THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013
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NEWS UNICEM gets MD From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar
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HE Board of Directors of United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited has confirmed the appointment of Olivier Lenoir as Managing Director. The former MD, Didier Tresarrieu, resigned on December 7 for personal reasons. According to the Chairman, Board of Directors, John Coumantaros, Lenoir’s appointment takes effect from January 1. He said: “On December 7, the UniCem Board accepted the resignation of Didier Tresarrieu and has decided that he will be succeeded by Olivier Lenoir, with effect from January 1.” Lenoir is a graduate of the Paris Business School “Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Paris”. Until his appointment, he has been the Deputy Managing Director of the company since 2010.
‘Detractors behind my ordeal’
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•Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (second left); the Iyaseh of Asaba, Chief Patrick Onyeobi (left); the Asagba of Asaba, Obi Chike Edozien ( second right) and Chairman, Oshimili South Local Government Chinwe-Monu Olarenwaju, when the governor visited the Asagba...yesterday.
Delta board to notify CBN, EFCC on missing N1.1b from bank T HE Delta State Board of Internal Revenue has said it would report two banks to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the “disappearance” of N1.106 billion tax paid by Chevron Nigeria Limited. It was gathered that the money was deducted from December salaries and allowances of Chevron’s staff. The money was paid through a first generation bank to the Board’s account on December 27 via CBN/RTGS confirmation number O0032P0026000012. A controversy ensued when the money failed to reflect in the board’s Diamond Bank account, weeks after the elec-
From Shola O’Neil, Warri
tronic transfer was reportedly done. Financial experts say the process usually takes hours to complete. The Branch Manager of Diamond Bank in Asaba, Mrs. Noma Imilar, who was contacted on Monday, refused to comment. She said only the topmost echelon of the bank’s headquarters in Lagos could comment on the matter. However, a DBIR source said: “The Chairman, Thomas Joel-Onowakpor, is determined to pursue the case to its
logical conclusion. “Plans are on to invite the EFCC to unravel the mystery of where the fund was within the last 11 days.” “We are also contemplating making formal complaints to the CBN through the relevant channel because this is not only embarrassing, it is unethical.” The Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) could be called upon to unravel the truth and prove which side is telling the truth. Our independent investigation showed that the incident has led to a frosty relationship between the two banks.
One of the correspondence obtained by our reporter had one banker telling the other: “I am telling you in confidence that we have not received it. “You confirmed that you sent it since the 31st (December)! “How come it has not yet reached us? You are a banker and integrity is very key.” Joel-Onowakpor said: “It is true that we have been trying to fish out which bank is holding on to our funds. “When we are through, the bank will be publicly sanctioned and I also expect CBN to take action on this.”
Search your conscience, Sylva tells Dickson From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja
•Sylva
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ORMER Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva has told his successor, Seriake Dickson, to search his conscience on the claim that he (Silva) left only N4, 451 in the state’s coffers. In a statement by his media aide, Doifie Ola, yesterday, the former governor described Dickson’s claims as “the outburst of an illegitimate governor troubled by an attack of conscience.”
Ola said it was interesting that a year after Sylva left office, Dickson is still obsessed with his ghost. The statement reads: “Sylva never contested election with Dickson. “He was illegally excluded from seeking re-election by the forces that dragged Dickson into office and foisted on Bayelsa the ignominy that Dickson and his gang have been trying to whitewash with Sylva’s name. “But they have continued to fail. Bayelsans and Nigerians have become wise to the gang’s deception. “Bayelsa State has never had it so bad. Bayelsa is mourning the Dickson disaster. “Everyday, all you hear is
that some phoney amounts have been saved, but nothing is happening in terms of delivery of projects. “Rather than concentrate on what leadership ought to be, Dickson and his gang are busy chasing Sylva’s shadows. This clearly shows how confused he is.” The aide said contrary to insinuations by the governor, Sylva ran the most prudent and transparent government Bayelsa ever had since the Fourth Republic. “Despitethe enormous challenges Sylva faced when he took over from Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the state’s debt profile was not anywhere near what Dickson and his gang want the world to believe throughout Sylva’s stay in office. “By our records, we would
have concluded payment of all our outstanding debts, except the bond, by last February. “It was a project-specific loan; all money was paid directly to the contractors. “No money came to the Sylva government. And the projects for which the loans were taken were almost completed at the time he left office. “The Sylva government had no chance of mismanaging the bond. “The question of rising interest rates on the bond does not arise so long it is being serviced according to terms. “All we can advise Dickson and his gang is that they should stop these face-saving pranks with Sylva’s name, for it will never confer legitimacy on them.”
UNIBEN lecturer arrested for ‘extortion’
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SENIOR lecturer at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has been arrested on the orders of the university’s management for allegedly extorting money from students. The senior lecturer was arrested after he allegedly collected marked money from a female student. Sources said the senior lecturer is an Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Law. He represents the faculty in a committee set up to coordinate students’ inter-faculty movement
From Osagie Otabor, Benin
every session. It was gathered that the lecturer was arrested by the security unit after which it was discovered that the lecturer belonged to a syndicate specialising in extortion of students. The female student was said to be studying English in the Faculty of Arts and wanted to change to the Faculty of Law. She was reportedly asked to pay N150,000 by the lecturer before her request could be approved.
Another lecturer was said to have encouraged her to report the matter. The student reportedly played along and pleaded to be allowed to pay N100,000, which was agreed to by the lecturer. It was gathered that as the student was about to pay the money into an account, the lecturer called her phone and asked her to deliver the money in his office. The lecturer was arrested after he collected the marked money and was handed over to the police.
A source said:“When his (lecturer’s) office was searched, security personnel discovered a list containing 18 names, including the female student’s.’’ The institution’s spokesman, Harrison Osarenren, confirmed the incident. Osarenren said: “The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Osayuki Oshodi, has applauded the team that exposed this syndicate. “The lecturer will be arraigned in court soon.’’
HE Bayelsa State House of Assembly has passed a vote of confidence in the Speaker, Kombowei Benson. Benson was implicated in the misappropriation of N78million being the money for a parliamentary conference in South Africa Benson said some members of the House were behind his ordeal. He wondered how he could have embezzled money approved by the governor. “There was no ill motive for spending the money. N78million was approved for 24 members, how much should have come to each member after travel expenses? “I know some of my colleagues are behind my travail. They are desperate to take over my seat. “Yes, we went to South Af-
From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa
rica late, we are not disputing that fact. But those investigating the matter over exaggerated it. “There was no intention of enriching ourselves with the money. “There is no fire without smoke,there must be fire before smoke. “This seat is an enviable seat,there are people scrambling to take over power every now and then. “Some aggrieved former local government chairmen may be partnering some members on the issue. “This is because during the investigations by the Assembly on some former chairmen, they wrote a petition on the N78 million issue. “I can always resign and apologise if I have made any mistake.”
Rivers to promote on merit From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt
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HE use of geographical spread and seniority in appointing directors in the unified local government service in Rivers State has been stopped. This was made known yesterday in Port Harcourt by the Chairman of the Rivers Local Government Service Commission, Azubuike Nmerukini, at the closing of a three-day workshop for junior staff in local governments in Rivers South-East Senatorial District. Nmerukini, who was represented by a commissioner in the commission, Jonah Tamuno, said henceforth, the appointment of directors in the unified local government service would be based on hard work and productivity. He said: “Gone are the days when appointments are based on geographical spread and seniority, which have not encouraged increased output in the service. “If you want appointment, you must prove it by the way you perform your duties and how you fare in other positions given to you in the past.”
Akwa Ibom Assembly passes budget
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HE Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly yesterday passed the budget of N470.08 billion into law. A breakdown showed that N118.79billion was earmarked for recurrent expenditure andN351.29billion for capital projects. The Speaker, Samuel Ikon, urged the executive to continue to exercise fiscal discipline in the implementation of the budget. Ikon said the fifth assembly would do its best to leverage development in the state through the making of good laws. Governor Godswill Akpabio had, on November 20, presented a budget outlay of N459,305 billion made up of N188.79billion
From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo
for recurrent expenditure and N340.52billion for capital projects. The House augmented the figure by N10.77billion for capital expenditure. Presenting the report to the House, the Chairman, Committee on Appropriation and Finance, Onofiok Luke, told the lawmakers that despite complaints by ministries on non-release of funds to execute some projects, “the performance of some ministries last year’s budget was fantastic. According to Luke, the performance of some ministries in the 2012 budget made the Committee to realise government priorities.
Justice Ayo for burial Friday
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HE remains of a judge of the Lagos State High Court, Justice Abisoye Esther Ayo, will be buried on Friday. She died on December 30 last year. She was 47. A statement by the husband, Olabode, said service of songs/Christian wake will hold tomorrow at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (Goshen Parish) Lekki Expressway, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. On Friday, a valedictory service will be held at the Foyer of the High Court, Igbosere, by 9am. Funeral service will hold at the church by noon.