Home Blog Page 2472

Breaking: National Sport Festival: FG Says Festival Should Continue, Counters LOC’s Decision |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0

By Akinwale Kasali

In a last minute decision, the Federal Government has ordered  that the 20th Edition of the National Sports Festival should continue, reversing the decision of the Local Organizing Committee, LOC.

The LOC and the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Phillip Shaibu had earlier said that the Festival would stop abruptly due to paucity of funds, as the FG has failed to redeem its pledge as regards funding.

The Federal Government on Thursday morning dismissed the position of the LOC, saying the festival which had just been flagged off, will continue as planned.

In a statement signed by Assistant Director Press, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Ramon Balogun, the FG countered the position of the Edo State government.

The statement read, “The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has clarified that the 20th National Sports Festival, Edo 2020, is going on as planned with competitions going on as scheduled.

“The Ministry and the Main Organizing Committee for the festival are unaware of any plans or threat by the Edo State Government to shut down the sports festival as there has been no official meeting or communication that relayed such information.

“The Honorable Minister, Permanent Secretary and Directors are on ground in Benin City where the Festival is holding, and it is expected that the Edo State Government would formally invite the Ministry for a meeting should any urgency exist around the National Sports Festival or communicate officially with the Main Organizing Committee for the festival. The Ministry has no such communication.

“For the records, the Edo State government due to the cost implications of postponements occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic requested financial assistance from the Federal government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

“The Ministry has since been at work to secure the financial assistance which it believes is being processed. The MYSD and EDSG are determined to deliver a successful National Sports Festival”.

National Sport Festival: Games Ends Abruptly, As FG Fails To Release Funds |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0

By Akinwale Kasali

The hope of prospective sportsmen and women at the ongoing National Sport Festival in Edo State to showcase their talents, out of obscurity to gain prominence and limelight has been dashed following the abrupt end of the National fiesta seven days behind schedule.

The reason for this is not far fetched. The President Muhammadu Buhari led Administration has failed to release funds for the national tournament.

After a delay of over one and half years, the festival started last week, expected to last for two weeks. Sadly, the Local Organizing Committees, LOC, of the championship had to end the Festival by 12 Noon today Thursday, April 8, 2021.

Instead of 12 days, the National Sports Festival will end after seven days over the failure of the Federal Government to release funds.

The Coordinator of Media and Publicity, National Sports Festival, Ebomhiana Musa, made this known to this medium.

In a statement late Wednesday night, he confirmed that the decision was taken after an emergency meeting of the Local Organising Committee headed by

Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

According to him, the Edo State Government will shut down the ongoing 20th National Sports Festival by 12 noon on Thursday (today).

He said, “The Local Organising Committee, Edo2020 regrets to announce that it will end the games abruptly tomorrow, Thursday, April 8, 2021, for lack of funds.

“Rising from an emergency meeting this evening, the LOC says it has to take this hard decision due to lack of funds having expended its reserves to kick start the games.

“Regrettably, the FG is yet to redeem its pledge to support us as the host state financially for the cost of postponements. So, we are left with no option but to end the games at noon tomorrow.”

The development is coming despite the postponement of the festival on several occasions.

No fewer than 8,000 athletes from different states of the federation are participating in the festival.

Edo State had raised the alarm over the Federal Government’s failure to provide fund 24 hours to the commencement of the festival, but were optimistic that the FG would redeem its promise.

Sadly, the State waited in futility, prompting the halting of the festival with five days left.

This is the 20th edition of the National Sport Festival, which produced the likes of Late Sunday Bada, Blessing Okagbare, Udobong Enifiok among others.

CBN: Apex Bank Freezes FCMB Accounts

By
Bayo Bernard
-
0
Godwin-Emefiele-CBN-Governor

By Fola James

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has frozen 11 bank accounts domiciled in the First City Monument Bank, a new generation bank following an order to that effect by a Federal high court in Abuja. The court issued the order following a motion ex parte by the apex bank dated March 16, praying the court for an order directing FCMB to freeze forthwith all transactions in the said bank accounts until investigation is concluded on the issues connected to a female who is an ‘Assistant Manager of the CBN, Central Business District, Oluwatoyosi Suwebat Oladipo’.

The court granted the motion by CBN requesting the Yemi Edun-led FCMB to freeze the said account“for a period of 180 days pending the outcome of investigation and inquiry currently being conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

The bank accounts include two bank accounts in the name of Albert Austin Ugochukwu, a businessman; one account belonging to Belfour Energy & Allied Services, three accounts belonging to Belfour Oil and Gas LTD, one account belonging to Circle Flow Integrated Services, three accounts belonging to Kacynaus Realty Nig LTD and one account belonging to Tasmara Integrated Services.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed, granted the application for “An interim order is made empowering the applicant to direct the head office of First City Monument Bank Ltd to freeze forthwith all transactions on the bank accounts listed on the motion paper for a period of 45 days only pending the outcome of investigation currently being conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria,” the judge ruled.

Yemisi Edun
FCMB MD Yemisi Edun

“The order is renewable on expiration but only on good reasons shown. The applicant (CBN) shall publish this order on its website within three days from today. Any person or persons affected by this order are entitled to approach the court to seek to set aside, discharge or have the order reviewed for good reasons shown.”

Meanwhile, the court urged any person affected by the order  to approach it to seek to set aside, discharge or have the order reviewed for good reasons, adding that the order was renewable on expiration but only on good reasons.

The court therefore fixed May 17, 2021 for mention of the substantive suit.

Owerri Attack: Imo State Government, Recants, Asks Investigating Security Agencies Not To Focus On One Direction |The Source

By
The Source
-
0
Senator Hope Uzodimma

By Gideon Njoku 

The Imo State Government has advised Security Agencies investigating the unprecedented security breach in Owerri to focus their investigations on all directions instead of one one direction.

This comes  on the heels of the allegations by the Police that the carnage in Owerri on Easter Monday was the handiwork of the Indigenous Peoples Of Biafra, IPOB, and its security wing, the Eastern Security Network, ESN. Earlier, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, had also made same allegations, revealing that the hoodlums tried to invade the Government House, but were repelled by Security men.

But the Uzodinma Government seem to have backtracked a little, with its call on Security Agencies to beam their search light on all directions, instead of one direction. 

IPOB had denied a hand in the attack which shook the state and the Nation, but a couple of video messages on the attack by some individuals who hailed the attack say otherwise. 

Some schools of thought suggest the attack could be an inside job, reminiscent of the General Sani Abacha era, just to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it. They allege it is a plan for the military to descend on the zone and embark on a killing spree and mass arrests of youths.

But addressing the Press after the State Executive Council Meeting on Wednesday, Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, urged “Security operatives in the state to expedite their investigation  into the recent attack on Police and Nigerian Correctional Services facilities by hoodlums to ensure the perpetrators are fished out and made to face justice.”

The Government, also,  called on the Security agencies to beam their searchlight on all possible suspects and avoid the temptation of focusing in only one direction to ensure that the brains behind the mayhem are fished out and prosecuted accordingly.

According to Emelumba,  the least the security agencies would do is to unmask the known and unknown agents of the mayhem.

He said Council condemned the attacks in strong terms and commended Governor  Uzodimma for his proactive steps in dealing with the situation which drew the attention and support of the Federal government.

Emelumba: “Council  directed the security agents to  expedite their investigation and make sure that no stone is left  unturned and to beam their searchlight  in all possible suspected area and not concentrate on only one area and ensure that those who perpetrated this dastardly act are fished out and brought to book as quickly as possible.”

Heavily armed hoodlums, in their hundreds had stormed the Owerri Correctional Centre where they released 1884 prisoners and razed buildings. They also stormed the Police Command Headquarters, Owerri, and released detainees in the Criminal Investigation Department, razed down buildings, and burnt at least 50 vehicles, including Police operational vehicles.

The action caused outrage and fear, attracting condemnations from both President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemk Osinbajo. Osinbajo visited the State for an om the spot assessment. The incident, also, claimed its first high profile casualty. IGP Mohammed Adamu, was on an on the spot assessment of the carnage, on Tuesday, when he was sacked, and a new IGP,  Usman Alkali Baba appointed. 

 The Imo State Government is also setting up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the mayhem.

Imo Violence: Uzodinma Absolves IPOB/ESN, Reveals Those Behind It |The Source

By
The Source
-
0
Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State

By Charles Igbo

In a surprise about-turn, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, absolved the Indigenous Peoples Of Biafra, IPOB, and its Security Branch, Eastern Security Network, ESN, of being responsible for the deadly attack on Owerri Correctional Centre and the Imo State Police Command Headquarters.

The two Federal Government concerns had come under heavy attack on Easter Monday, by hundreds of hoodlums who invaded them with heavy weapons, including dynamites and explosives. During the attack, 1844 prisoners were released, and buildings set ablaze. At the Police Command Headquarters, detainees were set free, buildings razed, and about 50 vehicles set ablaze.

In his initial reaction, Uzodinma had blamed IPOB/ESN for the attack. And so did the now sacked IGP of Police, Mohamed Adamu. Sources say Adamu was sacked over the embarrassing attack.

But speaking on a Channels Television Programme on Wednesday, the Governor made a u-turn. Absolving the Group, Uzodinma put the blame at the feet of aggrieved politicians who wanted to destabilise the State and the APC, his party.

He said the hoodlums were recruited from outside the State.

IPOB had earlier denied responsibility of the attack, even though many people think to the contrary.

Uzodinma: “The attack was sponsored by aggrieved politicians.Their tactics is that they try to identify grievances of people in a particular area. If it is in Imo State, and probably there are some IPOB who are not too happy, they hire hoodlums from outside Imo State, they bring them in, pretending to be IPOB, and they commit these crimes, and they go away.

“So, it is not about IPOB. Yes, we agree, we have aggrieved IPOB members but I can tell you those who are doing this destruction. Most of them were brought in from outside Imo State.

“I have done some thorough investigation and I have some credibls leads as to those who are sponsoring these activities of these hoodlums.”

The Governor had also said he would set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the sad incident.

How Imo Police Command Ignored DSS Intelligence Report On Owerri Attack |The Source

By
The Source
-
0
Imo Attack

By Charles Igbo

Was the unprecedented attack on the Owerri Correctional Centre, and the Headquarters of the Imo State Police Command in the early hours of Easter Monday avoidable?

Perhaps, yes, if the Police Command had taken, seriously, the intelligence report from the Directorate of State Service, DSS.

Hundreds of hoodlums, armed with weapons, including explosives, attacked both the Police Command and the Owerri Correctional Centre.

At the Police Command, they released several numbers of detainees at the Criminal Investigation Department, razed buildings,  and burnt about 50 vehicles, including Police Operational vehicles. And the Correctional Centre, they released 1884 prisoners, and burnt vehicles.

Usually reliable sources informed this magazine that the Police Command was given at least a 72 hour information that the Police Command was under the danger of an attack. But, apparently, the Police did not take it seriously.

Said the source, “Information from the recent attack concerning the attack on the Imo State Police Headquarters and the Owerri Correctional Facility confirm  that the Commissioner of Police ignored intelligence  sent from the DSS warning of the impending attack.”

When the DSS received  intelligence information, it “discreetly conducted a vulnerability assessment of the two correctional facilities in Imo state and advised fortifications based on the discovered security weakness of the facility.”

The source said: “The Commissioner of Police received a credible intelligence report 48-72 hours before Monday, warning of an impending attack on the Police Headquarters in Imo state between April 4 and 6. Yet, Police did not heed to actionable intelligence, the consequence of which has let loose over 1800 inmates into the society.”

However, the military allegedly  averted the same type of attack, planned against  Tuesday  at the Okigwe Prison.

The soldiers acted on credible intelligence from the DSS, and so had the Okigwe Correctional Centre cased, thus aborting the attack.

Meanwhle, Nasiru Mohammed,  Commissioner of Police, Imo State,  has been  redeployed by the Force Headquarters.

The DC has been appointed as the Acting Commissioner of Police.

PDP Strategizes To Take Over South West |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0

By Ayodele Oni

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stepped up efforts to be relevant in the south west as another election year draws nearer.

To this end, the leadership has scaled up processes for reconciliation as it affects South West Zonal Congress of the party.

After its meeting in Abuja, the PDP leadership resolved that

beyond the legal conundrum in the party’s formation in the zone, it must win the South West.

A statement by the party’s publicity secretary, Mr Kola Ologbodiyan, states that “consequent upon this, the NWC resolved that a meeting comprising of the National Chairman, the Deputy National Chairman, the National Secretary, the Senator Bukola Saraki-led Reconciliation and Strategic Committee, Governor Seyi Makinde and former Governor Ayo Fayose, be held immediately for urgent resolution of all issues concerning the South West.

“The NWC will meet on the outcome of this reconciliation meeting within the next 24 hours.”

Media Group Mourns Chukwuma |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
Innocent Chukwuma

By Akinwale Kasali

The late former West Africa Regional Director of Ford Foundation, Innocent Chukwuma, has been described as a trusted friend of the media who will be remembered for his selfless service to mankind, the Journalists for Democratic Rights, JODER, said in a statement.

The Media Group said though Chukwuma spent few years on earth, those years were glorious and fruitful and far better than an age without a name.

JODER said “Media institutions and human rights journalists miss a great man of ideas who committed his entire life to making his society better. In our encounters with him spanning decades, Mr Chukwuma was a selfless man with diverse interests in human rights work that included free speech and media freedom. He was a trusted friend of the media”.

The Group added: The late Chukwuma, who was a renowned Human Rights Activist, contributed in no small measure to defending the media against state repression beginning from his days at the Civil Liberties Organisation, (CLO) when many media institutions were shut by the military.

“He was iconic in his passion for peace building across the country. He dedicated his time.

A statement by the Executive Director of JODER, Adewale Adeoye, one of Nigeria’s pioneer media rights group established in 1996, said he invested his energy in promotion of the liberty of the Media.”

2023: Afenifere Denies Tinubu, Says He Is On His Your Own |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0

By Ayodele Oni

The Pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, still mourning the death of his spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, has said it has no hand in the presidential bid of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu or any aspirant for the 2023 election.

Afenifere, while reacting to a viral statement by the leader of South West Agenda, SWAGA, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, insinuating that his group secured the support of Afenifere for its candidate during a visit to Pa Ruben Fasoranti, erstwhile Afenifere leader on Tuesday.

The Pan Yoruba group, in a statement on Wednesday by its Director of Communications, Sola Lawal, stated that the group was still mourning the demise of Mr Odumakin.

The pan Yoruba group has announced the suspension of all engagements in honour of the deceased.

Lawal pointed out that 94-year-old Pa Fasoranti has taken a “deserved rest when he formally handed over to Chief Ayo Adebanjo three weeks ago after leading the group for 12 years and so the former couldn’t have spoken for Afenifere during the SWAGA visit to his Akure home.

“The Adeyeye foray into Afenifere space at this period of huge loss and intense mourning is disrespectful, insensitive and unwarranted.

“Being a former Afenifere top-notch and, infact, Odumakin’s immediate predecessor in office as the spokesperson for Afenifere, Adeyeye should cease all activities and join us in mourning at these trying times.”

Your Wailing Won’t Stop President Buhari From going On Medical Trips |The Source

By
The Source
-
0
Laureta Onochie

By Lauretta Onochie

Controversial Presidential Aide, Lauretta Onochie, has asked Nigerians to keep wailing over President Mohamadu Buhari’s Medical trips abroad.

Ms Onochie, known for her acid  tongue, in a post, carried by Linda Ikeji’s blog, said that  her Principal has two more years of medical trips to London, while Nigerians have two more years of wailing.

According to her, Buhari is not about to dump his doctors of many years  because he is Nigeria:s President.

The post entitled ”TWO MORE YEARS OF WAILING , reads:

“We have been here since 2016. It’s been the same wailing. So the response will also be the same. I do not understand why the pandemic has negatively affected certain people more than the rest of us.

“People across the world, have personal physicians. President Buhari is not an exception. People go to wherever their personal doctors are especially one they have seen for decades. Pres.

“Buhari won’t dump his doctor of about 40 years so that wailers can be happy. That’s blackmail.

“Thankfully, he doesn’t pay blackmailers.When he took ill in 2016, everything was explained. I was running from one media house to the other like a headless chicken, educating us on the psychology of the relationship between a patient and his or her long-standing doctor.

“Thankfully, he made a full recovery. In 2017, 2018 and 2019, he went for #CheckUps. In 2020 he went before the beginning of the pandemic.

“The same wailing and the same explanations. I do not know any man who will have a different barber cut his hair when the one he is used to, is not available.

“I don’t know any lady who would have her hair or nails done by a different hair dresser or technician from her usual, let alone, change her doctor. But it goes to show that many of us do not go for checkups because we do not understand what it means.

“We only see doctors when we are unwell. Those who take their health seriously, have annual checkups. That’s what President Buhari is attending to. The same wailers told their gullible followers that the man in the Villa, is not President Buhari. So, why bother?

“The fact remains that if President Buhari chooses, he will go for checkups in 2022, and 2023. Then from 2024, when he will not need to inform Nigerians, he will continue to go. Its his choice to go or not to go. Wailing cannot take away his rights to see his personal doctors.

“So, wailers must get ready for two more years of wailing.”  The post Wailing wont stop President Buhari from going on medical trips”

Onochie is the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari On Social Media

1...2,4712,4722,473...2,975Page 2,472 of 2,975