Curator

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Festus Ahon A SABA —The people of Tekedor Kusimi, host community to Egwa II, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, have appealed to the federal, state governments and other relevant authorities to urgently prevail on the management of Neconde Energy Limited and Assets Management Team, AMT, to involve local contractors in the execution  of jobs in the community. Speaking to newsmen, Chairman of  the community, Deacon Clement Tekedor accused NPDC, Neconde Energy Limited and  AMT of sidelining local contractors in the execution of jobs. According to him, such practice if not checked could lead to total breakdown of law and order, lamenting that the community was being short-changed in the scheme of things. Insisting that they may be compelled to stop the operations of the company if they were not invited for a roundtable talk by relevant authorities to address the issue,  he said that the companies  would not enjoy smooth...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Simon Ebegbulem B ENIN —THE family of President of Benin Solidarity Movement,  Curtis Ugbo, who has been in detention in the past three months, has written to the Edo State Government to adhere to the directive of the Edo State High Court by charging the accused formally to court. It will be recalled that Ugbo was arrested and detained in Oko prison after he led a protest at the premises of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, where his group accused the company of allegedly neglecting their host communities. But the state government viewed his action as a breach of the peace and charged him for treasonable felony. However, his trial has been marred by several adjournments, which forced the family, through their counsel, Olayiwola Afolabi, to write the state government through the Ministry of Justice to formally charge the accused to court. The letter which was addressed to the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Ju...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Jane Echewodo Lagos —Justice Hakeem Oshodi of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja yesterday granted embattled Federal High Court judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Godwin Obla, leave to travel to US for urgent medical treatment. Counsel to Ajumogobia , Mr Olawale Akoni, SAN, pleaded with the court to grant his client leave to travel to US for urgent medical attention in Morris Height Center, Bronx New York. In a 17-paragraph affidavit in support of her claim, Ajumogobia is said to be suffering from high blood pressure, hypertension, palpitations, and stress related issues. Counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, had countered the application, contending that if Ajumogobia is granted leave to travel, she might jump bail and not come back to face her trial. Ruling on the application, Justice Oshodi pointed out that the court has judicial discretion to rule on the application. “The prosecution failed to g...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Peter Egwuatu GLAXOSMITHKLINE Consumer, GSK Nigeria Plc, yesterday, indicated that the manufacturing sector was under pressure of higher input cost forcing it to review its local manufacturing options in addressing economic and operational challenges. Chairman of GSK, Mr. Edmund Onuzo, who made this known to Vanguard on the sidelines at the Company’s 46th Annual General Meeting, AGM in Lagos, said, “The past year was challenging, not only for our company, but also for the entire business environment. Particularly, in the third quarter of 2016, the manufacturing sector declined to minus 4.38 per cent Year-on-Year from minus 1.75 per cent recorded in the third quarter of 2015. Our shareholders will get dividend without withholding tax for the first time. Our Company will continue to review the best local manufacturing options to meet the demands of our customers. The Board recognises and would continue to prioritise local manufacturing as one of the strategic ...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J The All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos State chapter, has recently been embroiled in crisis arising from the conduct of primaries for the nomination of chairmanship and councilor candidates for the July 22, Local Government polls in the state. But is it anything new?  By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Gbenga Oke THE primary election was part of the conditions for participation in the poll scheduled for July by the election umpire, Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC. Following the announcement the APC in early May held a stakeholders’ meeting at its secretariat in Acme Road, Ikeja, which attracted thousands party faithful including a former governor of the state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the incumbent governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. At that meeting members were urged to work round the clock to ensure that the party wins all available elective positions in the July 22 Local Government elections. At that meeting, Tinubu while commending party mem...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Abdulwahab Abdulah Lagos —The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, has urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss a suit, urging it to declare that the Federal Ministry of Interior has no power  to solemnise and register marriages in Nigeria. In the originating summons filed by the plaintiffs, they are praying the court to declare that it is Local Government Areas that have the exclusive right to conduct and register marriages. Those who brought the matter before Justice Chuka Obiozor are four local government areas – Egor Local Government Area of Edo State; Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State; Owerri Municipal Local Government Area of Imo State and Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State. Their position is that by virtue of Section 1(5) Paragraph 1(i) of the 1999 Constitution, the Federal Ministry of Interior, an agency of the Federal Government, has no business registering mar...

http://ift.tt/2sbI74J •Partial shutdown in Port Harcourt, Asaba, Umuahia; armed security agencies force out people in Ebonyi •Okorocha goes around, begs traders to open shops; It’s a huge success—IPOB, MASSOB; Uwazuruike hails Ndigbo By Chioma Gabriel, Emeka Mamah, Clifford Ndujihe,Vincent Ujumadu, Anayo Okoli, Chidi Nkwopara, Festus Ahon, Samuel Oyadongha, Davies Iheamnachor, Dennis Agbo, Peter Okutu, Ugochukwu Alaribe, Chinonso Alozie,  Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Emem Idio & Emmanuel Ayungbe ENUGU—THE sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to mark the 50th  anniversary of the declaration of the defunct Republic of Biafra and honour heroes and heroines of the struggle, was complied with in the five states of the South East, yesterday. Outside the S-East, the directive was partly complied with in Port Harcourt, Asaba and Bayelsa but ignored in Uyo. Most markets, banks and schools in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states, including those in the rural ...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Tare Youdeowei RACK Centre, a data centre and collocation services provider, has attained the Tier III Tier Certification of Constructed Facility (TCCF) from Uptime Institute, joining the elite data centres in the world to be certified and the first in West Africa. The TCCF certification was achieved after thorough forensic assessment of all aspects of Rack Centre’s facilities and operations by Uptime Institute experts team from the US and UK. Speaking on the certification, Mr Ayotunde Coker, Managing Director of Rack Centre, said; “We are delighted that Rack Centre has achieved this certification by such a respected and distinguished global body as the Uptime Institute.  We are passionate that we have attained one of the highest standards and achieving the Uptime Institute Tier III TCCF certification validates this, and demonstrates to our existing and future customers, that here in Nigeria, we are meeting the highest standards at the global level....