary election to choose the candidate to fly our party’s gubernatorial flag at the next general election, I am happy to restate my commitment to participate in that process having procured and submitted my nomination form and having formally declared my intention to seek a second term to continue on the path of unprecedented growth and development that our State has witnessed since 2015”.

The Governor expressed profound gratitude to the National Leader of the Party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; party elders and executives; GAC members; all APC members and every Lagosian “whose support, understanding and prayers have assisted me in no small measure in being used as an instrument through which our State has redefined the concept of greatness”.

The statement added that the Governor in seeking re-election is approaching the founding fathers and teeming members of the party with a “grateful heart, open arms and a pledge to open and deeper attention to the concerns of this one, big family”.

It added that a return of the party’s ticket to Governor Ambode will guarantee the stability of the State’s growing economy; ensure the continuation of the growth and development it has witnessed over time and ensure that the opposition does not take root in the State.

The statement congratulates the Governor’s co-contestants for the courage and commitment to the party and urges party faithfuls to come out en masse and vote peacefully in all the 20 Local Governments and 245 wards where the election will take place.

HON. OGUNDIMU SPONSORES RESURFACING OF OKO-OBA, ORILE ROAD

In a philanthrophic move that is being widely applauded as a progressive and welfarist move,  Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu has sponsored the immediate resurfacing and upgrade of the Oko-Oba/Orile Road junction to ease the pain and anxiety of residents and drivers who ply that route on a daily basis.

Lawmaker representing *Agege Constituence 02* said in his remarks while outlining areas requiring urgent repairs on that particular stretch of road reiterated the need for all hands to be on deck regarding the repairs of public facilities we use on a daily basis.

The repair work is already ongoing on the troubled spots since *Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu* has magnanimously shouldered the financial burden of the project.

In appreciating the lawmaker, Prince Sunday Ladipo said, "This no doubt deserves our collective gratitude.

I therefore join other grateful residents of Agege and the many users of that road to say a big *THANK YOU* to our Honorable for once again demonstrating his love and passion for this Constituency's welfare.

Hon. Ogundimu shall indeed, legislate again once again". Prince Sunday Ladipo a.k.a Fitila asserted.

Two held for flying drone over Osoba’s Abeokuta home

Samuel Awoyinfa, Abeokuta
Two suspects were said to have been arrested on Tuesday for flying a drone over the house of a former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, located within the Ibara, GRA, Abeokuta.

This was contained in a statement signed by one of the aides of the ex-governor, Adekunle Adeyemi, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent.

The statement added that two suspects, a lady and a young man, whose identities were yet to be unravelled, were allegedly caught by the private security operatives attached to his house, using the drone to monitor activities in Osoba’s compound.

Adeyemi said the drone was later shot down by the security operatives, and the suspects could not give a coherent explanation for their action when apprehended.

He described the incident as another in a series of the security breach to Osoba’s residence.

Adeyemi said the ex-governor just returned from a trip to the United Kingdom on Tuesday and was in his Abeokuta home, in preparation for a meeting to discuss a hitch-free conduct of the presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress scheduled for Friday.

The statement reads: “This will be another series of a breach of the security of Chief Osoba’s home. A few years ago, unknown persons invaded part of the compound and took a reasonable time to dig out buried armored cable. This was done in a most professional manner.
“It would also be recalled that sometimes ago, two bungalows within the premises were vandalised by unknown hoodlums.

“Another breach was when insulting graffiti was written on the fence of Chief Osoba’s house, not too long ago.
“Those involved in the latest action have been handed over to an arm of the government for investigations.”


When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said he was not aware of such arrest being made.

He said,”I am not aware of such arrest.”

Court remands five for stealing 120 yam tubers

The President of the Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan, Mrs Imoleayo Akinrodoye, on Tuesday, remanded five suspects for alleged theft of 120 tubers of yam.

The accused – Biodun Ayodele (20), Michael Adebayo (19), Lukman Ahmed (22), Arisekola Ridwan (20), and Kayode Suleiman (45) – were granted bail, but failed to meet the conditions for their release.

The accused were consequently remanded in custody.

Akinrodoye had admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N150,000 with one reliable surety each in like sum.

The court president adjourned the case till October 17 for continuation of hearing.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the police prosecutor, Sergeant Ayodele Ayeni, had earlier informed the court that the five suspects were arraigned on three counts bordering on conspiracy, unlawful breaking in and stealing.

Ayeni said Ayodele, Adebayo, Ahmed, Arisekola and Suleiman committed the crime on September 22 around 5am in the Bere area of Ibadan.

According to the prosecutor, the first, second, third and fourth accused broke into shops where tubers of yams meant for sale were kept and stole 120 pieces, which they sold to the fifth accused.

He further said the yam tubers, valued at N40,000,  belonged to Kazeem Oladeni and Jamiu Salami, traders at the Oja-Oba Market in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Punch

Employment Trust Fund: 15,000 new jobs created in two years- Oyebode

…Says N6bn disbursed to 8,000 beneficiaries in Lagos

Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Mr. Akintunde Oyebode on Tuesday said that no fewer than 15,000 jobs have been created by the Fund in the last two years.

Speaking to journalists and some Masters Research Students in his office, he said at least 8000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and businesses have also accessed approximately N6billion since inception of the ETF, an initiative of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration through which N25billion was earmarked to be disbursed over a period of four years to provide entrepreneurs, artisans, traders and others with capital to boost their businesses thereby reducing unemployment and increasing wealth among the people.

According to him, since its commencement in 2016, the ETF has continued to grow the economy and create jobs through provision of credit facilities with minimal interest.

He said the Fund is targeted towards creating 300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand) direct and 600,000 (Six Hundred Thousand) indirect jobs within three years, by supporting at least 100,000 (One Hundred Thousand) MSMEs, while it also seeks to add over 200,000 new tax payers to the Lagos State’s tax net by 2019.

“The ETF is primarily targeted at MSMEs and I can tell you that in the last two years, we have been able to fund about 8,000 businesses with over N6billion. Our target is to ensure that we increase that number to at least 15,000 before the end of the year,” he said.

Oyebode said the impact of the fund was already been felt as it has gone a long way to create at least 15,000 direct jobs for skilled persons and thousands of other indirect jobs for unskilled persons, saying that the target to create 300,000 direct and 600,000 indirect jobs was well on course.

“The underlining factor is that people with genuine businesses are keying into the fund. We believe that when we empower one business owner with fund, he or she would require more hands and that translates to one or two persons off the labour market. At the end of the day, as their businesses are growing and expanding, the economy of the State is also recording appreciable growth,” he said.

Oyebode said aside the ETF, the government through the Lagos State Employability Support Project, has also concluded plans with some multinational companies and in affiliation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to produce 10,000 skilled persons within three years to cater for demand in key sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, construction, entertainment, garment making and tourism and hospitality.

“In addition, the project will place at least 6,000 trained persons in jobs and upgrade the equipment and improve the curriculum at two of Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB’s) Colleges,” Oyebode said.

It would be recalled that Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo during a recent event in Lagos described the ETF as an excellent example of how State Governments could intervene in creating opportunities for small businesses.

Breaking: AgegePulse Receives Award of Excellence For Corporate Support, Quality Reportage

...Rotary Club of Agege, Elephant Club of Ogba, others Honoured By Agege LGEA

In recognition of AgegePulse's Corporate Social Responsibility, exemplary leadership conduct, uncommon services to humanity, contribution to the development of Basic Education in Lagos State, effective partnership for quality community reportage, the Local Government Education Authority, Agege has honoured AgegePulse magazine with an award of excellence.

The Agege LGEA under the imperial leadership of Hon. Olalekan Majiyagbe honoured AgegePulse Magazine alongside Rotary Club of Agege, Lagos Television LTV8, Lagos Schools Online, AgegeTV online. Elephant Club of Ogba amongst others.

Receiving the award today in Lagos, the editorial team of AgegePulse Magazine described it as a reward for hard work, professionalism and pace setting of quality community news reportage in Agege, Lagos.

The team promised to continue its drive to bring Agege to respectable prominence from its slum views through timely, accurate and positive reporting of events and activities of the sons and daughters of the ancient Lagos community.

IN GBAGADA: Publisher Seye Kehinde, City People In Messy N70m Suit For Copyright Theft

Idris Aina

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Seye Kehinde, founder and publisher of bestselling soft sell magazine, City People, has been dragged to court for copyright theft and the passing off of someone else’s writing as his own work.

In a lawsuit filed at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi-Lagos against Kehinde and City People Media Group, owners of City People Magazine, one Dayo Akintobi, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of GRA Ikeja Today Newsmagazine, alleges that Kehinde stole an article he wrote and published it in City People Magazine without his consent or authorization.

Kehinde is also accused of passing off the writing as his own when he in fact knew that he did not himself author the article.

On the 23rd day of March 2017, states the lawsuit, the GRA Ikeja Today Magazine publisher personally conducted a one-on-one interview with one Mr. Edward Akinlade, a Lagos businessman and hotel owner at the latter’s office in GRA Ikeja.

After the interview, Akintobi wrote an article about the subject of the interview titled, “In the Beginning was Suru Group,” and published it both on his GRA-Ikeja Today Magazine’s website and in the May 2017 print edition of the publication. The article centered around Mr. Akinlade’s investments in hotels and real property in Nigeria and how such investments have impacted the society at large in terms of the socio-economic advancement of GRA-Ikeja, Lagos.

According to the suit, in June 2017, Kehinde published an article titled, “Why Suru Group Invested in Hotels @ GRA, Lagos,” in both the online and print versions of the early-June City People Magazine. The article was an exact word-for-word copy in all material respects as Akintobi’s original article earlier published in GRA Ikeja Today Magazine excepting its title and the accompanying photograph of Akinlade which were changed.  Authorship of the article was stated to be “By Seye Kehinde.”

Also stated in the court papers is the fact that after the lawyers for the GRA Ikeja Today publisher contacted Kehinde to express their displeasure at the infringement of their client’s copyright, the byline of the online version of the article was immediately changed from “By Seye Kehinde” to “By Reporter.”

Akintobi swears in his Statement on Oath that he never gave his consent or any form of authorization to Kehinde or indeed to anyone at all to reproduce or re-publish the article. He believes that he alone enjoys the exclusive right to control the reproduction, publication, and distribution of his article in any material form to the public, for commercial purposes.

In knowingly reproducing, publishing, and distributing the article in material form to the public in City People Magazine then, the lawsuit claims that Kehinde and City People Media Group infringed on Akintobi’s copyright for a purpose prejudicial to him. When they failed to obtain his permission before they reproduced and distributed his article for commercial purposes and derived benefit therefrom, Seye Kehinde and City People Media Group breached Akintobi’s statutory rights and caused irreparable loss and damage to him.

The lawsuit goes on to state that Kehinde’s passing off of Akintobi’s writing as his own was an additional wrongful act, one that resulted in further injury to Akintobi’s person, property, reputation, and the like.

On account of these injuries to him, Akintobi believes he is entitled to compensation and is therefore claiming against Seye Kehinde and City People Media Group jointly and severally, the sum of N50 million being damages he suffered from both defendants’ unlawful infringement of his copyright; Aggravated Damages in the sum of N10 million; and Exemplary Damages in the sum of another N10 million.

Akintobi is also seeking from the Court an Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining Seye Kehinde and City People Media Group from further display of his article on City People magazine’s website or any other online or print media without his express written permission.

The lawsuit, numbered FHC/L/CS/1243/18, was filed on the 25th of July 2018, and has since been served on the Defendants.

Photo Credit: Ncise/Google

InsideMainland

Modric defeats Ronaldo and Salah to be crowned FIFA's The Best of 2018

Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric has been named the Best Men’s Player at The Best FIFA Football Awards on Monday evening, fighting off competition from fellow nominees Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah.

The award caps off an incredible year for Modric, who won his fourth Champions League title with Real Madrid in May, before leading his country to a World Cup final in July and being crowned UEFA Men’s Player of the Year last month.

The Best Men’s Player of the Year award, formerly named the Fifa World Player of the Year, has long been dominated by both Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but Barcelona forward Messi failed to make the shortlist for this years award for the first time since 2006. Neither player was present in London on Monday.

Modric’s other accolades from last season include him being awarded the Golden Ball for his performances during the 2017 Club World Cup, whilst the former Spurs man was also included in the Champions League team of the season for a third consecutive year and named the best midfielder in the competition for a second consecutive year.

"This trophy is not just mine, it’s for all my Real Madrid team-mates, for all my team-mates from the Croatia national team, for all the coaches that I have played for," Modric stated upon receiving the award.

"Without them, this would not be possible and thank you a lot to them.

"This trophy is also for my family, without whom I would not be the player and person that I am. They are my ‘the best’.

"At this particular moment, I would like to mention my footballing idol [Zvonimir Boban] and captain of Croatia generation 1998 and their first participation [at the World Cup finals as Croatia] and bronze in France.

"He was my big inspiration and that team gave us belief that we could achieve something great in Russia. Hopefully we can be the same for next generations.

"This award shows that we all can become the best with hard work, dedication and belief. All dreams can come true."

Juventus forward Ronaldo had won the two previous Best FIFA awards before this year, but was beaten to this year's crown by his former Real Madrid team-mate and also missed out of the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award to Modric last month.

The Portugal star was nominated after playing a vital part in a third successive Champions League title for Real Madrid last season. He was top scorer in the competition with 15 goals and netted 44 goals altogether for Los Blancos in 2017-18, before moving to Juventus in a deal worth a reported €100 million (£90m/$118m).

"First of all I would like to give congratulations to Mohamed [Salah] and Cristiano [Ronaldo] for the seasons they have had, and I'm sure that in the future you will have another opportunity to win this trophy," Modric said of the two fellow nominees.

Liverpool star Salah was nominated after a remarkable year that saw him score 44 goals in 52 games in his debut season with the Reds, after arriving from Roma in June 2017.

The Egyptian icon came up against both Modric and Ronaldo in last seasons Champions League final but was forced off early after suffering a shoulder injury in a coming together with Sergio Ramos. He recovered in time to represent his country at the World Cup in Russia, but was unable to guide them past the group stages.

Salah was rewarded at Monday's ceremony with the Puskas Award for best goal of the past year .

France coach Didier Deschamps was crowned Men's Coach of the Year, while football legends lined up to criticise Messi and Ronaldo for their notable snub of the FIFA event.

Five-time FIFA World Player of the Year winner Marta  won the Best Women's player award, having been runner-up last year.

Goal.com

BREAKING: Protest rocks Osun INEC office

Femi Makinde, Osogbo

Hundreds of supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party on Monday stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission to protest against the state rerun governorship election ordered by the commission.

The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions such as “No To rerun, “INEC don’t conspire with APC”; “The people spoke on Saturday, announce the results ” among others.

The protesters berated the INEC for not declaring Senator Ademola Adeleke the winner of the poll having scored the highest number of votes in the poll.

They said the people of the state had spoken and that majority of the voters wanted Adeleke as the state governor and that the peoples’ wish should be respected.

Details later.

Punch

NERC working on alternative energy sources, says Chairman

The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, says it is working on alternative energy sources to boost power supply in the country.
Its Chairman, Prof. James Momoh made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Igarra, Edo.

“We are working on other options of energy supply so that we don’t have to always rely on power from Egbin, Afam or Sapele.

“That is why now, we are working and making sure there is network to transfer long distance power to other parts of the country.


“With respect to renewable energy, God has given us wind and solar energy in Nigeria, sunshine which can be turned into energy.
“We have investors, even Nigerians themselves who are interested in getting involved in the business of energy production, we have regulations that allow them to do so.

“So if you know somebody who wants to engage in distributing power, marketing power, making money, we are the people that will authorize such persons.

“Already some other states have taken advantage of that,” Momoh said.
The NERC chairman said that the commission is committed to ensuring that Nigerians have access to power and every home  is metered.
“First of all, we have sufficient power and accessible power for everyone who want to use power and buy.

“So we are metering, we are regulating; every Nigerian home must be metered so you don’t pay for energy you did not use. Nobody should be given estimated bills.

“We are a commission which solves problem legally, the law is in place to make sure every home is metered and if you are willing to access power, you need to be metered and pay,” he said.
On the power supply problem in Igarra, Momoh said the effort is on to enhance supply.

“We are working and making sure there is network to transfer long distance power to Igarra; that is what we just did in Okpella.
“Okpella had been in darkness, we have solved their problem, they will no longer be in darkness.

“Igarra too, we are going to solve their problem, we are going to make sure that power from Okpella gets to this place,” he added.

(NAN)

Punch

Live: Agege LGEA, FMEN Begin 3-Day Trainning For Parents, Teachers on Effective Parenting

Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Agege Local Government Education Authority in collaboration with Foundation for Montessori Education in Nigeria today begins 3days training for Teachers/Parents in Agege.

The three days training Tagged: Aid To Life, ...supporting the Natural Development of Children at Dairy Farm Primary School Multipurpose Hall, Agege.

According to the Education Secretary, Agege LGEA and Chairman of all Education Secrtaries in Lagos, Hon. Majiyagbe said that, this initiative is unprecedented and would go in a long way to discover new innovations while developing a child.

Details later....

APC shifts presidential primary to Sept. 27th

John Alechenu, Abuja

The All Progressives Congress has shifted its presidential direct primary election earlier scheduled for Tuesday, September 25th, 2018 to  Thursday, September 27th, 2018.

This was contained in a terse statement signed by its acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, in Abuja.

The statement also said, “Duly registered party members are to collect their permanent membership cards from their respective wards.”

Punch

National Assembly postpones resumption to Oct. 9

Leke Baiyewu, Abuja

The National Assembly has postponed its resumption from the ongoing two-month annual recess to October 9, 2018.

The federal legislature, which went on summer recess in July, was scheduled to resume on Tuesday.

A top source told our correspondent that the decision followed a meeting by the leadership of the National Assembly on Sunday night.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr Mohammed Sani-Omolori, in a statement issued shortly after the meeting, announced the postponement.

The statement read, “This is to inform all distinguished senators and honourable members that resumption of plenary session earlier scheduled for Tuesday, 25th September, has been postponed to Tuesday, 9th October, due to the activities of the primaries of the political parties.

“All distinguished senators and honourable members are expected to resume plenary session by 10am on the 9th of October, please.”

SUNDAY PUNCH had exclusively reported on September 9 how some lawmakers called on the leadership of both chambers to extend their resumption from September 25 to the second week of October.

A cross section of the lawmakers from both the Senate and House of Representatives had explained that the September 25 earlier fixed was no longer feasible.

Osun: PDP to strike deal with Omisore, others

Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja

There were indications in Abuja on Sunday that the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party might strike a deal with a former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore,  in a bid to win the state rerun governorship election slated for Thursday, investigations by our correspondent have revealed.

Omisore is the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the election in which the candidate of the PDP, Senator Ademola Adeleke, came first with 254, 698 votes while the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, came second with 254,345 votes.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has, however, said there would be rerun in some polling units where elections were cancelled.

The units,  which were listed by the commission, are two in Orolu Local Government Area, one in Ife South Local Government Area, one in Ife North Local Government Area and one in Osogbo Local Government Area.

It was gathered that the PDP had already initiated discussions with Omisore towards winning the two units in his stronghold of Ife.

Apart from Omisore,  the PDP was said to be planning to meet with candidates of other political parties that had what a source described as a “worthy outing” during the election on Saturday.

Such candidates, it was gathered, are African Democratic Congress’ Fatai Akinbade and Action Democratic Party’s Alhaji Moshood Adeoti.

Already, it was gathered that a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, had spoken with Omisore on the need for the latter to support the PDP candidate in the rerun.

Fani-Kayode, who is also from Ile Ife like the former deputy governor, confirmed that he had spoken with both Omisore and Adeleke on the issue.