Igbo-Etiti Legislative Council passes bye-law to bar youths from loitering

Enugu (Enugu State) -The Igbo Etiti Legislative Council has passed a bye-law barring youths from loitering within communities in the Local Government Area between 6 a.m. and noon.

The Leader of the council, Mr Titus Ejili, said in Enugu on Friday that the law was timely and necessary to reduce crimes being committed within these early hours.

Ejili said the bye-law became imperative, considering the level of crime being committed in the area.

He said youths aged between 12 and 25 years come out as early as 6 a.m. and be loitering in the various bus-stops.

“These youths look out for people going to their lawful businesses and in some cases, attack market women and make away with their belongings.

“The legislative arm of Igbo-Etiti government finds it imperative to put a check to this ugly menace.

“We have also made another law to stop those celebrating any event from blocking major roads within the council.

“You know that in Igbo culture, funeral is a big ceremony that showcases the culture of our people and in most cases, people jubilate.

“At such celebrations, the celebrants block major roads, cut down palm and banana trees and some other things,” Ejili said.

He explained that such blockage often led to accidents and sometimes disturbed commuters plying those roads from going about their normal businesses.

The leader urged the people to celebrate events in their compounds.

Ohaneze disowns Biafra agitators, says Biafra died in 1970

OHANEZE Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio –cultural organization, has dissociated itself from the activities of the Biafra agitators, who had been protesting in many cities in the South East and South –South, saying that Biafra died in 1970 with the surrender by General Philip Effiong, to the Nigerian troops.

Addressing reporters in Awka Friday, the chairman, Forum of State Presidents of Ohaneze in the seven Igbo –speaking states, Dr. Chris Eluomunoh said that no right thinking person would support what he called the madness by some youths, who were being deceived to engage in something they cannot finish.

He said: “You will notice that Ohaneze has been very silent on the issue of Biafra insurgency, though the youth wing of Ohaneze has been speaking on it. Ohaneze, as the Igbo cultural group, cannot support Biafra and we dissociate ourselves from it totally.

source: vanguard 

Wema Bank get National Banking licence from CBN

CBN grants Wema Bank National Banking license  

Wema Bank Plc, one of Nigeria’s premier financial institutions has been granted a National Banking License; an upgrade from its current regional banking authorization after complying with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s requirements.

In 2010, Wema Bank downscaled to operate only within its core areas of business – South-South, South-West and FCT Abuja. Now, the Bank with a capital base of N43.8 billion has met the regulatory requirements for the National Banking license as stipulated by CBN.
This historic event has made Wema Bank the first bank to be granted a National Banking License having previously operated with a Regional License.
According to the GMD/CEO of the bank, Segun Oloketuyi, the approval represents a milestone for the Bank in the delivery of its Project LEAP commitments. Six (6) years ago.
“We took a decision to refocus the Bank’s operations on its areas of strength and build a sustainable institution. We took advantage of the new licensing regime and applied for a Regional authorization with a pledge to expand in the near future, once the turnaround project was completed. The Bank’s transformation was implemented in three phases; first to stabilize the Bank, second to prepare the building blocks for growth and third to go for growth. We are now within the third phase of the transformation project,” he stated.
The CEO explained that the new license has created opportunities to scale up growth, and added that the Bank will continue to strategically select its business locations across the country with focus on areas where return on investment will be maximized, and shareholder value enhanced over the medium to long term.
“To ensure that this approval is leveraged appropriately, we are already in the process of raising $100m in Tier 2 capital and would commence a Tier 1 capital raise in Q1 2016. This will further position the bank to pursue its growth strategy. The Bank remains on course in its turnaround program as evidenced by its robust balance sheet and sustained profitability, which would be maintained through its national authorization”.
He expressed gratitude to the bank’s stakeholders, stating that the Wema transformation project has succeeded largely due to the great support received from customers and shareholders. “Our priority remains delivering delightful and memorable service to our customers.”
Wema was established in 1945, which is Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank. Wema Bank offers a range of retail and SME banking, corporate banking, treasury, trade services and financial advisory to its numerous customers. In 2009, the Bank underwent a strategic repositioning exercise which culminated with the Bank’s decision to operate as a commercial Bank with regional authorisation in South-South Nigeria, South-West Nigeria, and Abuja, the FCT in 2011. Wema Bank operates a network of over 135 branches and service stations across Nigeria backed by a robust ICT platform.

                                                                              source:sun

9 burnt to death at Benin-onishia expressway *graphic*

 About nine persons yesterday burnt to death when a Mercedes Benz truck laden with cement rammed into a Mitsubishi L300 commercial bus, a Volkswagen Golf car and a refuse collection truck near Asaba Airport on the Benin-Asaba-Onitsha expressway.

The Mercedes Benz truck with registration number ASB 831 ZH belonging to the Dangote Group was said to be coming from Benin axis heading towards Onitsha direction in top speed.

It apparently lost control and rammed into the vehicles that were driving against traffic owing to the congestion caused by queue of vehicles waiting to buy fuel at the NNPC Mega Station on the other side of the dualised expressway.

An eyewitness told Saturday Sun that the Mitsubishi bus somersaulted several times because of the impact of the contact with the cement laden truck, adding that the bus was later trapped under the same truck.

According to the eyewitness, the vehicles burst into flames immediately before rescue efforts could be mobilized, and that heart rendering cries were heard ostensibly from occupants of the ill-fated vehicles.

As at the time of filing this report, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) had arrived at the scene and were making frantic efforts to rescue the victims.

Nine burnt corpses including five men and four females have been retrieved from the trapped vehicles, while others who were critically injured were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba for treatment.

The driver of the cement laden truck was said to have escaped from the scene, while the driver of refuse collection truck was said to be among the two surviving victims.

Charred remains of the dead bodies were evacuated to FMC mortuary by officials of the FRSC in the commission’s Hilux Van.

Sector Commander of the FRSC in Delta State, Mr. Rindom Kumven who attributed the accident to route violation and over speeding, appealed to motorists to apply caution while on the highway.

Photos: Man beats his wife and rapes her in front of their children & househelp in Kenya

A middle aged Kenyan man identified as Christopher Bodo pictured above allegedly battered his wife after suspecting her of infidelity. According to Diana Okello, a Kenyan women rights activist who shared the photos on her Facebook wall, after attacking his wife, Bodo stripped her naked and raped her in front of their four children and househelp. The case has been reported at a Kenyan police station but he has not been arrested.

Photos: Young man kills grandmother over house rent in Benin

The young man pictured above allegedly killed his own grandmother over house rent issue in Benin. According to a LIB source, the man and his grandmother had been fighting for years over property ownership of the house. The man claimed his late mother owned the house and bequitted to him but the grandmother insisted the house, located at Benin technical college rd, Ugbowo, belonged to her.

And in the early hours of today Nov. 20th, the man asked his grandmother for the rent she'd collected from the tenant in the house - N15,000 - and when the grandmother refused, the two got into a shouting matching and before anyone could stop him, he picked a cutlass and attacked the old lady. 

When neighbours got wind of what he'd done, they descended on the boy and nearly beat him to death. He was later handed over to the division of Ukoro police station officers, who came and took him away.

Former education minister, Aja-Nwachukwu dies at 63 .RIP

A former Minister of Education, Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu, who served under former president Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's administration has died at the age of 63. Family sources say he died on November 17th while receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment at an Israeli hospital. Aja-Nwachuku, a native of Okposi in Ebonyi State, was born in 1952 and appointed minister of education in 2007. His father was Nigeria’s first minister of education. May his soul rest in peace, Amen.

How cute! Penelope Disick & North West show off Khloe K's new book

Khloe Kardashian shared a photo of her nieces showing off her new book at a book signing this week. The little girls came out to lend support to their aunt. Sharing a snap of the adorable moment, Khloe, wrote: 'I can't stop smiling when I look at this photo! I love my little ladies!!'

CD condemns Army’s threat to pro-Biafra groups

Don’t use force on protesters -Bishop

From Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha and  David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi

Campaign for Democracy (CD) has urged the military to leave  pro-Biafra groups alone but face immediate challenges of Boko Haram insurgence that has ravaged the North East.
The group said threats by the military to clampdown on pro-Biafra groups, who were protesting the arrest of leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu   was unconstitutional and abuse of human right should they venture into it.
CD Chairman in the South-East, Dede Uzor A. Uzor, said the group has constitutional right to embark on peaceful protest calling for the release of their leader who was arrested by security agents. He further added that any attempt by the Army to touch any member of the  group would amount to breach of fundamental human rights of the members, which he said was against the international court justice.
In a related development, General Overseer of Mount Zion Faith Global Liberation Ministries a.ka. By Fire By Fire, Nnewi, Anambra State, Rt Rev Bishop Abraham Chris Udeh has warned against the use of force on the  protesters.
Bishop Udeh gave the warning, yesterday, at Akabukwu Uruagu, Nnewi after a ministration. He said threats by the military to use force against those demanding for Kanu’s release would be counter-productive and was capable of over-heating the polity.
He said the only thing that could stop the protest naturally would be to release Kanu unconditionally to calm the protesters who might not succumb to any threat unless he regained his freedom.
He said due process of the law should be followed by producing Kanu in court than his continued detention without trial.
According to him, “Inline with our constitution especially in Chapter 4 and chapter 33 to 40 of 1999 constitution as amended, the military has no right to use force against the defenseless pro Biafra groups who were protesting the release of their leader arrested. If the federal government can release their leader that solves the problem but court of competent jurisdiction has given an order that a particular condition should be met before the release of the man and they have met the condition why are they still holding the young man. The man was supposed to appear before the court yesterday but they refused to bring him to court which made the court to issue order to bring him to court alive or death on November 23”.
“The federal government is violating the law, the law they supposed to keep that they are now violating. The military threat is empty because it seems that the military is ignorant of the law as far as the pro Biafra protesters were taking laws into their hands. Peaceful Protest cross the globe is allowed as far as it is inline with the law, if they don’t go into violent protest with arms destroying things, destroying government property but in this case it is civil protest against the arrest of their leader, government should listen to know why they protesting, it is inline with democratic trends. So the military is ignorant of the law and that is why they are making empty threat and they cannot do anything”.
“We are calling for overhauling of military personnel because they lack the capacity to fight the Boko Haram in the North, there us serious security challenges in the Northern part of country and they have failed to address the issue but threaten the group without arms who are defenseless. So, the CD and other Civil Society condemns the threat by the military against pro Biafra groups” Uzor stated.
He however advised the President to look inward to actually know whether the security men were obeying the law or violating the law of the country, saying that court has spoken over the matter and Kanu should be released “ we are moving to anarchy if the security agencies cannot obey court order. So federal should be mindful of what happened in 1983 enactment decrees against humanity”.
The CD also called on federal government set panel to unravel the killings of some youths during the protest and pay compensation to the families of those that were killed during the peaceful protest across the South-East and parts of South-South geopolitical zones.

---

Biafra: Group disowns agitators

By Razaq Bamidele

A pan Ndigbo socio-political group, The Igbo Conscience (TIC) has disassociated its members from agitation for secession.
The group, at a press conference in Lagos yesterday, stated that the agitation was against what the late Ikemba of Nnewi, Dim Odumegu Ojukwu stood for.
Chairman of the group, Mr. Monday Ubani, a lawyer, who addressed newsmen stated that some of the so called agitators never experienced the 1967-1970 civil war in Nigeria, reminding that, even Ojukwu had declared that agitation for Biafra was no more physical but in the state of the mind.
The group, which pointed out that Ojukwu campaigned for handshake across the Niger for 10 years, said, “he meant that all ethnic groups, from his Igbo people, must find ways to live together in greater peace and harmony as one people, so that black people could take pride of place in global affairs.”
Ubani, who was former chairman of Ikeja branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) asserted that “the country is now under a leader who is a social crusader with integrity.

He should have burnt to death,family of a bomb ringleader

The family of Paris terror mastermind Abdelhamid Abaaoud declared yesterday he should have been ‘burnt to death’.

In the Moroccan hamlet where his father Omar was born, they have only just heard of the massacre he organised, leaving 129 dead.

But their verdict was immediate:

Abaaoud had no rightful place on this earth. ‘We rejoice the news he is dead. He deserved it,’ said Sayeed Abaaoud, a cousin of the killer and a village elder and patriarch of the clan.

‘I say he should have been burnt to death, because what he did was not allowed under Islam or any law.’

A police source said Moroccan intelligence had tipped off the French government about Abaaoud. He was killed alongside Hasna Ait Boulahcen, his 26-year-old cousin, who blew herself up.

 

He had been thought to have planned the massacre from Syria until intelligence placed him in Paris for Friday’s attacks.

Father-of-eight Sayeed, 65, said: ‘It is terrible, just terrible. I know it happened a week ago, but we only just heard about what Abdelhamid did, on Moroccan radio. We don’t have TV.

Sayeed said: ‘We feel very upset by the whole thing. Real Muslims do not do what Abdelhamid did. A good Muslim doesn’t steal or hurt people, so he is not a Muslim.’

The Islamic State killer’s death at the hands of French anti-terrorist police was confirmed yesterday.

The 27-year-old was shot in the head by a sniper then hit by grenades during the raid in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis on Wednesday. He had to be identified by his saliva.

Golden Eaglets paid 20,000 each for winning World cup?

Shocking: Golden Eaglets Were Paid N20,000 Each For Winning World Cup

Share on facebookShare on twitterShare on emailShare on printMore Sharing Members of the FIFA U-17 World Cup winning squad, the Golden Eaglets have confided in Nigerian Pilot that they are yet to recover from the shock after the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF handed them a paltry N20, 000 each before they dispersed in Abuja last Thursday.

“It’s surely not the best way to treat heroes. The money they gave us could not even fetch us flight tickets to take us home to see our loved ones,’’ said one of the players who did not want his name in print for fear of victimisation by officials of the football federation.

Another player said on phone yesterday: “I’ve heard about how badly players have been treated in the past. I didn’t think ours would come so soon. I am still, however, grateful to God we came home with the trophy. The victory has opened new doors of opportunity which we are already exploring,’’ said the player who is on verge of sealing a lucrative professional contract with an English Premier League club.

Players and officials of the U-17 National Team returned to the country last Wednesday, following a successful campaign at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

They were driven round parts of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory in a motorcade before the convoy arrived at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

The new Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalong, later had dinner with the team at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

The team will be decamped on Thursday, to reconvene for a presidential reception which Nigerian Pilot gathered, has been scheduled for November 28 in Abuja.

The team helped Nigeria become the first country to win the FIFA U-17 World Cup title for a fifth time in Chile recently.

The Eaglets also became only the second side to retain the FIFA U-17 World Cup with a 2-0 win against Mali in the grand finale.

A key member of the team, Victor Osimhen, clinched the Adidas Silver Ball for the highest goal scorer of the tournament where he banged in a record-breaking ten goals.

Captain Kelechi Nwakali was also adjudged the most valuable player and went home with the Adidas Golden Ball award.

He scored three goals, including two penalties, and provided a further three assists, a haul that also brought him the Adidas Bronze Boot.