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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011
NEWS How I was attacked, by NCP chief
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HREE-time governorship candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in Ogun State Lanre Banjo yesterday recounted how he was attacked by three men who came to his house in Sagamu, Ogun State around 1:30pm. Banjo said his security men saved him from being killed by the men. He said: “The three assassins came to my house on Wednesday afternoon around 1:30pm in a Toyota Camry. On getting to my gate, my security men stopped them and in the course of interrogating them, they told said they were looking for me. “In response my security men asked them why they wanted to see me and they said they just wanted to see me. “My securitymen told them I was not at home. Not satisfied, they requested for my telephone numbers, which the security men refused to give to them. “As they were trying to go back into their packed car, the security men noticed a gun inside the pocket of one of them and he quickly raised the alarm to alert the neighbours. The men then started shooting into the air with an attempt to escape through an abandoned road in front of my house. Balogun said he believed they wanted to kil him to embarrass Governor Ibikunle Amosun. He said the matter has been reported at the Remo Police Division.
Police release body of Naval officer killed in Force Hqtrs bomb blast T
HE body of Navy Captain Ugochukwu Chinwe Ezeorah (Rtd.), who was killed in the bomb blast, which occurred at the Police Force Headquarters on June 16 in Abuja, has been released by the police authorities to his family. His remains, according to a statement signed by Kenneth Ezea on behalf of Gabriel Ugwuozor and the bereaved family, were released to the family and the naval authorities in Abuja following the identification of his body, which was deposited at the Asokoro District Hospital by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) after the blast. The statement said: “An autopsy report has been issued detailing the cause of his death. “An engineer and former Deputy Director of Marine Engineering at the Naval
•Family petitions Jonathan From Sanni Ologun, Abuja
Headquarters, Abuja, the late Ezeorah was killed by the blast while visiting a police friend of his at the Police Force Headquarters on the fateful day. “He had just been led out of the headquarters building when the blast set off, killing him and damaging his car. “Though his burnt car was identified only by its number plate and a copy of a Christian magazine, The Mirror, which he had with him, it took days before his body was traced to the morgue of Asokoro District Hospital. “A native of Aku town, Igbo-Etiti Local government Area of Enugu state, the late Captain Ezeorah enlisted into
the Navy as an Officer Cadet of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Regular 27 in 1980 and was commissioned sub-lieutenant while at the Naval College of Engineering in India. He trained in England, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji and the National Defence College, Abuja. “At various times, he was Marine Engineering Officer (NNS ARADU), Marine Engineering Officer (NNS ENYIMIRI in Lagos and Liberia), Captain Sea Training Marine Engineering, Command Technical Officer (CTO), Western Naval Command, Lagos. His last posting was the Protocol Office, Defence Headquarters, Abuja,
before he notified the Navy of his decision to retire after 30 years of meritorious service. “Unfortunately, he was yet to conclude his severance before being cut down by the dastardly bombing. “Meanwhile, the Aku community, at home and in the Diaspora, has written to President Goodluck Jonathan condemning the apparent silence of the Police authorities in recognising and acknowledging the death of their illustrious son in the bomb blast, ”it said. Ezea further quoted the deceased family’s compliant letter to the President thus: “Your Excellency, the entire people of Aku wish to bring to your notice the demise of our son, Navy Captain Ugochukwu Ezeorah, who was brutally murdered at the
Firm gets electronic franchise
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Dabo’Adzuana lauds Jonathan on Cabinet AS the new ministers settle down in their respective portfolios, chairman of Move Nigeria Project and former Deputy National Auditor, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Godwin Dabo’Adzuana, has praised President Goodluck Jonathan for selecting what he calls an ‘A-Team’ cabinet. Hailing the President for not yielding to socio-political pressures which could have jeopardised his much publicised dream of a new Nigeria, Dr. Dabo’Adzuana remarked that by doing away with the past monster of appointing inept and recycled leaders, he has once again justified the high confidence his movement and the electorate have in his ability and leadership to take them to the promised land resulting to their trooping out in millions to vote for him at the election.
•Chairman, Bi-Courteny Ltd, Dr. Bolanle Olawale Babalakin flanked by his Personal Assistant, Ms Bisi Awoniyi, and the Acting Project Manager, Mr Mike Laleye, during the Induction/ Training for traffic assistants at Isheri, Ogun State... on Tuesday
Ebonyi tribunal dismisses petition against ANPP
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HE National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has dismissed the petition by the Senator representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial zone, Chief Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu. In the petition filed by his counsel, Igwe-Nwagu prayed the tribunal to strike out the petition filed by All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Senatorial candidate, Innocent Ugo-Chima, on technical grounds. Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Henry Olusiyi said it
From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki
was not right to punish the party for the mistake in addressing the petition and deny it justice, citing paragraph 5b of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended. He said: “Having listened to the prayers of the parties, this tribunal believes that it is not right to punish the party for the error in addressing the petition and deny it justice as this is only a misnomer.” Justice Olusiyi said techni-
‘Having listened to the prayers of the parties, this tribunal believes that it is not right to punish the party for the error in addressing the petition and deny it justice as this is only a misnomer’ calities could not be allowed to override justice. “We are satisfied that there
is only one tribunal for the purpose of the said election and this is the tribunal and the parties are not in the wrong place. Technicalities cannot be allowed to override justice. Therefore, we have come to the conclusion that the defect in the address cannot defeat justice. The petition is hereby dismissed.” The matter has been adjourned till next Monday. The ANPP senatorial candidate for Ebonyi Central Innocent Ugo Chima described the ruling as a victory for democracy.
Group urges youths to shun violence
FGC holds revival FOURSQUARE Gospel Church, Idimu zonal headquarters, will hold its annual renewal and revival service on Sunday. The theme is: “A New Man.” According to a statement from the organising committee chairman, Nurudeen Adesina, the one-week annual event will enjoy the presence of Revs Ayomide Abraham, Jerry Oyegoke and Siyanbola Oyeniran. The programme is expected to transform the participants.
scene of the suicide bombing that rocked the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, on june 16, by the Boko Haram sect. Captain Ezeorah served his motherland for over 30 years as a very conscientious, dedicated and diligent Naval Officer.” He said: “They (family members) requested that the late Ezeorah and other victims of the violence be given national recognition” Continuing, they said: “An act of remembrance inspires patriotism and reassures the relatives of the victims that their loved one did not die in vain.” “In the letter signed by Gabriel Ugwuozor, the community urged the President to smoke out the members of Boko Haram and their sponsors to face the law. It urged government to assist the children of the deceased, whose education have been disrupted.”
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HE South-West Youth Leaders Association (SWYLA) has described the incessant bomb attacks in some parts of the country as a worrisome development and cautioned youths in the country to be wary of unscrupulous individuals who want to cause anarchy. In a statement by the Secretary General of SWYLA, Mr. Awoyinfa Segun , the group bomb explosions that claimed lives of innocent citizens attributed to Boko
Haram sect is not justifiable. The pressure group which is representing the interest of youths in Yorubaland said the idea of killing defenceless citizens is uncalled for and should not be en-
couraged under any pretext. “We cannot tolerate destruction of lives and property of the citizenry and that is why we are condemning the bomb explosions that have been attributed to the
Boko Haram Sect. we also call on those in the positions of authority to make sure that they deliver their promises to the people so as to earn their trust”, Awoyinfa said.
FIRM, Transformed Thinking, has acquired a license to offer the Electronic Compass Aligned Performance Systems in Nigeria. The system is described as a simple, effective and affordable strategic planning, implementation and performance management process that aligns staff members to a company vision. Its Chief Executive Officer Noruwa Edokpolo said his firm was delighted to be introducing the product into the Nigerian market at this time when organisations and government agencies need to enhance staff performance and productivity. “It takes the stress off performance management. It removes appraisal from the subjective realm to the realm of objectivity,” Edokpolo said.
NIIT announces 12th IT scholarship in Nigeria AN Information Technology (IT) firm, NIIT Limited, has announced its 12th Nigeria IT Scholarship for this year. Successful students in a test will be trained in skills required to make a mark in global IT industry. They can choose to enrol for comprehensive training programmes on any of software and application development, network engineering, database administration, multimedia applications, and management of IT and services. Four students will get the opportunity to go on a seven-day, all-expensespaid education tour to India, the firm said in a statement.
Rights’ group writes police over brutality on member
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NTERNATIONAL Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) yesterday petitioned the Anambra State Police Commissioner
Muhtari Ibrahim over police assault on one of its members Justus Ijeoma. The Fegge Police in Onitsha had, last month, beaten up the Secretary of the Civil Liberties Organisa-
tion (CLO) and Head of Publicity of Intersociety, Ijeoma, for refusing to pay N30,000 allegedly demanded by the police as bail. Chairman, Board of Trus-
tees of Intersociety,Emeka Umeagbalasi, called for a “thorough and conclusive investigation with intent to mete out the administrative and legal sanctions on the culprits.”