FMBN plans 500 housing units in Abia

Chairman, Board of Directors, FMBN, Chief Bisi Ogunjobi.

As part of efforts to provide affordable houses for the citizenry, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria says it has concluded plans to commence the construction of 500 housing units in Abia State.

The Chairman, Board of Directors, FMBN, Chief Bisi Ogunjobi, who dropped the hint on Wednesday in Umuahia during the inauguration of the state’s permanent headquarters of the bank, noted with delight the robust relationship between the FMBN and Abia workers.

Ogunjobi, who was represented at the event by the South- East representative on the Board of Directors, Dr. Godwin Duru, said Abia civil servants’ contribution to the National Housing Fund had hit N1.46bn.

He also said that the bank was faithful in fulfilling its own part of the bargain as it had paid over N47.2m to retired contributors from the state.

Ogunjobi also said the FMBN had financed two estates to the tune of N1bn in the state while calling for continued collaboration between the state government, labour unions, and the bank to sustain the efforts being made through the NHF to promote home ownership in the country.

The Executive Director, Loans, FMBN, Mr. Bola Ogunsola, said the bank had proposed a scheme to encourage non-civil servants to assess funds from the bank and own their own houses, while appealing to state governments to provide cheap land for their people.

The Abia State Head of Service, Chief Godson Adiele, represented by Mrs. Uzoamaka Uche-Ikonne, lauded the management of the FMBN for its wisdom of building a permanent structure for its operations in the state.

He also commended the bank for its efforts in providing affordable houses for Abia workers and pledged the commitment of the workers to regularly contribute to the NHF.

Similarly, the state’s Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Chris Okoro, thanked the bank for showing genuine commitment to the housing needs of workers and pledged that they would always make their contributions to the housing fund.

FG accepts new Environmental Impact Assessment report

Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam

The Federal Government has received a reviewed report on the Environmental Impact Assessment Act No. 86 of 1992 CAP E12 LFN 2010, which will ensure adequate regulation of programmes and policies that affect the environment.

The EIA Act was presented to the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, in Abuja by a ministerial committee.

The leader of the committee, Dr. Oluwole Ameyan, said the reviewed Act would address a lot of environmental irregularities that were not adequately taken care of in the old Act.

He said, “In line with current international best practices, the committee introduced a section of Strategic Environmental Assessment to cover areas such as polices, plans and programmes, which have long-term effects on the environment.

“The SEA implies that some programmes and policies of government will now be subject to the EIA. So, it is no longer enough to just have a programme or policy, especially if such policy is likely going to have a long-term environmental effect. Once this is established, such policy, programme or activity must be subjected to the EIA.”

Ameyan said other areas addressed by the reviewed Act included the issue of broader public participation, funding of the EIA process and the need to put in place more efficient machinery for

Poverty, unemployment fuelling insecurity – ICSAN

President, ICSAN, Dr. Suleyman Ndanusa

The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administration of Nigeria on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency address the insecurity challenge in the country.

The President, ICSAN, Dr. Suleyman Ndanusa, who stated this while addressing journalists in Abuja on activities for the 38th annual conference of the institute, said the development was adversely affecting the economy.

Ndanusa, who is also the Chairman, Board of the Securities and Exchange Commission, noted that while the country had recorded significant improvement in key sectors of the economy, the issue of insecurity had become worrisome.

He explained that despite the fact that the country’s Gross Domestic Product had been on the increase in recent times, poverty and unemployment still remained issues that had not been effectively addressed.

Nigeria’s relative poverty measurement figure, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, stands at 69 per cent (or 112,518,507 Nigerians).

The North-West and North-East geo-political zones have the highest poverty rates in the country with 77.7 per cent and 76.3 per cent, respectively.

Among states, Sokoto has the highest poverty rate at 86.4 per cent, while the unemployment rate in the country currently stands at 23.9 per cent.

However, for the benefits of economic growth to sufficiently trickle down, Ndanusa said there was a need for policies that would help achieve inclusive growth and poverty reduction.

He said, “The issue of concern about the security situation in the country has affected every segment of the nation’s economy. It goes without saying that the present situation has grave governance implication, which cannot be swept under the carpet.

“The security crises we are experiencing have a lot of economic undertone. When you have youth unemployment and poverty; then, you create a ready made potential for battalion of people that can be used by all kind of extremists.

“What we need in the immediate to the long-term are economic policies that actually impact on the citizens, because growth in the GDP is not enough. But how does it affect the food on the table, unemployment, break the circle of poverty and how do we bring credit for small scale businesses?”

Protesting Edo students ground traffic on Benin-Ore road

The protesting students.

Vehicular movement was on Wednesday brought to a halt on the Benin-Ore Expressway by a coalition of students from four tertiary institutions owned by the Edo State Government.

They were protesting against the inability of the state government to address the demands of their lecturers and the poor state of facilities in the institutions.

The students, who noted that the lecturers had carried out a seven-day warning strike last month, said they feared that the current move by the academic staff to down tools indefinitely would totally ground academic activities in the four institutions.

The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union had last month halted academic activities in four government-owned higher institutions ─ Colleges of education, Ekiadolor and Igueben; School of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi; and Institute of Management and Technology, Usen, to protest against what they described as the reluctance of the government to pay their 16-month salary arrears.

The arrears arose from a differential in the implementations of the salary structure of CONPCASS and CONTEDISS from July 2009 to October 2010.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the students barricaded the busy expressway, leaving motorists and travellers from both Lagos and Benin areas stranded for several hours.

It was the second time such a protest would be held this year.

The Student Union Government President, Emmanuel Amenaghamwon, who led the protest, said the students could no longer tolerate the ill-treatment faced by their lecturers.

Amenaghamwon, who also decried the poor state of infrastructure in the institutions, appealed to the relevant authorities to address the poor condition of the schools, which they alleged could not compete with other institutions in the state.

The COEASU Chairman at the College of Education, Ekiadolor, Mr. Fred Omonuwa, told our correspondent that the union was aware that the students were protesting in solidarity with their lecturers.

Omonuwa said that the union had planned to down tools from next week, adding that the students’ protest was an effort to prevent the plan by the union to down tools because it would disrupt their forthcoming examinations.

“The students are also frustrated that they are just in school and nothing is happening; the road that leads to the school is bad and there is no water in the hostels.

“The union has said it is not going to conduct any exams until the state government meets the demands.

“So, they decided to use this medium to bare their minds,” he said.

Men of the Ekiadolor Police Division were at the protest venue to forestall a breach of peace, while personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps were seen trying to manage the gridlock caused by the protest.

The Toll Gate Unit Commander of the FRSC, Ameen Adewale, told our correspondent on the telephone that the protest created heavy traffic congestion on the highway.

He said that the protesting students, had, however, been convinced to go back to their campuses around 12pm, after appeals by the school management and security agencies.

He said, “On getting there, we discovered that some students were protesting and blocked the expressway. S

“Since then, we have been battling to see how we can ease the traffic situation there.

“But as I am talking to you now, there is free movement of vehicles to and fro, without any obstruction,” Adewale said.

The Edo State Commissioner for Higher Education, Washington Usifo, could not be reached to react to the issues raised by the students.

Confusion as IPO leaves court with suspect

 

Tinubu Magistrate’s Court.
| credits: Afeez Hanafi

The Investigating Police Officer attached to the Maroko Police Station on Tuesday caused confusion at the Lagos Magistrate’s Court, Tinubu, Lagos Island after he suddenly got missing from the court premises with a suspected kidnapper.

Our correspondent learnt that the policeman, one Corporal Johnson Ime, deserted the court premises with the suspect after the case had been filed and assigned to the magistrate, Mrs. O.M. Ajayi in Court 14.

The court got to know that the policeman and the suspect were missing after Ajayi instructed the registrar to call the matter with suit no P/157/2014 for prosecution.

The charge sheet indicated that the suspect, one Ayotunde Fabamwo, was to be arraigned on seven counts, including attempted kidnap, fraud and threat to life.

Fabamwo, it was gathered, was the founder and the Chief Executive Officer of House of Twitch and Style, a company involved in event planning, fashion shows, modeling and entertainment.

He was said to have organised a pageant sometime in May 2013, in the Lekki area of the state, which was won by one Chidubem Osungade.

Osungade was not given the prizes he won. Rather, Fabamwo further gave him a contract to be the company’s ambassador, for which he was also allegedly not paid.

Efforts by Osungade to get what was owed him were said to have been met with false promises, which later resulted to threats.

It was learnt that the suspect and four armed soldiers, in July 2014 allegedly attempted to kidnap Osungade at his residence on Adelabu Close, Ikeja.

The matter was later reported to the police at Maroko and was subsequently taken to court, but the actions of the IPO on Tuesday prevented the matter from coming up for hearing.

After the disappearance, the registrar, Mrs. B.A. Ibrahim, said she called the IPO on the telephone and he promised to show up soon, but he had yet to do so as of 4pm on Wednesday.

She said, “This is very surprising. Why did he bring such sensitive matter to court when he knew he was not ready for prosecution? He just absconded with the suspect after the case has been registered. It is now affecting our records. The magistrate that assigned the matter has given me a query.

“When I called him on phone, he said he was discussing with the suspect somewhere.. At a point he switched off his phone.”

Attempts to get a reaction from the IPO were unsuccessful as he refused to comment on the matter. After several calls to his telephone line, he finally answered and said he had nothing to say on the issue.

“You said you are calling from where? Sorry I have nothing to say,” he said.

Police arraign man for N3m fraud

The police have arraigned 39-year-old Chuma Uche-Okeke before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court for allegedly defrauding one Davis Gwuonu of N3m.

Uche-Okeke was said to have collected the money from the complainant on the pretext that he would sell plots of land to him.

The incident happened between June 2012, and August 2013, at Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.

Uche-Okeke was arraigned on Wednesday on three counts of fraud and obtaining under false pretences.

The charges read in part, “That you Chuma Uche-Okeke, and others now at large, between June 2012 and August 2013, at Ibeju Lekki, in Lagos in the Lagos Magistrate District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit; fraud.

“That you did obtain N3,275,000 from one Davis Gwuonu under the pretence that you are in a position to purchase plots of land for him, a representation you knew to be false, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His defence counsel, F.S. Oladele, applied for his bail in liberal terms.

The Magistrate, E.O. Ogunkanmi, granted bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned till October 13.

Lam Adesina’s son to contest against Ajimobi

Dr. Ayobami Lam-Adesina

Ayobami Lam-Adesina, who is the eldest son of a former Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lamidi Adesina, has said he will run for governor of the state on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

Ayobami told our correspondent during an interview that his late father, who was a leader of the Alliance for Democracy, was  responsible for the structure of the APC in the state and denied that the party structure was designed around Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

He said, “I am going to vie for the governorship position in Oyo State as the APC candidate. I will continue from where leaders like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Bola Ige and my father, who are all late, stopped. I will push for the implementation of true progressive policies. Free education, free health services, rural development, creation of employment and social services are some of the policies of the progressives.

“Constitutionally, I am qualified and I have the experience to succeed as a governor. There is the provision for primaries in the party so I don’t think there will be any problem with my coming out to contest.

“I know the history of the progressives in the state. The structure of the present APC in the state started with the structure  put in place by  the Alliance for Democracy. My father, the late Bola Ige, Michael Koleoso and other notable politicians nurtured the party to maturity.”

Ayobami, whose father contributed to Ajimobi’s victory in 2011, described the Peoples Democratic Party as a party that had mismanaged the resources of the country.

Ayobami’s governorship ambition and the expected division it may cause could weaken the chances of the APC retaining the governorship seat next year following the defection of its only two senators in the state, Senator Ayo Adeseun and Senator Olufemi Lanlehin to the PDP and the Accord Party respectively.

Bus driver killed during PDP rally in Lagos

Lagos Police PRO, Ngozi Braide

A 39-year-old commercial bus driver, Mr. Adesoji Adeboye, has been killed during a Peoples Democratic Party rally in Lagos.

According to relatives of the deceased, Adeboye was shot in the leg on Monday last week during a local government tour by a PDP governorship aspirant, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, in the Mushin area of the state.

Although police sources told our correspondent that details surrounding Adeboye’s murder were sketchy, relatives of the victim accused the PDP supporters of perpetrating the dastardly act.

However, a source in the PDP told our correspondent that Adeboye was shot by some thugs who invaded the gathering.

An aunt to the deceased, Mrs. Shade Afolabi, told our correspondent on the telephone that Adeboye had a wife and three children.

She said on the day of the incident, Adeboye was called by his boss, Mr. Kunle Oduyale, aka Osha, to go and convey some PDP party members said to be Agbaje’s supporters from the Lagos end of the old toll gate opposite Motorways Plaza at about 6am to a political rally being held by Agbaje in Epe.

She said under instruction from a leader of the federal task force, her nephew was told to convey some supporters of Agbaje to Mushin but he was shot in the process and his corpse was dumped around the old toll gate.

She said, “When he was called, they said the rally would take place in Epe but I don’t know why it was held in Mushin. Later in the evening, his blood-stained bus was spotted at the toll gate and he (Adeboye) laid in a pool of blood beside the bus close to FERMA yard.

“The supporters are claiming that he was shot in Mushin but I don’t understand why someone who was shot in Mushin would be taken to Ketu for treatment where he finally died. They are not being truthful about the incident. It is even unfortunate that no one from the PDP has deemed it fit to visit the family or even his (Adeboye’s) mother.”

In a petition sent to our correspondent, the Executive Director, Centre for Rights and Grassroots Initiative, Mr. Nelson Ekujumi, said there was a deliberate attempt by the perpetrators to cover up the act.

He said the matter was reported at the Ketu Police Division and later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.

Ekujumi said, “From our findings, it was discovered that Adeboye had a bullet wound on his thigh, we also found out that the bus which Adeboye drove was blood stained and which necessitated the family prevailing on the police at Ketu Division to impound the bus in question.

“We also suspected that Adeboye might have been shot at the PDP rally in Epe, but was kept in the bus to die from his injury by those he took to Epe with the sole intention of covering up this crime and thereafter dumped his body close to the Lagos end of the old toll gate to make it look like he had an accident at the spot where he was found.”

However, the Jimi Agbaje Organisation denied employing the deceased driver. The organisation in a statement said none of the vehicles
in Agbaje’s entourage was a commercial bus. The organisation described the allegations against Agbaje as baseless, saying the organisation could not be held responsible for what happens among motley groups at its rallies.

The statement read in part, “Not only are these insinuations far-fetched, they are totally false, mischievous, absurd and unwarranted. They smack of a deliberate and desperate attempt to soil the good image of our organisation, our supporters and our principal.

“In fact, the Jimi Agbaje organisation never hired the services of commercial transporters for its tours, spanning the 20 local government areas of Lagos State.

“Even if the dead driver cannot now corroborate this fact, his ‘master’ remains a living witness.”

When contacted on the telephone, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said, “According to the friends of the deceased, there was a meeting in Mushin and he was shot. He gave up the ghost on their way home. The friends are assisting the police with the investigation.”