Bombers' Attempts on Mosque, Security Post Foiled

Attempts by Suicide Bombers to attack a mosque and a security post in Borno State were foiled by vigilant security men and volunteers.

PRNigeria gathered that the incidents occurred at Usmanti and Kaleri area of Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State. 

The first attack occurred late midnight of Tuesday, January 24, 2017 when the suicide bomber targeted a security outpost in the area but was quickly spotted and was blown off after a shot from securitymen.  No casualty was involved except the male suicide bomber.

The second attempt occurred during the early morning prayer at 5:30am today when two suicide bombers, a male and female, attempted to enter a mosque while prayer was on.

They were spotted by security volunteers (Civilian JTF) who accosted them. The terrorists detonated their explosives which killed them on the spot and one security volunteer. Two other people were injured.

Meanwhile the Spokesperson of National Emergency Management Agency  (NEMA) in the North-East, Abdulkadir Ibrahim confirmed that rescue workers have evacuated the bodies to mortuary after the incidents.

More Millionaires to Emerge in Skye Bank's Season II Millionnaire reward Scheme

 

 

Skye Bank is again set to make more millionaires out of Nigerians in its repackaged ‘Reach For The Skye Millionaire’ reward, Season II.

This was disclosed in a press statement issued by the bank.

The Season II which officially kicked off in January 2017, promises to deliver more benefits to the public compared to Season 1 of the scheme, which changed many lives and made over 36 millionaires of many erstwhile ordinary Nigerians across various segments of the economy.

Speaking about the Scheme, the bank’s Executive Director, Retail and Lagos Commercial Banking, Mrs. Markie Idowu, said that the scheme is intended to give back to customers and encourage savings among Nigerians. She noted that the last season made 36 millionaires, and stressed that the scheme is not to reward the elite, but for everyone, irrespective of social status.

In addition, Mrs. Idowu thanked past winners from season 1 and said the bank looks forward to producing more millionaires in the season II.

Also speaking at the launch, the bank’s Group Head of Retail Banking, Mr. Ndubuisi Osakwe gave details of the reward scheme and noted that the scheme is in recognition of the support of customers; and seeks to create several millionaires.

He noted that “the Bank will also seek to continue to nurture winners and migrate them to other areas of banking products that will help them build their wealth; ensuring that the under banked and unbanked find the propositions of banking services more attractive and convenient.”

Mr. Osakwe further stressed that, “The reward scheme will provide an opportunity for prospective customers of the bank to take the bold step of patronizing our numerous cost-saving products and solutions, emphasizing that “you can only save your way out of poverty”.

On the mechanics of the scheme, Mr. Osakwe explained that customers who make a deposit or reactivate their accounts with N10,000 (and its multiples), and maintain same for a period of 30 days, stand a chance of becoming millionaires every month.

He added that consolation cash prizes include: N100,000 for 10 winners, N50,000 for 10 winners and N20,000 for 20 winners. Each month, more than 41 customers will be rewarded by the bank with the first 200 customers to reactivate their dormant accounts credited airtime worth of N500 within 48 hours and encouraged everyone to spread the good news.

In his testimonial, Bashiru Adeyemi, an account holder with City Hall branch and one of the winners in season 1, said: “I am a pensioner resident in Lagos Island. When I heard the news that I won 1 million naira, I did not believe. It was like a joke to me. I am grateful to Skye Bank. The money came in handy as I used it to complete my house project.”

Also Saheed Owolabi, an Electrician and a customer of Ajose Adeogun branch of the Bank  in Lagos shared his experience: “The one million naira helped me a lot as I used it to secure 40 million naira worth of job in a building project in Lekki, Lagos.

It will be recalled that civil servants, legal practitioners, business owners, students, commercial bus drivers, Immigration Boss, among others were part of the beneficiaries of the Season 1 of the highly celebrated reward scheme which saw the Bank rewarding a total of 204 individuals - 36 Millionaires, 48 winners of N250,000 each and 120 winners of N100,000 each. The reward scheme is now improved and re-packaged for its Season II which promises to reward more customers every month.

Tourism Development: Ooni Commences Beautification Of 201 Shrines, Heritage Monuments In Ife

The Ooni of Ife in Osun, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has embarked on the beautification of 201 traditional shrines and heritage centres in the ancient town to attract international tourists and traditionalists.
The monarch disclosed this through the Director of Media and Public Affairs to the Ooni’s Palace, Mr Moses Olafare, to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said that Ile-Ife is home to 201 out of the 401 deities in Yoruba land, adding that the shrines had been rallying points for the Yoruba people in South-West Nigeria, and in the Diaspora.

Ogunwusi said that the histories of the shrines as narrated by their custodians had assisted many traditionalists and foreign tourists to trace their origins and family roots.

They had assisted most Yoruba people in the Diaspora to deepen how they practised their religion and faith, he said.
“The shrines accommodating the 201deities in the ancient city are now monuments and heritage sites for the Yoruba race and other traditionalists from the rest of the world.
“The shrines include: Olokun, Osara, Orunmila, Oduduwa, Oranfe and Aje,” he said.
“People visit the shrines in the same way Muslims and Christians go on pilgrimage to their holy lands.
“The preservation of these deities is a justification that Ile Ife is actually a sanctified town,’’ he said.
The monarch said that the facelift given to the shrines had attracted several local and international tourists to the town.
“It has also brought about development to the town; and positively impacted on the socio-economic lives of the community, ” he said.
He said that Ile Ife used to worship the deities almost all year round. It is only one day that no deity is worshipped in Ile Ife in a year.
The monarch also said that Ile-Ife is a sacred town known to be the source of the Oduduwa race called the Yoruba people.
He said that members of the race could be found in South West Nigeria, Edo State as well as in Ghana.
He said that they were also in the Republic of Benin, Togo, Cuba, Brazil, as well as in Trinand and Tobago that had traced their genealogy to Oduduwa and Ile-Ife.

KWHA to raise Bar of Good Governance in the State in 2017

The Kwara State House of Assembly says it will raise the bar of good governance in the state in the new year to further make Democratic governance more meaningful to the people of the state.
The Speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad gave the assurance in Ilorin in his Speech to welcome members from the end of the year recess.

Dr. Ahmad who described the legislature as the true representatives of the people, said it owed it a collective duty to fashion out projects and programmes to bring succour to the people and disclosed that all overdue account of the state must be audited and presented by the appropriate authority to the Legislature within the first quarter of the year

The Speaker who said the House of Assembly under his watch had passed ll bill, 3 private bills already under going legislative processes, while 5 Executive bills according to him were at the committeetage awaiting presentation.

He disclosed that the first few weeks would be dedicated to the budget process to ensure expeditious passage of 2017 Appropriation bill.

Dr Ahmad equally assured that the legislature would work with the executive to overhaul the State Town Planning laws to check construction of Filling Stations in residential area and improve laws to encourage government patronage of local contractors, suppliers and other service providers within the state.

He acknowledged the cooperation and support of the Governor towards the performance of legislative duties without hindrance, adding that the complimentary efforts of the three tiers of government in a democracy determines the progress of any government.

Meanwhile, the State House of Assembly has called on the State government to direct the appropriate Ministry in charge of Tourism to come up with a comprehensive statistic of tourism potentials with a view to formulating policies that would encourage intending private investors in tourism sector in the state.

This followed a motion titled "Exploring the Tourism Potentials of Kwara State" sponsored by a member representing Oke - Ogun Constituency Hon. Kamaldeen Fagbemi.

He equally enjoined the State government to ensure development of tourism centres in the State.
The House will tomorrow screen and take final decision on the confirmation of the new Grand Khadi of the State Shariah Court of Appeal, Justice Mohammad Ola Saad, following the retirement of Justice S .M . Abdul Baki.

This followed the presentation of a message from the State Governor Alh. Abdul Fatah Ahmed by the Speaker, requesting the legislators to confirm the appointment of the new Grand Khadi in accordance with Section 176 (4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

181 LG ROADS: LAGOS OPENS BID FOR AWARD OF CONTRACTS

The Lagos State Government has commenced the process of awarding contracts for the construction of a total of 181 community roads across the 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the State, in line with the promise made by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

The initiative to rehabilitate the roads within the communities was introduced in 2016 by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration to fast-track development simultaneously with other major road projects across the State.

By the initiative, a total of 114 roads were either constructed or rehabilitated two per each of the 57 Councils in 2016, while in a bid to consolidate on the massive infrastructural drive of his administration, Governor Ambode last Thursday announced readiness to increase the number of the roads from 114 to 181.

According to the Invitation For Bids (IFB) which had since been published in major national dailies, the government announced the list of the roads and specification for the construction which include drainages, street lights and walkways.

The IFB also include the length, average width, number of roads, pavement and the duration for the project which is six months, while all bids must be submitted on or before February 17, 2017.

Speaking at the first Quarterly Town Hall Meeting for 2017, the sixth in the series, held at the Ajelogo Housing Scheme, Ajelogo Market Road, Akanimodo, Mile 12, Governor Ambode had said that with the latest plan, some of the councils will now have more than two roads especially in areas where there is need to fix other adjourning roads to a main road to improve on the road network.

The Governor said the need to scale up the road improvement efforts arose from the fact that he had received many requests on rehabilitation of roads from residents, adding that many of the roads captured for 2017 were key roads that would have positive economic impact on the people.

“I want to pronounce here that you should watch out next week in the newspapers, we are advertising 181 roads which would be done in all our local governments.

“What we have found out is that if we decided to continue with two, some of those roads are not linking each other to the main road, so most likely you would see that if we are supposed to do some roads in some local governments, it would only make economic sense if there is a linkage.

“So, you would see in the advert that some local governments would have like three, some would have four roads, but the average is 181 and if you divide that by 57, that would be a minimum of three roads from each local government,” Governor Ambode said.

Centrespread Advertising Seeks Skye Bank’s Committal for Contempt of Court

 

Centrespread Advertising has asked Justice A. M. Lawal of the Federal High Court, Lagos to commit Skye Bank plc for contempt of court following the wrongful inclusion of its name on a list of delinquent borrowers published recently by Skye Bank in some national dailies.

 

According to the frontline advertising agency, Skye Bank’s latest action was in flagrant disobedience of a subsisting pronouncement of the Court made on 4th July 2016 in suit No: LD/2362GCMW/16 in which Centrespread is challenging Skye Bank’s claim of its continued indebtedness.

 

While addressing the court at the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, Counsel to Centrespread, Barrister Ademola Adewale, drew the attention of Honourable Justice Lawal to the Skye Bank’s List of Delinquent Borrowers as published in some national dailies last week. He submitted that the inclusion of Centrespread Advertising on the list amounted to contempt of the honourable court which had directed both parties to maintain the status quo ante, pending the determination of the suit in which Centrespread is disputing Skye Bank’s claim of its continued indebtedness. 

 

The Centrespread Counsel therefore asked the honourable court to declare Skye Bank Nigeria Plc’s wrongful publication of his client’s name as one of their delinquent offenders as a violation of the injunction by the honourable Court of law, and as an attempt to taint its reputable image in the eyes of the public.

 

In the Statement of Claim filed by Centrespread in suit No: LD/2362GCMW/16 before the honourable court, the Centrespread counsel had submitted that while it is true that a transaction was carried out between Centrespread Advertising Limited and Skye Bank Plc in 2007, his client had made good on the terms of the agreement to pay back the principal borrowed loan which, according to the terms of agreement, would expire in the year 2020. 

 

He further averred that a few years ago, when Centrespread felt that it was being subjected to exorbitant charges by Skye Bank, it employed the services of forensic financial analysts who confirmed its concerns as true. 

 

Centrespread is therefore praying the Court to, among other reliefs, declare Skye Bank’s claim that it still owes the total amount declared in its record as null and void since, according to it, a substantial part of the figure being touted as standing against its name has been discovered to be illegal charges. 

 

Alternatively, the Claimant is also praying the honourable court to compel Skye Bank to release the claimant’s loan account statement and for the loan account statement to be analyzed by a forensic analyst to be appointed jointly by both parties for the determination of the Claimant’s actual indebtedness to the defendant.

Further hearing in the matter was adjourned till March 16th of this year.

Imo State launches own carrier, Imo Air (PICTURE)

L-R: Captain of the Maiden Imo Air, Mr. George Komander; DANA Air Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Mbanuzuo Obi; Honourable Speaker, Imo State, Acho Ihim; Governor Rochas Okorocha;Wife of the Governor, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha;  and Deputy Governor Prince Eze Madumere, at the launching of Imo Air and the celebration of the maiden flight at the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport on Tuesday, January 24, 2017.

How Fayose Stopped DSS Operatives From Arresting Apostle Suleman

Operatives from the Department of State Security on Wednesday morning stormed Midas Hotel, Iworoko, Ado-Ekiti, to effect man of God, Apostle Johnson Suleman’s arrest.

Suleman is hosting a two-day crusade in Ado Ekiti tagged ‘Help From Above’, his first in Ekiti State.

Sources said that they came in a Hilux truck, with armed policemen.

The development we learned is not unconnected with Suleman’s instruction on Sunday 15th January 2017 to his private security guards that if any Fulani intruder is noticed around him, such should be killed.

But the state governor, Ayodele Fayose, who also attended the opening of the two days crusade, we learnt, got wind of the DSS presence at the hotel where Suleman was lodged, raced there and prevented him from being taken away.

Speaking after the scenario, Apostle Suleman insisted that it was the handwork of the federal government and he would not be cowed. “I’m not a partisan person, I’m not a politician. I’m sent by my Father to deliver messages and I’ll not be intimidated.”

Suleman added that, “for attempting to arrest me for speaking the truth in one day, the damage they had done to themselves would take one year to repair.”

” It should be noted that the Apostle gave the order based on security reports he reportedly received that some Fulani herdsmen were plotting to attack him over his stance on their activities, particularly because he is considered being ‘too vocal’ on the killings of Christians by suspected Muslim terrors across the country.

Apostle Suleman therefore wants the world, Nigerians and the Christian world to know that it is the Nigeria’s presidency that is after his life for his stand against a system that oppresses the Christianity,” reads a statement from the church.

Meanwhile, members of the Omega Fire Ministries in 51 nations of the world have reacted to the harassment of their president and founder, threatening to stage protests at the countries’ embassies to register their displeasure, calling the development ‘war against Christianity’
More Pictures As Fayose Takes Apostle Suleman to Government House

AVM Omenyi Received N136m Bribe from NAF Contractors- Witness

A Federal High Court Abuja presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, was on Monday January 23 told how a former Managing Director of Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited (AETSL), a company owned by the Nigeria Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Tony Omenyi received over one hundred and thirty six million Naira kick back from Syrius Technologies and Sky Experts Limited - two contractors of the Nigeria Air Force.

 

Omenyi is standing trial before the court on a 3-count charge bordering on abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N136.325.000.00 (one hundred and thirty six million, three hundred and twenty five thousand naira). He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

At the resumed trial on Monday,  the EFCC called its first witness (PW1) Hassan Saidu, an EFCC Principal Detective, who was led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, M.S. Abubakar.

Saidu informed the court that the investigation of the defendants by the EFCC was triggered by a letter from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) dated 9th December, 2015 alleging that the defendant was operating suspicious accounts. When the prosecutor sought to tender the letter in Evidence, the defendant’s counsel Gordy Uche, SAN objected on the grounds that the letter was supposed to have been certified by the ONSA and not by EFCC.

Abubakar countered the argument by citing Section 104(I) of the Evidence Act, 2011 which states that it is the public officer in custody of a document that should certify it. Thus, in the case at hand the EFCC was the proper agency to certify the document. The court agreed with the argument of the prosecution and admitted the document in evidence.

            

Continuing with his evidence, Saidu stated that “in January, 2014 the contractors were paid the sum of over N202 million and they in turn paid the sum of N24.8 million to the defendant’s company. While in April, 2014 the contractors were paid the sum of about N690 million and transferred the sum of N61.5 million out of it to the defendant’s company, HUZEE Nigeria Limited. Finally on 18th November, 2014 the contractor paid the sum of N50 Million to Air Vice Marshal Omenyi’s company after receiving about N556 million from the Nigerian Air Force”.

 

The case has been adjourned to 16 February, 2017 for continuation of trial.

POLICE BEGINS ENFORCEMENT OF TRAFFIC LAW ON FRIDAY

 

 

Bent on enforcing the Lagos State Road Traffic Law as well as preventing crime committed with the use of motor cycles in the metropolis, the Lagos State Police Command in collaboration with other security agencies would on this Friday begin a clamp down on motor cyclists plying prohibited routes.

This was the resolution of a meeting held today at the office of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Mr. Fatai Owoseni and attended by representatives of other security and transport related agencies in the state.

The meeting which was chaired by Mr. Owoseni had in attendance representatives of the Commissioner of Transportation; Army; Navy; Commander of Civil Defence; Commander RRS; Chairman, Taskforce; Commander, KAI; Commander, Op Mesa; General Manager, LASTMA and among others.

Mr. Owoseni noted that the command had observed an increase in the trend of crime perpetrated by motorcyclists in the metropolis, particularly in prohibited routes, hence the need to re-jig the enforcement of the law banning motorcycles on restricted routes in the State.

He ordered a complete clamp down on recalcitrant motor cyclists plying Alausa, Ikeja, Victoria Island and Ikoyi starting from Friday, 27th December 2017, adding that the move would help provide security of lives and property.

He stated that all motor cycles impounded and erring motor cyclist arrested are to be prosecuted.

He advised motorcyclists to avoid prohibited routes.