LAGOS – A youth pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Akolade Arowolo, has been sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of his banker wife, Titilayo.
Titilayo worked with Skye bank.
Prosecutors presented compelling evidence that led to the conviction of Mr Arowolo and his sentence by Justice Lateefat Okunu of the Ikeja High Court.
Justice Okunu held in her over three hours judgment that evidence before the court proved that Arowolo actually murdered his wife in their matrimonial home.
The Justice relying on forensic report from Prof. John Oladapo Obafunwa, a pathologist, held that there was no way the deceased could have stabbed herself to death.
Immediately after the judgment, Arowolo fell down in the dock and started shouting “Jesus have mercy.”
Judiciary reporters who covered the case said Prof Obafunwa testified that his autopsy report revealed that Titilayo was killed through 76 knife stab wounds.
There were claims by Pastor Arowolo, suggesting that his wife was possessed and inflicted injuries on herself.
The report notes that the knife wounds affected Titilayo’s left eye, right eye, upper chest area, right chest and collar bone.
Prof. Obafunwa pointed out in his testimony that the deceased could not have inflicted such wounds on herself.
The prosecutor invited some of Titilayo’s family members who testified that Arowolo and Titilayo had always had a troubled marriage.
The family members included Titilayo’s father, George Oyakhire; sister, Ijeh and mother-in-law, Mrs Adetoun Yeside Oyakhire.
The three witnesses testified that the couple lived a cat and mouse life. They claimed that the family had at several times, settled serious fights between the couple.
None of the witnesses claimed to have seen what actually happened on the day Titilayo died.
Arowolo’s co-tenant, Adewale Adeyemi also gave evidence in the case.
Adeyemi in his evidence said that on the day of the incident he heard a loud noise when he was in his apartment and later saw Arowolo rushing out with a deep cut in his palms.
He claimed to have also seen a hammer and a knife with a broken handle in the yard.
Other witnesses including a security man at the Arowolos’ residence, Investigating Police Officer and a staff of MTN also gave evidence in the case.
Pastor Arowolo has however maintained his plea of innocence.
RIVERS – Environmental right activist, Fyneface Fyneface has drawn the attention of our reporter to an inferno in an oil facility in B-Dere and Bolo communities in Ogoni, Rivers State.
According to videos and photos served up on Facebook, the fire incident started about 1p.m on Monday, 25th November 2019.
ABUJA – President Buhari declares Open the 2019 All Nigeria Judges’ Conference at National Judicial Institute Abuja on 25th Nov 2019.
President Buhari with Chief Justice of Nigeria Hon. Justice Tanko Muhammad and Fmr. President National Industrial Court of Nigeria Hon. Justice Babatunde Adejumo Rtd.
RIVERS – The Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) has described its flagship Free Zone in Onne, Rivers State, as the toast of the global investing community and first port of call for those seeking opportunities for good return on investment in oil and gas related businesses.
The Acting Managing Director of OGFZA, Mr Adekunle Ajayi, made the remark during the weekend in a response to a newspaper publication that tended to suggest that the Onne Free Zone was in decline.
Ajayi said his representative, who spoke during a courtesy call on the Authority in Onne by a committee of the Rivers State House of Assembly, was quoted out of context when he was reported to have said that businesses were leaving the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone.
On the contrary, the Acting Managing Director said, there has been a surge in business activities in the zone since the end of the recession.
Ajayi reported that in the first six months of the year, many new companies were licensed to operate in the free zone, reflecting the nature of a market economy of open access and free exit.
He noted that Notore Chemical Industries PLC which was licensed in December 2017 as the developer of the Notore Industrial City (NIC) in the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, has already secured commitments of a number of International Petrochemical Oil and Gas Logistics Support Companies for $5 billion worth of investments into the NIC, with the potential for creating 25,000 jobs in the next four years.
He reported that OGFZA has brokered discussions between Funde Energy Company Limited and Notore Industrial City, leading to agreements on investments worth $2.5 billion between Notore, China Railway and Funde Energy Limited.
Ajayi added that OGFZA, working with PriceWaterhouseCoopers as its investment consultants, is in discussion with 37 local and international investors in the Oil and Gas Sector to promote investments in the free zones in a range of areas, including industrial park development, tank farm, and crude oil marketing.
He explained that business activities picked up in the free zone in response to reforms initiated by OGFZA, as the free zone regulator, and a strong government commitment to repositioning the free zone to compete globally through investment in infrastructure.
Ajayi said government is investing in roads, a bridge, and power to link Ikpokiri Island with the rest of Onne Free Zone, noting that the Buhari administration has completed a 2-km road linking IITA section of the Free Zone to the rest of Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone.
On the issue of taxation as it affects Free Zone Enterprises (FZEs), the Acting Managing Director said all FZEs are legally exempted from all forms of local, state and federal taxes, but are obligated to remit the PAYE tax deductions from employee salaries to government.
He said OGFZA and FZEs have been alive to their obligations to government with regard to PAYE deductions.
Ajayi explained that OGFZA as the regulator of the Onne Free Zone and companies operating in the zone have good outreach programmes for their host community through employment opportunities, skill acquisition projects and other forms of community support, adding that the Free Zone has a good relationship with its host community.
Four federal agencies have agreed to collaborate with the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs to intervene on the dilapidated Calabar – Odukpani- Itu – Ikot Ekpene – Aba road.
The intervention seeks to ameliorate the plight of motorists on the road.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang led representatives from the four agencies namely, Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Emergency and Road Management Agency (FERMA), the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC) over the weekend to an inspection of the road. Senator Ita Enang, SSA to the President on Niger Delta Affairs addressing journalists during the inspection of the Calabar -Itu road over the weekend
During the inspection, Senator Enang said the agencies have agreed to intervene on the road to ease vehicular movement during the yuletide.
Commuters now spend eight to ten hours between Uyo to Calabar, a distant which usually took an hour before the road became terribly dilapidated.
In the last two months, people traveling from Uyo to Calabar have resorted to using ferry services at Oron to Calabar.
Contract for the dualisation of the Calabar-Itu road was awarded to Julius Berger about two years ago, but work could not commence on the road because the government could not pay the contractor an agreed take-off fee.
Enang said the intervention is to make the road motorable pending the commencement of full dualisation of the road, stressing that the intervention was in response to appeals from road users.
He said the federal government has awarded contract for the dualization of 22 kilometers of the road which stretches from Odukpani in Cross River State to Aba, Abia State.
The President’s aide noted that out of the N54 billion contract sum, N7 billion was released to the company.
The SSA thanked all the agencies that have collaborated to intervene on the road.
“The essence of this assessment is for us to join forces in terms of recourses to provide intervention on this road. FERMA will take its part, the NDDC will take its part and the federal ministry of works will take its part.”
“As I have been saying, there are three sections of this road: the one that is awarded, the one designed, under procurement but yet to be awarded and the section that nothing has happened at all.”
“There is what the federal ministry of works calls ’ember month programme’. It is aimed at keeping federal highways workable and motorable during the Christmas period. They have that provision and that’s what they will be doing here”, Enang said.
The representative of the Federal Ministry of works, Engr. Peter Umoren who is the Project Supervisor for the road told journalists that their proposal for the project has received needed attention by the ministry.
“We have all ready sent our proposal to the headquarters for the Ember Month Programme. It is receiving attention and as soon as it is approved, we shall be here”, he affirmed.
A deputy Director in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Engr Etim Eyoette, said the agency will provide intervention on the road and make it motorable.
“We have seen the deplorable condition of the road. We are taking measurement and urgently sending proposals to the head office. NDDC is not new to this road. In 2016, we intervened on some portions of the road. So, we know exactly what to do in this situation”, he said.
The zonal coordinator of FERMA, covering Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Bayelsa States, Engr Backon Israel gave the assurance that necessary steps were being taken in order to tackle the situation.
However, while Julius Berger, through her Project Manager, Engr Christian Kloeptol has assured road users that her awarded portion of 12.2 kilometres would be maintained to allow for free flow of traffic.
Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, SC Aghenek Aro, has assured motorists that his men will continue to maintain ideal traffic situation on the road during the festive period.
BAYELSA – Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, is preparing grounds for the commissioning of the N24 billion Ogbia-Nembe Road, built in partnership with Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC.
It spans 29 kilometres through swampy terrains in Bayelsa State.
Speaking on behalf of the NDDC Acting Managing Director, Gbene Joi Nunieh, after inspecting the project on Sunday 24th November, the Acting Executive Director, Projects, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, affirmed that it aligns with the plans of the NDDC to revisit all legacy projects.
Ojougboh, who was accompanied by the Director, Project Monitoring and Supervision, Engr Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua; the Acting Director Utilities, Infrastructural Development and Waterways, Engr Fredrick Ogbeide, and other directors, said the NDDC would make sure that key projects were completed for the benefit of the people of the Niger Delta region.
Ojougboh said that the Ogbia-Nembe Road was handed over to the NDDC over a year ago and efforts were afoot for its commissioning in the shortest possible time. He added: “This is one of the legacy projects which the NDDC will like to showcase because it is a success story of what can be achieved through strategic partnership.
“The goal of the NDDC is to take development to the hinterland where the state governments and other development agencies may have failed to pay attention to. That is part of the mandate of the Commission.”
He observed that communities in the Niger Delta contribute immensely to the economic well-being of Nigeria and were, therefore, deserving of quality projects.
Audu-Ohwavborua, described the Ogbia-Nembe road as a model in partnership, with emphasis on quality job delivery, stating that the collaboration should be encouraged.
He declared: “This is the standard we will maintain for all our road projects. Going forward, we want to extend this to other areas such as shore protection and canalization projects.
“The Ogbia-Nembe road was a good demonstration of what could be achieved when development agencies, companies and state governments collaborate. It is a clarion call to all our development partners. They should take a cue from what Shell has done.”
The push for a financially independent local government system in the country has been re-energised in the Senate. A bill to amend the constitution to achieve financial autonomy for local government councils has already been gazetted and is ready for a debate on the floor of the Senate this week.
A copy of the bill seen by The Guardian stipulates the abrogation of the existing and much-criticised states and local government joint account. In its place, “each local government council is to create and maintain its own special account to be called Local Government Allocation Account into which all allocations due to the local government council shall be paid directly from the Federation Account and from the government of the state.”
The bill, sponsored by Senator Rose Oko (PDP, Cross Rivers State), further mandates each state to “pay to local government councils in its area of jurisdiction such proportion of its internally generated revenue on such terms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly.”
Also, “The House of Assembly of each state shall by law prescribe such percentage of the money allocated to the state and its local government council from the Federation Account to be used for the purpose of payment of salaries of primary school teachers and such other purposes as it may determine.”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) confirmed yesterday through it’s Head, Media, and Public Affairs, Abdulrazaq Bello-Barkindo, that the 36 state governors have not reneged on their opposition to the attempt by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to grant financial autonomy to local government councils.
Last May, when the NFIU issued some guidelines to allow local government councils direct access to money granted to them from the Federation Account, the move attracted serious criticisms from the governors’ forum.
The governors also approached President Muhammadu Buhari on the action taken by the NFIU, which they accused of dabbling in a matter “beyond its mandate.”
In a letter to the president, they expressed dismay over what they called the NFIU’s “brazen attempt to ridicule” their collective integrity and “show total disregard for the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended.”
The NFIU, which was excised from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, set June 1, 2019, as the takeoff date of the new order, making it compulsory for all local government allocations to go straight to their respective bank accounts.
The decision was contained in guidelines released by the NFIU after a lengthy meeting with officials of commercial banks in Abuja. The NFIU also pegged the total amount of cash that could be withdrawn from any local government per day at N500,000.
But the NGF condemned the directive in its letter to Buhari, titled “Re: NFIU Enforcement and Guidelines to Reduce Crime Vulnerabilities Created by Cash Withdrawal from Local Government Funds throughout Nigeria Effective June 1st, 2019.”
The then NGF chairman Abdulaziz Yari had argued that nothing in the NFIU Act 2018 gave the body the powers that it sought to exercise in the guidelines. He said the unit was acting in excess of its powers and in complete disregard for the constitution.
Yari also accused the NFIU of “stoking mischief and deliberately seeking to cause disaffection, chaos and overheat the polity.”
In a related development, some lawyers have declared support for the attempt to guarantee financial independence for the third tier of government. They nevertheless called for greater transparency in the management of funds by the local government councils.
A professor of law, Mr. Earnest Ojukwu, SAN, said: “I don’t think any law states that local government funds must be passed through the state. But just passing money directly to local governments does not solve the fundamental issue of transparency, openness, and accountability.
“We must also ensure that local governments abide by accountability standards. The decision does not also solve the challenge of governors interfering and sacking elected chairmen and councilors.”
Similarly, Yunuz Uztaz, SAN, said: “Section 7(6) of the Constitution provides that it is the National Assembly that shall make provisions for statutory allocation to the local governments. There is no provision that their money should go through the state governors.”
On his part, a constitutional lawyer, Mr. Mohammed Abeny, SAN, said: “The present constitution is based on three tiers of government to wit – federal, state and local governments.
“Allocation of revenue has followed that pattern. The fact that state governors have continued to divert local government financial allocations to their use is an aberration that is contrary to Section 7 of the constitution under which the financial autonomy of local government councils is guaranteed. Whatever the Federal Government can do to restore the financial autonomy of local government councils will be welcomed.”
The forensic audit of the NDDC ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari last month has provoked interest groups to launch more attacks on Senator Godswill Akpabio, the agency’s supervising minister. These attacks are vitriolic, trenchant and sometimes personal.
Clearly, the potential of these examinations to unravel the rots and corruption that have buffeted the agency for years has caused panic among the parasitic ruling elite. The spectre of being exposed by the auditors for collecting money without executing jobs given them has driven our politicians and their dubious contractors into a frenzy, and they have unwisely picked on Senator Akpabio as their punching bag. Are they not aware that the forensic audit was ordered by the President on the request of the governors of the Niger Delta? Do these people think that Akpabio would have inaugurated the interim management without the expressed approval of the President? Or is it a case of castigating the Minister just because you don’t want to needle at the President? If you cannot get the President, kill the Minister!
Just today, Hilliard Eta, a chieftain of the APC, launched a brutal criticism of the Minister. It was published in The Punch newspaper. The major thesis in Eta’s interview is that the interim management of the NDDC should be scrapped, and the Board should be inaugurated to assume duties and oversee the forensic audit. I have no reasons to doubt the genuine intentions of Hilliard Eta. He’s an important stakeholder in our region. I respect his views. But as a vigilant citizen, I have a responsibility to intervene.
First, I should emphasize that the interim management was inaugurated specifically as a short-term management team mandated to create unfettered and comfortable environment for the auditors. Unlike the Board of Directors that was proposed by various senior politicians and interest groups in the region, the interim management is not beholden to any group of persons or political blocs; and because they have a single-minded agenda of getting the audit exercise concluded in a few months, the interim management is not distracted by the usual swamp of contract bazaars and political influences that have been the preoccupation of past managements. The interim management will not be bogged down by contract awards, payments of past obligations and politics of employment. Their job is to provide all files, documents, personnel and indeed the environment needed to get the inquiry concluded. The Board will be inaugurated as soon as the audit is concluded, and their job would be to execute the recommendations of the auditors.
I should remind Hilliard Eta and many other critical stakeholders in our region that as recently three years ago, the President had approved the appointment of Mrs Ibim Semenitari as a Sole Administrator of the NDDC. She ran the place without a Board for a year. Mrs Semenitari, a fellow journalist, was a Commissioner in Rivers State when Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi was governor. Indeed, her appointment as the Sole Administrator of the agency was facilitated by Amaechi. Hilliard Eta and his tribe did not offer a single word of attack against her appointment. This is why I believe that these noxious politicians and contractors are only vocal now because the new interim management is executing the President’s agenda of overhauling and repositioning the NDDC. They had nothing against Mrs Semenitari because her agenda did not include forensic audit. Her job was not to unravel the locusts that fed fat on our collective patrimony. She had no business exposing the fat cats that took away our future. But the new interim management led by Mrs Joi Nunieh is saddled with the task of cleaning the Augean Stable. And now all hell is let lose. Clearly, the guilty are afraid!
I will conclude by emphasizing that this audit and the repositioning of the NDDC is not about Akpabio. Even if Akpabio were not the Minister, the audit would still have been inevitable; and somebody would have done it. The masses of the Niger Delta region are tired of waiting and watching helplessly as their politicians and their contractors continue to commandeer our Commonwealth. The audit must be done. Thank you, Mr President
ETIM is a journalist and a former member of the Editorial Board of The Guardian newspaper
Akwa Ibom state government has directed all contractors handling road projects in the state to return to site or risk being blacklisted.
The directive is coming few days after The Dune newspaper report detailed how newly completed roads constructed by the Udom Emmanuel adminstration were failing barely few months after they were inaugurated.
The report generated reactions from many citizens of state some of whom called on the governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, to sack the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim Inyang-Eyen whose ministry supervised the failed roads.
Following discussion of The Dune newspaper report on radio, callers into a programme, Team Nigeria Classic, broadcast on a private radio station in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital, expressed displeasure over poor quality of newly constructed roads in different parts of the state.
Indigenes of the state are worried that some roads which inaugurated by Governor Udom Emmanuel in May this year were having potholes, while others have multitude distresses of different geometric patterns.
READ FULL REPORT ON FAILED ROADS:
https://abntv.com.ng/2019/11/aibom-works-commissioner-ephraim-inyang-and-his-failed-roads/
Commissioner for Information, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Charles Udoh, in a chat with newsmen over the weekend said the government is displeased by poor quality roads done by contractors.
“The government is miffed by pockets of complaints emanating from shoddy performance of a handful of contractors handling projects in the state, and has vowed that any contractor culpable will face drastic actions.”
Udoh emphasized the state would not fold its hands and watch its efforts sabotaged by any contractor, who might have attempted to cut corners rather than stick to acceptable standards.
He said government’s policy drive was to ensure all public funds channelled into infrastructural development, were judiciously accounted for.
“The ongoing efforts to expand road network in the state have been due to the deliberate efforts of government to aggressively tackle the rot in infrastructure across the state, to ensure that no part of it is left behind”.
He said Governor Udom Emmanuel is committed to ensure the state’s economic nerve centres are adequately connected by a network of quality and long-lasting roads.
Udoh assured that all projects embarked upon by the current administration would be completed on or before its terminal date.
The commissioner commended vigilant members of the public for drawing government’s attention to these lapses; stating that the task of developing the state remained a collective responsibility of all.
CROSS RIVER – Star Ultra Deep Petroleum LTD, a Chevron company, in collaboration with Cross River State Government, and other stakeholders has concluded a five day training for teachers in public schools as well as donated teaching and learning aids to five secondary schools in the state. Guests at the training on Friday, 22nd November, 2019.[/caption]
The five days capacity development, and donation of teaching and learning aids which took place at West African People’s Institute, Calabar, had teachers trained on safety, security, classroom management, environment and ICTs.
Speaking at the donation of learning and teaching aids to students and teachers, the Director Star Ultra Deep Petroleum Limited, Mr. Richard Kennedy represented by Mr. Ugo Mgbemene Christopher, appreciated Cross River State Government, State Ministry of Education and the NNPC which he described as senior partner, for their collaboration to the success of the event.
He expressed belief that the teaching and learning aids donated to the five benefitting public schools will assist in high grading teaching, learning and empower students for the challenges of the future.
“Partnership is one of the core values in Chevron companies and we are happy to have partnered with the Cross River State Government and other stakeholders to make today’s event a reality.
“The intervention of the Star Ultra Deep Petroleum Ltd and its co-venturers in OML 140 block is primarily to assist the government improve the supply of critical books and teaching aids in Nigerian schools and increase teachers’ capacity in using modern technique to impart desired knowledge to students.
“Apart from donation of teaching aids to schools in Nigeria, Chevron with its affiliates and co-venturers has made significant contributions over the years to raising the standard of education and ensuring Nigeria has requisite manpower for sustainable development and , also more access to good healthcare through its interventions in the health sector.”
The Director revealed that the partners have also Instituted specialised educational scholarship programmes in support of health and manpower development in Nigeria through targeted support for medical, nursing, laboratory sciences and engineering students.
He pointed out that for over five decades of operation in Nigeria, Chevron is proud to add value to the people of Nigeria and contribute positively to the socio-economic development of the country.
Earlier in his address, the Chairman, Oil and Gas Nigeria Ltd Chief Reggie Uduhiri, expressed hope that the company’s support for educational and economic empowerment programmes in the country will positively impact on the academic performances of youths and growth of entrepreneurship for the sustainable development of he country.
The Chairman who was represented at the event by Jane Coker, averred that Oil and Gas Nigeria Ltd is working with its co-venturers to assist Government of Cross River State and the Federal Ministry of Education to raise the standard of education to another level.
“The donations we are making today reflects our belief that education and skills acquisition are pivotal to the sustainable development of a country. And this is our contribution to make our country great.
“OMG with other stakeholders in OML 140, has also sponsored economic empowerment programmes in Anambra, Niger and Oyo states, aimed at building capacity in young Nigerians and helping them to be self-reliant.”
He noted that the intervention has led to employment creation, poverty reduction and livelihood improvement as well as development of rural-based cottage industries.
[caption id="attachment_612" align="alignleft" width="300"]Teaching and learning aids donated to schools during the training.
Earlier, the representative of Cross River State Government and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Mrs. Aniedi Ekpenyong thanked Chevron, Oil and Gas Nigeria Ltd, and other partners for assisting the state government trained teachers as well as providing teaching and learning aids to five schools.
She apologized on behalf of the State Governor and the Commissioner for Education, as she said they were attending to urgent state matters.
The Permanent Secretary appealed for more supports in training teachers and equipping schools, adding that the state Ministry of Education is carrying out a comprehensive need assessment of public schools for proper communication to the state Governor.
Mrs. Ekpenyong urged the benefitting teachers to go back and train others from what they learnt.
Also speaking, the Director of Schools in the state Ministry of Education, Mrs. Charity Otoho who also participated in the training, thanked participants and encouraged them to put into practice what they learnt.
The highpoint of the event was the distribution of books, 100 desktop computers and teaching aids to five public secondary schools in the state which are :Etung Comprehensive Secondary School, Bendegehe, Ekiem; Kagbong Secondary Commercial School, Ikpong; Government Secondary School, Anatigha; Girls Secondary School, Obudu; and Community Secondary School, Ugep.
The recently sworn in governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has narrated the spiritual battle he faced to win the governorship election in September.
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Teaching and learning aids donated to schools during the training.
