WE SURVIVE BY STEALING PHONES AND ROBBING PEOPLE IN OSHODI – Suspect

One of the two suspects arrested by the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command has disclosed that he and over 50 teenagers in Oshodi survive by stealing and dispossessing passers-by of their phones and other valuables.

The suspect, Yusuph Ahmed, 19, from Offa, Kwara State disclosed this to interrogators at the RRS headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja on Friday afternoon.

Ahmed, who was arrested in Oshodi on Friday after dispossessing a passenger of his phone, stated that he along with over 50 teenagers sleep in Oshodi under bridge and that it is from here they eke out a living by stealing phones and robbing passers-by of the valuables.

Ahmed, who has been sleeping under Oshodi Bridge since he was 13, stressed that even though he doesn’t follow those who rob amongst them out all the time, he knows all of them.

“I sleep in Oshodi Under Bridge. We are like 50 or 60 teenagers sleeping there. The adults sleep in Ori – Pako. I was 13 years old when I started sleeping there. I keep my cloth there. 

I sleep around 8:00 p.m. or 9:00 p.m. There are some of us who do not sleep at all. They are the ones that alert us whenever the police is around. 

There are equally those who do not sleep because they go from one place to the other in Oshodi to rob. They rob late at night and very early in the morning.

After the death of my mother, my father abandoned us. He stopped taking care of us leaving us to fend for ourselves. 

Even the school, he stopped paying the monthly N600. I had to resort to packing granite to pay the monthly N600 for school fee. 

At a point, I couldn’t cope with the fee. I was just 12. I dropped out and I decided to run to Lagos. Since then, Oshodi Under Bridge has been my home.

Any phone I stole, I sell to Mohammed or Kudus. They are beggars in Oshodi. They buy most of the stolen phones from us”, he stated.

However, the stolen phone, a Tecno Y6, was recovered from Ahmed’s brother.
The second suspect, Yusuph Agbaje, 25, from Oyo State, was arrested in Agege for stealing a Blackberry curve from a commuter.

Responding to the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Suprintendent Dolapo Badmo Badmos, Police would leave no stone unturned in get rid of criminal elements within the state, adding that, parents monitor the activities of their wards.

The suspects have been transferred to the Lagos State Taskforce.

Rosemary’s Showroom leverages on economic recession to increase local content

…opens Abuja office

An indigenous soft furnishing company, Rosemary’s Showroom, has increased the amount of local content contained in its production of various products. The company made a U-turn from it’s hitherto production formula when over 65% of its raw materials were sourced from abroad.

Mrs. Ezinne Kufre-Ekanem, Chief Executive Officer, Rosemary’s Limited, owners of Rosemary’s Showroom, disclosed this during the opening of the company showroom in Abuja on Saturday.

According to her, Rosemary’s Limited had over the 13 years of its existence used majorly foreign content to produce many of its choice soft furnishing products.

However, she disclosed that the prevailing economic recession has spurred her team to look backward in sourcing for equally quality raw materials that can deliver the kind of high standard that Rosemary’s Showroom is renowned for in Nigeria and beyond. “Today, we now look inward. The current situation in the country has taught us to look inward and this has taught us a good lesson. It has taught us to come out with creativity that now stands us out. We now have Kente fashion, Adire Fashion and a host of other local content laced products we produce”, she stated.    

On why the company chose Abuja as the next target after Lagos where the company started from, Mrs. Kufre-Ekanem explained that Rosemary’s only responded to the tips from the market. She disclosed that the volume of requests coming from the Federal Capital Territory is not comparable to what comes from other cities in the country. 

According to her, the opening of the Abuja office will enable the company bring the world-class soft furnishing and creative approach to interior decorations to the capital city of Nigeria.

However, she said the next expansion would be to Port-Harcourt, Rivers State or Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in 2017. According to her, Rosemary’s statistics show that those two cities top the list of the company’s sales turnover.

However, Mrs. Kufre-Ekanem acknowledged that for any indigenous entrepreneur to survive in Nigeria, such needs commitment and perseverance to survive.

She recalled the challenges Rosemary’s faced at inception in Lagos when its landlord then served the company a quit notice, a development the management did not expect at that time. “That challenge, coupled with epileptic electricity supply and forex volatility is enough to force a small business out of existence”, she stated.  

Mrs. Kufre-Ekanem therefore implored government to make the environment more conducive for entrepreneurs in order to boost gross domestic product in the country.

Established in 2003, Rosemary's is a niche-focused, passion driven home comfort company that specializes in soft furnishing with a deep belief in personal service. The company boasts of a team that is affectionately involved in thinking, making and delivering world- standard furniture from an African perspective.

The company boasts of a range of products that cuts across beds, lounge chairs, settees, dining tables, coffee stools, among others. The CEO said: “We conceive, design and build quality furniture for your home. Each item is tastefully hand-finished to high standards whether it is made from metal, wood or glass.”

According to her, beds are an important piece of furniture in our homes, considering the amount of time people spend on them when sleeping. As a result of that, she said a bed should be fit for beauty sleep; strong & sturdy enough to carry body frames, big & wide enough to allow us stretch out our full lengths and at the same time cozy enough to allow one snuggle up too. “Our beds provide all these and much more. Built to last and last in styles that are timeless, our beds do the job that they have been built to do like providing you with a perfect sleep at any time of the day or night you desire it,” she stated.

Besides, Kufre-Ekanem noted that the perfect dinning set compliments and completes your living space; adding that your dinning set of choice should be the right height providing adequate seating comfort to enable the family (and friends) bond & enjoy a meal together again and again. “We offer a wide range of styles ranging from 4, 6 & 8 seater sets”, she disclosed.

Ekanem therefore assures prospective customers in Abuja and its environs that it can also package any of the products as gifts to loved ones and associates during and after festive seasons.

She said the company renders Décor Advisory Services (DAS) to discerning individuals and corporate bodies. “We unearth and proffer what is best for your space. Then, we listen again….We call it Rosemary’s Décor Advisory Services (DAS), but many of our clients have warmer names for it. We never forget that it is your space and that you are a unique being,” Kufre-Ekanem concluded.

 

TROOPS OF 27 TASK FORCE BRIGADE EMBARKS ON OPERATION KARYA GWUIWA

In continuation of the ongoing clearance operation against Boko Haram terrorists, troops of 27 Task Force Brigade, Nigerian Army have embarked on a joint Operation nicknamed "Operation KARYA GWUIWA". 

In line with that, the formation has carried out clearance operations on suspected Boko Haram terrorists hideouts at Ajigin, Golgore, Njibulla, Doksa 1, 2 and 3 villages located at southern parts of Borno State. 

During the operation, they neutralized 37 Boko Haram terrorists at Ajigin and recovered 3 AK-47 rifles. 

Unfortunately, a vigilante group member lost his life while 5 soldiers were wounded during the clearance operation. The corpse of the late vigilante and the wounded soldiers have been evacuated. 

The troops also captured 1 Boko Haram terrorist named Musa Jubril and 1 female believed to be sex slave in captivity by the sects and recovered 8 Motorcycles, stored raw foodstuffs and beddings. 

The troops have continued with the clearance operation and also maintaining blocking positions to further neutralize and destroy any fleeing Boko Haram terrorists.

Lt Col Abu-Ali: It's really sunset at dawn!

Can't stop crying when I heard of the brutal murder of this gentleman, Lt. Col. Abu Ali.

Only those who were in Borno at the height of the Boko Haram's inglorious territorial conquest that would understand, appreciate and then lament the exit of Lt. Col. Abu Ali. 

His was a life, full of gallantry, sacrifice, love for Nigeria and ever willing to die in order to keep it one.

Quiet, considerate, compassionate and caring, leading by example was his trademark at the height of confrontation with Boko Haram terrorists.

Late Lt. Col.  Ali was the soldier, who operated the most sophisticated of all war equipment deployed to the North East,  traversed the North, Central and Northern Borno endlessly and tirelessly;  recovered towns and liberated villages under control of the BH. 

Late Ali it was, who during the day and night, come rain come shine, stepped on countless landmines that dotted Borno's porous borders with Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria,  cleared the paths for our dear soldiers, who  rescued the weak, the kids, the women  and the old from the clutches of the Boko Haramists.

Though smallish in nature, late Ali's heart was like that of a lion, the king of the jungle; he never retreated, he never relented, he never compromised and he never gave up until the last hour.

Yes, he was, Ali the conquerer of the ambitious Abubakar Shekau's Empire.

Ali's short but eventful life will never be forgotten in the annals of Nigerian history. He came, he saw, he conquered and cleared the ruins for the next generation.

His life was  akin to that of  late General Mamman Shuwa (equally killed by BH in cold blood while in retirement), who fought the Civil War in the 60s, for us to have something known as  Nigeria today.

Ali's was a fight, the type the likes of legendary Gen. T.Y Danjuma waged for the sake of Nigeria, the giant of Africa.

Oh Ali, may Allah grant you Jannatul Firdausi, may He bless your kids and widow, cater for them and strengthen them. May Allah console your parents and your loved ones.

Indeed you're a fallen hero!

Adieu Ali
Hamza Idris (a Journalist that covers Boko Haram in North-East for Years)
Johannesburg, South Africa
6th Nov. 2016

See Pictures of Lt.Col Abu Ali Killed By Boko Haram Terrorists Today

PHOTONEWS: Lt. Col Abu Ali Nigerian army officer noted for his bravery and gallantry who was killed by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno state

Budget Padding: Sanctioned “Padders” are Back to Work in Ministry-Investigations

Budget Padding: President Muhammadu Buhari’s avowed determination to punish culprits who smuggled foreign items into the 2016 budget and who caused both national and international embarrassment are back to work, Economic Confidential can report.

Investigation by the Economic Intelligence Magazine indicates that the officials who were sanctioned by their deployment outside Federal Ministry of Finance have since resumed duties in the same Ministry without the highly publicized punishment the President promised while speaking to Nigerians resident in Saudi Arabia.

President Muhammadu Buhari had in February this year while speaking in Saudi Arabia threatened to punish all those who were involved in the padding of the budget.

Apart from the removal of Director General of Budget Office and deployment of several directors and senior officials from the Ministry, President Buhari also merged the budget office with the Ministry of Planning.

About 15 senior officials from other Ministries and Departments were posted to the Budget Office to replace the sanctioned officials that were recalled to Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

Other Ministries involved in the un-wholesome attitudes include but not limited to Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Education, Health, Agriculture and Rural Development, Trade and Investment, and Interior Ministry.

Meanwhile, Economic Confidential learnt that there has been an unhealthy rivalry between the Ministry of Finance and the Budget and Planning Ministry which are under the supervision of Kemi Adeosun and Udo Udoma respectively over who should superintend over budget processes and implementations in the country.

The development has no doubt created frictions between the two ministries and lack of the needed synergy required by both to put up a forward looking national budget. In view of these concerns, some departments have been created in the Federal Ministry of Finance that play critical roles on budget implementation. The departments include: Cash Management, Special Projects and Technical Services, bringing the total departments in the Ministry to more than 10. Some of the sanctioned officials are said to be performing strategic roles on the nation’s economy in these departments.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed that all those involved in the padding of the 2016 National Budget, which led to the discrepancies in the document, would face the most severe punishment.

He said the alterations, which he described as embarrassing and disappointing, made the document, which was debated in the National Assembly, completely different from what was prepared by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.

In a statement, then by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President spoke in Riyadh while addressing the Nigerian community in Saudi Arabia.

The President was said to have condemned the distortion of the budget proposals by those he called entrenched interests.

Buhari stated that since he had been holding public offices, he had never heard about budget padding before the current incident.

He regretted that the unauthorized alterations had completely changed the document from the one he presented to the National Assembly.

The President, however, gave the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma, a clean bill of health, saying he did a good job.

Buhari said, “The culprits will not go unpunished. I have been a military governor, petroleum minister, military Head of State and headed the Petroleum Trust Fund.

“Never had I heard the words budget padding. Our Minister of Budget and National Planning did a great job with his team.

“The minister became almost half his size during the time, working night and day to get the budget ready, only for some people to pad it.

“What he gave us was not what was finally being debated. It is very embarrassing and disappointing. We will not allow those who did it to go unpunished.”

IGP SET UP SPECIAL INVESTIGATION PANEL TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED ABUSES AT INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPs) CAMPS REPORTED BY HUMAN RIGHT WATCH

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim k. Idris MPN mni, has set up a Special dedicated Investigation Team to immediately commence thorough Investigation into all cases of alleged sexual abuses, exploitation, harassments, gender based violence and professional misconduct on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in some of North-eastern States contained in a report published by the Human Right Watch against Camp officials, vigilante groups, Soldiers and Policemen among others.

2.     The IGP who is irrevocably committed to the protection of all Nigerians most especially vulnerable group such as Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) has expressed deep concern over the submissions in the report and has directed the Special Investigation Panel to carry out a discreet and unbiased investigation into all the cases of abuse and misconduct alleged in the report.

3.     However, the IGP has called on Human Right Watch officials to avail the investigation team more facts that will assist the Police investigation team conclude the inquiry into the alleged forty three (43) cases mentioned in the Human Right Watch (HRW) report. 

4.     The IGP has also directed Commissioners of Police in locations where IDP Camps are situated to beef up security and ensure adequate safety of all IDPs and ensure that all perpetrators of any criminal act are decisively dealt with in accordance to the law. The IGP further urge all police officers and other personnel deployed to the IDP camps to strictly adhere to the rules of engagement.

5. The Nigeria Police Force assures all Nigerians and the International community that the Force will not condone any act that violate the human dignity of the IDPs by individuals or group of persons in the IDP camps or anywhere in the country.

HERITAGE BANK TASKS STUDENTS TO BREAK ONYALI'S RECORD

 

The Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Heritage Bank, Ifie Sekibo, has set aside a N10m trust fund for any athlete that can break the 200 metre record set by ex-international, and Skoolimpics Ambassador, Mary Onyali.

 

 

The MD while declaring the pilot edition of the Heritage Bank-Lagos State Skoolimpics 2016 open said he would be setting aside the sum of N10m that would be yielding interests and handed over to any athlete discovered at the competition who was able to break Onyali's record.

 

Onyali's 200-metre record of 22.07secs was set 20 years ago at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games and no athlete has been able to break the record.

 

The MD also applauded other sponsors like Lagos State Government, CWAY, Mr. Biggs, Etransact, Verve, Willson’s Lemonade, Lucozade Sport who partnered with the bank in their quest to develop the youths.

 

"Skoolimpics has come to stay and this is just the pilot edition," he said.

 

"We have planned and met with people and today we all can see the results of the planning. I am happy that we have somebody as Mary Onyali as an ambassador because she was discovered from school competitions like this.

 

"The target is to build future champions from amidst all these students and I am looking forward to seeing an athlete that will break our Skoolimpics brand ambassador's 200m record.

 

"I am going to start an endowment fund with N10million for anyone that can break her record in the next 10 to 20 years. The money will be increasing in an interest-yielding account and whosoever breaks that record will take the money…and with that I declare this year’s Skoolimpics open."

 

Five events will be competed for across two venues, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere and Rowe Park, Yaba. The events are athletics, basketball, table tennis, swimming and handball.

WE'LL COMPLETE LAGOS-BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY EXPANSION BY 2019, AMBODE ASSURES

...Says Aboru-Abesan Link Bridge, Road Will Be Ready By 2017
… Work To Commence On Irede Road In Four Weeks

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday assured residents that the ongoing Lagos-Badagry Expressway Expansion project would be completed before the end of 2019.

The Governor, who spoke shortly after embarking on extensive inspection of ongoing projects across the State, said the project was a major economic catalyst for Lagos and therefore his administration was totally committed to seeing it through.

Recalling that his recent visit to Denmark was to finalise plans with APM Terminals to fast-track the commencement of work on the $2.6billion Badagry Deep Sea Port, Governor Ambode said it was important for the road network to be completed within schedule to accommodate the anticipated increase in economic activities within the axis.

“On the part of government, it is imperative that the project is accelerated and completed on schedule. It is a 10-lane expansion project with a provision for rail,” he said.

Governor Ambode said that though the project was awarded to Okokomaiko, his administration was almost at financial close to give it to a concessionaire who is expected to extend the project from Okokomaiko to Seme Border.

“We believe strongly that the contractor has done a good job here. We have given him the right of way and it is our belief that the one that has been awarded should be completed on schedule. I am committed to this project; I am committed to the expansion of the economy of the East axis of Lagos. That is the surest way to go.

“By doing this project, we would also expand the real estate value of this axis and the tourism potentials of the Badagry axis. I am confident that in no time, we should have a complete project before the end of 2019,” he said.

Explaining the progress of work done so far, General Manager of Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), South West, Mr. Guan Shuai, said extensive work had been done on three Flyovers and Interchange Bridges in Alaba, Agboju and Alakija.

He noted that the challenge of relocating pipes and cables belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which hitherto slowed down the project had been resolved through the intervention of Governor Ambode.

While inspecting the stretch of link road from Agbelekale off Ekoro Road to Abesan Estate via Church Street, Giwa and Aboru, Governor Ambode expressed satisfaction with the progress of the project so far, but charged the contractor and supervisors to ensure the delivery of the project within the first quarter of 2017.

The Governor, who was received amidst fanfare by residents who displayed placard of various inscriptions commending him for the project, said the bridge being constructed as part of the project had to be extended from 240meters to 360meters due to the nature of soil in the area.

He said: "Just about five months ago, we were here to see the progress of this project. This road is designed to connect all the people living in the Aboru area to Iyana-Ipaja and also to the LASU-Iba road and all the people living within the Ajasa Community. You will recall also that just about three months ago, we were here to open up the Ajasa Command road and this is another project to complement the opening up of the Alimosho community.

"Like the contractor has promised, we hope to finish this project by the end of January next year. We have also found out that we need to extend this bridge by an additional 120 meters because of the nature of the soil in this area. I had earlier promised that this project would be delivered by the end of this year but I'm pleased with the progress being made on this project. I want to urge the contractors and the supervisors to ensure that we meet the completion date and that within the first quarter of next year, all the people in Alimosho will enjoy this facility," he said.

At Irede Road in Oriade Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Governor Ambode was briefed by the Commissioners for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ganiyu Johnson and Housing, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, who narrated the inter-ministerial work being planned for the axis.

Lawal said a 30 hectare land at Ado Trade Fair had already been designated for a 500 Housing Units which would be constructed in partnership with the private sector.

He said the project, which is a transit oriented development, would open up the area for economic activities and real estate, adding that it would complement the 13 stations of the Blue Line Rail Project and 10-lane Lagos-Badagry Express road.

In his response, Governor Ambode expressed displeasure with the state of Irede Road, assuring that work would start on the road within the next four weeks.

He said: "It is very clear that this Irede road is in a very deplorable condition. I have come personally to see it and I have received complaints from people of this community. I also see that the economic value that we stand to benefit from upgrading this road is unquantifiable.

"Beyond the fact that we will open up the road to the Lagos Badagry Expressway, we also intend to expand our housing policy and the rent-to-own scheme to this neighbourhood. So, I like to just clearly state that work would commence on Irede Road within the next four weeks," he said.

N1.4Bn ONSA Cash: I Acted Under Badeh’s Instructions, Witness Insists

The trial of a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, continued on Thursday, November 3, 2016 before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, presenting its eight witness, Eso Faleke, for cross-examination.

Faleke, a banker with Guaranty Trust Bank and account officer to Badeh’s company account (Iyalikam Nigeria Limited) had in her evidence on November 2, narrated how Badeh became a co-signatory to the company’s account in January 2015 and how he gave instructions to carry out several transactions running into millions of naira.

The witness, who was cross-examined by Akin Olujimi and Samuel O. Zibiri, SAN, representing Badeh and Iyalikam Nigeria Limited respectively, insisted that she received several instructions from Badeh through telephone and in writing, to transfer funds to several accounts especially Naira and Dollar accounts.

The witness while commenting on exhibit E25 and E30 explained that though exhibit E30 carried a lone signature, it contained telephone instructions because the telephone number was on the mandate card of the authorized signatory.

According to her, the mandate card was not for instruction as to how to receive telephone calls.

Faleke insisted that she acted according to the standard procedure of the bank with respect to documentary transaction.

Speaking on exhibits E3 to E7 (the statements of account), Faleke told the court that payments can be made via deposit slip adding that the payments therein were made in cash via deposit slip, but that she did not come to court with them having not been requested to do so.

Justice Okon Abang, thereafter, adjourned to November 14, 2016 for continuation of trial.

Badeh is being prosecuted by the EFCC alongside his company, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, for allegedly abusing his office by using the dollar equivalent of the sum of N1.4billion (One Billion, Four Hundred Million Naira) removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, to purchase properties in choice areas of Abuja between January and December, 2013.

The offence contravenes Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.