Flowerbud News

Author: Ibrahim Abusadiq

  • Reps turn back Service Chiefs representatives

    Reps turn back Service Chiefs representatives

    By Femi Ogunshola

    The House of Representatives has turned back representatives of the Service Chiefs, insisting that the chiefs must appear before it on Nov. 21 as summoned.

    The Speaker, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, said this after receiving the representatives of the chiefs at plenary on Thursday.

    Abbas commended the representatives for appearing in the chamber, urging them to convey the message to the Service Chiefs for them to appear on Nov. 21 at 11 a. m.

    The House had summoned the service chiefs for a debate on security challenges in the country.

    But the lawmakers discovered that the service chiefs failed to attend personally by sending representatives to appear on their behalf.

    The Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, rising on constitutional order, said the constitution empowered the House to invite any person, not only for the purpose of investigation but also for dialogue.

    He said the service chiefs should have presented themselves before the house and not send representatives.

    “It is not satisfactory that they are not here in person. I want to move that these sectoral engagements be suspended until the service chiefs come to address us personally,” he said. .

    NAN

  • Taraba Assembly passes local councils tenure amendment Bill

    Taraba Assembly passes local councils tenure amendment Bill

    By Martins Abochol

    The Taraba House of Assembly on Thursday passed the local government elected officials amendment Bill.

    Mr Nelson Len, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, made this known while speaking to newsmen in Jalingo.

    Len noted that the bill, after all due process required of by the House,  was passed into law to enable the new set of local government officials expected to be elected on Nov. 18, be binded by the amended law.

    According to him, the House amended the administration tenure for local government elected officials which hitherto was designed for three years, to two years.

    Len also disclosed that the 10th Assembly had paid the seven years outstanding parliamentary staff allowances as approved by Gov. Agbu Kefas.

    “We passed the Bill for the amendment of local government elected officials tenure from three years to two years.

    “The Bill has been laying there since the previous administration and since the local government election is coming up on Saturday, 18th November, 2023, we saw it as important to pass the Bill for the incoming officials to be binded by the amended law.

    “I wish to also inform you that we have just paid all the seven years outstanding parliamentary staff allowances as approved by Gov. Agbu Kefas.

    “I, on behalf of the speaker and members of the Assembly, commend Kefas for his Godly heart toward the welfare of Taraba workers. If there is any staff who has not received his alert by now, I believe is a network issue from his or her Bank,” Len disclosed.

    NAN

  • NNPP debunks merger talks with other parties

    NNPP debunks merger talks with other parties

    By Adeyemi Adeleye

    The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) said on Thursday in Lagos that it is not engaging in merger talks with any political party.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji AbdulRazaq AbdulSalam.

    “NNPP is an independent political group as such we stands firm in our commitment to respect all political parties and refuses to engage in merging with any party to combat another.

    “Our party values inclusivity and maintains a non-partisan approach.

    “It is crucial to note that those engaging the merger talk have been expelled from NNPP, and the party currently faces internal conflicts, pending court resolution.

    “Until proven otherwise, these internal matters take precedence,” the NNPP spokesman said.

    According to him, the resolution of the NNPP Board of Trustees (BOT) remains that the Abba Kawu- led National Working Committee (NWC) is dissolved and Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is expelled from the party.

    “While we note the merger proposal, the stance of our party is clear: we are not interested in the merger offer at this point,” AbdulSalam said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the crisis within the NNPP started when the NWC of the party loyal to Kwankwaso, announced the suspension of the NNPP founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam and the National Publicity Secretary, Dr Agbo Major on August 24.

    Consequently, the National Executive Committee of the party announced the expulsion of Kwankwaso, the party’s 2023 Presidential Candidate, following his alleged refusal to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee.

    The crisis within the party has continued to fester.

    NAN

  • Egypt says no limit to number of patients it will accept from Gaza

    Egypt says no limit to number of patients it will accept from Gaza

    By Flowerbud News

    Nov. 16, 2023

    Egypt sees no upper limit to the admission and treatment of injured people from the embattled Gaza Strip for the time being.

    The head of the hospital in al-Arish ,near the border crossing, has told journalists.

    Ahmed Mansur said on Wednesday that Egypt was prepared to accept any number of injured people as long as they could  reach the Rafah border crossing.

    He added that other hospitals were also still prepared to admit Palestinians.

    Egypt’s Health Minister ,Khalid Abdel Ghaffar, had already stated that all injured people travelling to the country would be treated.

    “We are ready to treat all medical cases that come through the Rafah border crossing, but the Israeli side is controlling their numbers,’’ he said recently.

    Since the border was reopened on Oct. 21, around 150 injured people from the sealed-off Palestinian coastal area have crossed it, according to Egyptian figures.

    Among them were people with broken bones, severe burns, injured organs and severed limbs, Mansur said.

    The number of injured people treated in Egypt is negligible compared to the number of those wounded in the Gaza Strip.

    According to an information office in the Hamas-controlled administration, the number of Palestinians killed there has risen to 11,500, while 29,000 people have been injured since the war began on Oct. 7.

    The information could not initially be independently confirmed.

    The war started when militants from Hamas and other organisations attacked Israel, leaving around 1,200 dead.

    They took about 240 people as hostages back to Gaza.

    dpa/NAN

  • Google asks court to dismiss Nigerian’s $150m damages’ suit

    Google asks court to dismiss Nigerian’s $150m damages’ suit

    By Taiye Agbaje

    The Google LLC, an American multinational technology company, has urged a Federal High Court, Abuja to dismiss the 150 million dollars suit filed by a Nigerian, Mr Chianugo Peter, against it and GoDaddy.com.
    Google, the 2nd defendant in the suit, told Justice Obiora Egwuatu that Peter’s claims were unmeritorious, unworthy and should be dismissed in its entirety.
    The company made the averment in its statement of defence dated Nov. 9 and filed Nov. 10 by its lawyer, Mark Mordi, SAN.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Peter had sued GoDaddy.Com LLC and Google LLC as 1st and 2nd defendants over allegations bordering on the shutdown of his YouTube Audio domain name after eight years of promotional and marketing works.
    The plaintiff, through his lawyer, Emmanuel Ekpenyong of Fred-Young & Evans LP, filed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/238/2023 on April 14.
    Peter sought the court declaration that he registered the YouTube Audio business name, commenced trademark registration on the logo of the business name.
    He also said that he secured the YouTubeAudio.com domain name from the GoDaddy in good faith to carry out genuine business to host his application thereon to attract users.
    He also sought a declaration that since GoDaddy and Google encouraged him to make use of the YouTubeAudio.com domain name for the past eight years, “they are estopped from claiming that the domain name infringes any of their trademarks or deny the plaintiff the use of the YouTubeAudio.com domain name.
    “A declaration of this honourable court that the plaintiff is entitled to compensation from the defendants for the loss of the YouTubeAudio.com brand and goodwill which has accrued on the brand and domain name for eight years of promotional and marketing works from 2nd July, 2015 to 7th December, 2022.”
    Peter, therefore, sought an order directing the defendants to pay him the sum of $50 million for promotional and marketing works on the YouTube Audio business name and YouTube Audio.com domain name for eight years from July 2, 2015 to Dec. 7, 2022.
    “An order of this honourable court directing the defendants to pay the sum of 100, 000, 000 dollars to the plaintiff for loss of anticipated profits associated with the brand equity and goodwill of YouTube Audio and YouTube Audio.com domain name.
    “An order of this honourable court directing the defendants to pay the Plaintiff the sum of N50, 000, 000 (Fifty Million naira) to enable the plaintiff to carry out fresh registrations of its new name and secure an alternative domain name to host its application to attract users.
    “An order of this honourable court directing the defendants to pay the sum of N10, 00, 000 (Ten Million naira) paid to the plaintiff’s counsel for prosecution of this suit.”
    NAN observes that though GoDaddy.Com LLC had neither been represented in court nor filed any application since the commencement of the case, Google LLC had responded.
    In its reaction, Google argued that Peter did not act in good faith when he registered the YOUTUBE AUDIO business name and the YouTubeAudio.com domain name.
    According to the company, the plaintiff was aware of his lack of bona fide claim because he approached it before he commenced operation “and acknowledged the 2nd defendant (Google)’s rights.
    It gave reasons Peter should not be entitled to any of the reliefs sought in his statement of claim.
    According to Google, the plaintiff does not own the YOUTUBE trademark nor does he have a bona fide claim to use or register any mark that incorporates or is similar to the YOUTUBE trademark.
    “The 2nd defendant is the international owner of the duly registered and famous ‘YOUTUBE’ word and ‘YOUTUBE GO’ logo trademarks in Nigeria and worldwide.
    “The 2nd defendant started using its YOUTUBE trademark in February 2005 internationally.
    “In addition, the 2nd defendant’s YOUTUBE trademark was first registered in Nigeria in 2007.
    “Such use and registration in Nigeria was prior to the plaintiff’s use in Nigeria, which only commenced in 2015,” the company argued.
    When the matter was called on Monday, plaintiff’s counsel, Jude Otakpor, told the court that while he was in receipt of Google’s statement of defence, GoDaddy was yet to put up appearance in court.
    The lawyer, who appeared for Google, Okimute Ohwahwa, said she had an application for extension of time to regularise their processes.
    Ohwahwa said their statement of defence was dated Nov. 9 and filed Nov. 10.
    Otakpor did not oppose Ohwahwa’s oral application and Justice Egwuatu granted it.
    But Otakpor, however, sought an adjournment to enable them file a reply to Google’s statement of defence.
    The judge, who adjourned the matter until Feb  12, directed that a hearing notice be issued on GoDaddy.
    NAN
  • AGF complies with court order, takes over Stella Odua, CCECC’s trial

    AGF complies with court order, takes over Stella Odua, CCECC’s trial

    By Taiye Agbaje

    The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has taken over a N5 billion fraud case filed by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, and others in compliance with a court order.
    David Kaswe, the Chief State Counsel from the AGF’s Chambers, told Justice Inyang Ekwo shortly after the matter was called for hearing.
    Upon resumed hearing, Kaswe notified the court that the AGF was taking over the matter and that his office had written to the EFCC but the commission was yet to release the case file to enable them commence the trial.
    He, therefore, sought an adjournment.
    But Justice Ekwo reminded the lawyer that it was the order of the court that the AGF should take over the case.
    The judge, who said that the office of the AGF did not need to write the anti-graft agency, said the EFCC was bound to obey the order.
    Kaswe, however, said that his office took into cognisance the fact that the EFCC had just had a change of leadership.
    Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until March 28.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge had, on July 21, ordered the AGF’s office to take over the N5 billion fraud case shortly after the arraignment of Oduah, a Chinese construction giant, CCECC, and others.
    The development occured after the anti-corruption agency’s lawyer, Offem Uket, was unable to provide a direct answer to the judge’s question on why the agency failed to produce in court persons behind breaching his privacy through text messages on his phone and another group who petitioned the chief justice of Nigeria regarding the ongoing case
    “I will give a date for trial and make a consequential order because you have allowed this matter to degenerate this way.
    “You think you can shield any of these persons who have interfered in these proceedings?” he asked rhetorically.
    “I make an order that the AGF shall take over this case and the EFCC shall hand over the records of proceedings to the office of the AGF,” the judge had ruled.
    NAN reports that Oduah, a former senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District at the 9th National Assembly, and others were arraigned on July 21 on 25-count charge.
    She was arraigned alongside CCECC Nigeria Ltd, the Nigerian subsidiary of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) established by the Chinese government to execute international contracts and economic cooperation.
    Also joined in the charge are Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi and Chukwuma Irene Chinyere.
    Others include Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd and Sobora International Ltd.
    They all pleaded not guilty to the counts and were admitted to bail in terms of the administrative bail earlier granted them by the anti-graft agency.
    In the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/316/2020 and filed by the EFCC on December 17, 2020, the defendants are being accused of laundering various sums of money totalling about N5,052,415,984 between February and June 2014.
    The EFCC accused the defendants of conspiracy to commit money laundering, transferring, taking control and taking possession of proceeds of fraud, aiding and abetting money laundering and opening anonymous bank accounts.
    Specifically, the prosecution alleged in two of the 25 counts that Oduah, a former Aviation Minister, and Odita opened anonymous “Private Banking Nominee” dollar and naira accounts with First Bank Ltd, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 11(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 11(4) (a) of the same Act.
    In the charge, CCECC Nigeria Limited was alleged to have transferred over N2.5 billion into the naira account of a Private Banking Nominee between March 31 and June 6, 2014.
    NAN
  • Alleged N109bn fraud: Court revokes ex-AGF Idris, co-defendant’s bail

    Alleged N109bn fraud: Court revokes ex-AGF Idris, co-defendant’s bail

    By Edith Nwapi

    Justice Yusuf Halilu of an FCT, Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday revoked the bail earlier granted one of the defendants in the trial of a former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris over an alleged fraudulent diversion of public fund to the tune of N109.5million.

    The defendant, Geoffrey Olusegun Akindele’s bail was revoked by the judge following his non-appearance in court for continuation of trial.

    Akindele, who is the second defendant in the case marked, CR/199/2022, and Idris are standing trial alongside Mohammed Kudu Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited.

    The Economic and financial crimes commission (EFCC) dragged them to court on a 14-count charge bordering on stealing, fraudulent diversion of public fund to the tune of N109.5 billion.

    Idris, among others, was alleged to have between Feb. and Dec. 2021, while being a public servant by virtue of his position as Accountant-General of the Federation accepted from Olusegun Akindele, the second defendant, a gratification of the aggregate sum of N15, 136, 221, 921.46, which was converted to dollars equivalent by Akindele.

    The money, according to the prosecution, did not form part of Idris’s remuneration but a motive for accelerating the payment of 13% derivation to nine oil producing states in the federation through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

    EFCC alleged they thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 155 of the Penal Code Act Cap 533 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and punishable under the same section.

    Idris and Akindele, who was Technical Assistant to the Accountant-General of the Federation, were accused of committing criminal breach of trust while being entrusted with certain property, to wit N84,390,000,000 between Feb. and Nov. 2021 by dishonestly receiving the said amount from the Federal Government through Godfrey Olusegun Akindele, trading under the name and style of Olusegun Akindele & Co.

    By this, acccording to EFCC, the first and second defendants were alleged to have committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

    The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the anti-corruption commission.

    At the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday, Akindele was absent in court as of the time the case was called, though Idris and Usman were in court.

    Despite pleas by counsel for Akindele, S.E. Adino that his client was on the way to court, submitting that he (Akindele) has always been in court to face trial, Justice Halilu insisted on revoking the second defendant’s bail.

    The judge held that after listening to what Adino said, when a court grants a defendant bail, such person must reciprocate the gesture by attending court for trial.

    He added that, Akindele had clearly not shown good character and conduct by his refusal to attend court.

    ” The second defendant had abuse the terms of his bail.”

    Halilu subsequently revoked his bail and ordered the FCT Commissioner of Police and the EFCC to arrest Akindele and produce him in court in the next adjourned date.

    He then adjourned the case until Feb. 1, 2024 for definite hearing.

    Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, had informed the court that the prosecution received a letter from counsel for Idris and did not receive any from the counsel for Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited.

    Atolagbe said despite the fact that there were competent lawyers in the office of Idris’ lawyer, none of them announced appearance for the former Accountant-General of the Federation.

    He added that he saw two lawyers from the office yesterday morning in court, saying that, “This is not fair on the prosecution. It is definitely a ploy to delay trial.”

    NAN

  • NAN to expand its operations-MD

    NAN to expand its operations-MD

     

    By Naomi Sharang

    Abuja:  The Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Malam Ali Muhammad Ali says the agency plans to expand its operations in line with the current global trend.

    Ali said this at the Public Hearing on the 2024-2026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP)

    The hearing was organised by the Joint Committee on Finance, Appropriations, National Planning and Economic Affairs and Local and Foreign Debts.

    Ali said that the management was thinking of expanding the agency’s operations to make it much more commercial oriented.

    “The agency was established in 1976 with the primary responsibility to seek, obtain and receive through subscription payment, exchange for news materials and features.

    “To basically distribute such news materials to subscribers against payment either in the form of news exchange.

    “It has also engaged in enterprises that are auxiliary to the primary function of the agency.

    “We can’t be self-funded because our sources of revenue…,though we have services we render which generate revenue for us but it cannot carter for our operations,” he said.
    Ali added: “We are getting subvention from the national budget. We are dependent mostly on government.

    “We have remitted to the federation account. Though we have remitted not much actually. By law, we remit 25 per cent of our generated revenue to the federation. account.”

    A member of the committee, Sen. Ede Dafinone (APC-Delta) commended NAN on the well articulated MTEF/FSP document presented to the committee.

    “This is one of the best presentation seen here. It’s very well put together”.

    On his part, Sen. Osita Izunaso (APC-Imo) urged NAN to strive to be self-funding and self-financing.

    “This is because NAN is like our own Reuters. And you have offices all over the place and even the news that you disseminate, media houses subscribe to, they pay to NAN. So why wouldn’t NAN strive to be self-funding.

    “I think that should be the next target for NAN. Because even if you look at the budgetary provision for you it is paltry.”

    NAN/ Flowerbudnews

  • Minister tasks Super Eagles on 2026 World Cup qualification

    Minister tasks Super Eagles on 2026 World Cup qualification

    By Muhyideen Jimoh

    The Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Owan-Enoh has urged the Super Eagles of Nigeria to start their qualifying campaign strong, to pick a ticket for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

    The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by the U.S, Mexico and Canada.

    The minister stated this on Tuesday in Abuja, ahead of the team’s opening home game against Lesotho on Thursday in Uyo, in the qualifying series.

    The Eagles will thereafter lock horns with Zimbabwe on Sunday in match day two of the doubleheader qualifiers.

    He stressed the need for the team to be ruthless, and avoid taking the same route that led to the heart breaking non-qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

    “The memory of losing out during the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup is still fresh in the minds of Nigerians.

    “The team should avoid leaving their fate to permutations. We should bring out our best to pick the first six points in front of us,” he said.

    Owan-Enoh expressed confidence in the team’s ability and highlighted the immense pride the nation holds for the Super Eagles

    He urged the technical crew and the players to put their best foot forward in the two crucial games.

    “I have complete faith in our talented squad. The Super Eagles have a rich history of success, and we believe they are fully capable of securing two wins in the upcoming matches.

    “This is not just a football game; it is a representation of the spirit and resilience of the Nigerian people. I encourage our players to give their all on the field and make the nation proud,” he charged.

    The minister also commended the coaching crew led by Jose peseiro and support personnel for their dedication and hard work in preparing the team.

    “As the Minister of Sports Development, I want to assure the full support of the government.

    “We will continue to invest in sports infrastructure, training facilities, and programs that nurture the talent of our young athletes,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Eagles, three-time AFCON Champions will open their campaign against Lesotho in Uyo on Thursday, then face Zimbabwe away on Sunday.

    NAN