Lagos, USAID sign pact towards new electrification plan for residents

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July 15, 2020

Babajide Sanwoolu signs — File Photo: Lagos State Governor, babajide Sanwo-Olu

The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State Government, Nigeria and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Power Africa Nigeria Power Sector Programme (PA-NPSP) have signed a Letter of Cooperation to develop new electrification plan for the Centre of Excellence.

The agreement was reached on Tuesday during a virtual signing event involving representatives of Lagos State Government and USAID PA-NPSP.

The Letter of Cooperation is aimed to formally launch Lagos State Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) initiative.

IRP, which would be developed in close coordination with PA-NPSP, would serve as a roadmap to guide the development and implementation of a comprehensive electrification strategy that is best suited to the long-term needs of Lagos State.

The plan, when developed, would be an effective tool towards improved planning and decision making in accelerating successful investment in the electricity sector and ultimately increasing electricity accessibility and reliability in Lagos State.

In support of the Integrated Resource Plan, PA-NPSP would provide an analysis and review of the power sector in Lagos State to develop a state-of-the-art planning mechanism that is best suited for the long-term electricity needs of the state’s residents, businesses, industries, and public/government premises such as hospitals and health clinics.

This roadmap would assist Lagos State Government and the state’s energy stakeholders to predict power system requirements for the next 20 years, enabling the effective and efficient management of energy resources.

Speaking during the virtual signing ceremony, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the Integrated Resource Plan is a priority initiative for his administration.

“To improve access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa, there is no better place to start than in Nigeria.

“The Integrated Resource Plan is a priority initiative for Lagos State Government and it underpins our electricity strategy to ensure access and reliability to Lagos residents is a reality,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu also expressed his administration’s gratitude to the Power Africa Nigeria Power Sector Programme for leading the initiative and also commended all the local stakeholders for providing support to ensure Lagos Integrated Resource Plan becomes a reality and for their continuous support towards making Lagos greater.

In his opening remarks, Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Olalere Odusote, said the development is a significant milestone in the implementation plan of Lagos State Government towards improving electricity access in the state.

Odusote underscored the importance of an energy plan for sustainable economic development.

“It is impossible to have a sustainable economic plan without an energy plan.

“The objective of Lagos State Government is to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity to Lagos residents, a key enabler for the vision of making Lagos a 21st Century economy.

“The Integrated Resource Plan will be a sustainable, long-term electrification plan for Lagos,” he said.

USAID’s Mission Director, Stephen Haykin, on his part, explained that “Power Africa recognises the importance of reliable electricity supply to Nigeria’s present and future.”

According to him, “From energy perspective, I can’t think of a better way to accelerate access to electricity than to actively partner with Lagos State Government for the development of a robust Integrated Resource Plan.

“To this end, it is vital that we support this initiative, as it serves as a critical planning process to meet consumers’ needs for electricity services in a way that satisfies multiple objectives for resource use.”

Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Chief of Party for PA-NPSP, Tunde Gbajumo, emphasised the importance of collaborating with relevant stakeholders to develop sustainable solutions.

He explained that PA-NPSP and Lagos State Government would work closely with various stakeholders in Lagos State power sector to develop the Integrated Resource Plan and have already formed a Study Team composed of gas suppliers, the two Lagos distribution companies, generation companies, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the Rural Electrification Agency and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Gbajumo said: “The Power Africa Nigeria Power Sector Program is excited to be part of this landmark event for the partnership between Lagos State Government and USAID and hope that this event will serve as a further testament to the productive and sustainable growth of Nigeria’s energy sector.”

Other participants at the event included Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources; General Manager, Lagos State Electricity Board; key representatives from Transmission Company of Nigeria; Rural Electrification Agency; Egbin Power Plc; Ikeja Electric Plc; and Eko Electricity Distribution Company.

Photos:

Idowu Sowunmi

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Gokada founder, Fahim Saleh gruesomely murdered in US

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 15, 2020

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New York Police Department (NYPD) Tuesday says a man believed to be Fahim Saleh, the founder of Nigeria’s motorbike hailing company, Gokada, has been brutally murdered in his New York condo home.

The police explained the gruesome murder of the 33-year-old tech entrepreneur, saying Saleh’s corpse, disembered with an electric saw was found limbless and headless in a building on E. Houston St. at Suffolk St. on the Lower East side, New York. The dismembered body parts were found at the scene of the murder, New York Police reported.

“We have a torso, a head that’s been removed, arms, and legs. Everything is still on the scene. We don’t have a motive,” NYPD spokesman Sgt. Carlos Nieves said.

Saleh, a Bentley University alumnus , who apart from his Gokada business in Nigeria is a co-founder of Pathao together with Hussain M Elius and Shifat Adnan in 2015, bought the condo home in 2019 for $2.2 million, according to New York Post.

My home ♥️ #nyc https://t.co/qVS69x2W5z pic.twitter.com/qnRg4S0YKR

— Fahim Saleh (@fahims) December 17, 2019

Police were alerted to the seventh-floor condo by the victim’s sister who called 911 after discovering her brother’s headless and armless corpse in his home.

An NYPD spokesman said she came calling Tuesday because she hadn’t seen her brother in a day, then discovered his dismembered corpse.

While it is not clear what the motive for Saleh’s murder was, sources, according to New York Daily revealed that an elevator surveillance camera may have caught the victim’s last moments. It shows the victim getting into the elevator Monday, followed quickly by a second man, dressed in a suit, wearing gloves, a hat and a mask over his face.

Wednesday morning, Gokada staff in Nigeria woke up to the shocking news of the death of their founder and CEO, expressing “deep sadness and regret”.

In a statement posted on their Linkedin page, the company described the Saleh’s demise as “sudden and tragic”.

“Fahim was a great leader, an inspiration and a positive light for all of us at Gokada, and we are completely heartbroken by the sad news.

Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and all those who are currently feeling the same pain that we feel right now. Fahim’s vision and belief in us will always be with us, a reminder that we can achieve whatever we set our minds to”, the statement read.

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Photos: First female Nigerian Air Force combat helicopter pilot is dead

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 15, 2020

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NAF Tolulope 1 and 1 — Nigerian Air Force first female Flying Officer, Tolulope Arotile

Nigerian Air Force first female Flying Officer, 23-year old Tolulope Arotile is dead.

The sad news of the young combat helicopter pilot, who died on July 14, as a result of head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base Kaduna, was announced in a statement by NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, Tuesday in Abuja.

“It is with great sorrow that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) regretfully announces the unfortunate demise of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, who died on July 14, as a result of head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base Kaduna.

“Until her death, ‪Flying Officer Arotile, who was commissioned into the NAF in September 2017 as a member of Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 64, was the first ever female combat helicopter pilot in the Service.

“During her short but impactful stay in the Service, late Arotile, who hails from Iffe in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, contributed significantly to the efforts to rid the North Central States of bandits and other criminal elements by flying several combat missions under Operation GAMA AIKI in Minna, Niger State.

” The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on behalf of officers, airmen, airwomen and civilian staff of the NAF, commiserates with the family of late ‪Flying Officer Arotile over this irreparable loss.

“We pray that the Almighty God grants her soul eternal rest,” he said.

Photos:

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Jonathan Appointed ECOWAS Special Envoy to Mali

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B.O.B Echoload

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July 14, 2020

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Former president Goodluck Jonathan has been appointed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a Special Envoy to lead the sub-regional body’s mediation mission in Mali.

Jonathan’s appointment was communicated to him in a letter signed by the President of ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou.

“Given your position as the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the great role and contributions your tenure offered to the maintenance of peace, security and stability in our region, I have the honour, in consultation with the Chair of the Authority, H.E. Issoufou Mahamadou, President of the Republic of Niger, to communicate to you, the decision to appoint you as ECOWAS Special Envoy for the socio-political crisis in Mali,” the letter read.

The former president is to engage in consultations with all relevant stakeholders involved in the ongoing dispute in Mali to ensure that a common ground is found in the search for peace.

As a Special Envoy, Jonathan is to facilitate dialogue with all principal stakeholders in Mali, including President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, opposition leaders, civil society as well as religious organisations, towards resolving the worsening socio-political situation in the West African country.

Speaking ahead of his scheduled departure for Bamako tomorrow, the former president promised to do his best to ensure that the mission achieves the desired result.

He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the support of the Nigerian Government, including providing an aircraft and other logistics needed to make the assignment successful, said a statement by Jonathan’s Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze.

Jonathan had led peace missions to many crises-ridden nations in the past. He’s expected to deploy his enormous goodwill within the continent to facilitate the process of restoring peace in the troubled nation.

Mali has been hit by protests, sparked by the outcome of parliamentary elections in March and April, perceived discontent over the government’s handling of the country’s jihadist insurgency and worsening economic situation.

Idowu Sowunmi

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Bayelsa Governor rejoices after Supreme Court verdict

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B.O.B Echoload

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July 14, 2020

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Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, Tuesday celebrated and commended Justices of the Supreme Court for their uprightness.

He described the verdict of the Supreme Court as the triumph of democracy.

Diri, who spoke to journalists in Abuja shortly after the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by Chief Ndutimi Alaibe against his victory at the September 3, 2019 governorship primary election of the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP), explained that the incident has deepened democratic ethos in Nigeria.

The governor noted that the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man in the country.

“Clearly and transparently, the Justices have displayed uprightness. They have also displayed that the Supreme Court is indeed the last court in Nigeria.

“I want to appreciate them and I believe and pray that God will continue to guide them, use them to do justice to all manner of people,” he said.

Diri also appreciated Bayelsans home and abroad as well as lovers of the state government for their prayers and promised not to fail them.

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Energy: Omoboriowo II, Karim, Campbell, others appointed into African Energy Chamber’s Advisory Committee

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 14, 2020

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The Chairman and Chief Eexecutive Officer, Genesis Energy Group, Akinwole Omoboriowo II; Chief Executive Officer, Shoreline Energy International, Kola Karim; Chief Executive Officer, Energy & Natural Resource Security, Inc., Derek Campbell; and others have been appointed into the African Energy Chamber’s United States-Africa Committee to serve on its Advisory Board and support the development of stronger energy cooperation and investment between the US and Africa.

Other members appointed by the African Energy Chamber include: Chief Executive Officer, Azimuth Energy Investments LLC, Reginal ‘Reg’ Spiller; Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Africa Fortesa Corporation, Rogers Beall; President, Kearney Africa, Jude Kearney; Managing Director for Africa, Millenium Challenge Corporation, Alicia Robinson-Morgan; General Manager (Africa), Pioneer Energy, Ann Norman; and Chief Economist, American Petroleum Institute, Dean Foreman.

In their personal capacities, the members of the US-Africa Committee have gathered several decades of experience in government and the private sector from both sides of the Atlantic, and share a passion for Africa and its development.

The decision of the African Energy Chamber was borne out of the belief that the potential for capital, expertise and technology transfers between the US and Africa was being under-exploited.

The US-Africa Committee is the first committee on the African Energy Chamber’s Advisory Board to be announced.

The chamber has put together leading industry experts, executives and public representatives to support several initiatives over the course of 2020 and 2021, such as local content development, natural gas and energy transitions, the promotion of an enabling environment and the expansion of exploration activities.

“The largest but also most recent discoveries in Africa were made by bold and capable American companies who have proven time and again that betting on Africa bears fruits.

“At times when the continent seeks to develop much stronger gas value chains and attract investment into midstream and downstream infrastructure, we need to look back at the United States and develop stronger partnerships.

“As Africa embraces energy transition, a substantial part of the capital needed to develop cleaner energy solutions also lies with American companies and institutions,” said the Executive Chairman at the African Energy Chamber, Nj Ayuk.

African Energy Chamber added that while Power Africa remains to date the most successful initiative to develop Africa’s energy sector by tapping into American capital and technology, more could be done in light of the continent’s continued energy poverty.

The chamber noted that from exploration to gas infrastructure, and from power technology to energy funding, the United States remains a global leader that has much to bring to Africa under the right partnerships and joint-ventures that could support local content development and jobs creation.

Idowu Sowunmi

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$8.5 Scam: Alleged internet fraudster, Ikenna Onwuzruike returns to court

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 14, 2020

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The trial of alleged internet fraud kingpin, Omwuzuruike Ikenna Kingsley, who was nabbed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) continued on Monday, July 13, 2020.

At the resumed hearing of the matter, which is before Justice A. T Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the prosecution presented its first witness, Abbas Suleiman, an Assistant Detective Superintendent (ADS) of the EFCC, before the court.

While being led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, MT Iko; Suleiman told the court how the Commission, on receiving an intelligence on the alleged fraudulent activities of the defendant, commenced investigation which later led to his arrest in Umuahia, Abia State.

He stated that, the defendant was arrested with items such as a Samsung Galaxy Phone, iphone 11, black Dell laptop, 3 Nigerian international passports and an Accura car.

He also said the defendant was taken to the Port Harcourt office of the EFCC, where he volunteered his statement in writing under caution.

Furthermore, Suleiman disclosed that in the course of investigation, letters of investigation activities were written to the Egypt Embassy, Thailand Embassy, United States Embassy and some banks, such as United Bank for Africa, UBA, Polaris and Ecobank, who all cooperated.

The prosecuting counsel, Iko, thereby sought the permission of the court to tender the letters of investigation activities in evidence and were accepted and marked as Exhibit A1 to E respectively.

The defendant, Kingsley, is being prosecuted on eight -count charges bordering on conspiracy, impersonation, forgery, possession of proceeds and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of Eight Million, Five Hundred and Two Thousand Dollars ($8,502,000.00).

He allegedly represented himself as one Jeff Sikora, President/CEO of Prime Trust Credit Union Bank in the United States of America, USA and used the false identity to defraud his victims, including an Egyptian who was defrauded of the sum of $6,500,000.00 on the pretext that he was a beneficiary of Inheritance Funds in a fixed deposit account of Prime Trust Financial Bank.

The defendant also received the sum of Two Thousand United States Dollars ($2,000) which was transferred to him by his syndicate member, one Obi Taxas, who is now at large, as part of his cut from the heist.

Meanwhile, Justice Mohammed adjourned the matter to 16th and 17th July, 2020 for continuation of trial.

One of the counts against the defendant read: “that you Onwuzuruike Ikenna Kingsley (aka Jeff Sikora) on or about the 28th day of December, 2019, at Umuahia, Abia State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of $6,500,000.00 (Six million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) through web transfer from one Mr. Selah Elnagar Ali Ahmed, a citizen of the Arabic Republic of Egypt with the pretence that he is a beneficiary of Inheritance Funds in a fixed deposit account of Prime Trust Financial Bank, USA, a pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.

Tobiloba Kolawole

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There are chat evidences against Mompha’s accomplices – EFCC’s forensic expert says

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 14, 2020

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Office has presented the first prosecution witness, Nuru Buhari, in the trial of the duo of Kayode Phillips and Hamza Koudeih, both of whom are alleged accomplices of Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha before Justice Muslim S. Hassan of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

This was disclosed by the agency via Twitter late Monday.

The defendants, who are high-valued targets in Organized Cyber Syndicate Network, OCSN, were arraigned on November 28, 2019 on 25-count charges, bordering on conspiracy and money laundering.

The charges against the defendants, who pleaded not guilty, thus setting off their trial, read: “That you, Kayode Phillips (a.k.a Voice of the King) and Hamza Koudeih (a.k.a. HK), sometime in May, 2019 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired among yourselves to commit an offence to wit conversion of the aggregate sum of $7, 069, 000 (Seven Million, Sixty-nine Thousand United States Dollars), £1, 000, 000 (One Million Pounds) and €80,000 (Eighty Thousand Euro), which sums you reasonably ought to have known form part of the proceeds of fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 18 (a), 15 (2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

At the last sitting, Buhari, who is a forensic expert with the EFCC, while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, A.O. Mohammed, gave a detailed account of the findings he made on the computer hard disk and two mobile phones, recovered from Philips, the first defendant.

These, he said, included the lead document and transfer instructions to some people.

“My lord, I also found in the phones, chats between the first defendant and some other people, where he was discussing how to market each lead document to them,” the witness stated.

They were tendered and admitted in evidence by the court after a failed opposition to their admissibility by Olutade Falana, counsel to the first defendant.

Justice Hassan however adjourned the matter till July 20 and 21, 2020 for ruling and continuation of trial.

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[Just In] Bayelsa Election: Supreme Court strikes out Timi Alaibe’s suit challenging Duoye Diri’s Candidacy

By

Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 14, 2020

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Timi-Alaibe-and-Douye-Diri — L-R: Governor of Bayelsa State, Duoye Diri; plaintiff,Timi Alaibe

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has struck out Timi Alaibe’s appeal challenging the candidacy of Duoye Diri as the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 2019 election in Bayelsa State.

Having lost a previous suit at the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, Alaibe lay claim to the authentic candidacy of the PDP.

On Tuesday, the court dismissed the case stating that the case brought before it was a pre-election matter.

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Ogun warns contractors on quality of work in delivering 952 school projects

By

Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 14, 2020

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Ogun State Government has charged the engineers saddled with the responsibility of monitoring ongoing projects of schools in the State to ensure that the contractors deliver a long lasting and quality work.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary and Secondary Education, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo made this charge Monday during a meeting with the engineers under the State Universal Basic Education Board(SUBEB), on the specifications of their duties as regards government projects, held at Governor’s Office Press Centre, Oke-mosan, Abeokuta.

Mrs. Soyombo while reiterating the scope of their assignments which includes; assessment and monitoring of government projects, use of quality materials that will stand the test of time, she reiterated that engineers must have a good grip of the situation of things with the projects in their areas and to also carry along the principals and head teachers of all those schools.

“The safety of the students must be put into consideration while building, we must work together to achieve great success and we need you to avail us of all the schools in your care, which ones have we finished and which do we still need to work on, all these data must be made available for transparency”, she advised.

The Special Adviser appreciated the engineers and all other stakeholders for their efforts since the inception of the projects, she said that the results achieved so far is due to their efficiency and effectiveness, while also advising them to not relent in giving their best to the projects.

Mrs. Soyombo advised community leaders to join hands with the contractors and engineers for support and easy access to the schools in their communities, they should see it as a way of supporting the government’s Building our Future Together agenda.

In his earlier remarks, SUBEB Board Secretary, Mr. Olalekan Kuye, said the purpose of the meeting is to ensure excellent services were carried out and delivered and to also reiterate and intimate engineers of what their roles should be in the course of their supervision.

In their submission, some of the engineers, Mr. Obadiluwa Gabriel and Engineer Adeboyejo appreciated the present administration for the opportunity given to them to serve, promising that they would increase their efforts to deliver a better job while they also called on the government to look into some of the challenges they are facing.

Jacob Damilola & Ayoola Obadimu

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