Tuesday, 19 April 2016

Drama as Saraki’s lawyer clashes with tribunal judge over adjournment of trial

By Seun Opejobi on April 19, 2016

The trial of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki on Tuesday took a dramatic twist as one of the Senate President’s lawyers, Kanu Agabi engaged the Code of Conduct Tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar in a heated argument over adjournment of trial.
This happened shortly after the tribunal resumed sitting after the mater was stood down for over one hour.
Upon resumption of sitting, Agabi moved for adjournment of the matter to allow him time.

Agabi said, “My lord, we need time to rest, you worked so hard as a lawyer and till now still working hard. We need time to rest.
“This profession is destroying its professionals as we are made to sit in for a whole day during some proceedings. I know many of my colleagues who have died and their wives are now widows because of this kind of action.
“All I ask for is an adjournment to allow us rest.
“As early as 2am, I’m in my office preparing for this matter so I beg for time.”

But the the tribunal Chairman who was becoming furious turned down the appeal, saying the matter is a summary one and as such must go on.
“We just got back from break and you are asking for an adjournment?
“This matter is a summary one and we want to get it done with as soon as possible.
On the matter taking a whole day, Umar said, “This is the price we have to pay, the matter must continue today.”
Cross examination of the witness continues.

MTN supports innovation africa digital summit 2016

Nigeria will host the world today as the 14th edition of Innovation Africa Digital (IAD) summit begins in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The summit themed, Harnessing Africa’s Digital Growth, will address issues of ICT development across the African region and its implications for socio-economic development.
Speaking about the summit, MTN Executive, Amina Oyagbola, said, “The emerging digital economy continues to throw up questions about Africa’s preparedness through ICT development, to partake and compete successfully in this economy with its potentially significant contribution to Africa’s GDP. IAD 2016 will provide a platform for critical stakeholders to congregate and confer with a view to providing solutions that will leapfrog the technological advancement of our continent.”
The Innovation Africa Digital summit is Africa’s leading ICT Business Summit to be attended by over 500 senior executives across government, regulatory bodies, telecoms operators and major end users of ICT from all over Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The three day summit will run through April 19-21, 2016 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
Oyagbola further stated: “MTN is pleased to partner with the Ministry of Communications and other organisations to bring this summit to Nigeria. More than ever before, this is the time for Africa to grow and leverage technology for increased capacity and productivity and we are happy and indeed honoured to play a supportive role in every way.”
With the summit set to deliberate on critical issues ranging from community broadband to securing the value of mobile for all, digital inclusive economics, monetising, securing and managing data, addressing the digital divide and ICT for social development, far reaching submissions are expected to be made towards developing the ICT industry with a view to harnessing the continent’s potential and enhancing its inclusive growth and development.

MTN supports innovation africa digital summit 2016

On April 19, 20164:00 pmIn News by Femi AjasaComments

Aluko’s recent revelations vindicated us, Fayose received roads refund – APC

By Sylvester Ugwuanyi on April 19, 2016

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State says it has been vindicated on its earlier claim that the state governor, Ayodele Fayose had collected refund on federal roads executed by the immediate past Governor, Kayode Fayemi.
The party spoke in reaction to revelations by a former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ekiti, Dr Tope Aluko, on live programme on Adaba FM last week who accused Fayose of collecting N5.7bn and diverting same for undisclosed reasons.
He added that the revelations by the Commissioner for Finance, Toyin Ojo, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Department of State Services, DSS, on Ekiti finances jolted Fayose to quickly surrender the money, and diverted part of it to the over-head bridge he never planned for.

Stressing that the revelations were testimonies to its earlier claim, the state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Taiwo Olatunbosun, noted in a statement on Tuesday that “the governor on three occasions during his media chat always denied ever collecting any money as refunds on the federal roads executed by his predecessor.
“It is great now that fact has emerged that the governor actually collected the money and kept it in a secret account unknown to government’s transactions,” he said.
Wondering why the Governor always wanted to cheat Ekiti people, Olatunbosun asked, “Why did Fayose deny in the first place that he collected N22bn refund on roads out of which Aluko confirmed N5.7bn? Where was the money lodged since October 2014 when it was paid? How much interest has accrued and where is it? How much mobilisation was paid to the contractor handling the flyover?
“Why did Fayose shroud the refund in secrecy? How can you have this kind of money in a secret account for selfish purposes and you are owing workers five months salaries only to divert it to another dubious over-head bridge being handled by companies owned by the governor’s friends when the EFCC is about asking questions on the money?

“This is the same way Fayose did not disclose that a bank sponsored the construction of Funmi Olayinka House with N600m while another bank paid N400m for the construction of less than one km Ikere road dualisation which Fayose awarded as contract valued over N400m.”
Olatunbosun, who slammed Fayose for refusing to tell Ekiti people that N600m for the Olayinka House and N400m for the Ikere road were donations from banks, accused him of treating Ekiti State Government as his personal business without any accountability to the people.
His words, “The bailout, which he collected from the Federal Government for the purpose of paying workers salary, has been cornered by Fayose who kept the money in an undisclosed account in the past eight months while workers, pensioners and past political office holders have not been paid their entitlements.
“Governor Fayose is yet to account for the N10bn loan he recently obtained from the Federal Government which he put in Access Bank. The loan was released to the state shortly after he collected the bailout but both have been diverted.
“Despite collecting all these funds, the governor owes Ekiti workers and pensioners over five months salary arrears. This is unconscionable and heartless to put the people’s money away in a secret account for selfish reasons, only to splash the money on non-priority project when the fraud was about to be exposed.
“He is now using part of the refund on roads, N10bn loan and the bailout which he has diverted to construct the flyover while workers salaries are left unpaid, even as doctors in Ekiti State hospitals are currently on strike due to non-payment of salaries while many people are dying but Fayose is not bothered.”
Olatunbosun urged Ekiti people, EFCC, and other security agencies to ask the governor to account for all the monies, including arbitrary rates and taxes, he had received from various sources but refused to disclose the accounts into which they were kept to Ekiti people.

My husband tortures me during sex, uses ‘aboniki’ as lubricant – Woman files for divorce

By Danielle Ogbeche on April 19, 2016

One Solomon Acchoyame has been dragged before an Igando Customary Court in Lagos State, by his wife, Omolara Acchoyame, who is alleging that he tortures her by applying hot ointments on his manhood while having sex with her.
The 43-year-old housewife on Tuesday sought for the dissolution of her marriage, alleging that her husband exhibited strange behaviours while making love to her.
Speaking before the Court President, Adegboyega Omilola, Omolara, said her 44-year-old husband usually waited for her to sleep, then without waking her up, just opens her clothes and had sex with her, adding that she never enjoyed this.

“My husband has three hot ointments which he used during sex for lubrication,” the embattled woman said, listing them as aboniki balm, mentholatum and dusting powder.
“These things made me hate having sex with him.
“I met my husband 14 years ago and bore him three children and apart from his torturous sexual escapade, our major quarrel has been based on the fact that I didn’t know what he does for a living.
“We fought most times before I left home because I don’t know what he does for a living.

“He goes to his village three times a week and I don’t know the reason for this since his parents are dead and when he comes back, he would say he does not have any money.
“I would go to my sister to borrow money for him for his next trip. Yet, he will come back and curse me and my family and he doesn’t come home until midnight.
“My husband does nothing for a living. Please dissolve the marriage so that I can start my life all over again,” the mother of three begged the court.
Acchoyame, in his defense, stated that when he met his wife at the University College Hospital, UCH, in Ibadan, things were going on well for him and it was with his money that he trained her in the university.
“After a while, I started experiencing financial difficulties and I couldn’t complete my own education.
“I want to perform my obligations as a father and husband, but I am handicapped,” he said, denying claims that he ever tortured her during sex using those ‘hot’ balms.
Omilola, after listening to both parties, adjourned the matter till April 21 for trial

Man beats wife to pulp for spending beyond income

By Danielle Ogbeche on April 19, 2016

Sisters docked for beating father over affair with mother's friend1

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday arraigned a 32-year-old man, Dele Fatai, for allegedly beating his wife, Iyabo to a point of death.
The accused of 11, Adams Quadric Street, Alagbado, Lagos, was arraigned for assault.
The Prosecutor, Cpl. Ishola Samuel, told the court that the accused on April 3 beat up his wife after she could not explain how she came about the money she used in shopping for the household.

“Fatai had accused his wife of spending beyond her income,” the prosecutor said, adding that he assaulted his wife by beating her to pulp with belt and fist blow, causing her severe body injuries.
“The accused said that Iyabo is his full-time housewife and he demanded to know where she got the money for her shopping which was above the money he gave her,” the prosecutor explained.
Samuel noted that the offence contravened Section 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mrs A. R Onilogbo, in her ruling, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N20, 000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case till April 24 for further hearing.