FG repairs bombed Abuja-Kaduna railway, operations begin Oct. 23 by Okechukwu Nnodim

The Federal Government on Friday announced that it had completed the repairs of the Abuja-Kaduna rail track that was bombed by terrorists on Wednesday. The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, announced this after inspecting the facility on Friday and stated that train services would resume on the route from Saturday, October 23, 2021. He also stated that the government was already working to apprehend those who bombed the facility, stressing that he would meet with the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Army on the matter. “The repair work is completed. What is significant is that the repair was done by our Nigerian engineers and completed in record time,” Amaechi said. “They moved in today (Friday) and finished today and by tomorrow (Saturday), we expect that the first train will run on the track.” Amaechi said the procurement of digital systems would be fast-tracked in order to enhance the security network on the railway. “The essence of the digital security system is to enable us to know when there is an impact on the rail,” he said. He added, “There is a sensor, when people cross the rail or do anything, we will be able to know and we will be able to forestall this kind of attack. “We will get the police to be involved so that they will be here before we install the digital security system. I am happy that our people fixed it. “I am not happy that the security breach took place but what it has done is that it has shown that we actually have the capacity to fix our rail.” The Abuja-Kaduna train track was bombed on Wednesday and services were suspended by the Nigerian Railway Corporation to ensure that it was fixed.

Livestock programme: Edo civil society chides Obaseki for demanding funds from FG by Adeyinka Adedipe

The Edo Civil Society Organisation has chided the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, for demanding funds from the Federal Government for a National Livestock Transformation Programme. The group described the action as a betrayal of Edo people and resolution reached at a town hall meeting by the Southern Forum Governors’ Forum on open grazing. Obaseki had, after attending the town hall meeting on Tuesday, flew to Abuja on Wednesday to demand from the Federal Government fund for Livestock Transformation Programme in the state. But EDOCSO, in a press conference held in Benin on Thursday said if the agreement reached at the town hall meeting by the Southern Governors’ Forum was in variation with Obaseki’s demand from Buhari, then it is a betrayal of trust, adding that such would not be tolerated in the state. The chairman of the The Extended Council of EDOCSO, Osadolor Ochei, called on Obaseki to obey the decision and resolution he and other South-South governors reached at the town hall meeting. While noting that traditional rulers and the church in the state have all made it clear to the Governor that the state has no land for open grazing, Osadolor called on the Governor to, as a matter of urgency, transmit a bill on anti-open-grazing to the state House of Assembly so as to pass it in to law so that “we all can have peace”. “Edo people will not be a party to ceding their lands to the Federal Government plan in whatever disguise. There is no going back on the ban on open grazing in Edo state which is the yearnings of Edo people. Owners of cattle should build their ranches to carry out their legitimate business. “We are giving him till the second week of November to transmit the said bill to the Edo State House of Assembly so it can become law,” he demanded. He added, “Cattle owners that allow their cattle to graze on a farmer’s land or destroy any property should be made to serve a jail term not less than six months and pay compensation to the farmer whose farm is destroyed. He should also stand the chance of forfeiting the cattle to the state government. “The provision of colonies to cattle owners should be discouraged. Every cattle owner should purchase/lease land for the purpose of ranching and/or any other farming operations. All cattle owners must ranch their cattle. It is not the business of the government to provide land for cattle owners.” The civil society organisation therefore called on Obaseki to stop further discussion on the National Livestock Transformation Programme with the Federal Government irrespective of the monetary benefits. While calling on the state government to invest in the agric sector, the civil society organisation stressed that this would address food scarcity and other issues in the state.

How we killed Obasanjo’s third term, says Nnamani, Buhari hails ex-Senate President by Eniola Akinkuotu

A former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Danjuma, has hailed the book, ‘Standing Strong’, authored by a former President of the Senate, Ken Nnamani, which focuses on the alleged attempts by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to extend his tenure in office. Danjuma, who served as defence minister in Obasanjo’s cabinet in the early 2000s, was also part of the supreme military council in the late 1970s. The former minister, who was the chairman at the book launch in Abuja on Thursday, stated that the publication was “classic history.” While congratulating Nnamani, he said, “The book is a classic history of a country and we have the unfortunate habit of not valuing and preserving our history. The result is that the lies and the distortions that hit the headlines survive. “So, I want all of you if you forget everything this morning, you mustn’t forget the fact that the records of what really happened have been documented and everybody should try and possess it, read it and look out for witnesses.” In his speech, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), praised Nnamani and the Senate for helping to preserve democracy. Buhari, who was represented by the Minister for Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, said but for the courage of Nnamani and his colleagues, the seamless transfer of power in 2007 would have been difficult, if not impossible. He stated, “We thank Senator Nnamani and his colleagues at the National Assembly for standing strong in carrying out their constitutional duty in the defence of democracy in our dear country, Nigeria. “We have had a President hand over power to another President elected on the platform of the same political party. In 2015, an opposition political party defeated a sitting President and our democracy witnessed a smooth transfer of power from one political party to another. Our democracy is growing and can be said to be matured.” Also speaking, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo saluted Nnamani, saying, “He (Nnamani) is a man that truly loves the nation. He wants to serve but he is not desperate, which informs why at the risk of losing his Senate presidency, he stood his ground. Your role in our national life is just beginning.” Nnamani said he wrote the book to remind Nigerians of the dangerous path it could have taken but for the vigilance and courage of some legislators, and to challenge the citizens never to abandon the responsibility of protecting due process for democracy to survive He added, “Our democracy was tested in 2006 and it passed. It was tested again in 2015 and passed. This has culminated in the Buhari presidency. The crucial 2015 test would not have been if we failed the 2006 test. “The 2006 test was a test of if leaders will rise above fear and the politics of the strongman to strengthen democracy by upholding due process. It was a test of the solidity of our legislature. The 2015 test was a test of whether a ruling political party and an incumbent president will have the grace and patriotism to accept political defeat and allow the opposition to form a new government. This was not a simple test. “Many African countries failed this test. The result of such failure is the collapse of national consensus and retreat into authoritarian politics with its attendant political instability and economic stagnation.” Obasanjo has denied ever attempting to extend his tenure in office. PUNCH.

Next Ponzi Scheme: EFCC arraigns Mr ‘Crime Alert’ over N35 million fraud by William Ukpe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned Olaniyan Gbenga Amos (aka Crime Alert) and his company, Detorrid Heritage Investment Limited over allegedly obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N35,000,000.00 (Thirty-Five Million Naira). This was disclosed in a statement by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC on Thursday evening. They stated that the defendant was arrested following petitions by victims, alleging that Amos defrauded them through his company, Detorrid Heritage Investment Nigeria Limited (DHIL). Gbenga Amos was arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State on a 35-count charge bordering on conspiracy and operating business of other financial institutions. What the EFCC said “The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, October 18, 2021, arraigned one Olaniyan Gbenga Amos (aka Crime Alert) and his company, Detorrid Heritage Investment Limited before Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State on a 35-count charge bordering on conspiracy, operating business of other financial institutions and obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N35,000,000.00 (Thirty-Five Million Naira),” the anti-graft agency stated. They noted that the accused was arrested following petitions by victims, alleging that Amos through his company, Detorrid Heritage Investment Nigeria Limited (DHIL) popularly known as Crime Alert Security Network Investment, induced them to invest in a Ponzi scheme which offered a monthly 30% return on investment. “Olaniyan Gbenga Amos and Detorrid Heritage Investment Limited between August 2019 and May 2021 at Ibadan, without license, operated business of other financial institutions and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 58(1) and punishable under section 59(6) (a and b) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, Cap B3 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,” one of the charges brought against Amos read. Another charge read thus: “That you Olaniyan Gbenga Amos and Detorrid Heritage Investment Limited on or about 29th of September, 2020, at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N15,000,000:00 (Fifteen Million Naira) only from Fadipe Babajide Ayorinde, when you falsely represented to him that the money is meant for registration and investment with Crime Alert Security Network with a promise of 30% return on investment in 6 weeks (30 working days), which representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (I)(a) and punishable under section (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2016.” The accused pleaded “not guilty” to the charges and Justice Agomoh adjourned till October 25, 2021, “for hearing of bail application.” The Judge also ordered that Amos be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Abolongo, Oyo State. In case you missed it Nairametrics earlier reported that the Federal High Court Abuja, ordered that the former board chairman of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Ngozi Olejeme, be remanded in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s custody, until Friday. Olejeme was arraigned on a nine-count charge in which she was accused of abusing her office, receiving bribes, awarding contracts without due process, diversion of public funds, money laundering among others.

NDDC pledges continued support for tertiary institutions By Ann Godwin

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has pledged continued support for tertiary institutions in the region by providing them with basic infrastructure on campus. The agency’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Dr. Ibitoye Abosede, made the promise when a delegation from the Alumni Association of Imo State University (IMSU) visited the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He thanked the visitors for recognising his contributions to education and nominating him for a Meritorious Award for Corporate Governance. Abosede said NDDC had executed several projects in Imo State, including a modern hostel, at the state varsity in Owerri. Earlier, National President of the IMSU Alumni Association, Ferdinand Ezeala, said the association was holding their yearly convention in Port Harcourt on October 30, adding that some deserving individuals and corporate organisations would be honoured at the event. Accompanied by the National Secretary, Dr. Anayo Uhiara, Ezeala commended the NDDC for building the capacity of universities in the oil-rich area.

Mustapha emerges new Turaki of Ilorin By Abigail Ikghalu

Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State and the seat of the Emirate, will be agog tomorrow, as Mallam Saliu Mustapha will be turbaned as the new Turaki of Ilorin. According to Rahem Adedoyin, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Ilorin, Mustapha is President Muhammadu Buhari’s close ally and former Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), now in APC. The title was first held by Second Republic Senate Leader, the late Olusola Saraki, followed by his son, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, who later became the Waziri. Kwara stakeholders will be at the palace when the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, will turban Mustapha as the Turaki.

No dispute over ownership of Benin artefacts, says Oba Ewuare By Ozioruva Aliu

FILE: Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, dancing at a press briefing on Friday, to the songs his grand father, Oba Akenzua II sang and danced to in 1938. This was joy over the return of the first set of artefacts said to have been worn by Oba Ovonranmwen Nogbaisi when he went on exile. THE Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II has said there was no dispute over the ownership of thousands of Benin artefacts taken from the palace of the Oba of Benin in 1897 during the British invasion of the kingdom, which are now scattered across Europe, the United States and other parts of the world. The monarch stated this when the Chairman, DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, paid a courtesy visit to the palace to celebrate with him on his birthday and his fifth coronation anniversary where he commended the efforts of the Oba to bring back the artworks. He said: “God is behind you in all your efforts to ensure that all the artefacts that were taken away from here are bright back and restored.” The Oba also dispelled speculation that some of the works were not taken from the palace but elsewhere, just as he commended the Federal Government and the Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, NCMM, for the support. Commending Dokpesi for taking the lead in private broadcasting in Nigeria despite unfriendly environments, Oba Ewuare II revealed that Cambridge University in the United Kingdom, which his father, Oba Erediauwa attended would soon return some artefacts from Benin in its custody. He said: “We hear that some researchers in Germany have said that some of them were produced here, some were produced there and so on and so forth. “Where are these here and there? Were they outside the Benin Empire, where they outside the Benin Kingdom, were any of the artefacts produced outside the Benin Kingdom? “If they were all produced in the Benin kingdom, why will any researcher try to say some were taken out of Benin Palace and some were taken from elsewhere? “All elsewhere or wherever they are talking about, are they not all under the authority of the Oba of Benin? Are they not all under the Benin empire?” He said the planned museum to house the artefacts would be domiciled in a museum planned to be built opposite the palace. Vanguard