Malam Adamu Ciroma, the former finance minister and governor Central Bank of Nigeria, took the final bow today, amidst an outpouring of tributes by politicians and friends.

Ciroma, aged 83 died today at Nizamiyye Hospital Abuja. He had been missing from the political circuit for months before his death. He is survived by Hajiya Inna Maryam Ciroma and three Children

According to Islamic tradition, his funeral held today, with Senate President, Bukola Saraki, among the dignitaries who attended the prayers.

President Muhammadu Buhari led the condolences for the family of the elder statesman.

The President in a message by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Thursday, condoled with the Ciroma family, the government and people of Yobe.

The President believed that Ciroma as a political leader and federal cabinet minister for Industries, Agriculture and Finance, at various points in his remarkable life, would be long remembered for his remarkable service and dedication to the countrys unity, progress and stability.

President Buhari also affirmed that the late former CBN Governor would be honoured too for his contributions to promoting democracy in Nigeria.

According to him, Ciromas legacies should be a constant reminder to politicians who wish to work for the good of their communities and the nation.

President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, expressed sadness over Ciromas death.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja on Thursday, Saraki said with the death of Ciroma, Nigeria had lost one of its illustrious sons and highly respected elder statesmen.

Although death is painful, but it gladdens my heart that late Ciroma lived a worthy and successful life.

As a public servant, late Ciromas integrity was unparalleled; as a politician, he was unblemished and as a journalist, he was among the finest breed.

Indeed there is no word or adjective that will be enough to describe late Ciroma, considering his invaluable contributions to the development of the country.

We have lost a detribalised Nigerian, bridge-builder and a strong pillar for nations unity. He will surely be remembered for his forthrightness and integrity. We shall miss him greatly, he said.

Dogara said late Ciroma was one of the nations shining stars and frontline statesmen who demonstrated passion for the unity, progress and development of Nigeria.

He said the late statesman was an icon of transparency and an epitome of integrity who lived an incorruptible life.

Indeed we lost a great man, a patriot, leader par excellence and a shining star.

Malam Adamu Ciroma was one of the few surviving close associates of the late Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello.

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu also described the death of Ciroma as a great loss to Nigeria.

In a statement issued by his Media Officer, Mr Tunde Rahman in Lagos, Tinubu said the country had lost an illustrious leader who played politics with a commitment to serve the people and change society.

He said that the late Ciroma was a consummate politician and an accomplished public servant.

Malam Adamu Ciroma was one of the illustrious leaders this country has produced. He was a politician of note.

You cannot but recall his days in the Second Republic National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and in the PDP where he was one of the partys founding fathers.

He also made name as an experienced technocrat and skilful public servant particularly as Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor and in later years as Minister of Finance.

He was a fine man who played politics with a commitment to serve the people and change society.

This did not come as a surprise given his background honed by sound education at the popular Barewa College and University of Ibadan and his nationalistic worldview.

My condolences go to the Ciroma family and the people of government of Yobe State. May his soul rest in peace, Tinubu said

The Ex-minister was a title holder of Dallatun Fika, Galadima of Fika and currently Madaki of Fika respectively.

He was born on November 20,1934 from the Royal family of Ciroma, in Potiskum Town, Yobe State was a founding member of People Democratic Party (PDP).

He was educated at Barewa College and University of Ibadan.

He served at various times as minister for finance and agriculture.

Source: NAN

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the resignation of Mr Scott Pruitt, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Trump in a tweet announcing the resignation said Pruitts Deputy Andrew Wheeler would assume duty on Monday as Acting Administrator.

I have accepted the resignation of Scott Pruitt as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Within the Agency Scott has done an outstanding job, and I will always be thankful to him for this.

The Senate confirmed Deputy at EPA, Andrew Wheeler, will on Monday assume duties as the acting Administrator of the EPA.

I have no doubt that Andy will continue on with our great and lasting EPA agenda. We have made tremendous progress and the future of the EPA is very bright! Trump tweeted.

Pruitt was on Monday confronted while dining with a friend at Teaism restaurant in Washington, D.C., by a teacher identified as Kristin Mink, 33, holding her two-year-old son.

He was Trumps point man for the administrations plan to roll back environmental regulations, many of which were put in place by the former President Barack Obama administration.

Pruitt moved to quash or replace numerous environmental regulations opposed by industry lobbyists while boosting the continued burning of fossil fuels, which scientists have concluded is the primary cause of climate change.

His tenure was quickly overshadowed by a number of controversies, including spending 25,000 dollars retrofitting his D.C. office to include a soundproof booth, another 9,600 dollars on office furniture, 3,000 dollars to have the space swept for bugs and surveillance equipment, and another 1,560 dollars on a dozen custom pens.

He was caught taking a 163,000 dollars first-class, chartered, taxpayer-funded flight to watch Wimbledon tennis tournament in 2017, and rented an apartment in D.C. that lists for 4,300 dollars a month for just 50 dollars a night but only paid for the nights that he actually slept there.

Source: NAN

Newsrooms across the country paused Thursday to observe a moment of silence for five employees of a Maryland newspaper who were killed a week ago in one of the deadliest attacks on journalists in U.S. history.

The Capital Gazette staff paused sombrely at 2:33 p.m. as editor Rick Hutzell rang a bell for each person who died at the Annapolis paper exactly seven days earlier, The Baltimore Sun reported.

The staff traditionally convenes meetings by clanging a bell, and Hutzell said the act has taken on a new meaning.

Every time we ring that bell, were going to think about our friends, Hutzell said.

The American Society of News Editors and The Associated Press Media Editors asked newsrooms around the globe to join in a remembrance of the dead, and many did.

About a dozen people held hands and prayed next to a memorial near the building where the shootings happened. Cheryl Starr and her son, Sam, came to pay their respects.

We live right next door, so it just hit us hard, because its so close to home way too close to home and its tragic. Everyone in the community knew these people, and it just shouldnt happen like that, she said.

In Louisville, Kentucky, the newsroom at the Courier Journal fell silent in memory of the victims after executive editor Joel Christopher read the names of the dead.

They paid a high price for doing what we do, he said.

In the newsroom of The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Virginia, the vigil was accompanied by the names of the five victims being read aloud, according to reporter Jane Harper.

Read more at:

Source: NAN

By Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni

Maritime Legal Practitioners on Thursday advised cargo owners in Nigeria to use shipping companies that have emergency fund for support in the case of bankruptcy.

Some of the legal practitioners, who spoke at the closing ceremony of the 15th edition of the Maritime Seminar for Judges held in Abuja, urged cargo owners to investigate the viability of the companies.

Mrs Oritsematosan Edodo-Emore, an International Maritime Lawyer, said that a lot of lessons were learnt from the Hanjin shipping company, the largest shipping company in the world that fell into bankruptcy.

She said that cargo owners should always ensure that outside the
insurance of cargoes, they investigate that the carrier has sufficient fund against insolvency.

As the result of the bankruptcy of the Hanjin shipping company last year, it has brought a lot of lessons for cargo owners.

Before cargo owners use a carrier that will carry their cargoes, they should investigate that that carrier is sufficiently buoyant and it belongs to an alliance.

Alliance is a group of shipping companies that decide to carry a container for each other, they should find out whether that alliance has an emergency fund.

In case, one of the companies becomes bankrupt, whether there is a fund that can support the problem of bankruptcy, she said.

However, Mr Femi Young, Chairman of Sun Logistics and Marine Services, United Kingdom, said that cargo owners should always investigate the viability of shipping companies before using them.

He said that Nigerian government could have a regulatory body that would investigate shipping companies annually, to enable cargo owners know the right carrier to use.

Government should have a regulatory body that will annually;
investigate shipping company to know which ones are viable.

Some alliance have being set up, this alliance are group of shipping company that come together like a family, that if something happen to one of the company others will help.

And out of those alliances, it is only one that has an emergency fund against insolvency.

What am saying is that, maybe one of the rules that we should have is that, we should only use a shipping company that has emergency fund for insolvency, Young said.

Justice Olayinka Faji, Federal High Court, Lagos, said an importer is expected to know the statue of his carrier at the time of loading or before loading.

He said that the carrier has to be properly checked out and the
contract of sale must be binding in terms of insurance stating that shipping companies needs to be monitored.

Source: NAN

Some Nigerians on Twitter have called on the Federal Government to properly brand Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s story and legacy in order to increase tourists influx into the country.

The call came following the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to the New Afrika Shrine, which is a popular Fela ‘hangout’.

Fela was a legendary multi-instrumentalist, musician, composer and pioneer of the Afrobeat music genre. He was also a human rights activist, and political maverick.

The proponents of the branding explained that the late Afrobeats Legend remains an international brand even after death as he piques the interest of music lovers and Human Rights activists alike.

They held the opinion that the Federal Government could generate huge revenues from tourists who would want a structured guide on the life and times of Fela, especially in Lagos.

@Yemitwist tweeted, “No doubt, Fela is enough tourism.”

@Joidbg wrote, “Believe it or not #Fela can generate the ministry of tourism enough income if branded properly… #CelebrateAfricanCulture #MacronAtNewAfrikaShrine”.

@BanksandPhil tweeted, “Nigeria needs to tap into the influence and legacy of the great legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Abami Eda is an icon all over the world. This is a tourist attraction Nigeria can benefit from.”

@Iam_realjayson said, “If President Emmanuel Macron could visit the Afrika Shrine in Lagos to #CelebrateAfricanCulture, then truly, we are yet to really understand and appreciate the value of Fela! Pele is considered a National Asset in Brazil. What have we done with Fela? Fela is enough tourism!”

Chinese tycoon Wang Jian, whose sprawling conglomerate HNA Group owns a host of foreign assets, has died after a falling off a wall while sightseeing in southern France, police and his company said Wednesday.

Wang suffered the fatal accident on Tuesday in the picturesque hillside village of Bonnieux after climbing onto a parapet, either to see the view of the valley below or to have his photograph taken, local security sources told AFP.

“He jumped up on to the wall and was carried over it by his own momentum,” a source close to the case told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The 57-year-old businessman, the co-founder of HNA and its second-highest ranking executive, fell into a 10-metre (32-foot) void, sustaining serious injuries that emergency services were unable to treat at the site.

“Together, we mourn the loss of an exceptionally gifted leader and role model, whose vision and values will continue to be a beacon for all who had the good fortune to know him,” his firm said in a statement issued in China.

HNA said Wang, whose personal fortune is estimated at 1.7 billion dollars by Forbes magazine, had been visiting Bonnieux during a business trip to France.

The company started as a small provincial airline servicing China’s Hainan Province but has expanded quickly in recent years under the leadership of Wang and business partner Chen Feng.

The firm’s $230 billion in assets were built up during a foreign buying spree that saw it diversify into tourism and finance via major deals to buy shares in companies including the Hilton hotels group and Deutsche Bank.

It also took stakes in foreign airlines such as Virgin Australia, France’s Aigle Azur and TAP in Portugal.

But HNA came under pressure last year as Beijing cracked down on the risky debt-fuelled financing that enabled its expansion.

The conglomerate has started selling parts of its empire to pay down its loans, including its Hilton and Deutsche Bank shares, and Wang’s death was seen as likely to complicate the unwinding process.

“Wang’s passing will mark the end of an era of aggressive expansion by HNA,” Corrine Png, chief executive at the Singapore-based research firm Crucial Perspective, told the Bloomberg financial news agency.

“It will also put HNA Group and related companies’ restructuring plans back on the drawing board, in our view,” Png added.

At the end of 2017, the company reported that its debt was 638 billion yuan (81.5 billion euros), up 36 percent from 2016.

Wang owned about 15 percent of the Chinese group, making him one of the group’s biggest shareholders, Bloomberg reported.

Wang began his career in civil aviation planning in 1983.

Bonnieux is a mediaeval village in the Provence area of the south of France, a favoured destination for the rich and famous over the peak summer holiday period.

Adegboyega Adenekan, the Chrisland School Supervisor, who allegedly defiled a two-year and 11-month pupil failed a polygraph test, an expert, Mr Adebayo Falola, told an Ikeja Domestic Violence and Special Offences Court on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Falola apart from being a Polygraph Expert, is a Security Consultant with the Halogen Security Company Ltd.

Led in evidence by Mr Babajide Boye, the Chief State Counsel, Falola disclosed that he had worked with Halogen Security Company Ltd for 15 years.

Listing his qualifications, he said: ” I am a graduate OF Kwara Polytechnic and the University of Lagos. I was trained by the American Institute of Polygraph Examination.

“I have a Diploma in Polygraph Examination from the United States. I’m a retired military intelligence operative, I served in the Nigerian Air force Intelligence Squadron.

“A polygraph is a lie detector test that measures and records several physiological indices of a human being such as the breathing, blood pressure, pulses and skin conductivity.

“Polygraph is used for specific investigation, pre-employment, post-employment, theft, burglary, infidelity and sexual harassment.

“I have conducted over 250 polygraph examinations in Nigeria for private individuals, financial institutions and multinationals.

“We have an archive of all our polygraph tests which can never be erased.We didn’t even know this matter will come up in court,” he said.

The polygraph expert in his lengthy testimony, said he was contacted from the United States by the father of the Chrisland pupil who enquired about his company’s polygraph services.

He noted that shortly after, the child’s mother came to his office for the test with her uncle as well as Adenekan, and representatives from the school.

He said: “We conducted the polygraph examination on Nov. 15, 2016.

“Prior to that day, the child’s mother contacted us and told me that her daughter was molested by a teacher of the school and she wanted to conduct a polygraph on the teacher.

“The school authorities called me on Nov. 14, 2016 and I requested that that the alleged perpetrator, the mother and representatives give letters authorising Halogen to conduct the test.

“The next day, two school representatives, the alleged perpetrator and the mother came with an uncle of hers.

“We all sat together because I needed to know the scenario. I was told the perpetrator allegedly molested the child and the school representatives denied that it happened.

“Mr Adenekan said he needed to exonerate himself and said he would take the polygraph test and we all agreed that he should take the test.

“Only the examiner and the examinee are to be in the polygraph laboratory and consent form was signed by Adenekan and it said he was not threatened nor maltreated into taking the test.

“We don’t do polygraph tests for pregnant women, underage children, the elderly who are 70-years-old and people with specific ailments like hypertension and diabetes.

“There must be no pause and within 25 seconds, you must give an answer.

“I asked Adenekan if he was diabetic or hypertensive and he said no and added that his family had no history of the ailments.

“The result are in three stages which are deceptive, non deceptive and inconclusive.

“The outcome of this was minus nine which showed that Adenekan was deceptive to the case under investigation as at that time.”

Falola noted that his level of competency and accuracy for polygraph tests is 99.9 per cent adding that he sent the polygraph result to his clients via email.

During Falola’s testimony, Boye the prosecutor sought to tender the result of the polygraph test, consent form and polygraph charge sheet as evidence.

Mr Olatunde Adejuyigbe (SAN), defence counsel to Adenekan objected to the tendering of the documents.

He told the court that the polygraph evidence was not recognised under Nigerian law.

“The totality of this evidence is inadmissible according to Section 57 of the Evidence Act.

“There is nothing in Sections 58 to 76 that admits an opinion as to whether a person is lying.

“The opinion of experts is circumscribed in Section 68 and Section 76 says that if you purview the provision of the Evidence Act, you have to seek other laws validly on force in the country.

“There is no law that grants the admissibility of polygraph examination in our Nigerian laws. His oral evidence and what this document seeks to talk about is expressly excluded by Section 67.

“The revised Evidence Act of 2011 has taken all technological advances into consideration. Polygraph evidence is a foreign practice and our jurisprudence does not recognise it.

“It will be a dangerous practice for the courts to openly embrace it. I urge this court to mark the documents tendered as rejected.”

Responding, the prosecution said the SAN misinterpreted the Evidence Act in his submission.

“The question is that are these documents relevant, part of the facts in the issue and are they connected?

“The defendant was not compelled.He went voluntarily and signed the consent form.

“Proper foundation has been laid in relation to Section 84 of the Evidence Act and we submit that these documents are admissible.”

Earlier during proceedings, Adejuyigbe cross-examined Dr Oluwatoyin Olayioye, a medical doctor from the Mirabel Centre who examined the Chrisland School pupil.

Olayioye insisted that she spoke to the child’s mother when she brought her daughter to the Mirabel Centre.

The defence disputed her claims by showing her records of the mother’s courtroom testimony in which she admitted that she did not speak to a doctor at the Mirabel Centre.

The medical doctor also said that she did not notice scars or abrasions in the genital area of the child when she examined her.

Justice Sybil Nwaka adjourned the case until Oct. 5 for ruling on whether the court will admit the documents as exhibits.

NAN reports that Adenekan who was arraigned on Jan. 29, pleaded not guilty to a charge of defilement of a child.

The prosecution alleges that Adenekan committed the offence sometime in November 2016 at Chrisland School, Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lagos.

According to the prosecution, the defendant defiled the complainant by having unlawful sexual intercourse with her.

The offence violates Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011 which recommends a life sentence for anyone convicted.

An appeal panel set up to resolve complaints and petitions arising from the recent National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday evening submitted its report to the Partys National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

The appeal committee chaired by former Senate President, Ken Nnamani disclosed during the report submission ceremony at the Partys National Secretariat in Abuja that twenty four petitions were received by the Committee.

We treated each case very seriously. It wasnt our purpose to add kerosene to already raging fire. We made what we consider to be useful suggestions to the new National Working Committee that will give our members a feeling of justice.

Justice does not mean you must win your case, it means that you will get a level playing field, that you are given the opportunity to make your case. The appellants had tremendous opportunity of presenting their cases, and they did.

Oshiomhole who received the report accompanied by other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) thanked the committee for devoting its time and energy to the assignment. He assured the Appeal Committee that the NWC will side by the truth and ensure justice in considering the report.

We will do everything possible to be different from the way the NWC has operated in the past. I am aware having been a former governor and member of National Executive Committee (NEC) that there has been a tradition in the past that committees are set up, work is done, reports are submitted and action is not taken. We will act on every report submitted to us, we will not sit on the fence, we will side with the truth and we will ensure that justice prevails.

My appeal to those aggrieved is the assurance that under my leadership, we will make our obvious mistakes but once our attention is drawn we will find courage to make up for our mistakes. He said.

The APC National Chairman also used the opportunity to address all party members and leaders over grievances and disputations.

I am very appreciative of the fact that we were all elected and in the case of some of us, we were even unopposed. That is a huge responsibility that our members have entrusted us, that we can pilot the affairs of the Party at this time. We knew there were challenges when we contested for the various offices to which we have now been elected. So we cant claim we didnt know.

For us it is a huge opportunity to make a difference not only for our Party but to the Country. We will do everything possible to sustain confidence, to sustain trust. For us, everybody is important, everybody matters. We want to run an inclusive Party. But as I said in my acceptance speech, there are no losers. If we run the party efficiently and democratically, those who lost will find that their interests, whatever service they wanted to render are being rendered efficiently and democratically.

As the saying goes, if God gives you power may he not deny you wisdom I pray for wisdom. I pray for courage and I believe we have it and we will deploy it to make peace within the APC family.

Source: NAN

Mr Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the All Progressives (APC) has reiterated his appeal to aggrieved members of the party to be patient with his leadership, in an apparent response to the emergence on Wednesday of a rebel group, Reformed APC(R-APC)

My appeal to all those who are aggrieved is to be patient, Oshiomhole said.

However, former Senate leader and the Senator representing Southern Borno, Alhaji Ali Ndume, dismissed the new group, saying that only God and time could determine the direction of the APC in 2019.

Oshiomhole spoke to newsmen after receiving the report of the partys just concluded National Convention Appeal Panel Committees report on Wednesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Alhaji Buba Galadima who is the National Chairman of the Reformed APC, announced its formation at a news conference at the Sheraton Hotels in Abuja on Wednesday.

The assurance is that under my leadership, we will make honest mistakes and once our attention is drawn, we will find courage to make up for our mistake.

Some people say how can people eat their words, for me, I will eat my words if it is nutritious enough and if that is what I have to do to have peace in the family, Oshiomhole said.

He expressed appreciation to members of the party for his election and for entrusting with him, the responsibility to pilot the partys affairs at this time.

He acknowledged that he new of the partys challenges before accepting the task, saying that it wasa huge opportunity for him and other newly elected executives of the party to make a difference.

This, Oshiomhole said, was not only for the party, but for the country generally.

So, I appeal to people to realise that a blind man can redeem his eyes if he applies the correct medication, but you cant force it to open over night, he said.

He added that forcing the eyes to open over night, would create more problems and damage the eye the more.

The APC national chairman maintained that he would do everything possible to sustain confidence and trust, adding that everybody was important in the party.

He also said that everybody in the party matters, adding that he would run an inclusive party.

I pray for wisdom and courage and I believe that we have it and we will deploy it for peace within the APC family,Oshiomhole said.

Senator Ali Ndume, in a separate interview dismissed the new group.

He said the threat by the R-APC and nPDP to leave the APC would never spell doom for it, but only God and time would tell.

The Senator who admitted that politics is all about interest, said there was however, nothing wrong if an aggrieved group voices out its displeasure.

He added that movement from one political party to another is normal in politics.

What is happening is part of politics, especially now in our political days, all of us are Nigerians and we know what is happening.

So, politics is about interest and if somebody feels that his or her interest will be more protected by voicing out his dissent, it is Ok.

This party is a party of time, decided by Nigerian masses and it is only God that can decide the time of a political party: God and Nigerians know that APC government is the light at the end of the tunnel,the Senator said.

Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, APC National Publicity Secretary was more laconic in his reaction. He said the party leadership would get the full details of what happened.

Source: NAN

Lagos state has installed the longest free-standing pedestrian bridge in the history of Nigeria at the Oshodi transport interchange, now under construction.

The 53.2m bridge is only supported at the two ends without any support at the middle and it connects two of the terminals of interchange.

The hoisting started on Sunday and was completed early today.

Managing Director of Planet Projects, Mr. Biodun Otunola explained the purpose of the bridge:

This particular oneterminal one and terminal two. We also have another one that is linking terminals two and three and that is about 155metres long. The plan is that people can move from one end of the terminal to another be it from terminal one, two and three and then the nature of the terminal is such that we have six lifts and one escalator, and so in all we have 18 lifts and three escalators.

For anyone to access each of the sky bridge, you have to use the lift and we also have staircase for emergency exit. The skywalk is part of the features of the Oshodi Transport Interchange designed to make travel pleasurable, enjoyable, safe and more comfortable for commuting Lagosians, Otunola said.

We also have another one that is linking terminals two and three and that is about 155metres long. The plan is that people can move from one end of the terminal to another be it from terminal one, two and three and then the nature of the terminal is such that we have six lifts and one escalator, and so in all we have 18 lifts and three escalators, Otunola added.

The Oshodi interchange is billed for completion before the end of this year.

Source: NAN