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Thursday, 23 October 2014
Ferguson backs 'formidable' Van Gaal
Ferguson, who retired as United manager at the end of the 2012/13 campaign after a career that saw him become British football's most successful boss during more than 26 years in charge at Old Trafford, looked on as struggling successor David Moyes was sacked after less than a season at the helm.
Not only did United not win any major trophies last season, they also failed to qualify for the lucrative Champions League.
In a bid to rectify both these issues, United brought in van Gaal, fresh from guiding his native Netherlands to third place at this World Cup in Brazil and a vastly experienced club manager.
Ferguson, writing in the recently published updated version of his autobiography, said the 63-year-old van Gaal was a "good choice" for United.
"Louis, who took the job, is what I would call a managers' coach," Ferguson added. "He's one of these committed ultra-professionals. Football is his life.
"Wherever he has managed, every footballer will have learnt from him. He's strong, single-minded, as he showed again with the Netherlands at the World Cup.
"I like Louis and have always had a good rapport with him. If I had to choose one word for him it would be 'formidable'.
"His urge is to play attractive football. He likes to watch players play and players train and to be involved at all levels, including in the development of young players.
"His background at Ajax shows that his faith in youth will not diminish. He was a good choice."
Ferguson also congratulated van Gaal to make United great Ryan Giggs, briefly in caretaker charge after Moyes's sacking, as his assistant manager.
"Louis could help Giggs learn about this business. In turn, Ryan could help Louis in understanding the inner workings of United," Ferguson said.
"As I look back on all those trophies, and those 963 appearances and 168 goals, I recall him as a physical freak. How he could have performed at the level he played at for all those years is beyond me.
"With Giggs I found perfection."
The book also contained the Scot's thoughts about rival managers, including old foe Arsene Wenger who oversaw an end to Arsenal's nine-year wait for a trophy last season by guiding the Gunners to a 3-2 FA Cup final win against a Hull side managed by Steve Bruce, one of Ferguson's former United captains.
"Arsene has always been dogged and determined about his beliefs and has never succumbed to pressure to change," said Ferguson, who added the Frenchman could yet be with north London club Arsenal even longer than he himself was with United.
"The standard and the method have been consistent. He has always been good at acquiring and developing young players. He is never afraid to play young people – which is bold, because young players are not fully formed.
"Who is to say that Arsene will not beat my record? I have my doubts, but he's having a good crack at it."
Meanwhile Ferguson reiterated his support for West Ham manager Sam Allardyce, much criticised by the club's fans for his supposedly unattractive style of football but who has since taken the Hammers into their current position of fourth in the Premier League.
"I hope that before I die, someone can explain the 'West Ham way'. What is it? They last won a trophy in 1980, the FA Cup," Ferguson said.
"I had to sympathise with Sam. He couldn't win. There is this preconception with West Ham fans that 'Big Sam' is a survivalist who tells teams to boot the ball up the pitch.
"The truth is that he stayed up with a team of very average players. That's management. He drew the best from them."
Costa released from hospital - reports
Costa, who has scored nine Premier League goals since joining from Atletico Madrid during the close season, has been dogged by niggly injuries in recent weeks and picked up a groin strain while on international duty with Spain.
However, according to media reports the 26-year-old, who has missed Chelsea's past two games against Crystal Palace and Maribor, spent time in hospital with stomach pains after the international break.
Loic Remy has led the attack for Jose Mourinho's side in the absence of Costa but the French striker picked up a muscular injury after scoring Chelsea's opener in their 6-0 Champions League win over Maribor on Tuesday.As Chelsea's only fit senior striker, Didier Drogba is likely lead the line for the table-toppers when they travel to sixth-placed Manchester United on Sunday.
Valdes to train with Man United
The 32-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at Barcelona and won six La Liga titles, tore his cruciate knee ligaments in March and is without a club after leaving the Nou Camp at the end of last season.
"Valdes will have his recovery supervised by the United medical staff before training with the first team as he bids to regain full fitness," United said on their website.
Sixth-placed United host Premier League leaders Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Young Money war! Drake handles Tyga after he calls him fake


Immediately after the interview hit the net, Drake went on instagram and start 'liking' pictures of Tyga's baby mama, Blac Chyna. Round 1. Waiting for round 2But I been friends with Chris [Brown] for like six years. That’s my real genuine friend. We hang out all the time. He lives up the street from me, so we don’t just do music we hang. I think being signed to Young Money, everybody felt like they had to force a relationship ‘cause Wayne put us together. At the end of the day the reason why I signed to Young Money is because of Wayne. Not because of Drake, not because of Nicki. It was because of Wayne and my relationship with him. I try to be cool with everybody, but sometimes, everybody just has different personalities, motives, and different characters. When you realize that, you realize that’s not a place where you want to continue to grow"
Patience Jonathan resigns as 'Super' Permanent Sec. in Bayelsa


"The whole thing is political. It appears Madam Peace is not happy with the governor. With her resignation, the battle line has been drawn. I feel the President’s wife resigned to enable her to have the moral right to slug it out with Dickson ahead of the governorship poll in the state. Let no one deceive you, the whole thing is politics. After all, she is 57 and the retirement age is 60.” he said
US Woman Steals $25,000 Rolex Wristwatch & Hides it in her Private Parts
Ekiti Governor Fayose Shuts Down House Speaker’s Fuel Station & Others
BREAKING: Fire Outbreak at Murtala Muhammed International Airport
Toyin Lawani of Tiannah’s Styling dishes Beauty Advice on Many Uses of Aloe Vera
South African Media Personality Bonang Matheba to Host 2014 MTV European Music Awards Red Carpet
See pics of soldier who was shot dead yesterday at Canadian War Memorial



Fayose's aide blasts Ekiti Speaker over closure of filling station, says "He has no right to own private business"


The governor's aide listed the four filling stations affected by the government action to include; INIS Integrated Services located along Iworoko Road, Ado-Ekiti; belonging Hon Churchill Adedipe, NIPCO Petrol Station (Morolu Global Services), Isato-Oke in Ado-Ekiti (belonging to Mr Oloko), T5 Petrol Station, Ajilosun in Ado-Ekiti (owned by Dr Adewale Omirin) and PHENROSE Limited, Ajilosun in Ado-Ekiti (owned by Mr Gilbert Igweka).
Olayinka, who advised the Speaker to thread softly so as to prevent himself from being pushed into perdition, added that; "Code 2 (b) of the Code of Conduct Act prohibits public office holders like the Speaker from participating in management or running of any private business, profession or trade.
"Therefore, those making noise in the media that Dr Omirin owns a filling station are only trying to throw him inside the web of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, and the noisemakers won't be available to help him out of the mess they would have put him."
Speaking further; Olayinka said; for clarity sake; "Four filling stations were sealed-up and one of them belong to an Ibo man. Are they also saying that the Ibo man is a politician and being coerced by the governor?
"Are they also saying that Mr Oloko, the owner of NIPCO Petrol Station (Morolu Global Services) is a member of the APC and a serving member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly?"
He urged leaders of the APC, especially the immediate past governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi and his godfather, Senator Bola Tinubu to accept their fate and let peace reign in Ekiti State.


Unbelievable.... OH MY GOD...
Photos: Chika Ike goes parasailing/helicopter ride in Dubai
Pics: The heros of First Consultant Hospital who helped fight Ebola

Unfortunately four of their colleagues including Dr Stella Adadevoh and nurse Justina Ejelonu died from the deadly viral disease. (Photo credit: Who Health Organization)
‘Why I want to be in Lagos Assembly’
What prompted your aspiration to run for Lagos State Assembly?
I want to serve my community. They are in pain, all our representatives have failed to hear our cry. We are being deprived of a lot of things. It’s not the wherewithal but sometimes the will to do it; some of our representatives are so bad one can weep for us. But, by the special grace of God, if God gives me all the possibility to be there, I believe I will change lives positively for people. My lifestyle will make other politicians, who have been there before to have a re-think to understand that being there is to serve humanity and to serve God.
Don’t you think to serve your community, there is no much to do from Lagos House of Assembly?
For now I want to take it from the grass roots; so I have decided to go for the Lagos House of Assembly from the grassroots; then from there, depending on how it goes, I will move forward. But for now, there is much to be done for this constituency, if you look at Oshodi/Isolo community, it will disgust you. Our roads are so bad that and is the major thing. The road is bad and the gridlock too much.
The many hours we lose in traffic is so much and these are the things I wonder and I look at it and weep. When you ask the representatives about the road, they will tell you it is federal road and state road. What’s the meaning of that? We are the people that use it, not the Federal or state government. These roads are meant for me and the people of our community, so most times, no matter how good your car is and you are taking bad roads, there is no way your car will not have problem and at the end of the day, you will go and visit the mechanic. When you look at the cost you incur on the road and because of the problem, your car will develop inconvenience and a lot of time is wasted.
All these will spur disgust for the area. Investors will avoid our area. Yet our cost of living is high like every Lagosian but not enjoying same benefits. It’s not good enough for me. If we are exactly patriotic, it is not necessary that you tar the road; you may not really have money but you can find granite and level the road pending the time help comes from the federal or state government. As long as those in federal and state governments are also human beings, when they see that you have started to proffer a miniature solution to it, they will be urged to come with standard solution. They will feel ashamed that the people or community are challenging them. Before you know it, the help will come sooner than later.
Why do you think your representatives have not tried to help the community?
Our representative is a-one man army. They think they can do it alone. They have forgotten that lobbying is politics. When you are in politics, you lobby because it is not you alone in the State House of Assembly. You are to be closer to other members and when you have your problem, you table it and lobby every member, including the speaker that your own needs are more important than others. They will allow you to have your way, depending on how you relate with others there. Everything is about relationship and lobbying and before you know it, you will gain more stability and what you want for your community and that is your bottom line.
There is a popular belief that Nigerian politics is about money and godfatherism. How do you see it?
For now, money partially runs politics in Nigeria. For me, my godfather is God. You must also have people that have been there before you, even in terms of money. They can encourage you, advise you and also help to give you a soft landing and to direct you. In everything, even in the world of politics, we have people that you naturally want them to direct you. You may call them godfathers but in Nigeria, the godfathers that are being talked about are your financiers. If it is a godfather who finances me, I don’t have one. From experience, godfathers are people who will direct you the right way to follow, guide you towards success. Politics is an ideology that needs guidance. So, there is need for an advisor, not a financier. You know you can’t do it alone, you need elders around you; elders that will speak on your behalf to their associates and acquaintances. Such elders you come across by doing good and being hardworking. When they have seen your quality and your determination to really serve for the benefits of the people, you will definitely have it.
Why did you decide to run under the PDP umbrella?
For today, I represent PDP and the reasons are that PDP controls the centre and because All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed my constituency. The only way for me to make impact is from the opposition. I believe that PDP will make an impact in Lagos State in 2015. Among the people the APC has failed are the Igbo. The Igbo have been suffering under APC. They have been molested. In the history of the world, it was in Nigeria that a governor of a state decided to deport indigenes of another state.
Do you think you as an Igbo man will get your party’s mandate to contest in the main election?
I don’t have a doubt. The problem we have in Nigerian politics is empty promises but I am happy after all that things are gradually changing; people are asking questions. I don’t need to be boastful, people have started asking questions; who is that person, what is he made of? For us to move forward, if I get my party’s mandate, I will make it. I am not saying I will make it alone; a tree cannot make a forest. Most people say I am not part of them, yet, I am married to a beautiful wife from Yoruba land. What more do they need? I am the only son of my parents; despite that, I was allowed to marry my heartthrob because I love her even though I had ambition to do politics in my hometown but suddenly my mind changed. I felt a stint in Lagos; I have lived in Lagos for the past 30 years and besides, we are all Nigerians and not only that, my wife is a daughter of the tribe. We need to forget tribal boundaries to move this country forward.
Glad tidings for tobacco firms, smokers
The latter group, it is said, is made up of criminal gangs, which engage in illegal trade in tobacco products, such as smuggling and counterfeiting of illegal products. Based on their mode of operation, it is difficult to get them to comply with laws and regulations.
In Nigeria, the debate has been on for sometime on the regulation of tobacco. While some seek outright ban on tobacco, others say if the legal industry is forced out of business, there will still be demand for tobacco products. “In the absence of the legal industry, the demand will be met by faceless illegal ‘industry’, driven by criminals, who do not pay taxes and obey laws, including the law that prohibits selling cigarettes to underage persons,” they argued.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, at a one-day public hearing on Tobacco Products Regulation and Control Bill, 2014, in Abuja, said the National Control Bill was not meant to ban or chase away the legal industry but to regulate manufacturing, consumption and promotion of tobacco products in Nigeria.
According to Senator Okowa, “it is not our intention to drive away the legal industry but to make them operate in a responsible manner for the sake of the health of our citizens, as the hearing will strengthen the bill to address some issues, confronting the health system. The bill is not seeking outright ban on smoking but to restrict and control tobacco smoking. We are not legislating for total ban.”
In his opening remarks, Senate President, David Mark, represented by Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Ahmed Markafi, said the bill sought to protect future generation of Nigerians from the devastating health, social economic and environmental consequences of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke, amongst others. According to him: “The tobacco regulations bill, as we all know, has been on the floor of the Senate for some time now and anything that has such effect on the public health deserves the right awareness and attention.”
He added: “Much of the contribution of the negative effect of tobacco and tobacco products in the country is the illegal production, distribution and advertising of the product by many vendors which has led to the cause of many diseases and untimely death of many Nigerians. For this bill to be sustained, it needs more than government’s backing. We must shun illegality in this business sector in its entirety. Out Customs, judicial system and relevant health agencies have to be on deck to provide succour where and when needed.”
He called on stakeholders present at the hearing to contribute gainfully in order to help the committee arrive at more informed and conclusive decision.
At the hearing, the British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) reiterated its support for the passage of balanced regulation for the industry.
It told Daily Sun that contrary to the endless allegations by some non-governmental organisations (NGOs), BATN fully supports a balanced and evidence-based regulation of the tobacco industry. “British American Tobacco recognises that, along with the pleasure that some people derive from smoking, there are associated health risks. It recognises that cigarettes are not just like any other consumer product. That is why it fully supports the view that the manufacturing, marketing and consumption of the product should be regulated. As a matter of fact, it is in the best interests of the legal tobacco industry that the product should be regulated. If the industry is not regulated and all sorts of people get involved in the industry and carry out unsavoury practices, it is the recognised legal tobacco companies that will be blamed.”
The Director of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, BAT West Africa, Mr. Freddy Messanvi told the committee that BATN has always supported the passage of a balanced and evidence-based regulation of the tobacco industry in Nigeria.
He said: “Through co-operation between BATN and regulatory agencies, we have achieved reduction in the incidence of illicit trade from over 80 per cent to around 20 per cent today.”
Messanvi pointed out that any proposed regulation must not force the legal and regulated businesses out of operation and leave the market at the mercy of smugglers and illicit traders, adding that in passing this bill, it was important that trends in other countries where similar legislations and implications had been considered should be taken into consideration.
He conveyed BATN’s support for various provisions in the bill such as non-sale of cigarettes to people under the age of 18, even as he highlighted some areas of concern. One of such, according to him, is the outright ban of retail sales of tobacco products, which he noted would drive the sales underground into the hands of tobacco smugglers.
Representative of the Oyo State government, Tajudeen AbdulKareem of the state Directorate of Public Prosecution, said as the host state to BATN, a lot of employment opportunities had gone to Oyo indigenes and Nigerians resident in the state, adding that a regulation that would not favour the industry would surely affect the livelihood of many.
Other stakeholders such as Initiative for Public Policy Analysis and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), in their submissions, were of the opinion that the legal industry should not be stifled out of operation thereby leaving the citizenry at the mercy of smugglers. According to them, this will defeat the purpose that the law was supposed to achieve.
Also present at the hearing were the Federal Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Justice, Trade and Investment, The Consumers Protection Council, Customs, Standard Organization of Nigeria, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, The Oyo State government and The Nigerian Medical Association.
Others were Hotels and Restaurants Owners Association, Tobacco Retailers Association, Tobacco Smokers Association and Independent Tobacco Farmers Association, among others.
Constitution amendment: Why we endorsed LG autonomy –Ihedioha
Addressing a delegation of parliamentarians from the National Assembly of Kenya on a courtesy visit to the House of Representatives, the deputy speaker said developments in the polity had shown that local governments were subject to abuse and usurpation of their roles and entitlements by state governments. The practice, he said needed to be corrected.
Ihedioha cited the example of Imo State where the state governor dissolved elected local councils and replaced them with caretaker structures, noting that with the proposed amendment, such incident would no longer be allowed. “The House carried out extensive alterations of the constitution with respect to local governments,” he told the guests, adding that “the House made it a full third tier of government complete with the structure, finance and its operations imbedded in the constitution itself.”
He regretted a situation where more powers were concentrated in the centre at the detriment of the states, noting that “a favourable balance therefore needs to be struck in such a way that the centre will not be too weak to the point of the unity of the country being threatened or remaining too strong to the point of emasculating the component units.”
On the issue of oversight functions, the deputy speaker said the National Assembly had been discharging that constitutional responsibility creditably and would continue to do so in the general interest of the country.
Speaking earlier, leader of the Kenyan delegation, Njoroge Baiya, said they were on the visit to learn from Nigeria’s experience in the area of constitution amendment and how the National Assembly performed its oversight functions with respect to federal bodies, agencies and departments.
Kalu backs foreign coach for Eagles
Kalu, under whose tenure Enyimba International FC of Aba became an a household name by lifting the prestigious CAF Champions League trophy back to back in 2003 and 2004 also insists that Nigeria can bid to host the 2015 nations cup.
Speaking on African Independent Television (AIT) sports program yesterday, Kalu declared his preference for a foreign manager for the Eagles, even as he advised the Amaju led NFF to search for a Serbian or French tactician.
The former Pillar of sports expressed optimism that despite the precarious position Nigeria had found herself in the AFCON 2015 qualifiers log, the African Champions are capable of picking the ticket for the tournament billed for next year.
“I support the NFF decision to hire a foreigner for the Super Eagles,but he should be employed as the Technical Adviser with a Nigerian as Chief Coach.It would be nice if they can get any good Coach from a Serbian Country or even France.
“ Amodu Shuaibu, used to be one of my Technical Advisers in Enyimba who had a good relationship with the players.So I believe it is possible to qualify with two matches left.
“With Amaju Pinnick’s tolerance and understanding of the game, we should be able to make it to Morrocco.
Kalu revealed that on several occasions, he had advised Stephen Keshi to mend fences with his players in the interest of the nation’s football.
“I had advised Keshi to recall the players he had left out of the team.Even if you are quarreling, it is imperative to accommodate them. Football is a team game, you cannot win alone. You cannot be right and everybody is wrong all the time. He refused to listen to anybody, though he is a great coach”, Kalu affirmed.
Police arrest customs officer over daughter’s death
Some landlords in Olajide Byron Way, Ojokoro Ijaye, who reported the case to the police, alleged that the man beat his daughter (a medical student of the University of Benin) to death last Friday night and hurriedly buried her in his compound.
When his estranged wife (the mother of the girl) allegedly came to challenge him over the shocking death, he was said to have beaten her to a pulp and then took her to an unknown place.
Following the report, the police stormed his house yesterday afternoon and whisked him away to their station, along with his younger brother, who was alleged to have aided him in throwing the woman out of the house before she fainted.
Narrating how the death occurred, the suspect said the girl just started vomiting blood after eating food given to her by the new wife he married about two months ago.
“I called my family doctor to do autopsy for the corpse but he said only government hospital can do that. And as a Muslim, I had to bury her on time. So, I buried her the following morning inside my house,” he said.
He added that he enquired from the deceased’s younger brother, his 12-year-old son, how the food was served to them and the boy confirmed that all the four children from his estranged wife were served the food and they ate together. The reason his daughter was the only one who vomited blood and died, he said, was still a mystery to him.
On why he hurriedly buried her in his house, he said he was advised by some people to bury her at home to prove to anyone who wanted to challenge him that he killed her for ritual or other ulterior motive to know that he would not have buried her in his house if he were responsible for her death.
Reps summon CDS, service chiefs, IG, others, over use of hoods
Specifically, security leaders to be invited for the meeting, which date has not been fixed, include the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Service Chiefs, Director General of Department of State Security (DSS) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The House’ decision followed a motion moved by Nathaniel Agunbiade yesterday, urging it to pass a resolution, directing the security chiefs to ensure that their operatives stopped the use of such face masks and hoods, and stick to their respective assigned uniforms.
Agunbiade said masks and hoods are not part of the security personnel’s uniforms, and should be discouraged, especially in these days of insurgency and kidnappings, because criminals might cash in on that against innocent Nigerians.
His submissions were roundly supported by other members, including Bimbo Daramola, Friday Itulah, and spokesman of the House, Zakari Mohammed, who separately attributed the use of such gears to hoodlums, and a practice of the jungle. “If somebody is coming to arrest me, I have to know who the person is,” Daramola had stated.
The debate, however, took a new twist when Hassan Saleh pointed out that the security forces ought not be castigated, but to be listened to before passing the resolution, since according to him, they were hitherto, not in the habit of wearing masks and hoods.
“Before now, they have not been wearing masks; so, the question should be, what went wrong? We should not condemn them, we should rather, encourage them to do their job,” the lawmaker stated.
His position was backed by the Deputy Leader of the House, Leo Ogor, and the Chairman of the Committee on Youth Development, Kamil Akinlabi, who pointed out that it would be unfair to pass the motion without listening to the security forces on what led to the new practice.
2015: 5 Enugu commissioners, SAs resign to contest elections
Five commissioners in the Enugu State executive council have resigned their appointments to enable them contest different positions in the forthcoming general elections in the state.
Those, who resigned are Chukwuka Utazi, commissioner for transport; Dr. Chukwuemeka Ujam, commissioner for lands; Joe Mamah in charge of ministry of tourism as well as Ikechukwu Ugwuegede, commissioner for capital development authority.
Others, who resigned from the government to pursue their political ambitions, are the Special Adviser to the Governor on Projects, Uche Nwobodo, and his Public Enlightenment counterpart, Paul Nnajiofor; Chief of Staff, Government House, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, and the Managing Director of the State Transport Corporation, Okey Mba.
Apart from the immediate past Commissioner for Transport Chukwuka Utazi, who wants to go to the Senate, the other three commissioners are gunning for the House of Representatives with Ujam leading the list of aspirants in Nkanu Ease/ West Federal Constituency.
Speaking with newsmen on why he resigned, Utazi, who is also a lawyer, said all the odds favoured him, as he was endowed with the capacity, training and public service experience. He stated that the zoning policy in Nsukka zone also favoured him, as his area, Uzo-Uwani Local Government, was yet to produce a senator.
Utazi said also that as a former member of Enugu State House of Assembly, he understood the workings of the legislature and, therefore, would not learn on the job.
Nigeria takes front seat in clean energy
Coming on the heels of the current debate at the international level on the need to shift focus from fossil fuels to renewable energy, Chief Operating Director, Africa Clean Energy Summit, Mr. Olawale Akinwumi, said the event will include a world-class meeting, an international exhibition, technical conferences, business fora and other activities billed to hold on the sideline of the event.
The summit, which is expected to give birth to the Africa Climate Solution Centre (ACSC), a hub that will serve as a clearing house for clean and renewable products, investors, financial institution and exhibitors for the African market, will hold on November 17 and 20, 2014 in Abuja, with the opening ceremony billed to take place at the Presidential Villa.
Akinwumi said the event would witness the incorporation of the Goodluck Jonathan Institute of Clean Technology (GJICT), adding that Dr. Yumkella, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL), and UN Energy Chair, would deliver the keynote address at the ACES 2014.
Akinwumi said the summit stressed the relevance of the declaration of the Chairman, Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century, Mohammed Ashry, that: “With the world’s energy dynamics becoming increasingly complex, there is a need for greater global integration and collaboration to address how the world will power its future generations.”
Earlier, the Director General, ACES 2014, Dr. Victor Fodeke, told newsmen that the summit would cause a shift from the old way of doing energy business in Nigeria, which had not yielded any result, to the new way of using clean energy.
Extradition: Court remands ex-Mint MD in EFCC custody
But in opposition to his request, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission urged Justice Evoh Chukwu to grant its application to extradite Okoyomon to the United Kingdom where he had been assured of fair trial.
Meanwhile, the Court has ordered Okoyomon to be remanded in EFCC custody having adjourned till December 1 for judgment on EFCC’s extradition application after both parties disagreed on the legality and the merit of the application on Wednesday.
The anti-graft agency, through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation maintained that there was no basis to subject Okoyomon to trial in Nigeria where there was no pending charge against him.
The EFCC’s application was informed by the request by the UK government to extradite Okoyomon to the country to face charges relating to bribery allegation involving officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the NSMPC and the Securency International Pty of Australia between 2006 and 2008.
Okoyomon’s lawyer, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), while opposing the application, insisted that there was no existing extradition treaty between Nigeria and the UK.
Izinyon added that extraditing his client to face trial in the UK when part of the crime he was being wanted for in the UK was allegedly committed in Nigeria, would amount to subordination of Nigeria’s sovereignty to that of the UK.
He said, “We don’t want extradition. Since part of the alleged crime was committed here (Nigeria), we are ready to face trial in Nigeria.
“In fact, extraditing him to the UK is subordination of our sovereignty to that of the United Kingdom.
“The issue of fair hearing in the UK does not arise. Are we saying there is no fair hearing in Nigeria?”
Izinyon, in adopting his preliminary objection and counter-affidavit to the extradition application, said two statutes – the Extradition Treaty of 1931 and the London Scheme for Extradition – relied upon by the EFCC were no longer applicable in Nigeria.
“Combination of these two instruments does not in whatsoever, howsoever, cannot and does not confer locus on the Attorney General of the Federation to make the application,” Izinyon said.
He argued that the Extradition Treaty of 1931 (Exhibit A) had been repealed in Nigeria by virtue of section 21(3) of Schedule 4 of Decree 87 of 1966.
He also argued that the London Scheme for Extradition (Exhibit B) was an agreement between the United States of America and the UK, which had yet to be domesticated in Nigeria.
Boko Haram: 40 girls abducted in fresh attack in Adamawa
But Daily Sun gathered that the 40 ladies were reportedly abducted from Waga Mongoro District of Madagali Local Government Area of Adamwa State.
The villages affected included Mbororo, Moda, Kwabapale, Villag, Wa, Vi, Boka, Tilli, Murvwa, Wurogayandi, Mai and Wandu. Others are Futu, Yambele and Wat.
Sources disclosed that the insurgents are also forcefully recruiting people everyday.
The insurgents invaded the district last Saturday, through to Tuesday, making residents to flee to Yola, about 358km away and nearby local government headquarters not affected by insurgency.
The insurgents first invaded Waga, the district headquarters last Saturday night. The town borders Gwoza in Borno State. They burnt houses while residents fled to relatively safe places away.
The insurgents were also said to have used the abducted ladies as human shields during counter attacks by the Nigerian troops.
Two residents who escaped to Yola, told Daily Sun that they passed through bushes to avoid being attacked by Boko Haram.
Titus and Ayuba said they preferred being in the bush than to going back their villages as their houses were destroyed while foodstuffs, animals and other belongings were carted away by the rampaging insurgents.
According to them, insurgents also stormed some villages in Michika Local Government Area in the wee hours of Tuesday through the road leading to Sambisa:
“After they finished their onslaught, they escaped through the same route. When they came into the town, they rounded up about 40 girls and put them into the trucks they came with and carted away foodstuffs, household items and domestic animals before razing our houses.”
A victim, Matthew, who is taking refuge in Yola, disclosed that his relative “who is currently trapped in the bush,” told him that he heard the insurgents debunking the ceasefire agreement reached with the Federal Government.
He stressed that the insurgents said their commitment to ensure the sustenance of Islamic codes can never be truncated by the propagand: “When they struck, we heard them chanting anti-govenment slogans to the effect that they were not party to any ceasefire agreement.”
The chairman of Madagali Local Government Area, Mr James Abawu Watharda, when contacted, could neither confirm nor deny the report as he said he has since lost contact with the people of the areas, adding that the areas have been deserted by people for a long time.
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