Fraud: Trump may face trial

ITRealms:

The United States leading Republican presidential nominee, Mr. Donald Trump may end up in San Diego jail for defrauding students of Trump University reports ITRealms.

This is coming as Donald J. Trump is being investigated by the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (GAB) over his visit Thursday, May 5, 2016, during a poll at Wisconsin primary and was suspected to have campaigned 100 feet and specifically at Waukesha Fire Station.

ITRealms reports that a federal judge, Gonzalo Curiel sitting in San Diego on Friday ordered that Donald Trump, must face trial starting November 28 in a civil case in which he is accused of defrauding students who attended Trump University.

In a pretrial conference on the six-year-old lawsuit, the lawyers for the plaintiffs led by Jason Forge, argued that “justice delayed is justice denied,” insisting a trial to start as early as this summer, that is immediately after the Republican convention in Cleveland, declaring, “There are people who are still paying off their debts for the money they paid to Trump University.”

Trump’s lead lawyer, Daniel Petrocelli, pointed out that a trial over Trump University would end up becoming a media spectacle consider the November elections, stressing that Curiel put the whole matter off until next February, after the inauguration, arguing that Trump, if elected, would be working “round the clock” during the transition to form a cabinet.

Curiel, therefore, decided to split the difference: In an effort to “accommodate” Trump’s political campaign, he agreed to put the trial off until after the election but scheduled it right afterward, rather than “waiting for [a] President Trump to begin his first term,” thereby “placing him a situation where, as a sitting president, he is taking up time as leader of the free world” to sit through trial.

But Trump may still find his legal troubles impinging on his campaign; he is facing a separate trial in New York state courts in a civil fraud suit, also stemming from the ill-fated Trump University, brought by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. No trial date has been set on that case yet, but it was gathered by ITRealms that it could begin as early as this fall.

ITRealms gathered that the core case revolves around the operations of a school Trump launched in 2005, which was never an accredited educational institution, and he was later forced by state attorneys general to change its name to the “Trump Entrepreneurial Initiative.” 

The plaintiffs, former students at 'Trump University,' alleged that Trump used “misleading, fraudulent and predatory practices,” conning them into maxing out their credit cards and in some cases paying more than $35,000 in fees for seminars and “mentoring” by Trump’s “handpicked” real estate experts.

*Okoli Vincent with additional reports from MediaTracker/PMNews/GEE

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Pix: Donald Trump.

Ford Explorer is MECOTY best midsize SUV

ITRealms:

Latest in the garage, the 2016 Ford Explorer has been named “Best Midsize SUV” in the prestigious Middle East Car of the Year (MECOTY) awards, reports ITRealms.

The new Ford Explorer which is also now available in Nigeria saw 12-man panel of judging ‘motoring minds’ from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Levant countries, declaring it the MECOTY biggest, and most coveted award of the regional automotive industry.

Reacting, the managing director, Ford Middle East, Thierry Sabbagh said they were pleased with the recognition for the 2016 Ford Explorer.

“Explorer sets the standard for Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) when it was first introduced in the 90’s, and it continues to build on its heritage as the mid-size SUV leader with outstanding Built Ford Tough capability, technology, convenience and comfort,” the MD said.

Industry watchers, ITRealms gathered pronounced in 2015 that Explorer led its segment in the GCC with a 40 per cent share, and continues to top its category through first quarter (Q1) of 2016.

ITRealms recalls that whilst building on 25-year innovation and sales leadership, the latest 2016 Ford Explorer features a refreshed and sharp new design in addition to its generous interior space, specifically engineered for people seeking adventure time and a way to express their individuality.

Just as Ford Explorer has proved to be America’s top-selling SUV for 25 years with over seven million unit sales.

ITRealms notes that new Ford Explorer has become the favourite among Nigerian consumers, coming top as the 2015 second best-selling Ford vehicle in Nigeria, and could take to the streets of Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt with pride due to the Explorer’ s sleek design, increased comfort and appealing style.

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FG to inject N350bn quarterly to revamp economy – Adeosun

ITRealms:

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun has said that the Federal Government (FG) would from this quarter inject the sum of N350 billion every quarter to revamp the economy, reports ITRealms.

"… We are going to pump N350 billion into the economy in this quarter and we are going to do so every quarter until we stimulate growth,” she said.

Adeosun also said that Nigerians will see growth if spending is on needs, reassuring “We will see growth if we spend money on those things that would create jobs.”

Speaking on Sunrise, a programme on Channels TV, Adeosun was quoted as saying that there is an economic team chaired and managed by the Vice President.

“I am a member. Others include the two ministers in the Budget and National Planning ministry, the Minister of Trade and Investment, the Minister of Information & Culture, Head of the Debt Management Office and the Director General of Budget, among others,” she said, insisting there is an economic team.

Adeosun explained that the current team is just a different structure from having a Coordinating Minister of the Economy (CME), recalling that under the CME system, Budget was under the Ministry of Finance.

“But Budget has now moved to National Planning," she declared, emphasing that the economic blueprint is very clear as they are determined to invest in capital projects to ensure that the economy is diversified.

“We have been talking about diversification since I was a child and we haven’t achieved that,” she said, adding the government is focused on revamping domestic production as part of efforts to diversify the economy.

Chuks Egbuna/GEE

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Parresia Publishers to unveil 'We Are All Biafrans' by Chido Onumah

PR@ITRealms:

Parresia Publishers Ltd and African Centre for Media and Information Literacy in partnership with Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation will on Tuesday, May 31, 2016, present to the public a new book, We Are All Biafrans, written by Chido Onumah. Designed as a platform to reinforce the debate about federalism and national reconciliation, the event is expected to draw Nigerians from all walks of life. Onumah is a journalist, blogger, human rights activist and Coordinator of the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL).

Like his two previous books (Time to Reclaim Nigeria and Nigeria is Negotiable), We Are All Biafrans is a collection of essays published by the author in various newspapers in the last three years (2013-2016) focusing on the crisis of nationhood in Nigeria. It has five chapters namely, “The Politics of 2015”, “Dancing on the Brink”,“Unmaking Nigeria”, “Of Scoundrels and Statesmen”, and “Last ‘Missionary’ Journey”.

A staunch advocate of federalism in its proper sense, Onumah in this book contends that most, if not all, of the problems of Nigeria today are located in the way the country is structured. As he did in his previous books, he makes an eminently logical case for an urgent socio-political restructuring of Nigeria in order to ward off a looming catastrophe that could endanger our collective well-being. He argues that the country needs to engage episodic political convulsions that threaten its very foundation, including Biafra, June 12, Boko Haram, the “National Question”, citizenship rights, and “militocracy”.

In his typical candid manner, he takes on Nigeria’s indolent and reactionary ruling elite – civilian and military – and their allies, as well as bandits in uniform, scoundrels posing as statesmen, and conservative ideologues, religious bigots, and ethnic chauvinists posing as patriots.

The author notes that we can’t achieve any meaningful progress as a people until we come to terms with the reality of our existence – that Nigeria is a deeply flawed nation – and sincerely and selflessly confront it.

He raises fundamental questions such as, What is Nigeria and who is a Nigerian? If Nigeria is a federal republic, what constitutes or should constitute the federating units? He posits that the different manifestations of Biafra may well be a metaphor as all ethnic groups in Nigeria are victims of the terrible misrule of the past decades and thus desire a change in their material conditions.

“Chido Onumah raises opinion-making about Nigeria to the standards of great, uncompromising art,” notes Odia Ofeimun, author, poet and ex-President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). We are all Biafrans is a clarion call to reclaim a country that is on the verge of national suicide. It seeks to trigger the debate that will eventually nudge Nigerians towards kick-starting the process of a genuine re-invention of the country.

*Chido Onumah/GEE


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At last, Buhari signs 2016 budget into law

ITRealms:

The President, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, today, Friday, May 6, 2016, signed into law the 2016 budget in a brisk ceremony at the Presidential Villa, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, reports ITRealms.

This is the first budget to be signed by Prsident Buhari since assuming office on May 29, 2015.

He endorsed the much awaited harmonised budget in the company of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, chairmen of the National Assembly appropriation committees, his political aides led by the special adviser to the National Assembly, Senator Ita Enang, Senate President Bukola Saraki, speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Dongara and Finance Minister, Femi Adeosun.

Others were the national chairman, Chief Oyegun, Minister of budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma, among others.

ITRealms recalls that President Buhari had withheld assent after some alterations were noticed in the document.

However the Federal government yesterday unveiled a 34-strategic priority programmes and projects it intend to achieve with the 2016 budget.

According to Channels Tv report, these include a capital spending of minimum of 30 per cent annually, an appropriate and predictable exchange regime by the end of 2016, increased low interest lending rate of 9 per cent, self-sufficiency in tomato paste in 2016 and rice production by 2018.

In addition, the FG says it plans to increase local production of maize, soya beans, poultry and livestock and to stop import.

•Pux: shows President Buhari signing the 2016 Budget.

Danbatta lists benefits of licensing 38, 42 GHz

ITRealms:

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta has listed some benefits of the latest licensing regime planned by the Commission on the 38 and 42 Gega Hertz (GHz) as well as re-planning of the 23 GHz, reports ITRealms.

Declaring open a one-day Stakeholders Consultative Forum on Licensing of 38 GHz and 42 GHz spectrum bands as well as re-planning of 23 GHz band in Lagos, Prof. Danbatta, who was represented at the occasion by Director, Public Affairs Department, Mr. Tony Ojobo, said that licensing these bands will among other things throw-up some benefits.

These, he listed to include addressing the growing demands of operators for spectrum for high speed and high capacity links for data-centric services.

This, Danbatta said will further assist the Commission’s drive for the National Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) initiative.

In addition, it would achieve the reduction of pressure and management challenges experienced with the traditional microwave frequency bands.

The growth in broadband traffic is on the increase and therefore additional spectrum resources would be required to avoid network challenges.

Therefore, he said, NCC foresees the Nigerian consumers leveraging on these resources to enjoy better broadband services, assuring that the Commission will continue to develop policies and guidelines in conjunction with stakeholders to deliver a better quality or experience for all.


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Startups advises to see challenges as learning curves

ITRealms:

The Office for Information, Communication Technology (ICT) Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIIE) has advised Nigerian startups to see their challenges as learning curves, reports ITRealms.

OIIE is an initiative of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Declaring open the third edition of the StartUP Friday in Abuja, the acting Director General of NITDA, Dr Vincent Olatunji, represented by chief scientific officer, Dr Femi Adeluyi, said the current administration is focusing on ICT innovation.

He acknowledged that established companies have experienced the challenges startups are facing before they reach the zenith and therefore advised young entrepreneurs to see their various problems of growth as learning curves.

“The oil prices are not so much in our favour and we want to convert ICT to the cash cow of the economy. So this event is a very good opportunity for us to make that happen. This year, we are going to establish a number of innovation hubs because the government sees that ICT innovation can help us to create jobs, generate revenue”, he said.

National Coordinator of OIIE, Bunmi Okunowo said that StartUP Friday is an event where nascent companies, irrespective of the sector and solution offering, gather to connect, share and learn from the CEOs of some of the established companies, as well as VCs and other stakeholders. Okunowo said it is an avenue for “startup founders and intending founders to network and access resources”.

According to him, StartUP Friday offered opportunity to attendees to connect with successful CEOs, investors and business owners that would be difficult to access ordinarily. “Leveraging on the convening power of government, we bring these categories of people together within the reach of our startup founders. They are part of the ecosystem, and we want them to share their experience, to network with people and find ways that they can help them. Give them access to resources”, he said.

In the past editions, StartUP Friday had hosted founders of Jobberman, Printivo and Hotels.ng, and these CEOs have shared the stories of how they established their companies. They had told the audience about the road they travelled before overcoming their challenges and how they raised their first big capital.

“If we are all successful then we are doing great. With that success comes a story to tell. There will be a time when a startup founder sits in front of investors and pitch to make them believe that the business is worth investing in. The best way to learn is to listen, learn and follow the principles of those who have walked that path before”, Okunowo said.

According to him, resources do not only mean money, adding that with StartUP Friday, the office would want to make the conversation stronger, deeper and more impactful as it partners with corporates such as Intel and Microsoft that would bring additional value to the startup firms.

“We recently signed an agreement with Intel to tap into their huge network of resources that can significantly benefit Nigerian startups who are using technology to drive their businesses. With this partnership, we are creating the bridge for startups and hub operators to leverage on to create more value for the ecosystem”.

For instance, startup with device-oriented solution would get access to engage Intel through the partnership to drive device production at a cheaper rate. The partnership would foster device penetration and use of new and innovative solutions that would promote inclusive development in underserved and unserved areas.

Other partners, he said, include eLPee Consults, Ripple VC, DraperDarkFlow and SpeedUPAfrica whose managing partner, Toro Orero, has indicated interest to collaborate with OIIE with the objective of exporting StartUP Friday to Ghana in July, as well as sponsor 50 Nigerian startups to the event.

Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of Precise Financial Systems, Yele Okeremi, charged the startups to appreciate the seed for greatness in them and pursue their goals with persistency, which often leads to success.

Special Assistant to the Vice President on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Ife Adebayo, observed that the Startup Friday should be replicated across other states of the country, as it would offer Nigerians with great ideas opportunity to show such ideas to the right investors.

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FG drums support for Galaxy Backbone digital inclusion plans

ITRealms:

The Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari has applauded the roles of Galaxy Backbone Ltd in the digitization of the public sector in the country for a digitally inclusive society, reports ITRealms.

The Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu gave this indication at the 14th Innovation Africa Digital Summit 2016 which held in Abuja, recently, saying that the company has the mandate to build and operate a nationwide broadband network that provides IP-based connectivity services to all Federal Government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and institutions.

Galaxy Backbone, he said, focuses on providing ICT infrastructure, applications and services to all Federal Government institutions which includes but not limited to managing Government Data Centers and databases, Directory Services, National Information Repositories, IP-telephony and other solutions/services delivered on the shared platform.

He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for actively supporting the Ministry of Communications and Galaxy Backbone Ltd who partnered with Extensia Ltd Uk to host the Innovation Africa Digital Summit 2016 in Abuja for the first time.

Also, he said Nigeria’s hosting of the summit at this time was most significant due to the fact that the present government in Nigeria was easily the first government since the country’s independence to win election by leveraging the benefits of the ICT, social media in particular.

He concluded that the time has now come for the government and Nigerians “to fully embrace ICT to enhance our lives, to enhance transparency and good governance if we really are to fulfil the “Change” mandate that Nigerians voted President Muhammadu Buhari to bring about.”

Chuks Egbuna/GEE

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Stolen funds: Buhari urges international community to expedite repatriation

ITRealms:

The Nigeria President, Muhammadu Buhari has urged the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to join hands in facilitating and expediting recovery of Nigeria’s stolen wealth stashed abroad, reports ITRealms.

Receiving the Executive Secretary of UNODC, Mr Yury Fedotov, Thursday in Abuja, President Buhari said that the process of recovering the stolen assets had “become tedious’’ to the consternation of many Nigerians.

“We are looking for more cooperation from the EU, United States, other countries and international institutions to recover the nation’s stolen assets, particularly proceeds from the stolen crude oil.

“It is taking very long and Nigerians are becoming impatient,” the President said.

President Buhari told Mr. Fedotov that his government has worked very hard in the past 11 months to reverse the very negative global perception of Nigeria on corruption.

“Our genuine efforts to deal with corruption and drugs have earned us international respect and this has encouraged us to do more’’.

“We know that by fighting the scourge of drugs and corruption and rebuilding trustworthiness, integrity, good business practices, and imposing discipline on youths to avoid drugs, we are not doing a favour to the international community, we are doing a favour to ourselves, ’’ the President said.

President Buhari also promised that his administration will work with the UN agency to rehabilitate young Nigerians who have been misled into consumption of illicit drugs and drug trafficking.

Mr. Fedotov told President Buhari that UNODC has chosen Nigerian as a pilot country for support and strategic cooperation in the fight against drugs and corruption.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Telcos to deploy FDD on 38, 42 GHz - NCC

ITRealms:

Telecommunications companies eyeing to get a part of the forth coming licensing regime in the 38 Gega Hertz (GHz) and 48 GHz spectrum bands, should be able to deploy Frequency-division duplex (FDD) technologies, reports ITRealms.

The Deputy Director, Spectrum Administration Department at NCC, Engr. O.A. Yusuf made this disclosure while responding to questions during a one-day Stakeholders Consultative Forum on Licensing of 38 GHz and 42 GHz spectrum bands as well as re-planning of 23 GHz band in Lagos.

He stressed the purpose of the forum, saying that participants were to discuss spectrum plan, pricing scheme and licensing of service providers in the bands on offer in addition to re-planning of 23GHz Microwave Spectrum bands within the Nigerian telecoms industry in line with the global best practices.

Yusuf further asserted that the new frontier is broadband and in effort to ensure Nigeria take full advantage of the new licensing regimes available, and across channel plan, licensing model and pricing.

ITRealms recalls that FDD, is a telecommunications duplex indexing method which means that the transmitter and receiver operate at different carrier frequencies. The term is frequently used in ham radio operation, where an operator is attempting to contact a repeater station. 

The station, experts explained, must be able to send and receive a transmission at the same time, and does so by slightly altering the frequency at which it sends and receives. This mode of operation is referred to as duplex mode or offset mode.

Experts at Wikipedia said that uplink and downlink sub-bands are usually separated by the frequency offset. Thus, frequency-division duplexing could be efficient in the case of symmetric traffic.

In this case, they explained, time-division duplexing tends to waste bandwidth during the switch-over from transmitting to receiving, and has greater inherent latency, and may require more complex circuitry.

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40-yr after: Usman Dan Fodio, Bayero Universities deny Christains access to erect churches – CBCN

 ITRealms:

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has lamented that after 40 years, the two universities in the north have persistently denied Christian access to erect a worshiping place in their campuses, reports ITRealms.

This revelation was made by President of CBCN, Bishop Ignatius Kaigama when he led his administrative members on courtesy call to President Muhammadu Buhari at State House, Abuja.

“We bring to your notice that sad enough, Christians are still unable to erect places of worship in Federal Universities in the northern states,” the bishops said.

Pointing out that after 40 years, the aforementioned two universities, for example, have out-rightly denied Christians access to lands already in the plans for the erection of Churches, in spite of their being so many mosques built by the university authorities.

They also noted that in some northern states, “it is such a herculean task for Christians to obtain certificates of occupancy to build Churches in some northern States. We urge you to kindly encourage State governments to kindly enforce the freedom of religion enshrined in our Constitution.

+ITRealms DSA 
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No bomb explosion in Anambra - Govt

ITRealms:

The government of Anambra State has denied any bomb explosion in any part of the state, saying it was stored fuel, reports ITRealms.

A public statement made available to ITRealms late last night, the Anambra State government said, "An explosion occurred at about 8 at Eva Water Staff settlement, Kara on the way to Atani in Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State. 

"On receipt of report,  we arrived the scene and discovered that the explosion was from fuel stored in Jerry-cans. 

"We immediately evacuated 11 persons who received degree of burns to Hospital around Onitsha."

ITRealms also gaatheredt that no death was recorded following the incident. 

"We are using this opportunity to warn people to desist from storing petrol in their houses" – Mr Ali Okechukwu (PPRO Anambra), adding that Anambra remains the safest State in Nigeria.

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How N67.45m was transfer from NIMASA in 9 days

ITRealms:

An account officer with the Access Bank Plc, Oliver Ewerem has narrated how funds were transferred to Gama Marine Nigeria Limited and one Vincent Udoye from a NIMASA account within nine days to the tune of N67.45m, reports ITRealms.

Noteworthy is that a former Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick  Ziadeke Akpobolokemi and six others continued before Justice R.I.B Adebiyi of a Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere, 

Ewerem made this disclosure while being led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Idris Abdullahi Mohammed, and gave a breakdown of some of the transactions that occurred between 2nd - 11th February, 2015.

“On 2nd February, 2015, there was a credit of N28,000,000 from the account of Committee of Voluntary International Maritime Organization Member State Audit Scheme, (VIMSAS). The same day, another credit of N39, 450,000 entered into account of Gama Marine.

“On 10th February, 2015, there were withdrawals from Gama Marine account in favour of one Vincent Udoye, N10 Million in three tranches which is N30 million was made. Another withdrawal by same Vincent Udoye in three tranches of N10, 000,000 which is N30 million occurred again in the same account.

"Also, on 10 February, 2015, a credit of N10, 000,000 in three tranches was paid  into Vincent Udoye’s account. On 11 February 2015, another credit of N10,000,000 million in three other tranches were again paid into the account of Vincent Udoye, altogether being seven transactions and amounting to N67,450,000."

ITRealms recalls that Akpobolokemi is standing trial alongside six others on a 13-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and fraudulent conversion of funds to the tune of N687, 294,680 (Six Hundred and Eighty Seven Million, Two Hundred and Ninety Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty Naira).

His co-accused persons are Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Amechee Juan, Vincent Udoye, Captain Ade Sahib Olopoenia and Gama Marine Nigeria Limited.

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Unearthing Instagram security flaw: 10-year-old Finish earns $10,000

ITRealms:

For successfully hacking into Instagram server, a 10-year-old Finnish hacker identified as Jani, has received 10,000 dollars, reports ITRealms.

The boy’s hacking of Instagram server assisted the company in discovering vulnerability in its back-end applications; which afforded him to delete comments on certain Instagram accounts.

Facebook in announcing this said that the boy, whose name was simply given as Jani, discovered the security vulnerability in the Instagram app, a photo-sharing service owned by Facebook in March this year.

Jani was reported to had deleted other people’s comments when he inputted malicious code into the comment field of the application.

ITRealms gathered that Jani informed Instagram about the technical fault via electronic mail (email) a few days later. Instagram in response and in appreciation rewarded him USD10,000 dollars from Instagram.

Jani pointed out that he is enthusiastic about coding games for years and had been building up his skills on his own with his twin brother.

The boy’s father, whose name was also kept on seal, said that he was very surprised that his son had learnt so much about coding and data security.

In the meantime the boy said he dreams of becoming an information security expert in the future.

“It would be my dream job; security is really important,” Jani asserted.

Okoli Vincent/GEE

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CEO of GE Ethiopia, Yohannes Tilahun, resigns

ITRealms:

The Chief Executive Officer, General Electric Ethopia, Yohannes Tilahun has resigned from his position effective May 1, this year, reports ITRealms.

President  and CEO, GE Africa, Jay Ireland in confirming this development said, “I would like to inform you that Yohannes Tilahun has announced his intent to resign from his position as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of GE Ethiopia as of May 1st 2016 to pursue other opportunities.”

GE, Ireland said, thank Yohannes for his contributions to support GE’s growth in Ethiopia and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Meanwhile, GE has announced Daniel Hailu, the chief operating officer (COO) Ethiopia will be acting CEO Ethiopia until a replacement is identified. 

ITRealms recalls that Yohannes joined GE from Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), where he held the role of Senior Director, Strategy.  He has also served as a special advisor to the CEO of the EIC as well as other Government Ministers on numerous issues including priority focus areas for greater economic development through private sector involvement.

Prior to this, he held roles of increasing responsibilities in the US with Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley. Yohannes brought years of experience in designing and successfully executing large multi-stakeholder projects and leading teams to deliver results.

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FG committed to uphold Freedom of Information Act

ITRealms:

The Federal Government has said its committed to uphold the Freedom of Information Act as a necessary instrument in the fight against corruption and promoting transparency in governance, reports ITRealms.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, gave this commitment in a remark in Abuja on Tuesday to mark this year’s World Press Freedom Day, which has the theme “Access to Information and Fundamental Freedoms: This Is Your Right.”

“We are indeed in a very interesting period, which calls for full support and use of the FOI Act and which recognizes the citizen’s right to know, promote war against corruption and sustain economic development. If activities of public institutions are subjected to scrutiny, it will be easier to measure their efforts against their goals and our expectations,” he said.

He said the government has taken a bold step further in not just guaranteeing Freedom of Expression but creating access to information.

“It is apparent that the tide today is to grant freedom of not just expression but also of access to information. However, each nation has to consider its own peculiarities in joining the fray. Since Sweden started the enactment several decades ago, many countries have embraced it and I believe many more are seriously considering the enactment. The fact is that if well utilised, an FOI Act will offer citizens a sense of involvement, belonging and fulfillment.

''It will go a long way in entrenching transparency, which will in turn help curb corruption, promote accountability, good governance, rule of law and service delivery in public office”, Alhaji Mohammed said.

He observed that for democracy to be entrenched in the country, the culture of transparency and accountability must permeate all then strata of government, and therefore enjoined the media to hold the government to account by exploring the Freedom of Act.

Alhaji Mohammed commended the media for remaining resolute in the pursuit of liberty, social justice, equality and democracy and assured that the Federal Government will continue to create the enabling environment for the media to thrive.

“Without even prompting, the citizens require full information on how they are represented and governed. The very nature of democratic government implies accountability and transparency, a free press and other democratic checks. Interestingly, Nigeria, as a developing nation, has a free and independent press. Its vibrant media have successful exposed corruption in higher places and remained undaunted in the face of victimization, politicization and sentiment expressed in some quarters against their professional stubbornness,'' he said.

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Nigerians are groaning, herdsmen on rampage – Catholic Bishops told Buhari

ITRealms:

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), has told President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigerians are groaning under the worsening hardship under his leadership in addition to Fulani herdsmen rampage has remain on unchecked, reports ITRealms.

Speaking through the President, Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Nigeria, and Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, said, the harsh economic situation in which Nigerians are living presently is being felt everywhere.

“In many States, workers are worrying about their monthly salaries, many pensioners are crying for many months for unpaid pensions, while so many self-employed and non-employed persons and family dependents are groaning for their daily meal,” he said.

However, commending Buhari for the bail-out funds to cushion this hardship in various states, CBCN urged him to ensure that these monies are used mainly to take care of salaries, pensions and their basic human needs.

They also decried the clashes between farmers and herdsmen in all zones of the country

CBCN cited for instance the Agatu killings, the Nimbo killings and many other killings in Benue, Taraba, Nassarawa, Ondo, Edo, Delta and elsewhere which should be seriously investigated, with the perpetrators unmasked and decisively dealt with.

“Our people cannot continue to live in perpetual fear of attacks by fellow Nigerians with criminal intent. Happily, we understand that you have ordered some investigations into the Agatu and Nimbo killings. For a more permanent peace between herdsmen and farmers in our country, some streamlining is necessary for the good of the cattle rearers in the North and for the welfare of farmers in the South and elsewhere in Nigeria,” they said.

Cattle ranches, the bishops said, should be created in states known for cattle breeding, with adequate water and fodder provided and nurtured, while farmlands for root crops and other plants should be protected for their specific products in states known for such.

This, they said, will reduce or eliminate clashes stemming from trespassing.

“We certainly need these two sectors to supplement our near-total dependence on oil. But the fact that armed attacks and wanton killings have become a national threat, it should be declared an insurgency and treated as such, with the aim of dislodging the insurgents from occupied communities by the security/military operatives,” CBCN said.

+Remmy Nweke 

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Canada supports women’s empowerment MENA region with $16.3m

ITRealms:

The government of Canada has announced a new support for Women’s empowerment in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with the sum of  $16.3 million, about N3,2 trillion, reports ITRealms.

Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who disclosed this today on behalf of the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, said Canada’s contribution of $16.3 million is to further support women’s empowerment in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region through a project implemented by the Forum of Federations.

ITRealms reports that the project, Empowering Women for Leadership Roles in the MENA Region, will help more than 5,400 women in Jordan, Tunisia and Morocco increase their participation and representation at all levels of government, including in parliaments, local governments, women’s coalitions, civil society organizations and academia.

“By improving their skills in such areas as public speaking and management, as well as their familiarity with political systems, this project will empower women to take leadership roles in parliaments and participate in decisions that will have an impact on their lives and their communities,” she said.

Also Goldsmith-Jones made this disclosure at the Women in Parliaments Global Summit in Amman, Jordan, saying that the summit presents a unique opportunity to discuss and engage in dialogue on the most pressing issues regarding the role and importance of female decision makers in today’s parliaments.

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Edo Assembly impeaches Speaker,

ITRealms:

… As Ativie takes over

A new speaker has emerged at the Edo House of Assembly following the impeachment of the erstwhile Speaker, Mr Victor Edoro, reports ITRealms.

The newly elected speaker is Mrs Elizabeth Ativie who emerged by the vote of 16 lawmakers out of the 24 members of the House.

Edoro’s impeachment followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Mr Folly Ogedemgbe (APC-Owan- East) and seconded by Mr Patrick Illuobe (PDP – Esan-North East).

“This is an impeachment notice signed by 16 members that the speaker Victor Edoroh and his deputy, are hereby impeached,” Ogedemgbe said during the house sitting.

ITRealms reports that shortly after moving the motion, Ogedemgbe nominated Illuobe to preside over the election, who thereafter called for nomination for a new speaker and deputy. Ativie’s name was submitted as speaker by Mr Victor Assen (APC-Owan-East), while Mr Justin Okonobo ( APC-Igueben) was nominated as deputy speaker by Henry Okhuobo (APC-Orhionmwon). The two were subsequently approved to lead the House by the lawmakers.

Further report by correspondent showed that soon after the new speaker took her seat, there was little chaos as the assembly’s chamber was invaded by some suspected thugs. 

The situation made security operatives to immediately take over of the assembly’s premises, as staff scampered for safety.

Okoli Vincent with additional reports from Vangaurd/GEE

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