Curator

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Simon Ebegbulem BENIN—THERE was tension in Edo State, yesterday, after  members of the state House of Assembly who were supposed to resume from their recess postponed resumption indefinitely following alleged attempt by some lawmakers to impeach the Speaker, Mr Justin Okonoboh. Trouble started when some lawmakers, led by the House Committee Chairman on Education, Mr Chris Okaiben, accused the former Speaker of the House, Victor Edoror, of allegedly plotting the impeachment move so he could return as Speaker. However, Vanguard learned that the problem of the current Speaker started few days before the members went on recess as he was accused by some lawmakers of not carrying them along in the award of contracts and also not being transparent about the funds that accrued to the House. The angry lawmakers were said to have commenced the plot on Sunday  during a leadership meeting of the House ahead of its resumption yesterday,  when it was learne...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J …begs former president for forgiveness By Caleb Ayansina A BUJA —Stalwarts of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the South-South geopolitical zone have berated the Bayelsa State governor, Mr Seriake Dickson, over his comment on  President Goodluck Jonathan. Dickson had recently described the six years of Jonathan’s administration as ‘a waste to the Niger Delta region.’ Reacting, the party loyalists, under the aegis of PDP South-South League, said it was a betrayal of loyalty and misrepresentation of facts to ridicule Jonathan’s achievements. In a statement by the group’s Chairman,  Ariolu Tebidapa (Delta State) and the Secretary, Mr Akpan Ibibio (Akwa Ibom State), in Abuja, they  pleaded with Jonathan to ignore the comments and stand up for the party to overcome its current challenges. “We plead with you (Jonathan) as a leader and father not to join issues with him but rather forgive him in case he (Dickson) comes like the “prodigal son “ beca...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Gabriel Enogholase B ENIN —AN electricity consumer in Benin, Edo State,  Mr. Portly Giwa – Osagie, has instituted a suit against Benin Electricity Distribution Company Limited, BEDC, for allegedly disconnecting four pre- paid meters in his  house. Joined in the suit as defendants are the Business Manager, BEDC, GRA, (Benin- City Sub-Office), Manager, Customers Service, Auditor, BEDC headquarters and three others. In the suit before an Oredo Magistrate’s Court in Benin, the plaintiff wants the court to declare that the BEDC is a monopoly in the provision or distribution of electricity in Edo State and provider of essential services to the plaintiff and his tenants. “A declaration that the defendants are liable to pay damages to the plaintiff for the four metres which they unlawfully disconnected from the plaintiff’s premises, in the circumstances of this case. “An order for the defendants to restore power to the plaintiff’s house at No. 19, Ugiayug...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J FBN  Merchant Bank  Limited, a subsidiary of FBN Holdings Plc, said it its profit before tax (PBT) rose by 29 per cent to N4.92 billion in the financial year ending December 31, 2016 from N3.83 billion in the previous year. The bank said that this followed strong top-line growth driven by the diversified nature of its businesses, with key drivers of revenue being the fixed income, Corporate  and Investment Banking businesses. Chairman of the Bank, Mallam Bello Maccido, disclosed this during the bank’s 2017 annual general meeting noting that despite the challenging macroeconomic climate in 2016, the Bank remained resilient and focused on delivering strong results. Delivering strong results The Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mr. Kayode Akinkugbe, expressed his appreciation to all staff for their hard work, passion, and commitment to fostering a culture with a winning mindset. He also thanked the shareholders and the Board of Directors for ...

http://ift.tt/2qxPYvD By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor A day after the 2017 budget was passed by the National Assembly, it was yet to be formally transmitted to the President for assent. Findings by Saturday Vanguard confirmed that the budget was still being fine-tuned by the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly and was not yet delivered to the Presidency as at the time of going to press last night. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, confirmed that the vital document was yet to be sent to the Presidency. “It is true that the document is not yet sent to the President for his assent and the 30 days within which the President should sign it into law will begin to count once we receive a certified copy from the National Assembly,” Senator Enang said. It is a normal process for the legislators to finish their work before the Clerk takes a final look at the document and fine-tunes all that is necessary to be done...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J An eyewitness account of the exchange of the 82 Chibok girls with terrorists By Emma Nnadozie, Crime Editor Kumshe, a North Eastern suburb lying between  Nigerian boundaries with Cameroun, last week, narrowly escaped being tagged Nigerian’s ground Zero, in remembrance of the bloody raid in USA on September 11, 2011.     However, while that of America witnessed carnage of unequalled proportion where lives were lost, Kumshe comfortably adorn the toga ‘Middle Ground’ after it served as a peace making ground between Nigerian soldiers and members of the dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram.     The bloody carnage anticipated during negotiations for the town to serve as a middle ground for the exchange of Boko Haram terrorists with some of the Chibok girls that are being held in captivity by the terrorists, turned into celebration, world over. Crime Guard was able to speak with an eyewitness to the seemingly mind-gripping event, with all ...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Angela Okpe in Maiduguri The A mother of one of the abducted Chibok girls, Madam Rebecca Takai Nkeki, bared her sorrowful minds few days before the release of her daughter, Hauwa.   The middle-aged woman who developed high blood pressure over the abduction of her daughter lamented the fate that befell her family   to visitors at their home in Chibok Local government Area, Maiduguri, Borno state. Her daughter, Hauwa, was one of the 219 missing Chibok school girls abducted by Boko Haram, April 14,   2014.   During the encounter, the inscription of despair, fear, disappointment and regret all rolled into a ball of sorrow seized her face.   Mother speaks “Hauwa used to be a kind, respectful and hardworking girl.  Anytime I pick up the broom to sweep the floor of the house, I remember that my daughter would have been the one doing it. She loved working. I sweep the floor myself everyday and every day, the memories of my chi...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J AS activities marking the Lagos State @ 50 anniversary continue, residents of the mainland area of the city, government functionaries as well as top dignitaries would converge at celebrity restaurant, O’jez, inside the National Stadium, Surulere, today from 7.00pm to mark the anniversary’s ‘Social Clubs Day’. O’jez was among top 50 clubs chosen by the social clubs sub-committee that will play host to Lagosians across all walks of life. In a letter signed by Prince Gbolahan Lawal and dated April 17, Lawal said “Social clubs have always been an integral part of the uniqueness and development of Lagos. 50 of such clubs will be the centre of celebration on Friday, May 12 by members of such clubs and government functionaries. The main objective is to bring to life the Lagos heritage spirit and remind citizens of the grand history and rich culture that berthed Africa’s most industrious state.” On his part, chief executive officer of O’jez, Chief Joseph Odobeatu sees t...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Mosuru Olowoopejo FOLLOWING alleged domestic violence case between Nollywood actress, Mercy Aigbe and her husband, Lanre Gentry, it became obvious that domestic violence in homes has become prevalent in Nigeria especially in Lagos State. This prompted the government to establish laws and an agency, Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, DSVRT, coordinated by Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, to provide assistance to victims of the abuse. While the agency strives to ensure the abused get fair judgement from court, report conducted by the State Government showed that evidence for 88 percent of cases recorded within Lagos were either destroyed by the abuser or misplaced by the victim. A report by the Lagos State Government in 2016 indicated that victims of the cases perpetrated within the period under review could not provide evidence that would assist the agency in court or in settling the case amicably between both spouses when the need arise. This further l...