22032019- INEC holds make-up polls in 17 states, FCT tomorrow

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C M Y K 10 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2019 SIGNING: From left; Temenos Services Director, Middle East and Africa, Michael Halbig; Chairman, Vista Bank Group, Gambia, Simon Tiemtore; and GM, Sales & Strategy, Inlaks, Kingsley Oseghale during the signing ceremony of Temenos T24 Core Banking Implementation at Vista Bank Group Hqtrs in Serrekunda, The Gambia. Fresh crisis brews in MKO Abiola’s family over Ayobo land By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Kingsley Adeboye LAGOS—A FRESH crisis is brewing in the family of late Chief MKO Abiola over the ownership of a 400-acre of land in Ayobo area of Lagos State, between Radio Communication Nigeria, RCN, Limited and some camps of Abiola’s family. The land under dispute is located at Igbo Ilogbo, Ayobo, Ipaja-Ayobo Local Council Development Area, LCDA, with thousands of residents. Earlier, some members of the late Abiola’s family had publicly disclosed their readiness to enforce a court judgement of March 14, 2019 that confers ownership of the land on the late business mogul and politician, MKO Abiola and called on all tenants to come forward for regularization of their titles or risk ejection. However, the Chairman of RCN, Mr. Kola Abiola, who incidentally, is the first son of MKO A|biola, through the Solicitor, Abimbola Olomola-Owa and Co, at a media briefing, yesterday, in Ikeja, described the claim and moves by the warring party in the family, as ‘fraudulent’ exercise being perpetrated by the invaders. The solicitor maintained that the family’s claim to the land was in complete vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews variance to the interpretation of an earlier court judgement. The solicitor,who has been managing MKO Abiola’s affairs since 1986, said the politician bought the property in 1993, and registered it in the name of Radio Communication Nigeria of which Kola Abiola chairs. The solicitor, who had filed a suit in Ikeja High Court, on Wednesday to stop the invaders from illegal acquisition of the land, said the other family in contention has misrepresented the fact of the earlier court judgement on ownership of the land. She explained that a litigant, Alhaji Afariogun, whose name was used by other family members for the acquisition of the land in court judgement only bought six acres of land which he later relinquished to RCN following a law suit, stressing that no law backs their claim. According to the solicitor, who also tendered an earlier petition written to the state Commissioner of Police, ‘Our client is the owner of an expanse of land situate at Igbo-Ilogbo, Ayobo, Lagos State. ‘Our client got a report that some people who claimed to be agents acting for yet to be identified persons have been parading the Igbo- Ilogbo, Ayobo, and issuing threat that they have got judgement and moved in full force to forcibly take over the possession of the land belonging to our client. ‘’To the best of our knowledge and based on searches conducted by us at the High Court of Lagos State and the Appellate Courts, there is no known judgement, litigation or summons against our client to warrant any invasion. ‘’we suspect a conspiracy between these set of people and some unscrupulous court officials. From information getting to us, they are fast mobilizing forces to execute the illmotivated action with nonexistent judgement. ‘We hereby, solicit for police intervention to forestall loss of lives and property as well as prevent total breakdown of law and order. The Board, Management and members of our client company are law abiding citizens who did not want the members of Igbo-Ilogbo community to march force with force with these hoodlums.’’ Abiola family moves to enforce court judgment to reclaim land Earlier, other members of the family wielding the judgement showing delineated survey plan, No. RA/144 dated 25th March, 1977, and covered by the Deed of Conveyance dated March 28, 1977, and registered as No. 24 in Volume 1620 of the Land Registry, Lagos, said they were willing to compensate people who had wrongly bought the land from the wrong people. At a press conference in Ikeja, Chief Muritalah Abiola, the acclaimed Head of Abiola family, said MKO Abiola was using the land for his conglomerated companies and also with the intention of farming. He added that MKO Abiola acquired the expanse of land with the various names of his companies, including Radio Communication Nigeria Limited RCN, Summit Oil Nigeria Limited, Abiola Farms Nigeria Limited, while some were with his name. He said Abiola and his above mentioned companies were lawfully put in possession, obtained post transactional approvals from the government and were doing well to the notice of all and sundry in such that the entire location was known and referred to as Abiola Farms. According to him, “It is however sad to know that upon the incarceration and untimely death of Chief MKO Abiola, and pursuant to the dichotomy and divergence interest in the family, which of course is not unexpected in a polygamous home like that of Chief MKO Abiola, who left behind several wives and children, rather than for some people to share with us in our pains in which the family found itself, it is pathetic that some people heartlessly went behind, swooped onto the land and started selling to unknown people without the consent and authority of the family. “The family is not unmindful of the blackmail and campaign of calumny being sponsored by a notorious land grabber, by sponsoring radio/media publications against Abiola family with the guise that he has the backing of our own Kola Abiola to encroach into our father’s land.’’ Recall, there were series of crisis and litigations over sharing and ownership of MKO’s properties among family members, both Immediate and extended. Some of the popular properties in contention, include: Concord Press Nigeria PLC, owners’ of defunct Concord Newspapers, Abiola Farms, Taraba, Abiola Farms, Abeokuta, Ogun State, among others. SYNAGOGUE: Collapsed building foundation was adequate, witness tells court By Onozure Dania LAGOS—A member of the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Mr Ebenezer Ologuntoye, yesterday told a Lagos High court sitting at Igbosere, of how test was carried out on the foundation of the collapsed building in Synagogue Church of All Nations SCOAN. The Registered Trustees of SCOAN are facing 110- count charge of involuntary manslaughter, contrary to section 222 of the criminal law of Lagos State 2011. The defendants, Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun are charged alongside their companies - Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company and Jandy Trust Ltd. A fifth defendant, the Registered Trustees of SCOAN is facing a count of building Epidemic looms in Apapa over heaps of wastes L A By Olasunkanmi Akoni G O S — FOLLOWING increasing level of wastes in Apapa and it’s environs, there are fears of imminent outbreak of epidemic if the situation is not addressed by relevant authorities. The Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, has attributed the problem to inaccessibility of the roads to operational vehicles due to gridlock caused by trucks. Public Relations Officer of LAWMA, Mr. Obinna Onyenali, in a press statement, said the situation had become a source of worry for the authority. Onyenali expressed concern over what the authourity called continuous degeneration of quality of life through collapse of NEWS HOTLINES 018773962, 08052867058 without approval. They however pleaded not guilty to the charge. At the resumed hearing of the matter, yesterday, the witness who testified before Justice Lateef Lawal- Akapo, said when the building collapsed, the BCPG set up a committee to look into the possible cause of the collapse. After carrying out an analysis on the soil and foundation, it was discovered that the foundation and the bearing capacity were adequate, he said. Ologuntoye, a geotechnical engineer, who specializes in soil investigations, quality and assurance control, analysed to the court how the tests were conducted at the site of the collapsed building. The judge thereafter adjourned the matter till May 16, 17 for crossexamination of the witness. public hygiene and waste management services in Apapa area of the state. According to him, “LAWMA in recent times has intensified efforts to rid the state of backlog of wastes which are known to have defaced the environment. “We have deployed trucks across the state to stem the tide of indiscriminate dumping of refuse as well as engaged the Private Sector Participant, PSP, operators to tackle wastes at household level.” Onyenali, stressed that all efforts by the authority to extend its services to Apapa were being hampered by the heavy presence of articulated trucks which had made the road impassable for LAWMA and PSP operators. “Our findings show a general degradation of the environment in the area and a looming epidemic if the situation is not quickly addressed.’’ Huawei to deepen investment in Nigeria LEADING global provider of ICT infrastructure, Huawei, has concluded plans to deepen its investment in Nigeria. Speaking at the just concluded Huawei Nigeria Eco-Connect 2019 with its partners in Lagos, the CEO Huawei Enterprise Nigeria, Tank Li, expressed his delight in the growth of ICT in Nigeria and unfolded Huawei’s plans to invest in Nigeria. “Three years ago we had maximum of 25, channel partners, but today, we have more than 500 channels registered. This shows the great confidence that we put in Nigeria. Nigeria is still the biggest economic entity in the African continent. After the elections, we are going to add more value to Nigeria as we see a very promising future in sub-sahara Africa.” The company which announced the availability of a commercial services HUAWEI CLOUD, maintained that Huawei aims at enhancing its relationship with its partners to further develop the Nigerian market. Saying: “In our business, our core value is to build an ecosystem with our partners together. In 2019, we will raise our connection with the partners ecosystem and we will call it ‘Huawei Insight’, that means we will enlarge our collaboration with all the partners as we ready to share the profit with our local partners for a sustainable ecosystem, where all partners can grow together,” he said.
VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2019 — 11 CONFAB: From left, Chairman Businessday Advisory Board, Dick Kramer; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele and Publisher/CEO, Businessday Media Ltd, Frank Agbogun, at the Businessday Post Election Outlook Conference in Lagos yesterday. Nigeria more divide than during civil war — OBASANJO By Daud Olatunji A FORMER BEOKUTA— President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday lamented the current state of disunity in Nigeria, stressing that Nigeria was not as divided as it is today, during the civil war. Obasanjo spoke at a oneday “2019 annual retreat/ conference and general meeting of members” of Association of Chief Audit Executives of Banks in Nigeria, ACAEBIN, in Abeokuta. The former President said: “When we look at this country today, even during the civil war, we were not as divided as we are today. Today, we are in danger if we don’t take partnership serious. Partnership within our people, within Africa and the rest of the world.” According to the former President, the private sector is the engine room of development in any country. “As Chief audit, it is defined by virtue of what you are doing as a profession. If the audit is awry, banking business will not be right. What I want to emphasise is that, it is a must as Nigerians and as Africans, that we have certain elements that we By Innocent Anaba L altercation AGOS—THE between Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos and a counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, on Wednesday, during the trial of a former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Ayodele Fayose, over alleged N3.3 billion fraud, was due to alleged effort by have to take very serious which I put as five Ps. “The first is politics which is governance. Unless we get governance right, any other thing we are trying to do will not be right. The second is population. Our population at independence, we were estimated to be 45 million, but today we are 200 million. By the year 2050, we will be over 400 million. Normally, population should be an asset but looking at the condition we are in now, when in the North-East of Nigeria, the percentage of adult literacy is about 53 percent, you can see that, we have a problem and education is basic in all human development. “How do we think of setting education to be useful? Those people who will make our education over 400 million in some years time are already born, and you cannot unborn them, so the problem is here, what do we do? “We must provide education for them, housing, healthcare, education for them, and more importantly, employment for them. “One thing that I believe will help us is to provide employment, and probably part of what will help us is agric business. And you in the baking business must pay attention to how we build the agric sector. “I am not talking of horti-culture, I am talking of the whole value chain, from land preparation. And if we are able to get that right, maybe we will be able to get the issue of employment for our teeming youths right, we will be able to get even the issue of rural development right, we will be able to get the issue if the gap between the have and have not right. “The next one is prosperity, I am not being bothered about Nigeria’s poverty or Africa poverty. We have everything to generate wealth. We have God’s given resources under our soil. We also have human resources. If we bring these together, then, we will definitely get prosperity. “Another one is protection, that is security. People must be protected in all aspect. Protection of lives, protection of property and the people can actually feel that they are protected,” stressed Obasanjo. Also, in his welcome address, Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, said “Our motivation, as an administration, towards making lives abundant for our good people is to ensure optimal utilisation of the available resources and block all leakages and wastage of our resources.” The governor, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Finance, Mr Adewale Oshinowo, spoke on “Banking in the digital age: challenges and opportunities. He added that “As the operating environment changes, the knowledge and skill required to effectively perform audit assignments have become more sophisticated.” FAYOSE: Altercation between judge, EFCC lawyer over attempt to evaluate ruling Jacob to evaluate a ruling the court gave regarding the statements of one of the prosecution witnesses, Maroun Mechleb. This is contrary to report to media that the altercation ensued “when the judge raised concern over the failure of the prosecution to tender the complete three pages of the statement of one of the witnesses.” Jacob, who insisted that it was not his intention to evaluate the ruling, had accused the defence of tendering only two out of the three pages of the two statements made by the witness to EFCC as exhibits. His effort to make the witness speak on the issue after he had been cross-examined was vehemently opposed by the defence on the ground that he is not permitted by law to do so. The court in a short ruling had agreed with the submission of the defence Fayemi commences work on over 41-year old abandoned road By Rotimi Ojomoyela A DO-EKITI—EKITI State Government, yesterday, commenced work on the new Ado-Iyin Road which was originally awarded in 1978 but was abandoned. The road was handed over to CCECC Nigeria Ltd for construction and expected to be completed within the next 24 months. Handing the project over to the contractor, the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi said he was irrevocably committed to fulfilling all his electioneering promises in all sectors, especially in the area of infrastructure which is a catalyst for development. Fayemi who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, said that the 7.25km road project was the first phase of the construction work which will stop at the state’s boundary with Osun State, noting that the dualization project will be completed within 24 months. He said the first phase of the project is the construction of the road from Ado to Iyin, the second phase from Iyin to Aramoko while the third phase would be from Aramoko to Itawure. CP to probe attack on IBEDC staff, journalists in Ilesa innocent journalists, who were carrying out their legitimate duties. He had earlier in the day visited the Capital Building, Ibadan office of IBEDC to commiserate with the management and deliberate on the way out of the current problem and assured the IBEDC management of adequate protection of its staff and facilities. The police boss added that security had been beefed up in the affected area and that he had directed the state commissioner of Police, Abiodun Ige to carry out investigation into the incident and prosecute the nine suspects already arraigned in court. Why ACJA can’t achieve objective of speedy criminal justice — POLICE, NBA, CLEEN FOUNDATION By Rotimi Ojomoyela ADO EKITI—THE Ekiti State Police, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA and CLEEN Foundation, yesterday, said that the only way quick dispensation in criminal justice system can be attained was for the actors in the sector to align and work collaboratively. They stated this when the Ekiti State Working Group met on the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 lawyers, noting they could even decide to tender just a page of the three-page statements, adding that the only option left for Jacobs was to re-examine his witness if he had any reason to do so. However, after the ruling, Jacobs stood up to address the court. It was while he was talking that the judge picked holes in his submissions and accused him of evaluating her ruling, an allegation he denied. By Emma Nnadozie THE Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone XI, Osogbo, Leye Oyebade, yesterday, directed the Commissioner of Police, Osun State, Abiodun Ige to carry out discreet investigations into the attack on some units of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC, and some journalists by irate protesters in Ilesa, last Sunday. The AIG who visited the scene of the incident for onthe-spot assessment of the situation, decried the damage caused by the protesters and condemned the unprovoked assault on organised by CLEEN Foundation in conjunction with Mac Authour Foundation in Ado Ekiti. The state Police Commissioner, Mr Azuquo Amba accused lawyers of sabotaging law enforcement agencies in their efforts to implement the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA,s enacted in 2015 for the efficiency of the justice system and speeding dispensation of criminal cases. Amba, who was represented at the event by the OC Legal, Mr Femi Falade, noted that rather than see themselves as ministers in the temple of justice, the lawyers were only interested in setting free their accused clients at all cost. However, the Secretary of the NBA, Ado Ekiti branch, Mr Dayo Akeredolu said that the police was viewing the issue from its own perspective, adding that, the presumption of innocence of the accused persons and the right of the accused must be taken into consideration. Akeredolu agreed with the submission of the police that the ACJA Act favours the accused than the innocent victims. He cited the use of the word ‘defendant’ instead of ‘accused’, and some other provisions of the act that unduly protect the right of the accused to buttress his claim.
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22032019- INEC holds make-up polls in 17 states, FCT tomorrow

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