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Saturday, June 18, 2016
Scale-Up Nutrition says 18% of Anambra children under 5 malnourished
Naija AgroNet: 18% of Anambra children under 5 malnourished - NGO...: NaijaAgroNet : The Anambra State chapter of the Nigerian Civil Society Scale-up Nutrition, a Non-Government Organisation (NGO), has all...
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EFCC v. Oronsaye: Judge stops witness over chart explanation
The presiding Judge, Justice
Gabriel Kolawole at the Federal High Court, Abuja, has stopped witness from using chart to offer explanation at the ongoing case between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) versus Nigeria’s former Head of Service, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, Osarenkhoe Afe, and three others, reports ITRealms.
Ruling in favour of the defence team against an attempt by the
Commission’s first prosecution witness (Pw1), Rouqayya Ibrahim to use a chart
to give her evidence, the judge said, the witness, an operative of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, who came as the Commission’s first Prosecution Witness on the request to use a Chart in the Court to explain the findings of the EFCC in
the course of investigation of the alleged fraud in Pension payments in
Nigeria.
Opposing the request, lead Counsel to Mr. Stephen Oronsaye,
Mr. Kanu Agabi (SAN), argued that the chart, as displayed, having photographs
of the accused persons will not allow for fair trial.
“The chart, having photographs of the
accused persons will be prejudicial and will not allow for fair trial. When I
saw the chart, I thought it was a document earlier frontloaded to us, but we
just noticed that we received it here in Court. If it is a document they intend
to use, they should serve it on us properly,” he said.
Adding his voice, Counsel to the second and third
defendants, Mr. Oluwole Aladoyele described the practise as strange to his
team, arguing that it does not conform to the provisions of the Evidence Act,
relying on Section 239 of the Act.
He urged the Court to disallow what he described as a
strange procedure, further describing the information on the chart as the
personal opinion of the prosecution witness.
Canvassing in favour of the use of the Chart, Prosecution
Counsel, Mr. Adebisi Adeniye argued that the opposition to the Chart was
misconceived.
“I submit that the opposition to the usage of the chat is
misconceived. It is not a situation where we hope to tender the document in
evidence. What the witness has said is that she has a chat with which she can
demonstrate the investigation she carried out and her findings. Even under the
evidence Act, this witness can refresh her memory.”
In his ruling, the presiding Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole
upheld the arguments of the two defence counsels, disallowing the use of the
demonstration chart.
‘‘If the chart will not be tendered as an exhibit, of what
use is it? If I merely have to listen to the PW1’s explanations, of what use is
it when the judgement will be written? If the use of the chart is merely to
demonstrate how the fraud was perpetrated and not tendered as an exhibit, it
will not be useful in judgement. I agree with the view of the counsel to the
2nd and 3rd defendants that the chart will be prejudicial. PW1 has not shown
any sign of one with loss of memory. She appears to be clever and clearheaded.
It is also important that the defendants are accorded fair hearing and fair
trial. It is either the Chart is tendered as an exhibit or is out rightly
discarded. My decision is to disallow this, which the PW1 introduced by herself
without guidance by the prosecution Counsel. The Chart is disallowed from being
demonstrated to the Court.”
Similarly, an attempt made by the same prosecution Counsel
to pray the Court to accept a Statement made by the second defendant as an
exhibit was also blocked by the defence Counsel, who argued that the said
statement made in the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
was written under duress. He made a case for a ‘trial-within- trial’, a prayer
that was granted by the presiding Judge.
‘‘I object to the admissibility of this document. It was
made through oppression, using the exact words of the Evidence Act. I am particular
about the statements made on the 24th of February, 2011 and 16th of March,
2011. They were made through oppression, as he was threatened, induced and
harassed to make the statements and we intend to demonstrate this if my lord
graciously orders trial within trial to demonstrate to you that these documents
are inadmissible. He was bundled,‘‘ he stressed.
Delivering his ruling on the admissibility of the document,
presiding Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole said ‘‘In view of the objection
raised by the second and third defence Counsel, and relying on sections 28 and
29 o*f the Evidence Act, we will take a mini procedure, a trial within trial."
The matter was adjourned to 21st of June, 2016 for the
ordered mini procedure.
It would be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission dragged Nigeria’s former head of Service, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye and
four others before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court, Abuja over
an amended 35-count charge bordering on alleged corruption.
Others charged by the Commission are: Cluster Logistics
Limited, Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment &
Construction Company Limited. Osarenkhoe Afe is the managing director of
Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited.
Meanwhile, many well-meaning Nigerians have cautioned the
Federal Government over what they described as the persecution of Nigeria’s
former Head of Service by the EFCC, further describing it as a show of
ingratitude to one who introduced reforms to the country’s Civil Service and exposed
corruption in the system.
Lagos, keen on capacity development - Ayorinde
The Lagos State
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, has declared
that one of the cardinal direction of Governor Ambode-led administration is to
invest in capacity development of government officials who are major
stakeholders in articulating his plans, programmes and policies for the
development of the State, reports ITRealms.
Ayorinde said that
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is specifically interested in the way and manner
activities of the government is communicated to Lagosians including people at
the grassroots and would continue to support the Public Affairs Officers in
honing their skills to help in achieving the objective for better service
delivery.
The commissioner made
this known today while declaring open the second stream of the retreat
programme organized for Public Affairs Officers in the employ of the government
held at Golden Tulip Hotel, Amuwo Odofin.
Speaking on the
rationale behind the change in nomenclature from Public Relations Officers to
Public Affairs Officers, the Commissioner said the government expects public
involvement in information management in line with the pledge made by the
Governor during his inaugural address to run a government of inclusion.
He called for improved
commitment to duty from the officers urging them to go extra miles in gathering
information that would project the state government better and also benefit
members of the public.
Giving the overview of
the retreat, the Director of Public Affairs in the Ministry, Mrs. Adetoro
Oladapo said that the programme was organized to boost the capacity of
officers especially with their new nomenclature, standardize public affairs
practice, provide opportunity for officers to network and also jointly provide
solutions to challenges confronting them.
According to her, the
theme for the retreat ‘'Public Sector Information Management in Challenging
Times'’ was deliberately chosen to equip the officers with needed skills to
communicate government activities to the diverse residents of the State.
Friday, June 17, 2016
Sowho, Etisalat’s director to speak @ GES 2016
The Director of Digital Business at Etisalat Nigeria, Adia Sowho
is headed to the Silicon Valley, California, as one of the speakers at the
Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) 2016, reports ITRealms.
Sowho, who is among eminent personalities that would be speaking
at the GES 2016 billed to hold from June 23 through 24 in the United States of
America, would be dwelling on ‘Entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa:
Infrastructure and the Enabling Environment’ during a session that will be
moderated by the CEO, African Technology Foundation, Stephen Ozoigbo.
ITRealms also gathered that a group of erudite discussants
including Alexandra (Lexi) Novitske, Principal Investment Officer, Singularity
Investments, Breanna Zwart, Executive, Access Strategy Team, Google,
Ime Archibong, Director, Global Product Partnerships, Facebook and Kevin
Connolly, Affordable Access Initiative, Business Development, Microsoft will join Adia Sowho to analyze the technology
entrepreneurship ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Africa and highlight the
infrastructure needs, gaps, and opportunities.
Expectations
are high that this intellectual group of discussants would present current market solutions that have created an
enabling environment for Africa’s digital entrepreneurs to discuss the next
wave of market opportunities across leading industries.
Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2016 will be the 7th session in a
series previously hosted by the United States and the governments of Turkey,
the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Morocco, and Kenya.
This year’s summit aims to showcase inspiring entrepreneurs and
investors, including Etisalat Nigeria, from around the world who are creating
new opportunities for investment, partnership, and collaboration, and connecting
American entrepreneurs and investors with international counterparts to form
lasting relationships. It will also highlight entrepreneurship as means to
address some of the most intractable global challenges.
The summit will include a wide range of workshops, panels, ignite
talks, pitch competitions, mentoring and networking sessions aimed at giving
participants tailored opportunities to gain skills and relationships that will
help their ventures grow. Within the
Summit, there will also be demonstration areas, experiential learning
exhibitions and opportunities to connect with industry experts.
ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!
Pix: Adia Sowho
Forza Motorsport 6 Game now available in Xbox One
ITRealms:
With this
development, ITRealms reports that Ford would now compete with four Ford Chip
Ganassi Racing Ford GTs at the iconic Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race in France
on June 18-19, 2016.
Starting Friday, June 17, codes to download the Ford GT Le
Mans race car for free will be sent direct to the Xbox Live message inboxes of
gamers who play Forza Motorsport 6.
This year, Ford said, its running two Ford Chip Ganassi
Racing Ford GTs in the FIA World Endurance Championship and two in the IMSA
WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. All four Ford GTs will compete for GTE Pro
class glory at the Le Mans 24 Hours that starts at 15:00 CET on June 18 in
France.
Global Marketing Manager, Ford Performance, Henry Ford III, said Ford’s 1966 Le Mans victory was the stuff
of motorsport legend, and now “we’re back to take on the world’s toughest
endurance race with our most technologically advanced car ever. We’ve worked
closely with Forza and Xbox so that millions of Forza Motorsport 6 gamers can
experience the excitement of our Le Mans return side-by-side with Ford.”
ITRealms recalls that the Ford GT race car is based on the
all-new Ford GT supercar, which is the pinnacle product of the Ford Performance
division. With state-of-the-art aerodynamics, lightweight carbon fibre
construction and a powerful and efficient Ford EcoBoost engine, the Ford GT has
been built to go head-to-head with the GT establishment – Ferrari, Corvette,
Porsche and Aston Martin – as they fight for victory in the ultimate endurance
battle.
The Forza Motorsport 6 cover star Ford GT road car –
expected to start arriving in customers’ garages by the end of 2016 – has been
available to drive in-game since the launch of the acclaimed title last year.
For the Le Mans 24 Hours the two WEC Ford GTs retain their
#66 and #67 race numbers while the IMSA cars become #68 and #69, celebrating
Ford’s back-to-back Le Mans victories in 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969.
ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!
Multipower targets telcos with inverters, solar solutions
An authorized
distributor for Exide in
Nigeria, the Multipower Global
Solutions Ltd is targeting telecommunications with grade battery and
inverters with index battery as well as solar solutions, reports ITRealms.
The company which claimed to be one of the most trusted power backup solution brands
emerging in Nigeria, ITRealms gathered, that through the authorized
distributors for Exide in
Nigeria, customers could get get premium quality Exide (Index) deep cycle
batteries especially meant for corporate sector.
Onyinye Egwuatu of
corporate services, Multipower, informed ITRealms that “Exide is one of the
oldest largest manufacturers of batteries having footprints in this industry
since world war 1.”
She also said they are
at present into nearly all kinds of batteries, to name a few- deep cycle, useful
for telecom, traction among others, thus they specializes in building customized
industry solutions for various sectors.
ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!
Senate backs DMO, says strong advocacy to boost debt management
PR@ITRealms:
ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!
The Senate has stressed that with more advocacy on the issue of debt management and servicing, Nigerians will be better placed to lend their support to government’s effort in raising funds from the capital and bonds’ market for development purposes.
The chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senater Shehu Sani, made this known at a three-day retreat organised for members of the committee by the Debt Management Office in Minna, Niger State on Thursday.
Sani said that if there was aggressive advocacy on what such debts were taken for, Nigerians would support such initiative aimed at driving development and engendering development.
According to him, it was imperative for the DMO to develop a framework in the major languages in the country to get the citizens to understand why debts are taken, for what purpose and what the society stands to benefit from such borrowing.
“There is need for strategy mix anchored on proper advocacy on what debt management is all about. Nigerians want to know why governments borrow, to what purpose such debts are taken and I can say that once it is well explained, the people will key into the programme.
“I therefore hope that the DMO will rev up its advocacy especially in the major languages because a whole lot of Nigerians don’t seem to understand why their states governments will take loans and they cannot see why the loan was taken in the first instance.”
Speaking further, Sani said “debt is a veritable tool for economic growth and development if properly managed. I also believe that an effective debt management that emphasizes transparency due process, and fiscal discipline can precipitate a turnaround in the economy.”
According to him, the Senate will look at the DMO Act to amend it to meet the realities of the present economic situation, noting that the legislature should be involved in the negotiations of loans as it will not only enhance their capacity but offer a clear insight into the terms and conditions of such loans.
Also, a member of the committee, Senator Sani Yerima, said there was need for greater collaboration between the National Assembly and the executive so that Nigerians can stand to reap the benefits of borrowed funds.
Yerima said loans help to fast track development, employment generation and helps government to bridge the funding gap but decried a situation of arbitrary borrowing by states without a ceiling.
“As governor we had caps to what we could borrow. But today states borrow arbitrarily and leave debts that will be repaid for the next 3- to 40 years. The National Assembly will work closely with the DMO to develop a framework on this matter,” he said.
In his remarks, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, Director General of the DMO, said the workshop with the theme; Processes and Procedures for External and Domestic Borrowing and Settlement, has become imperative given the funding of the 2016 budget from loans.
According to Nwankwo, the federal government does not just borrow for borrowing sake but to address the challenge of development and infrastructure growth.
He explained that the workshop is to not only keep the lawmakers abreast of developments in the Nigerian debt sector but to get their buy-ins in the DMO’s drive to seek for funding from the capital market.
The DMO boss also said that states have not been barred from raising funds rather that the National Economic Council was against borrowing from commercial banks but supports states seeking for capital from bonds, which is cheaper and more sustainable in the long run.
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Gov. Obiano names Mark Okoye, youngest Commissioner in Anambra State
The Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has named
a 30-year old Mark Okoye as the Commissioner in his cabinet to oversee the
Economic Planning and Budget Development ministry, reports ITRealms.
Mark Okoye Jnr, presumably is the youngest among the list of
Commissioners in Anambra till date, and his appointment, ITRealms gathered was
confirmed by the Anambra State House of Assembly.
Anambra State is touted to have an estimated 55 per cent of
young people involved in government.
Until his latest appointment, Mark Okoye II, has been the
Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic Planning, Budget and Investments to
Gov. Obiano since June 2015 and his responsibilities then include but not
limited to running the day-to-day activities of the Ministry of Economic
Planning and Budget; and operational and strategic oversight over Anambra State
Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA).
Mark was before then, Secretary, ANSIPPA and was in fact a
member of the Anambra State Economic Think-Tank, 2014-18 as well as assisting
in creating policies to promote private sector involvement in the State, which emanated
from the co-management of the State's investment portfolio (c.N25.0bn)
consisting of investments in capital markets, manufacturing, power, building
materials, tourism, hospitality and real estate sectors of the economy
Further, Mark was involved in the management of State Flood
Disaster Recovery Coordinating Committee (SFDRCC), and had an instinct with investment
banking associate whereas at Afrinvest West Africa for over four years and is
married.
Pix: Mark Okoye II
Etisalat hands over educational equipment to Akande Dahunsi Schools
Etisalat Nigeria, in its bid to continue to promote
education in the country, has handed over some educational equipment to Akande Dahunsi Junior and Senior High School to boost science
and technology learning, reports ITRealms.
Performing the handover to Akande Dahunsi
Junior and Senior High School, the Director, Schools Administration, Education
District 3, Ikoyi-Lagos, Mr. Mudashiru Raji commended the telecom operator for
using its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to empower youth
through this equipment.
While urging other corporate companies to
emulate Etisalat, he enjoined the appropriate usage of the equipment for the
betterment of the school, pupils and eventually larger society.
ITRealms gathered, Mr. Raji was accompanied during the formal presentation by the Director, Regulatory & CSR, Etisalat Nigeria, Ikenna Ikeme;
Principal, Akande Dahunsi Senior High School, Mrs. Badejo Olayinka and her
junior high school counterpart, Mrs. Ajiboye Olanike among others.
Uj. N. Dominic/GEE
Pix: L-R: Principal, Akande Dahunsi Junior High School, Mrs. Ajiboye Olanike; Director, Regulatory & CSR, Etisalat Nigeria, Ikenna Ikeme; Principal, Akande Dahunsi Senior High School, Mrs. Badejo Olayinka and Secretary, Administration, Education District 3, Ikoyi Lagos, Mr. Mudashiru Raji at the formal handover of educational equipment to Akande Dahunsi Junior and Senior High School by Etisalat Nigeria
Ekhomu urges intelligence officials to proactively prevent terrorists attacks
A renowned security expert, Dr. Ona
Ekhomu, has advised Nigerian intelligence officials to focus on providing
reliable warnings of impending terror attacks in order to save the lives of citizens
from incessant bombings, militant attacks and other mass fatality events.
Speaking at the joint graduation
ceremony of 77 intelligence officers at the Nigerian Air Force School of Air
Intelligence Makurdi, Benue State, recently, Ekhomu who is the Chairman of the
School of Management and Security said “this is a new day, and new page as you
write the history of your life and your service to the nation. I have seen
excellence on display here - certainly, in the intelligence analysis course.”
He said that while intelligence
gathering was extremely necessary and important, robust intelligence analysis remained
the cornerstone of good operational decision-making as analysts could ‘predict’
terror attacks with some degree of certainty.
Ekhomu stressed that as intelligence
analysts, “You guys worked very hard with high level concepts and were able to
conquer. That denotes the quality of
personnel and the quality of training that is available here in the Nigerian
Air Force and most especially the passion that you have for service to the
nation”.
He said that since intelligence analysis
was important in averting “surprises” by the enemy, clandestine operatives and
intelligence analysts must redouble their efforts to prevent attacks by
terrorists by uncovering their plans and plots “thereby averting intelligence failures”.
In his remarks, the Director of Air
Intelligence, Air Vice Marshall Mohammed Usman said the “graduating
intelligence Analysis Course Q1/2016 should realize that this course is aimed
at equipping them for higher intelligence operations, as intelligence analysis
is the hub of intelligence operations”.
The intelligence Chief urged the
graduates of the Intermediate Intelligence Course (IIC) and the Basic Intelligence
Course (BIC) to enhance the intelligence gathering efforts of the Nigerian Air
Force. He said that the current internal
security situation in Nigeria has led to an “increased demand for organic
intelligence gathering capabilities for the armed forces”.
Addressing the graduates, the Commandant of
the Nigerian Air Force School of Air Intelligence, Group Capt. Raymond Nwankwo
said the training was aimed at boosting the capacity of the graduants.
He emphasized that through capacity-building,
the nation’s security challenges such as insurgency and terrorism would be
successfully combated.
The Commandant stated that the
introduction of Intelligence Analysis training into the School’s curricular was
to ensure optimum performance of intelligence.
The graduation ceremony combined
three classes – the Intelligence Analysis Course, the Intermediate Intelligence
Course and Basic Intelligence Course.
Monday, June 13, 2016
Yudala builds Africa’s largest warehouses to meet logistics expectations
The pioneer composite
e-commerce outfit, Yudala has invested in a trio of 220,660 square feet
warehouse space located within the regional hubs of Lagos, Abuja and Port
Harcourt, with construction also expected to commence soon on similar
structures in Owerri, Kano and Uyo, reports ITRealms.
Head of Operations,
Yudala, Ejovi Ekakitie, disclosed this, saying that the warehouses, which will
significantly boost Yudala’s inventory-taking capacity, are individually the
largest warehouse structures in Africa, eclipsing the 120,000 square feet
structure recently announced as the continent’s largest by a fellow e-commerce
player.
“These warehouses
will be fully automated with warehouse Management systems to create efficient
and accurate inventory management to meet our commitment of same day delivery.
We are preparing for the future explosion in the sector as our mandate is very
clear – to lead,” Ekakitie said.
He pointed out that
since entry into the market late last year, Yudala has re-defined the retail
space with our landmark composite retail strategy, the first in Africa, which has
shown that Nigeria indeed has a lot to offer the continent and the world at
large in terms of innovation.
According to him,
through wide variety of delightful promotions and product offerings, many of
which Yudala are still unveiling, stressing they generated huge momentum and
enjoyed massive patronage which has overwhelmed they warehousing capabilities.
“It has, therefore,
become imperative for us to expand our capacity especially in this area to
enable us meet up with our logistics expectations in the current year which is
a pivotal one for all of us at Yudala,” he said.
Throwing more light
on the massive structures which will service the network of Experience Stores
in the various regions of their locations, Mr. Ekakitie noted that the
warehouses will further equip the company to take huge inventory while scaling
up its operational capacities.
“The warehouses are
220,660 square feet automated structures which will be fitted with
state-of-the-art warehouse management systems and ancillary IT packages which
will provide on-site storage and also go a long way in streamlining our
logistics and delivery processes while reducing human error to the barest
minimum.
Ekakitie further
said, Yudala over-riding ambition is to ensure that its esteemed customers
enjoy guaranteed same day delivery wherever they may be in Nigeria and these
warehouses will certainly play a big role in helping us achieve this.
“We pioneered same
day delivery on a nationwide scale earlier in March with the special Easter
edition of Yu-jara and with these
warehouses, even Nigerians in the hinterlands will enjoy this convenience,” he submitted.
ITRealms recalls that
Yudala was launched late last year with great panache and marketing blitz,
Yudala took the African continent by storm with its bold entry and has
successfully expanded the nation’s e-commerce and offline retail space with
several innovative strategies including the first ever drone delivery in
Africa, Neighbour to Neighbour Mega Deals,
Monthly Mid-Day Madness and Yu-jara – Nigeria’s biggest festive
season’s sales, and Yudala Mobile Monday
among others. Yudala prides itself for genuine products and for being the
fastest pay-on-delivery composite e-commerce company in the country.
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