The Nation November 16, 2012

Page 55

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

57

NEWS Rescued suspected robbers die in Imo

Kogi lawmakers’ peace parley ends in scuffle •‘It’s not true’ says lawmaker •Speaker Bello may resign next week

T

HERE was free-for-all yesterday among some Kogi State House of Assembly members. One of them, Friday Makama, allegedly lost a tooth. A source told The Nation that the brawl occurred during a meeting in Lokoja, the state capital, where the lawmakers were trying to resolve the leadership crisis rocking the Assembly. The parley was said to have been at the instance of former Governor Ibrahim Idris. But it was reportedly deadlocked. The source said the meeting held at ‘High Ground’, where the governor receives visitors. At the parley were Governor Idris Wada and the lawmakers, except embattled Speaker Abdullahi Bello. It was learnt that the meeting was a follow-up to an earlier mediation parley at Ibro Hotel, Abuja, last Monday. The source added that the meeting, which was slated for 9pm, did not start until 12.20am. Another source said trouble started when the agenda

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

was perceived to have changed, which did not go down well with pro-Bello lawmakers. The source said: “The meeting was meant to return the House to the status quo ante. But when it started, we suspected a foul play and we disagreed with their illegal proposition.” It was learnt that the meeting proposed that “Majority Leader Yunusa Yakubu should write a letter of proclamation to Bello for endorsement and approval so that the House can reconvene formally”. The source added: “Though that would have nullified the initial impeachment, but the grouse was that Bello was to resign honourably at the resumed sitting of the House. It was that suggestion that sparked the fight. “Minority Leader Yori Afolabi stood up to note that the suggestion was wrong and that Kogi had been in the news for so many wrong reasons and there was every reason to first correct the wrongs before talking about

Bello’s resignation. “It was at that point that Makama, who had been pacing around, attempted to shut him up. That led to the fight.” Makama, a notable member of the group of 12 lawmakers, allegedly lost a tooth before other lawmakers separated the warring lawmakers. A highly placed member of the House, who spoke in confidence, said: “Nobody lost his tooth. But there was just a little scuffle between one of the legislators, Makama and Afolabi.” Responding to a question he said: “I did not know what he said before the Minority Leader punched his mouth. Although I saw blood gushing out, but there was no tooth loss.” On whether the fight was caused by the call on Bello to resign his position next week, after proclaiming the House, he said: “No. That aspect had already been concluded. “The conclusion was that he would convene the House in line with the Constitution and preside so that the House would move forward.

“What it means is that all they have done is a nullity. He would be given his right to recall the House according to House rules and, of course, the resolution was that because of the sharp divisions and for House to move forward, he would resign his speakership and allow for the election of a new Speaker. “How can the other Speaker continue? I told you that all they did was a nullity. Nobody knows who will be the next Speaker, until we get to the floor of the House. But the man will come and resign. That has been agreed upon.” But Makama denied fighting anyone, saying: “There was nothing like that, to my knowledge.” Responding to a question, he said: “On what? We are honorable men. How can we fight?” On allegations that he lost a tooth during the fight, he said: “How can I lose my tooth when I did not fight. It is not true.” However, another lawmaker said: “Yes, there was an exchange of blows.”

MBAN highlights gains at HOFEX 2012

T

HE President of Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria (MBAN) Mr. Abimbola Olayinka has highlighted the gains of the association in the last one year under his leadership. He spoke in Lagos at the second MBAN Housing Finance and Investment Conference & Exhibition (MBAN-HOFEX). He acknowledged the

Abia demolishes old timber market From Ugochukwu UgojiEke, Umuahia

T

THE Abia State Government has begun the demolition of the old timbre market in Umuahia. The market has about 500 stalls. The exercise, it was learnt, was in adherence to the government’s plan to relocate the traders to the new market on Ikot Ekpene Road. About a year ago, the government told the traders at the timber market that they would be relocated to a better and permanent site, where they would have better amenities and bigger space. The aim, the government explained, was to decongest the palce as a residential area and reduce fire outbreaks associated with such markets. The traders resisted the move but the government insisted that its order must be obeyed. A year after, the traders are yet to move to the new market. The resistance reportedly forced the government to begin the demolition. The Deputy Chief of Staff to the governor, Charles Ogbonnaya, explained that the demolition showed the seriousness of the government.

presence Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola; Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Lamido Sanusi; Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms.Ama Pepple, among others, to the conference. Olayinka noted that MBAN has progressed in the last one year. The MBAN president said the association, in its 20

years of existence as the selfregulatory organisation for the mortgage banking sector in Nigeria, has mitigated the challenges of the sector. He added that the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) has achieved a lot in the last one year. According to him, the body has consolidated the mortgage banking sector,

PUBLIC NOTICE GHOST CHRISTIAN HOLY MISSION Notice is given to the general public that the above named church has applied for registration under PART ‘C’ of the companies’ allied matters Act 1990. THE TRUSTEE ARE 1. Prophet Ikenna Miracle Peter 2. Evang. (Mrs.) Blessing Ikenna Peter 3. Mr. Chinedu Nzomiwu 4. Mr. Chinonso Kelvin Peter 5. Mr. Chibuike Aladi 6. Mrs. Roseline Philip Eshiet AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To preach the word of God 2. To set the captives free 3. To deliver the oppressed Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general, corporate affairs commission. Plot 420 Tigris Crescents off Aguiyi Ironsin Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed Prophet Ikenna Miracle Peter.

PUBLIC NOTICE GOD DECISION CHURCH OF CHRIST This is to inform the general public that the above named organization has applied to the corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part C of the Companies and allied Matters Act. TRUSTEES ARE: 1. WILSON UZOEHERE KINSLEY 2. WILSON NEBECHI TECULAR THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To Preach the word of God 2. To care for the welfare of the member Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission,Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: Seidu Kehinde Olalekan

which he said would be concluded in April 2013. He expressed confidence that the post-consolidation era would witness a new dawn in the sector.

•Police arrest two ‘gang members’ From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

P

OLICEMEN from the Imo State Police Command yesterday rescued two suspected armed robbers from a mob after they were allegedly caught dispossessing people of cash and other valuables. But the rescue was a little too late as the suspected robbers died on the way to the hospital, following the machete cuts they reportedly sustained from the mob. It was learnt that the police got information from one of them, leading to the arrest of two other members. Police spokesman Vitalis Onugu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said: “Policemen attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) got a distress call that two armed robbery suspects were about to be lynched by a mob at Spibat Road in Amakaohia/Akwakuma, Owerri North Local Government Area. “On arrival, they met the two suspects with loaded double-barrelled shotgun and other dangerous weapons. They were tied down with two motorcycle tyres hanged on them, ready to be set ablaze. The two suspected robbers were rescued at the point of death as a result of machete cuts dealt on them by the angry mob. “They died before they could get to the hospital. They were alleged to have robbed people of their lap tops, handsets, among others. One of the suspects, Buchi (surname unknown) from Akpodim in Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, managed to describe to the policemen their hideout before he died.”

Anambra prepares for post-flood rebuilding NAMBRA State Gover-

A

nor Peter Obi yesterday described as “enormous and beyond what government can do alone” the work needed to clean up the state after the floods. The governor, who addressed reporters in Abuja, noted that Anambra State needs to determine the level of destruction to enable it understand what steps to take next. He said: “As I have always

maintained, the issue of displaced people and setting up of camps, which were the first necessities thrown up by the floods, are not major challenges. Some of those at the camp cannot go home now because their houses, farms and property have been washed away and destroyed by the floods. Resettling such people are among the major challenges we are going to face now.”


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.