Author: Day Break
Akwa Ibom Conclude Plans To Start Exporting Bamboo (pics)
There are strong indications that, Akwa Ibom state may soon commence exportation of its local bamboo to United States.
Mr. Travis Hargett, the Director of Supply Development, Global Bamboo Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of BamCore Group, Ocala, Florida, USA, dropped the hint Tuesday, 26th January, 2021 in Uyo while on a courtesy visit to the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong.
The Director of Global Bamboo said, having toured eighteen Local Government Areas in the state, he was delighted at the prospect of harmonizing a consistent purchase of large quantity of bamboo harvested and partially processed in the state, for onward shipping to the United States for production of furniture and other household items.
He disclosed that, the courtesy visit to the State Information helmsman, Comrade Ememobong, was one of the highpoints of his trip to Akwa Ibom State for a non binding interest to establish a long-term bamboo purchase – sale relationship between BamCore and Brave Heart Farms Ltd, a private sector driven concern based in the state.
The increasing economic importance of Bamboo cannot be over emphasized as it could be recalled that just recently, the Akwa Ibom State Government inaugurated Africa’s first dried Bamboo to Tissue Conversion Factory at the Dakkada Cottage Factory, located at the Itam Industrial Layout.
Responding, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong who welcomed Mr. Hargett and his team to the Ministry, expressed the optimism that, the exercise will ginger a mutually beneficial economic relationship between the state and the US based Bamboo Technologies Inc.
In the delegation of Mr. Hargett were: the member representing Ikono/Ini State Constituency and Chief Whip of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ekpenyong and the CEO of Brave Heart Farms Ltd, Mr. Ukeme Nya, among others.
Hunter Kills Himself & His Wife, Set House Ablaze in Anambra (pics)
A 65-year-old hunter from Amunike community in Awka North local government area of Anambra State, Uchechukwu Nweke has killed his 55-year-old wife Mrs Patricia Nweke using his single barrel gun.
He also burnt his house along with his son , Obinna Nweke aged 29 years in a circumstance yet to be ascertained.
Conforming the incident, the spokesman of the Anambra State Police Command, CSP Haruna Mohammed said “the police on 28/1/2021 received a report from Amunike community in Awka North LGA of Anambra State that , a hunter, one Uchechukwu Nweke ‘m’ aged 65 years allegedly shot his wife Patricia Nweke ‘f’ aged 55 years with a single barrel gun and also burnt his house along with his son named Obinna Nweke aged 29 years in a circumstances yet to be ascertained.
He also stated that the suspect equally shot himself using the same gun.
Meanwhile, Mohammed said that the police detectives attached to Achalla police station had visited the scene and took victims to Uche hospital for medical attention, where the three victims were certified dead by a medical doctor on arrival.
According to him, “corpses of the victims have been deposited at the hospital’s morgue for autopsy, while investigation is ongoing to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident.
BREAKING: Buhari in secret meeting with Sultan, other NSCIA members
The President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with members of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.
The meeting is holding at the Residential Villa, Abuja
Members of the NSCIA are led to the meeting by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar.
Details later…
Do not deceive yourselves, You Can’t Do Better Than Your Predecessors’ – Boko Haram Leader, Shekau Mocks New Service Chiefs
Boko Haram’s factional leader, Abubakar Shekau, has mocked the newly appointed service chiefs, saying they can’t do better than their predecessors in the fight against insurgency in the North-East.
According to HumAngle, Shekau disclosed this in a new video he released on Wednesday.
Boko Haram TerroristsPresident Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday appointed new service chiefs namely Lucky Irabor, Chief of Defence staff; Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Awwal Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Isiaka Amao, Chief of Air Staff.
In the video that lasted for nine minutes and 56 seconds, Shekau said he heard about the retirement of the previous service chiefs and their replacement with new ones, saying his message was to call them to Islam.
The Jama’atu Ahlussunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad leader also mentioned the names and roles of the new service chiefs and called them to repent, saying they can’t do anything to destroy his terror gang.
He said, “Leo Irabor, the head of the military, you should have sympathy for yourself, repent and convert to Islam. There is nothing you can do.”
Shekau said Attahiru should not deceive himself because he has a Muslim background.
“Even if you are Muslim but you conduct polytheistic practices, you are no longer a Muslim,” he said.
NSCDC seals fake lubricating oil factory in Kano
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kano State Command, has sealed a fake lubricating oil factory at Rangaza in Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state.
The Deputy Commander, Anti-vandalism Unit of the corps, Mr Joachin Okafor, stated this at a press conference on Thursday in Kano.
Okafor said that the command raided the temporary site of the factory at Rangaza village, arrested one person and recovered 10 drums of adulterated lubricant.
He said that the raid followed a series of complaints by motorists over the circulation of adulterated engine oil within Kano metropolis, adding that the products had resulted in the breakdown of engines of many motor vehicles.
Okafor explained that preliminary investigations showed that the suspect used diesel and other unwholesome materials to produce the lubricating oil.
“The lubricating oil has not been certified by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
“The suspect supplies the products to unscrupulous retailers in Sabon-Gari, who packages it into different containers and sells to unsuspecting customers.“The product is not ideal for the motor engine,” he said, stressing that the command had sealed the factory and continued its search for other collaborators
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kano State Command, has sealed a fake lubricating oil factory at Rangaza in Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state.
The Deputy Commander, Anti-vandalism Unit of the corps, Mr Joachin Okafor, stated this at a press conference on Thursday in Kano.
Okafor said that the command raided the temporary site of the factory at Rangaza village, arrested one person and recovered 10 drums of adulterated lubricant.
He said that the raid followed a series of complaints by motorists over the circulation of adulterated engine oil within Kano metropolis, adding that the products had resulted in the breakdown of engines of many motor vehicles.
Okafor explained that preliminary investigations showed that the suspect used diesel and other unwholesome materials to produce the lubricating oil.
“The lubricating oil has not been certified by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
“The suspect supplies the products to unscrupulous retailers in Sabon-Gari, who packages it into different containers and sells to unsuspecting customers.“The product is not ideal for the motor engine,” he said, stressing that the command had sealed the factory and continued its search for other collaborators.
Okafor said that the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations were completed.
While reiterating the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, Okafor urged residents of the state to report suspicious persons and movements in their communities to security agencies.
However, the suspect said that he produced raw products for processors of brake fluid and transmission oil.
“The product is not engine lubricant, as being alleged by the command.“At present, I am processing registration with SON to enable me run a legitimate trade, in accordance with the laws governing our operations,” he said.
Senate summons NPA MD over non-payment of N1.1bn gratuity
The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has summoned the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala-Usman, over the non-payment of about N1.1bn gratuity of 130 retired workers of the agency.
Also expected to appear before the Senate panel alongside Bala-Usman, are the Chairman, Secretary and other members of the NPA board as well as its management staff.
The Chairman of the Senate panel who issued the directive on Thursday, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, said the committee observed that by that action, the NPA has tampered with the implementation of the 2018 budget of the agency.
He said the agency, by doing so, had “shortchanged innocent Nigerians who retired from the services of NPA after a 35 years meritorious service to the Nation”.
The senate panel acted on a petition brought to it by one Isa Usman Kunini and three retired workers on behalf of 126 other ex-officers of the NPA over the non-payment of a significant portion of their gratuity by the NPA after their retirement in 2018.
In the petition, the retired workers requested that the Senate should look into the matter and urge the NPA management to include the sum of N1,160, 732, 309.43 being the outstanding amount that accrued to the ex-officers in the 2020 budget for immediate payment.
Kunini and three others appeared before the Committee and made a presentation on 17th December, 2020, but NPA management did not show up.
Akinyelure flayed the action of the NPA management and warned that his committee would no longer sit back and allow any government agency alter the implementation of the budget duly passed by the National Assembly.
He said some management staff of the agencies hid under the guise of board approval, which ran contrary to the Appropriation Act signed to law by the President of Nigeria.
Dangote Says His Ex-Girlfriend Tried To Extort $5 Million From Him
Africa’s richest man, Alike Dangote, has told a U.S. court how his former American girlfriend, who exposed a part of his body via a social media post, is trying to extort $5 million from him.
the documents of a civil suit he filed with a pseudonym against the lady identified as Autumn Spikes at a Miami-Dade County Court in Florida, United States of America.
The wealthy businessman used the pseudonym, John Doe, with AD, that stands for the ‘acronym’ for his name, Aliko Dangote, as his alias.
He seeks “excess of $30,000” in damages against Ms Spikes.
One of the court documents filed by the plaintiff on January 22, is titled, ‘Complaint petition for declaratory judgment complaint for (about) extortion petition for injunctive relief’.
The document, among others, obtained by accused Ms Spikes of libel, defamation, cyberstalking and a breach of agreement ”to keep their relationship private and off the social media”.
It stated that Mr Dangote’s “business acumen has made him a target for coercion by the defendant”, adding that Ms Spikes demanded “meritless claims of $5 million” in the nature of “palimony to which she is not legally entitled”.
Palimony is an amount of money a law court orders someone to pay regularly to a former partner whom they were living with but were not married to.
“Autumn Spikes has made a demand that the plaintiff pays her five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) as shown in Exhibit 1,” Mr Dangote’s court document states.
How it began
The affair between Mr Dangote and Ms Spikes first came to public knowledge on January 1, when the lady using the Instagram handle, Allarounda1, posted a video clip showing herself seated and Mr Dangote stretched on a couch.
The images, which went viral on social media, appeared to have been captured during their good times together.
It showed most of Mr Dangote’s body covered in an orange blanket but with his buttocks exposed while he fiddled with his phone.
Ms Spikes also shared other images of the billionaire but later deleted them.
In later updates, she said she did not make her affairs public on social media to acquire fame.
She also claimed her action was aimed at helping Mr Dangote ”clear his name of the embarrassment caused by another ex-mistress of the businessman, Bea Lewis, who exposed their intimate affairs on social media”.
$13bn Paris Club refunds: How Linas, Nwoko were threatened – Lawyers
LINAS International Limited and former Member, House of Representatives, Hon Ned Nwoko, have disclosed how they were threatened in their bid to untangle the excess charges and over deductions in Paris Club advances for which the Federal Government had refunded $13 billion to States and Local Governments Areas.
An Interim Management Committee, IMC, of Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, recently distanced the association from the current plan by the Federal Government to pay Linas and Ned Nwoko their overdue consultancy fees, but ALGON national president, Mr. Kolade Alabi and others who confirmed Nwoko’s engagement, dismissed the IMC as nonexistent.
J.K Gazadma, SAN and other lawyers to Linas and Nwoko, in a statement said: “The British government at some point was reluctant to disclose repayment details claiming that such disclosures will jeopardize relations with Nigerian government. The company persisted and through the High Court in London got the desired disclosure orders and the much-needed documents to establish the excess charges and over deductions.”
“This windfall was facilitated by the consultancy work of Linas International Limited which initiated the forensic audit and accounting review process that discovered over deductions and excess charges debited to the account of these tiers of government over time and accelerated with the exit of Nigeria from the London and Paris Club of lenders during the President Olusegun Obasanjo regime.
“The consultancy was on a contingency basis where the payment to Linas International Limited is dependent on the success and actual funds recovered no matter what costs were incurred. The consultancy presented huge risks as no funds were committed by the beneficiaries – states and local governments.
“No state or local government funded the huge costs involved. Some states and local governments were in fact skeptical about the chances of success. Linas International Limited tenaciously and silently commenced and pursued these finance and accounting review since 2009. Its discovery led to the stoppage of the excess charges being debited to the accounts of states and local governments from the Federation Account.
“Linas followed the money trail to several European banking centres in the United Kingdom, France and Geneva to aggregate the over deductions to the accounts of Local Government in the Federation Account. To achieve the above feats, Linas International Limited engaged diverse professionals in these foreign jurisdictions including Inquiry Agents, Accounting and legal professionals.
“Linas International Limited and Ned Nwoko were threatened in the course of the effort to unravel the excess charges and over deductions. The British government at some point was reluctant to disclose repayment details claiming that such disclosures will jeopardize relations with Nigerian government.
The company persisted and through the High Court in London got the desired disclosure orders and the much-needed documents to establish the excess charges and over deductions. In the course of the court cases four former Nigerian state governors lent their support with their presence in some of the court proceedings,” they said.
The lawyers frowned at the misrepresentations and false narratives in the print and social media over the matter, saying: “These misleading impressions, in the past, led to complaints to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC. The EFCC invited Linas Limited and Ned Nwoko and thoroughly investigated the complaints and after sifting through piles of documents issued a report dated m August 1, 2018, affirming that Linas International Limited and Ned Nwoko executed the consultancy leading to the refunds and is entitled to be paid consultancy fees.”
“A review investigation by EFCC confirmed the earlier report. In fact, there are three separate EFCC reports – August 1, 2018, April 30, 2019, and June 15, 2020, all independent and confirming that Ned Nwoko and Linas International are that ones that were duly engaged by states and local governments.
“The Department of State Services, DSS, based on intelligence report has also investigated the subject matter and turned in a report in similar terms.
“Linas is not engaged by ALGON, we are engaged directly by all the local governments directly (with irrevocable powers of attorney which is still subsisting). Above all, the local governments have received funds of $3.2 billion because of our efforts. We deserve our fees and we will be paid in full,” they said.
Stop Fortifying Cultists – Lagos Police Commissioner Warns Ikorodu Traditionalists
The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, has warned traditionalists in the Ikorodu Local Government Area of the state to stop fortifying cultists and criminals in the area, IgbereTV reports.
The police chief gave the warning while speaking at the 2021 Ikorodu Town Hall Meeting on Security held in the community on Wednesday, January 27. He said community leaders must also contribute their quota in ensuring the safety of all and sundry in their environment by exposing all criminal elements.
He said;
“The Local Government Councils in Ikorodu must occupy the front line in combating crimes in the area. Their constitutional responsibilities cannot be jettisoned in the fight against cultism and crimes in general.
The traditional institution in the division must be up and doing in condemning the activities of the bad boys (cultists), instead of supporting and celebrating them and their criminal acts.
The members of the public, especially landlords must key into this fight against insecurity in Ikorodu by screening those to be accommodated or harboured in their houses.
The traditionalists and traditional worshippers in this area must stop promoting and protecting the criminals in Ikorodu axis and Lagos State in general. The ideas of fortifying the bad boys and providing native charms for them are counterproductive to our security architecture in this area. Their powers must be used to assist us not to jeopardise our efforts.
The religious bodies must use all their platforms, links and ideological perspectives to promote peace and security in the state and Nigeria at large. The idea of preaching prosperity at the detriment of salvation is counterproductive to security of lives and properties in our contemporary society.”
Boko Haram Terrorists
