Henry Ajagbawa, Akuma Allegedly Refuse Court Bailiff Service, Break Into BEDC Premises

Henry Ajagbawa and K.C. Akuma, in company of  three other persons (Adeola Ijose, Charles Onwera  and Yomi Adeyemi) PURPORTEDLY RECENTLY appointed to the Board of BEDC Electricity  Plc (BEDC),  on Wednesday proceeded to illegally and forcefully break into the premises of the company in Benin, the Edo State capital, DESPITE THE SUBSISTING COURT ORDER GRANTED IN FAVOUR OF  VIGEO POWER, AND RESTRAINING THE NAMED INDIVIDUALS AND ENTITIES FROM ANY UNLAWFUL OCCUPATION. 

Henry Ajagbawa and others who had refused to ACCEPT SERVICE OF THE court ORDER served by ON THEM by court bailiffs on the premises of BEDC, in the presence of the press, also forcefully broke into the office of the Managing Director and the Board room of the company bragging of government protection. 

Journalists who arrived at the scene were also refused  entry into the 4th floor where all was happening, even after the journalists had identified themselves.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) had recently announced A PUTATIVE  restructuring of the boards of five DisCos which the Discos were alleged to have been done without inviting any of them to a meeting prior to the announcement which was widely circulated in the media.

The duo had explained that the announcement followed Fidelity Bank's activation of the call on the collateralised shares of Kano Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company and

BEDC Electricity Plc (the DisCos) in a bid to take over the respective Boards of the DisCos over the alleged inability to repay loans obtained to acquire majority stakes in the DisCos in furtherance of the 2013

privatisation exercise.

Consequently, the management of BEDC had responded by issuing a press statement explaining that there was no contractual, statutory or regulatory basis for the takeover and appointments.

The company stated that, "For the avoidance of doubt, the shares of BEDC have not been given as security to Fidelity Bank or to any other party."

According to the management of BEDC, it was "Vigeo Holdings Limited (VHL - a non-shareholder of BEDC)" that "obtained credit facilities from Stanbic IBTC Bank Limited, Fidelity Bank Plc, and Keystone Bank Plc (the

VHL Lenders)." It noted further that the said credit facilities (and any enforcement action in relation thereto) have in the meantime become subject of litigation in a Court action instituted by VHL and other plaintiffs (the

VHL Action) with Suit No: FHC/L/CS/239/22 - Vigeo Holdings Limited and 4 Ors v. Stanbic IBTC Bank Limited, and therefore, subjudiced."

Worried by the development, Vigeo Power Limited, the majority shareholder of BEDC had filed a suit and obtained injunctive orders at the Federal High Court in Abuja to restrain Fidelity Bank Plc, HENRY AJAGBAWA, 

and THE other co-defendants from taking over BEDC pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated July 8, 2022.

The other defendants are Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), K.C. Akuma, Adeola Ijose, Charles Onwera, Henry Ajagbawa and Yomi Adeyemi.

New Football Season Set to Kick Off on DStv and GOtv

SuperSport viewers on DStv and GOtv can look forward to the New Football Season as top action from the best leagues, teams, players and managers will return to their television screens in less than a month.

Ahead of the 2022/23 season, SuperSport is poised to offer live action from Europe’s best leagues including the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League.

In the Premier League, all eyes will be on the battle between Manchester City and Liverpool, as these two brilliant teams look set to battle for the title once again – but will the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester United break the duopoly?

Real Madrid will begin La Liga as the favourites to retain their title, but a determined Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid will be itching to knock their city rivals off the perch, while Barcelona could be a wildcard under the leadership of club legend Xavi.

In Italy’s Serie A, AC Milan are still revelling in last season’s championship triumph, but arch rivals Internazionale will be gunning for their title, as will the likes of Juventus, Napoli and Roma in what could be another thrilling race for the Scudetto.

The UEFA Champions League is the gold standard for club football around the world and the big question is whether the big spenders Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain can finally become kings of Europe, or will the established royalty of Real Madrid emerge triumphant yet again?

The UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League provide a platform for other clubs to seek European glory, as evidenced by the respective triumphs of Eintracht Frankfurt and Roma last term.

The new Football Season gets more exciting as the sport’s most epic event will take place right in the middle of the campaign. The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, set to hold between November and December will see one nation crowned as the globe’s leading football team.

To avoid missing out on the New Football Season on SuperSport, customers can sign-up or reconnect to DStv and GOtv today by downloading the MyDStv or MyGOtv apps from the Apple and Google Play stores or by dialing *288# to subscribe.

New subscribers can take advantage of the ongoing Ghen Ghen Reloaded offer, which reduces the DStv decoder, dish kit with a one-month Compact subscription from ₦18,600 to ₦12,000 and the GOtv decoder, antenna with one-month GOtv Max subscription from N9,500 to N6,900

Ooni of Ife Appoints Erelu Abiola Dosumu as 'Yeye Oodua of The Source' *Lagos chief succeeds HID Awolowo

 

The Royal Court of Ife under the supreme leadership of the Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife wishes to announce the appointment of the Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos, Erelu Abiola Dosumu, as the new Yeye Oodua and Queen Mother of the House of Oduduwa. 

Her appointment is sequel to the vacant state of the prestigious title since the demise of the wife to the late political sage; Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Mama H.I.D. Awolowo who was the immediate-past Yeye Oodua of the source.

It took the Royal Court of Ife this long to announce a successor because of the numerous achievements of the immediate past Yeye Oodua H.I.D Awolowo especially in the areas of human development and capacity building, preservation of the prestigious Yoruba culture as well as sustainance of peace and tranquility across Yoruba land among others.

The choice of Erelu Abiola Dosumu is indeed an unanimous decision of the Ife Traditional Council and major stakeholders of Oodua race, agreeing that her character, personality and her wealth of experience as an international business woman, a royal ambassador and a great icon of the African culture  perfectly qualify her to step into the big shoes earlier worn by late Chief Mrs  HID Awolowo as  the immediate past Yeye Oodua.

In almost half-a-Century of public life, Erelu Dosumu has proven herself to be an outstanding woman of stamina, integrity and far-reaching influence. In 1980 late Kabiyesi Adeyinka Oyekan, the Oba of Lagos, installed her as the Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos. With that appointment, she became the right hand person of the Oba of Lagos. Since then, she has executed her charge with maturity, sagacity, courage and commitment.  Indeed since then, the beautiful and ageless Queen mother, has become an enviable cultural Face of Lagos; its traditional allure and ageless charm. 

By bringing Erelu Dosumu into the Court of Oduduwa, Ooni Ogunwusi is paying tribute to the age old tradition of the Oodua people that recognizes the power and position of significant matriarchs who had earlier dominated and still dominate the social, political and business landscape of the Yoruba nation and the lager race globally. 

Erelu Dosumu would be adding value to the Court of Oduduwa as a well connected aristocrat who for many years has been part and parcel of the influential class of Nigerian royalty. 

Even though Erelu Abiola Dosumu had during the days of the Ooni Ogunwusi's illustrious predecessor, Ooni Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse  II, been a welcomed and honoured presence at the Ooni's Palace(Ile-Oodua) in Ile-Ife. Now she is going to become a more significant member of the most ancient royal court in the entire Oodua nation worldwide.

Since her accession in 1980 as Erelu Kuti IV,  Abiola Dosumu has consistently followed the example of her illustrious forebear, building a business empire and creating a wide-ranging network of friends and influence in Nigeria and across the globe. Though she had never held any political office, she has become well-known as a significant member of the power elite of Nigeria. She had been married twice.  Her first husband was Major Elegbede, a hero of the Nigerian Civil War who was involved in the decision of the General Yakubu Gowon government to create Lagos State. He died in a motor accident shortly after the war. After his death, she later married the international business man, the late Chief Deinde Fernadez. Her social status was confirmed by Nigerian leading Juju music star, King Sunny Ade, who waxed a memorable record in her honour.

Dosumu was born in Kano on July 29, 1947, to OmoOba Adewunmi Dosumu, a Lagos prince and his wife, Adejoke. She was educated in Nigeria and in the United Kingdom. She went into business early and became the first Nigerian to open a shop on the highbrow Bond Street in London, United Kingdom. She had made a fortune dealing in the lucrative oil business and promoting the Yoruba traditional wear, Aso Oke, which she has sold all over the world.  

As a traditional aristocrat, she has found a conspicuous place in the traditional power structure of Lagos when her uncle, Oba Adeyinka Oyekan made her the Erelu Kuti IV.  

With that title, she became the leader of the Lagos women and the official Queen Regent of Lagos when the oba passes on. She is a member of the Council of Kingmakers and an official principal adviser to the Oba. She is also the head of the various women groups in Lagos as well as the leader of the powerful women market guilds. She also holds royal titles In Egbaland and other places. She has been honoured in many countries and also bagged honourary doctorate degree from the Crescent University, Abeokuta and Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State. She has a reputation as a shrewd businesswoman as well as a painstaking fashion pacesetter.

The new honour coming from Ile-Ife which is the source and traditional headquarters of the Oduduwa people worldwide is only a confirmation of the role she has been playing for many years as among African royalties. She is at home in many palaces across Nigeria. 

Her new pedestal as the Yeye Oodua would afford her greater field of play but also impose on her wider responsibilities across Oodualand and the Diaspora.  due course.

In line with the ancient tradition of Ile-Ife, a 3-day traditional rites to communicate with the ancestors will begin from Thursday 21st while the official installation ceremony will be held on Saturday 23rd July, 2022 at the courtyard of the Ooni's Palace (Ile-Oodua) in Ile-Ife.

 

Court Summons Online Tabloid, The Peoples Gazette, Over Publication Against Buratai

Buratai

 

 

The former Chief of Army Staff, Ambassador Tukur Buratai through mr Bello Isah has slammed a lawsuit against popular online tabloid, The Peoples Gazette over false publication.

The Peoples Gazette had published in June that ICPC recovered multi-million naira cash, Rolex wristwatches and apartment from the former Chief of Army Staff meanwhile, the ICPC official statement never reflected People Gazette's position.

In a court document obtained by this publication, People Gazette was given 42 days to appear before the court to answer some questions and provide evidences to back up their claims against the person of Ambassador Tukur Buratai.

 

 

The court summons stated that;
Let THE PEOPLES GAZETTE LTD within FORTY TWO (42) days after the service of this summons, inclusive of the day of such service cause an
appearance to be entered for him to this summons which is issued upon the application of ISAH BELLO of No 64, Muhammadu Buhari Way, who claims to be entitled to the reliefs hereafter set out and for the determination of the following questions:

 

 

1. Whether the Refusał and/or Neglect of the Defendant to grant the application of the Plaintiff vide his letter dated June 28, 2022 does not amount to an infringement of the provision of Section 4 of the Freedom of Information Act 2011?
The Plaintiff claims against the Defendant aş follows:

 

 

(1) A Declaration that the refusal, failure and or neglect by the Defendant to release the information requested by the Plaintiff in his letter dated June 28 2022 amounts toa violation of Section 4(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 and therefore is wrongful and
illegal.

 

(2) An ORDER DIRECTING the Defendant including her servants, agents, privies, officials and or cohorts to furnish the Plaintiff with detailed information as stated in Plaintiff's letter dated June 28 2022 until Judgment is delivered in this casę within 14 days of the delivery of Judgment.

 

(3) The cost of this Action.

 

(4)Any further order (s) as the Court may deem fit and proper to make in the circumstances of this case.

Also part of the court summon which was tagged CASH,ROLEX WATCHES STOCKPILED IN EX-ARMY CHIEF
BURATAI'S ABUJA", now produced and marked EXHIBITA stated that the June 28 2022 letter of the Plaintiff requested the following response from the Defendant viz:

 

 

 

"1. Did you verify the allegations contained in your write up with ICPC before publishing? This is because the ICPC press release of June 24, 2022 states to the contrary that Buratai owns the house in Wuse lI Abuja or has
links with the K Salam Construction Company Nigeria Limited.

 

 

2.Did you check with corporate affairs commission as to who the Owners of the K Salam Construction Company Nigeria Limited are? And perhaps
whether Buratai name appear as part of the company directorship?

 

 

 

3. You claimed you called Buratai during the ICPC raid on the Wuse 2 House. At what time and day did you call Ambassador Buratai? What number did you use in calling him? And which of the Buratai lines did you
call?

 

 

(d) But surprisingly and since the receipt of the request/application letter, and up till the filing of this suit, the Defendant has so far failed, refused
and /or neglected to provide the Plaintif with the details of the information
requested for.

 

 

4. That I know as a fact by being a PUBLISHER /JOURNALIST that:
(a) By virtue of Section 1 (1) of the FOI Act 2011, PLAINTIFF is entitled as of right to request for or gain access to information which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution.

 

 

(b) The information requested for by the Plaintiff relates to
CORRUPTION allegations against the former Army Chief and facts
supposedly held by the Defendant but has shied from giving truth to the allegations.

See the attached document below:

 

Africa Magic To Thrill Viewers with 5 Nollywood Classics This July

 

This July, Africa Magic, the leading provider of entertainment content for Africa by Africans, is bringing five Nollywood Classics- 'Tears in Heaven', 'Christ In Me', 'The Twist', 'Tears In My Eyes', and  'Last Angel In Hell' to its Urban channel. The movies will air every Sunday throughout the month of July on Africa Magic Urban, DStv channel 153.

 

Before you take a fun and worthwhile trip down memory lane, here’s what you should know about the Nollywood classics:

 

Tears in Heaven

 

This movie made us cry while glued to our tv screens. The film revolves around four sisters Mena, Elo Kome, and Zino, who were forced to live with their uncle after the sudden death of their parents. But their uncle's wicked wife was cruel to them, which caused them to depend solely on their singing talents for survival. The movie will air on Africa Magic Urban  on the 3rd of July at 2 PM.

 

Christ In Me

 

If you didn’t see this film when it first dropped, then here’s your chance to experience it. And if you did, you get to bask in the nostalgia of it again. Christ In Me follows the story of a young lady who trusted her friend with her husband without knowing her friend's bad intentions for her. It features Nollywood veterans, Ngozi Ezeonu, Sola Sobowale, Tony Umez and much more. The film will air on Africa Magic Urban on the 10th of July at 2 PM.

 

The Twist

 

To ensure that her choice doesn't cause doom and irreparable damage between two brothers, Tracy has to make an emotional choice between two brothers who love her. You'll enjoy watching 2face Idibia, Caroline Hutchings, Emeka Enyiocha, and Barbara Micheland as they bring this twisted love story to your screen on the 17th of July by 2 PM on Africa Magic Urban.

 

Tears In My Eyes

 

We all fondly remember this one movie for the tears we shed while watching and coming back this July. It's a good time to relive the tragic love story of Kate Henshaw and Ramsey Nouah, defying all odds, even their parent's warning. The movie will air on the 24th of July at 2 PM on Africa Magic Urban.

 

Last Angel In Hell

 

Another classic with a stellar cast. The movie follows the story of Kenneth, who had to pay a huge price for the liberty of his people because of his love for them. Unfortunately for him, the king and his people turned their back on him when they found out. Enjoy this classic on the 31st of July by 2 PM on Africa Magic Urban.

 

You can sign-up or reconnect to DStv and GOtv today by downloading the MyDStv or MyGOtv apps from the Apple and Google Play stores or by dialing *288# to subscribe.

 

New subscribers can take advantage of the ongoing Ghen Ghen Reloaded offer, which reduces the DStv decoder, dish kit with a one-month Compact subscription from ₦18,600 to ₦12,000 and the GOtv decoder, antenna with one-month GOtv Max subscription from N9,500 to N6,900

 

Nami Charges Professional Tax Bodies On Contribution To Tax Development In Nigeria

 

 

The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Muhammad Nami  has called on professional bodies in the regulation of tax practice to lead conversations on matters of tax policy and tax laws in the country. 

 

Mr. Muhammad Nami made the call yesterday while hosting a meeting of the Council Members of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), and the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) to discuss the implementation of an MoU on standardisation of tax practice in Nigeria. 

 

Mr. Nami while calling for value-based leadership approach from the councils urged the professional bodies to work hand-in-hand with the Service to deepen the FIRS institutional framework through qualitative reporting and effective representation of their clients. 

 

“Our professional bodies need to speak on matters of tax policies and tax laws especially on proposals to annual Finance Bills. 

 

“We also urge you to help the Service to deepen institutional framework through quality reporting and effective representation of clients by our professional colleagues.

 

“We need to stem the tides in improving financial reporting to reduce the spate of ‘copy and paste’ financial reporting system as we experience today.” Mr. Nami stated. 

 

Speaking further, the FIRS Executive Chairman who is also a Fellow of two of the three professional bodies explained that on the part of the FIRS, the tax authority had adopted renewed strategies to tackle financial reporting concerns. 

 

Mr. Nami noted that the FIRS had created new departments such as the Intelligence, Strategic Data Mining and Analysis Department, the Special Crimes Department, the Tax Incentives Management Department and the Emerging and Special Taxes Department, which he stated are at the forefront of unravelling financial reporting issues through data mining. 

 

 

He also noted that the FIRS alongside State Inland Revenue Services are collaborating with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to build a databank to improve tax investigation. 

 

Other strategies include the accreditation of tax consultants and auditors in the FIRS, the review of data from Automatic Exchange of Information as well as increased enforcement actions. 

 

The Presidents of the three bodies, Professor Benjamin Osisioma of ANAN, Mr. Tijjani Musa Isa of ICAN and Mr. Adesina Adedayo of the CITN commended the FIRS Executive Chairman for showing leadership in pushing for and enabling a resolution of the squabbles between the three bodies. 

 

While thanking Mr. Nami for his leadership, the Professor Osisioma noted that failure to cooperate amongst the three bodies would lead to chaos in tax practice regulation in the country. 

 

“If we fail to cooperate and collaborate, we would destroy what we are trying to build,” he stated.

APC Govt is Asking Nigerians for This One Favour to Defeat Insecurity, Seven Years After Coming to Power

After grappling for the past seven years to fulfill one of its campaign promises, which is tackling insecurity head on, the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration is banking on President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor to continue with the herculean task in 2023.

Accordingly, the governing party is planning to implicitly ask for more time to fulfill its campaign promise by reintroducing the issue of security in its campaign for the 2023 general election.

National vice chairman of the party (North West), Mallam Salihu Lukman, who disclosed this yesterday, said the issue of security will be the front banner in its agenda for the 2023 general election and beyond.

Lukman stated this when he led zonal officials in the North West geopolitical zone to meet with the party leader in Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, and  other party stakeholders in the state.

The meeting, according to a statement he personally signed, is in continuation of the party’s fact-finding tour on how to sustain the tempo in areas the party “is doing excellently well.”

The idea, he noted, is to also “improve on areas that the party has built something to stand upon and re-strategise for few gray areas to be addressed, adding that the APC “has listened to the yearnings and aspirations of the people of Sokoto State through the stakeholders who represent the interests of their people.”

Lukman listed the current security challenges “bedeviling the zone and the entirety of North, particularly Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and Kebbi States, among other states of the country,” as part of the matters discussed at the meeting.

He said as an agent of the people as well as that of the party, he would join the party’s elders such as Senator Wamakko to take the matter to the appropriate authority with all sense of commitments, adding that “security issue will be the front banner of the party’s agenda for 2023 and beyond.”

On his part, the APC leader in Sokoto State, Senator Wamakko expressed delight over the manner in which the party is operating at the zonal level, even as he pledged support for the zonal structure of the party in whatever capacity it needs him.

In 2015 President Buhari and the APC had premised their campaigns on three key areas affecting the country – corruption, insecurity and revamping the economy.

Most Nigerians who were already overwhelmed by these major challenges, especially the spate of insecurity, the rising rate of unemployment and the increasing corruption, had voted the APC massively, believing that Buhari would fulfill all the campaign promises.

In 2019, Buhari and the APC replicated these promises during the re-election campaign and asked for more understanding from Nigerians.

Even though the three campaign promises under the change agenda were yet to be fulfilled, Nigerians still re-elected Buhari for a second term of four years in 2019.