TheNewsGuru

Tag: Board

  • APC urges Buhari to dissolve NDDC board

    The All Progressives Congress in Ondo State has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to dissolve the board of Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC) following the expiration of its tenure in December.

    The state Publicity Secretary, Mr Abayomi Adesanya, made the call in a statement in Lagos on Sunday.

    The party said that the tenure of the board had expired in December after a four-year term.

    The party said it frowned at surreptitious moves by some “powerful persons at the Presidency” to elongate the tenure of the board beyond the Dec. 8, 2017 term.

    “Any extension of the tenure of the board is unconstitutional and an attempt to give Cross River and Akwa-Ibom states undue advantage of serving for continuous period of six years as chairman and managing director, respectively, to the detriment of other member states.

    “For the fact that it is the turn of Ondo State, as the fifth highest oil producing state in the country, to produce the next Managing Director of NDDC, President Muhammadu Buhari must compensate the people of Ondo State for their commitment to the Party (APC) and the victory of the President in the 2015 presidential election.

    “It is on record that of all the nine oil producing states in Nigeria, it was only in Ondo State that President Muhammadu Buhari had an overwhelming victory in the 2015 Presidential election and we have not been so compensated.”

    The party, therefore, called on the President to, as matter of urgency, dissolve the NDDC board and appoint loyal and committed members of the party as chairman from Delta State and managing director from Ondo State.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Former ICPC board nominee, Maimuna Aliyu in multi billion naira Dubai, Abuja properties scam

    *Interpol, EFCC set to uncover more properties
    A recent investigation has revealed how controversial ex-banker and former nominee to the board of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission [ICPC], board, Maimuna Aliyu allegedly acquired a Dubai property worth $3.05m, over N1.2 billion at an exchange rate of N360 to $1.
    TheNewsGuru.com findings show that the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, claim the money may have come from long years of misappropriation, contract scams and diversion of public funds.
    Some sources who claim close knowledge to her inner dealings confided that Aliyu may have served as front for some top politicians, who are not unconnected with the attempt to appoint her into ICPC allegedly to defend their selfish course.

    Contained in a letter personally written and signed by Aliyu on 2nd of October, 2015, which she addressed to the Minister, Ministry of foreign Affairs, in a bid to state her legitimate acquisition of the asset estimated at $3.05m, are details surrounding the transaction.
    The billion naira investment, the letter which was exclusively sourced, stated, was sold to the ex-banker between 2011 and 2012 by Dubai Lifestyle City.
    A section of the letter reads:
    “I gave.. an initial deposit of $250,000 and by 16th of May 2011, I gave additional $300000 bringing the total to $550000.
    “By 5/10/2011, I gave him additional $1.1m … In 2012, I paid additional $600000 bringing the total to $2.25m. By April of 2013 I paid additional $805000. Bringing the total to $3.05m to Dubai lifestyle city through their representative all in cash except for the last $800000 that was transferred from SunTrust Bank in America (Atlanta).
    The transfer was done by April 18, 2013, the money had hit their account in Dubai and confirmed by Elias as received.”
    High level security sources confided in TheNewsGuru.com, that investigations by the EFCC in collaboration with the Dubai authorities may have traced more properties in that country to the former Executive Director and some of her friends who are top officials of the immediate past government.
    Aliyu’s role in Bala’s fraud case
    In one of the affidavits tendered by EFCC, on the fraud case with the former minister, Bala, a four bedroom fully detached duplex with boys quarters at 103 Cadastral Zone A05, Maitama and House No. 2A No, 7 Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja, “properties that were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities” were registered under Maimuna Aliyu’s name.
    In a new application filed by EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Ben Ikani, against former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, and his son, Shamsuddeen, Aliyu was alleged to have served as proxy to the former minister in unlawful property dealings in and around Abuja, while he was in office.
    The commission said the properties were held in the names of different companies and Maimuna Aliyu, was described as Mohammed’s proxy, who was allegedly, used to acquire the houses at 1A and 2A of No. 7 Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja.
    In his ruling last week, Justice Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the temporary forfeiture of the said assets.
    A three-count charge of abuse of office, misappropriation of public funds and criminal breach of trust was slammed against her on August 15 by the ICPC.
    The letter:
  • Osinbajo drops two ICPC board members under probe

    Osinbajo drops two ICPC board members under probe

    Acting President, Yemi, Osinbajo, has dropped the two new members nominated to be on the board of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission who are said to be undergoing investigations by the same commission.

    Osinbajo had last week named a new chairman and board members of the commission.

    Recall TheNewsGuru.com had earlier published a report on Friday, in which two of the board members are currently being investigated by the ICPC.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, disclosed on his Twitter handle on Sunday that the nomination of the affected persons was being stepped down.

    Akande said it had been confirmed that the two nominees were being investigated by the agency they were nominated to serve.

    He said the situation presented a conflict of interest.

    Akande wrote, “We are stepping down two of the new ICPC board nominees who have ongoing investigation issues with the commission as this presents a conflict.

    “While the existence of allegations or petitions against someone shouldn’t necessarily disqualify them (six) from considerations for appointments, this case presents a peculiarity as we have confirmed that the agency in which they are to serve is indeed investigating the two of them.

    “A basic check showed no court convictions against them. But when weighty petitions come up, this administration will always do the right thing.”

  • NCC debunks membership of Etisalat’s new board

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that it was not among the members of the new board of Etisalat.

    The Director of Public Affairs, NCC, Mr Tony Ojobo said this in a statement on Saturday in Lagos.

    Ojobo said that the attention of the commission had been drawn to a report by some media organisations to the effect that NCC was represented on the new Board of Etisalat.

    “The Commission hereby makes it clear that it is not on the Board of Etisalat.

    “As the regulator of the telecommunications sector, there was a recommendation suggesting that NCC should be on the new board of the company but the commission declined.

    “The NCC considered it necessary to bring this to the attention of the general public,” he said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Etisalat Nigeria on Tuesday, July 4, confirmed the appointment of Boye Olusanya, a former Deputy Managing Director of Celtel Nigeria (now Airtel Nigeria) as its Chief Executive Officer.

    The telecommunications company said that Olusanya was replacing Mr Matthew Willsher, who stepped down as the CEO on Monday, July 3.

    It also said that Mrs Funke Ighodaro had been appointed as the Chief Finance Officer, to take over from Mr Olawole Obasunloye, who also resigned on July 3.

    “Etisalat Nigeria today confirms that as a result of the ongoing restructuring efforts, a new board has been constituted.

    “A Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Dr Joseph Nnanna, will be the Chairman of the board, taking over from Hakeem Bello-Osagie, who resigned, as part of the agreement reached for a seamless transition.

    “Other members of the board comprise of Mr Oluseyi Bickersteth, Mr Ken Igbokwe, Mr Boye Olusanya and Mrs Funke Ighodaro,” it said.

     

     

    NAN

  • Thieves arrested on board Arik flight to Abuja [VIDEO]

    Thieves arrested on board Arik flight to Abuja [VIDEO]

    Some thieves have been caught on board an Arik Air plane.

    According to social commentator, Japhet Omojuwa, the incident occurred on a flight from Lagos to Abuja on Friday morning.

    Apparently, the airline had installed a spy to watch out, because the thieves had been on the run.

    His tweets read: “One of the thieves caught on the Arik flight Lagos to Abuja this morning. Impressive security set up by Arik.

    The authorities were alerted as soon as the incident happened when we were airborne. They came in on arrival.

    “They are now being led away by the authorities. I don’t know how many years for stealing in the air. LOL

    “The captain explaining how the incident happened. Thumbs up to Arik. They had a spy to watch out because the thieves had been on a run.”

    When one of the suspects was questioned on how long he has been doing it, he refused to respond and hid his face, amid curses from angry passengers. he was eventually whisked away by security operatives as soon as the plane arrived at the airport.

  • Buhari approves constitution of Solid Minerals Development Fund Board

    Buhari approves constitution of Solid Minerals Development Fund Board

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja approved the constitution of a seven-member board for the Solid Minerals Development Fund.

    A statement by the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development said that Buhari charged the seven-member board to carry out its duties diligently.

    The statement signed by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Mohammed Abbas, said that the board had Alhaji Uba Malami from Nasarawa State, a Geologist and former Vice-President of the Abuja Chambers of Commerce, as Chairman.

    Members of the board are Mr Demola Gbadegesin, a mining investor and electrical engineer from Oyo State and Mr Theo Iseghohi, Managing Director of Nishan Industries Limited, who hails from Edo.

    Other members are Mr Samuel Eze, an accountant and former banker from Ebonyi State; Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi, a chemist from Zamfara; Dr Uwatt Bassey Uwatt from Akwa Ibom and Ms Yinka Mubarak.

     

    NAN

  • You must be medically certified before considering Hajj, Board tells intending pilgrims

    The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board has directed prospective pilgrims to go for medical test at the designated health centres in the state.

    The board Executive Secretary, Malam Abba Yakubu, gave the directive on Saturday at the flag off of the weekly sensitisation workshop organised for intending pilgrims in Kano.

    Yakubu said that the test would enable the pilgrims to know their health status with a view to getting necessary medical advice on how to handle their respective health challenges.

    “The medical test will give intending pilgrims the opportunity to know their health status, while those with some health challenges will get necessary medical advice,” he said.

    Yakubu said that it was also in line with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) directive that all the state pilgrims welfare boards should ensure that intending pilgrims go for medical test.

    On accommodation, he said that the state government had already secured decent place for them near the Holy Ka’aba to enable them to go to Mosque with ease.

    “The essence of getting accommodation for the pilgrims near the Holy Mosque is to reduce the hardship being experienced by pilgrims in reaching the Mosque and the need to prevent loss of pilgrims’ lives,” he said.

    According to him, the state government has upgraded the 31 pilgrims sensitisation centres to Hajj Training Institutes as part of the efforts to enhance research on entire Hajj rites.

    He urged intending pilgrims to take the workshop seriously in order to understand all the Hajj rites.

    The State Deputy Governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, also urged them to desist from any act capable of denting the image of the state and the country.

    He commended the board for initiating the programme, saying that it would go a long way in educating the pilgrims on the Hajj rites.

    Abubakar also advised intending pilgrims to ensure prompt payment of the balance of their Hajj fares whenever the Federal Government announces it.

    In his remarks, the NAHCON Kano Zonal Coordinator, Alhaji Umar Bala, urged the board to ensure that the Islamic scholars engaged to conduct the workshop accompany the pilgrims to the Holy Land.

     

  • Buhari will make full board appointments in 2017 – Presidency

    Buhari will make full board appointments in 2017 – Presidency

    Following the delay in the appointments of boards of federal government agencies, and the subsequent outcry by several interest groups, the presidency has assured Nigerians of the president’s readiness to commence the appointments by 2017.

    This was confirmed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

    Recall that the president had made a similar promise in 2015, however, one year after, the agencies are still without boards.

    Explaining the reason for the delay, Shehu said it was because of an issue of interest to members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He however affirmed that: “the process will be fully back on track at the beginning of the New Year.”

    In his words: “You know that the reconstitution began methodically from sector by sector. You should expect that to resume at the beginning of the New Year. The president has given directions on what to do.”

    Shehu also stated that Buhari’s persistent call for a return to farming was yielding good results.

    “The talk about agriculture has driven people to the farm. This year, there is a huge boom in the rural economy. We have witnessed an excellent harvest. Farmers are getting value for their output.

    “What has encouraged farmers the more is the increasing availability of extension services. New farming techniques are helping farmers to do their occupation better. The readiness of off takers to buy the produce is also a major boost.

    “When you put all these together with the systematic move to curb importation as a boost to local production through the restriction of the available foreign exchange to critically important sectors of the economy, you have favourable environment for the diversification of the economy.

    “As we speak, several of the country’s major manufacturing industries are actively backward-integrating- Nestle, Unilever, the breweries are looking at what we have as local materials, changing their formulations to maintain production levels and keep their shares of the market.

    “Manufacturers, who are hooked on import of raw materials, are advised to re-strategise and take full advantage of local raw materials. The future belongs to those who employ the use of local raw materials,” he said.