The Editorials

By Stephen Azubuike, Legal Explainer Innoson Nigeria Ltd (“Innoson”) had at the Federal High Court, Ibadan, obtained Judgment delivered on 20th December, 2010 against the Nigeria Customs Service and the Attorney-General of the Federation sued as Defendants. Guranty Trust Bank Plc (“GTB” or “GTBank”) was not a party to the suit. The Judgment sum was over Seven Hundred Million, Two Hundred and Twenty Two Thousand Naira (N700,220.000.00) plus accrued and accruing interest at the time which came to about N2.4 Billion. In a bid to enforce the Judgment against the Defendants, Innoson moved to seize the monies of the Defendants at GTB by way of garnishee proceedings. GTB later disclosed that it was only Nigeria Customs Service that has account with the Bank but was found, according to the court, to be ambivalent, blowing hot and cold, on the state of the account of Nigeria Customs. At the end of the garnishee proceedings, the Federal High Court made an Order absolute against GTB

Oredola Adeola| The Ogun state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egba land, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, have unveiled the Lisabi Agbongbo Akala statue, at the Adatan roundabout, Abeokuta, on Saturday in commemoration of the 33rd Lisabi day festival. Recall that Lisabi played a very prominent role in the liberation of the Egbas from Oyo Kingdom when he led a war that defeated enemies of the Egbas. Record shows that Lisabi and his followers were scattered all over communities and villages, which now formed Egbaland about 60 years after his death. During the unveiling, the Alake, likened Governor Amosun, an Egba son, to the modern day Lisabi, for his unparalleled achievements of liberating Ogun state economically, just as Lisabi liberated the Egba kingdom from the hegemony of the Oyo Kingdom.

Oredola Adeola | Kabiyesi Taiwo Oyebola Agbono the Alaaye of Aaye Kingdom, ifedore Local Government, Ondo State was crowned in 2017, standing in gap on the throne of her fore-fathers, after the demise of her father , Late Oba J. B Agbona, Orimoro II, the Alaaye of Aaye, who joined his ancestors on May 4, 2017. Oba Taiwo Agbono, Regent of Aaye Kingdom Based on the tradition, as the first girl child, she is expected to temporarily take over the rulership of her kingdom, until the oracle and traditional chiefs ( Afoobaje) decides on the next king for the town. Kabiyesi Taiwo Agbono has been on the throne for over a year, and had recently graduated from the Achievers University, Owo Ondo State, where she studied Medical Laboratory Science (Heamatology). As a Regent, she will be attending public functions adorning male attire while carrying herself as a monarch till she officially hand over to her father’s successor.

Ayo Olukotun Several years ago, Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi, currently Chairman of the Obafemi Awolowo University Council, brought our minds to the phenomenon of a growing number of knowledgeable elderly citizens prematurely retired from their jobs with virtually nothing to do. The essay, as I recall it, was entitled, ‘Executive Joblessness’ and it took its cue from one of the nation’s ambassadors sent into enforced idleness in one of the characteristic purges of the military years, his expertise and learning unharnessed. Today, the more talked about haemorrhage of talents, in view of the explosion in our youthful population, concerns able bodied young Nigerians roaming around street corridors menacingly, unemployed and perhaps unemployable. Complicating that cheerless, downward spiral is our failure to imaginatively put to constructive work many of our senior citizens, several of them former office holders brimming with information, intelligence and acumen that they share only in pr

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the new permanent manager of Manchester United The management of Manchester United have confirmed Ole Gunnar Solskajer’s appointment as their permanent manager on a three-year contract. The Norwegian has overseen a dramatic transformation in United’s fortunes since taking temporary charge, following Jose Mourinho’s sacking in December, and the club have rewarded him for his work over the past three-and-a-half months by handing him the job on a full-time basis. The deal ties Solskjaer - who will hold a press conference this afternoon - to the club until June 2022. Solskjaer has had a run of 14 wins from 19 matches, which have helped propel United back into contention for a top-four finish and into the Champions League quarter-finals, coupled with his attempts to restore the club’s DNA on and off the field, persuaded the board that he was the right man to take them forward. United are expected to make a “gesture of good will” to Molde following Solskj

The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has described the election process in the state as “really democratic”. He thanked all his supporters for coming out in their numbers to re-elect him, while he called on those aggrieved by the outcome of the exercise to simply take it in good faith. “We have to appeal for peace and stability. Those who jubilate should jubilate in peace to avoid intimidation and those who are not happy should take it in good faith. “But all I can say is, it is democracy in action and we need to live together," Speaking on his plans for the state over the next four years, Ganduje stated that he would consolidate the programs and policies already being implemented in his previous term. “I believe that we shall take Kano to the next level considering what we have already done on the ground,” he said. “There is no doubt when you are going for a second term, you are going for consolidation in order to ensure that there is continuity in all the

 Concerned Nigerians have blamed the Lagos State Government and the Lagos State Building Control Agency( in the Ministry of Physical Planning) for the collapse of three-storey building housing Baden School in Isale-Eko, Lagos Island, which trapped more than 100 school pupils and other occupants of the building. Recall that the building was marked for demolition by LASBCA, because it was discovered to be structurally distressed.  According to Titi Ajirotutu, spokesperson of LASBCA, the building that caved in had been marked for demolition since last year because it was discovered by the Agency to be distressed. She expressed shock over the collapse of the same structure. The building housing the school situated at Itafaji Street, near Adeniji Adele was said to have caved  around 10:20 on Wednesday as 12 people including children feared dead as 43 others injured while 41 persons currently receiving treatment in the Marina General  hospital. Mr. Kunle Awobodu, 1st Vice Pres

Abba Kyari, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) commanding the IGP's intelligence response team has defended the photo-ops with Musiliu Akinsanya popularly known as MC Oluomo, a leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Lagos state chapter, who joined a host of others to celebrate him on the occasion of his birthday on Friday. Abba Kyari, who recently turned a year older, was hosted to a surprise birthday dinner with friends and colleagues in Lagos. The social media was awashed with condemnation of the "unholy"union between the crime buster Abba Kyari and MC Oluomo due to his 'reputation'. Meanwhile, DCP Kyari, in his reaction said “ My dear friends, i understand some persons have expressed reservations about the fact that i featured in my Birthday Celebration picture with NURTW Branch Chairman in Lagos state and others during a surprise birthday dinner organised for me by some of my Officers and Friends. “Well, my religious bel

China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) has suspended the Iju-Abeokuta three months free train ride due to security and safety of passengers. Recall that the Federal Government on Friday, February 8,2019 (one month ago) announced the take off of the three-month free train ride to passengers on the completed section of the Lagos-Abeokuta rail project during the 2019 general elections. Meanwhile, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has apologised to Nigerians over the new development. Amaechi tendered the apology during the monthly rail inspection of the Lagos-Ibadan modernisation project in Ibadan on Friday. According to him, the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) suspended the three months free train ride due to security and safety of passengers. “It was suspended by the Chinese and the excuse they gave me was that they cannot allow it run because of safety, since they have not completed the second line but they are almost

Barcelona and Manchester United will face each other in the pick of the Champions League quarter-final contests. United defied the odds in reaching the last eight, as they progressed past Paris Saint-Germain on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate draw despite losing the first leg at home 2-0. If they are to get to the semi-finals they will certainly have done so the hard way, as they are due to face LaLiga champions Barcelona and Lionel Messi in the quarter-finals. Ernesto Valverde's men trounced Lyon 5-1 on Wednesday – Messi starring with two goals and assists – to ease into the next round, having played out a goalless stalemate in France. Whoever progresses from that repeat of the 2008-09 and 2010-11 finals will play either Liverpool or Porto, having defeated Bayern Munich and Roma, respectively in the round of 16. Jurgen Klopp's Reds are among the favourites having gone all the way to the final last year before losing to Real Madrid. Ajax impressively beat the de

Abhay Thakur, Indian high commissioner to Nigeria, says “50,000 Indians” comprising professionals, investors, technically skilled, medical doctors and educationists are involved in various businesses in Nigeria. Thakur spoke at a NAN forum in Abuja, on Tuesday. He said India was Nigeria’s largest trading partner globally, with bilateral trade between both countries “at nearly $12 billion and Indian companies investing in projects worth $10 billion”. The envoy said the political developments happening in India and Nigeria would not slow down the pace of bilateral cooperation between both countries. “India has contributed meaningfully to Nigeria’s economy and growth wherever it can,” Thakur said. “India is the largest functioning democracy in the world at 1.3 billion people with an electorate of 900 million and Nigeria is the largest democracy of Africa. This is something that really brings us together.” Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister, also sent a congratulatory le

By Ibukun Olodude 189 people recently died in a tragic crash. The crew and passengers of Lion Air JT610 on board a brand new Boeing 737 MAX 8 never had a chance. The less than three months old plane had a new software in it.  They called it MCAS or Maneuvering Chracteristics Augmentations System. MCAS was a system that didn't exist in any of the Boeing 737's before. However, when they built the 737 MAX version, in layman's term, they built the plane with a larger and more efficient engine. However, this larger engine, which delivered a further 14% fuel efficiency had to be fitted further forward under the low wings of the 737. This potentially may cause the plane to stall. Stalling is bad. It is basically when a plane stops flying and starts falling. In order to avoid this, Boeing installed the new MCAS software. This software is designed to tell the plane to move its nose down to increase its speed and avoid it from stalling. So here comes the problem A

Oredola Adeola | Prince Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress may be declared as winner of the governorship election held in Ogun state on Saturday, March 9, with a crushing win over his closest contenders, Abdulkabir Akinlade, the candidate of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, and the PDP candidate, Senator Buruji Kashamu. Dapo Abiodun celebrates with wife  From the results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) on Sunday, which favours the candidate of APC , Prince Dapo Abiodun held firm lead in Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu North East, Remo , Egbaland,  and Ado Odo-ota, while also garnering some points in Yewaland despite  Akinlade's edge in his base. Meanwhile the candidate of Allied Peoples Movement has rejected the election results announced by INEC. The APM Campaign Director General , Sarafa Ishola , said this on Sunday at the party’ s secretariat at Leme, Abeokuta. Ishola said the election began peacefully on Saturday , but was allegedly hijacke

An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737, on Sunday, crashed en route from Addis Ababa to Nairobi with 149 passengers and eight crew on board. This was disclosed by the management od the  Airlines in a statement released shortly after the incident happened. Ethiopian flight reportedly dropped from radar 6 minutes after departure from Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa, "lost contact" six minutes later near Bishoftu, a town about 60km southeast of Addis Ababa by road. An aviation analyst Alex Macheras, based in Malaga, Spain,  explained that the Boeing 737 MAX 8, was the brand new updated version, delivered to the airline just four months ago. He said "The MAX is in service all around the world. Airlines such as the Ethiopian Airlines are using this aircraft, as it is the latest, the most fuel-efficient, short-range Boeing aircraft on the market. It is the same type of plane as the Indonesian Lion Air jet that crashed last October , 13 minutes after takeoff from

The Nigerian Air Force( NAF) has deployed fighter jet for Kwara Stata Gubernatorial election billed for Saturday March 9, to replace the surveillance helicopter it used in Kwara State during the February 23, Presidential/National Assembly elections. The Air Force Commander in the state, Air Commodore A. Adamu, at a press conference on Thursday, said the residents should not be afraid when they see the jet flying, adding that the jet had better surveillance capability than the helicopter. The NAF Commander said, “It is basically for surveillance purposes and we are here to support the police,” he said, adding that the helicopter earlier used on February 23 had been redeployed to fight Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East. The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbetokun,Also speaking on the military jet deployment at the state police headquarters, said the development was nothing that should cause panic among residents. According to him, NAF was mainly helping the p

Oredola Adeola | Barrin any last minute change, Aishah Ahmad, 41, current CBN Deputy Governor is most likely to be announced as the Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, following the directive given to the outgoing CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to hand over to the next Senior ranking officer in the next few weeks ahead of the expiration of his five years term. Aishah Ahmad  The Federal Government on Monday served the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, a letter asking him to proceed on leave ahead of expiration of his tenure, effective from the date he was served. Recall that Mr. Emefiele was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on June 3, 2014 and had served as Chief Executive officer and Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc. Advertisement The Editorials gathered that Mrs. Ahmad is the favourite of President Muhammadu Buhari out of the eight other  candidates on queue to take over the apex bank’s top job from Emefiele. The other eminent

Oredola Adeola | Relief seems to have come the way of Micro, Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurs in Nigeria as the Federal Government through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has put up measure to enhance the competitiveness of players in the informal sector by providing accessible funds for their operations. Dr.Umaru-Radda, SMEDAN  Dr Dikko Umaru-Radda, Director General of SMEDAN officially kicked off the agency’s Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS) in Bauchi State on Saturday, being part of efforts to enhance the competitiveness of the operators towards meeting national, regional and global standard. Recall that the SMEDAN in February inaugurated the Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS) championed with the support of Federal Government in Lagos State, while the pilot phase of the project was conducted in 2017 in Katsina State where 34 Local Government Areas (LGAs) were involved, Gombe (11 LGAs), Ebonyi (13 LGAs), Oyo (33 LGAs), Akwa Ibom (31

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state has questioned the power of Adams Oshiomhole, chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to suspend him from the ruling party, adding that the APC Chairman has no such power to do so. He said this  on Sunday Politics, a programme on Channels Television. Okorocha and Oshiomole He made this known in reaction to his suspension by the national working committee (NWC) of the party led by Oshiomhole, Okorocha said the chairman, affirming that he one of the founder of the APC, he could say authoritatively that Oshiomole was involved in anti-party activities. He said,  “I just heard from media reports that I have been suspended from the party (APC). I think Adams is seeking for relevance and attention,” he said. Place your advert here, call 08098262437 “He doesn’t have such powers to remove somebody without following due process. I think Adams is the biggest player of anti-party in APC. The man has simply destroyed the party to a gr

Oredola Adeola | "Kamaru Usman, fondly called Nigerian Nightmare, has made history by emerging as the 1st African-born (Nigeria) UFC champion by dethroning Tyron Woodley to win the welterweight title in the UFC 235 co-main event, held on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. He  defeated Tyron Woodley via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-45). Usman, 31, is an Edo State born Nigerian-American mixed martial artist who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he is the current UFC Welterweight Champion. Call 08098262437 to place your advert here In his entire professional career, out of a  total 16 competitions, he has won 15 and lost one, with this recent victory he is now the 10th undisputed UFC welterweight champion after Miletich, Newton, Hughes, Penn, St-Pierre, Serra, Hendricks, Lawler, and Tyron Woodley. On Saturday during the fight, Kamaru out-paced, out-striked and out-grappled, defending champion, Woodley for five rounds, ‘Th

Oredola Adeola | Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party , PDP, has  inaugurated legal team to challenge the result of the 23 February presidential election which declared  President Muhammadu Buhari of the election.  The legal team is headed by Dr Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, while two Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Chief Kanu Agabi and Ikpeazu were allegedly threatened by government not be part of the legal team. Alh. Atiku Abubakar This was disclosed in a press statement signed and released on Saturday by Paul I've, media adviser of the former Vice President. The statement noted that the PDP Presidential candidate has chosen to head to the election petition tribunal having made known his misgivings to the National Peace Committee. Recall that after a keenly contested election, the Independent National Electoral Commission  on Wednesday, 27 February declared Muhammadu Buhari as winner of the election.  Atiku had after the announcement on Thursday, 28 Feb

Oredola Adeola | The Mandate Group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state has charged the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to suspend the state leadership of the party and the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, for their anti-party activities which led to the loss of the party in the February 23, Presidential and National Assembly elections. The group made this known during a press conference held at the APC national secretariat. Governor Akeredolu and President Buhari According to the group’s Publicity Secretary, Comrade Olugbenga Bojuwomi, “ we have evidence that Governor Akeredolu did not vote for President Muhammadu Buhari and all APC candidates in the Feb. 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections. The Mandate Group further alleged that  Governor Akeredolu was working against the interest of the party by supporting  the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar in the elections. The group also accused Gov Akere

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed,All Progressives Congress, APC National leader has given a marching order to the party’s chieftains and traditional leaders in Lagos State to deliver maximum votes for the party, being the only condition to retaining their various positions. He gave the startling  order at a stakeholder’s closed-door meeting with members of the Governor’s Advisory Council, GAC, at the secretariat of the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Independent Campaign Group, BOS-ICG, in Ikeja GRA Lagos. Disappointed with the party’s poor outing on Saturday February 23, he threatened Alhaji Tunde Balogun, Chairman of the State Chapter and his members with sack if they mess the party’s chances off on Saturday, March 9. He said, “Please, don’t praise me, I don’t need your praises, after the poor performance you all put up at the presidential and National Assembly elections in the state. “It showed that most of the chieftains and council chairmen did not mobilize the grassroots after all the