GTBank Commonwealth Team Wins Polo Cup Competition In London

July 25, 2016

The GTBank Common Wealth Team, made up of players from Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada, has emerged victorious against the England team to win one of Polo’s most iconic trophies.

The Commonwealth Team, sponsored by leading African financial institution, Guaranty Trust Bank plc, defeated the England Team 12 – 11 in what was tagged an amazing showpiece of fast-paced polo filled with pure passind fair play.

The Royal Salute Coronation Cup is one of the most historic of polo trophies which annually pits the finest international players against the England team in a contest attended by members of the British Royal Family as well as distinguished personalities from the world’s Diplomatic, Aristocratic, Business, Arts, Government and Celebrity circles

The match, which held Saturday July 23 was played on the prestigious Smiths Lawn at Guards Polo Club, Ascot, within the magnificent surroundings of Windsor Great Park in London, United Kingdom.

The Commonwealth team, represented by South African Chris Mackenzie, Canadian Freddie Mannix, Pakistani Hissam Ali Hyder and New Zealander John Paul Clarkin defeated an English team of tournament veterans Jack Richardson, Max Charlton, James Beim and James Harper to become only the second guest team to win Royal Salute Coronation Cup since 2009.

According to the Chairman of the Hurlingham Polo Association, Brigadier John Wright: “this year’s Royal Salute Coronation Cup showcased international polo at its best. I would like to thank the organizers of this event for creating a world-class platform on which to promote polo to an increasing audience.”

Commenting on the Bank’s sponsorship of the Commonwealth Team, e Commonwealth Team, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank plc, Segun Agbaje, said: “we are proud to sponsor the Commonwealth Team in a tournament that is second to none in the world of Polo and which showcases the noble values of passion, quality and competitiveness – values deeply enshrined in the GTBank culture and which have made the bank a truly African and proudly international financial institution.”

GTBank has consistently played a leading role in Africa’s banking industry. The Bank operates from over 230 branches in Nigeria and has banking subsidiaries in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Cote D’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom. Regarded for its superior financial performance and best in-class product and service delivery, the bank has received numerous awards from industry watchers and analysts, some of which are the “Best Banking Group of 2016, Nigeria,” by the World Finance Magazine and the 2016 Bank of the Year by Euromoney, a leading authority for the world’s banking and financial markets. [myad]

Buhari Remembers Late Magaji Abdullahi For Giving Kano Quality Water

Greenbarge Reporters

July 25, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has remembered the gargantuan work which the former deputy governor of Kano state, Engineer Magaji Abdullahi did in Kano state to bring quality water for the citizens of the state.

The President, in his condolence message on the death of the former deputy governor, Magaji’s tenure as head of one of the foremost water development agencies, Water Resources and Engineering Construction Agency (WRECA), helped Kano State to enjoy the best water supply and availability on record, a feat he said was remarkable.

The President, whose condolence message was delivered to the deceased’s family in Kano by a federal government delegation led by the minister of water resources, Engineer Suleiman Adamu, described Magaji Abdullahi as one of Nigeria’s finest and result-driven engineers of his time.

President Buhari said the late Magaji was preoccupied with producing practical results rather than theorizing about his job, a quality he noted, made the deceased an outstanding engineer who deserves a special place in our country’s engineering profession.

President Buhari noted that achieving results was the best advertisement for any man’s record in office, adding that the late Magaji’s notable contributions to the development and progress of Kano State would not be forgotten.

The President prayed Allah to grant the deceased an eternal rest in peace and a worthy place in Paradise.

The Federal Government delegation was made up by the Minister of Water Resources, the Minister (State) Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, the Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) Garba Shehu and the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris.

The delegation was received by the family of the deceased, the Galadima of Kano, Dr. Abbas Sunusi on behalf of the Emir and the Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

The Governor, the Emir and the members of the family of the late Deputy Governor expressed appreciation to the President for the prompt response and the kind words he had for the late Magaji Abdullahi. [myad]

Woman Gets Death Sentence For Stabbing And Setting Pastor Husband Ablaze

Greenbarge Reporters

July 25, 2016

A 28 year-old housewife, Mrs. Mary Attah has been condemned to death by hanging by an Effurun High Court for stabbing her Pastor husband with a kitchen knife and setting him ablaze.

The Court, presided over by Justice E.I Oritsejafor, pronounced the woman guilty of the one count charge proffered against her by the Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. The offence is punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C21, Volume 1, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.

Justice Oritsjafor held that prosecution led by an Assistant Director, Mr. Patrick Mekako was able to prove beyond all reasonable doubt the essential ingredients of the offence of murder against the accused person.

“I must also add that the evidence before this Court do not and cannot support the plea of self defence in favour of the accused person. I agree with the learned Assistant Director for the Prosecution that there is just no possible defence to avail the accused person when she stabbed her deceased husband in the neck with a knife and thereafter doused him with fuel before she struck the match on him was to kill the deceased or do him grievous bodily harm. The law is trite that a man intends the natural consequences of his act.” Justice Oritsjafor held.

“From the evidence before this Court and in particular the extrajudicial statement of the accused person, Exhibit A and the evidence of PW1 and PW2 which corroborates and is consistent with the facts contained in the said extrajudicial statement Exhibit A, I hold that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused person murdered her deceased husband on or about the 6th day of July, 2012, and I find the accused person guilty of the murder of Darlington Attah as charged. Accused person is accordingly, hereby convicted of the offence of murder. The sentence of this Court upon you, Mary Attah is death by hanging by the neck till you be dead and may the Lord have mercy on your soul.”

Prosecution, Patrick Mekako, had told the Court that the accused who was married to Darlington Attah (now deceased) with four children, on or about the 6th day of July, 2012 at Effurun within the Effurun Judicial Division, did attack her husband with a kitchen knife and stabbed him in the neck as a result of an alleged phone call from the husband’s lover.

The Court was further told that the accused was infuriated by the telephone call at a time they were having a ‘nice time’ which prompted her to rush to the kitchen, collected the knife and armed herself with grounded pepper which she rubbed on her husband’s face to immobilize him before stabbing him in the neck.

Not satisfied, she doused the husband who was already weak as a result of excessive bleeding with fuel and set him ablaze. He later gave up the ghost at the Warri Central Hospital where he was rushed to. [myad]

PDP Wins Kogi East Senatorial Re-Run

Greenbarge Reporters

July 24, 2016

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Kogi East Senatorial District rerun election held on Saturday, Air Marshal Isaac Alfa, has been declared the winner.
The Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Lucky Ovwasa, declared the PDP the winner of the election on Sunday.
Professor Ovwasa said that Alfa scored 56,572 votes, while the closest party to the PDP was the Labour Party with 11, 908 votes.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police, who led the security team to the election, expresses satisfaction with its conduct. [myad]

Ekiti workers Say Fayose’s Tax Policy Is Satanic, Oppressive, Draconian, Condemnable

Greenbarge Reporters

July 24, 2016

Workers in tertiary institutions in Ekiti State have described the new tax policy by the government of Ayodele Fayose as satanic, oppressive, punitive, draconian, unacceptable and is therefore totally rejected.

Rising from a meeting at the weekend, the workers under the aegis of Joint Association of Staff Unions in Tertiary Institutions in Ekiti State, emphasized that the new tax imposed on them by the government of Fayose is “satanic, oppressive, punitive, draconian, unacceptable, condemnable and rejected in its entirety.”

The workers said that a government that claims to be masses-friendly should not have come through the backdoor to compound the already unbearable economic conditions of the same people.

They also condemned the alleged withholding of the subventions to all state-owned educational institutions for the past six months which has financially crippled them and subjected them to dehumanization, abject poverty and immeasurable hardship.

The unions said they foresee what they called “paralysis of the whole system which could make the worst to happen” if the situation does not change.

In the communique conveying the decisions of the workers which was read by the association’s Coordinator at EKSU, Professor Olu Olufayo, they canvassed a downward review of taxes and also called for a tax holiday for workers as a result of the present economic hardship.

The institutions involved are Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti (EKSU), College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, College of Health Technology, Ijero Ekiti, Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) and Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti. [myad]

Trump Describes World Trade Organization As A Disaster, Says US May Pull Out

Greenbarge Reporters

July 24, 2016

Republican White House nominee, Donald Trump has described the World Trade Organization (WTO) as a disaster, giving an indication that if he is elected President of the United States of America, the country would pull out of it.

“Doesn’t matter,”Trump told a BBC reporter, saying: “we’ll r These trade deals are a disaster, Chuck. World Trade Organization is a disaster.”

The US Presidential hopeful said that he would slap punitive taxes on firms that moved manufacturing activities abroad, citing Mexico as an example. [myad]

Buhari Was Right, We Are In Preliminary Dialogue With His Government – MEND

Greenbarge Reporters

July 24, 2016

Former militant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), has confirmed that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s-led Federal Government is negotiating with militants from the region through some oil companies and law enforcement agents.

MEND’s claim is coming on the heels of the denial by a rampaging separatist group; Niger Delta Avengers that the Federal Government has commenced dialogue with agitators. Avengers had described those said to be negotiating with the government as “mercenaries” and not agitators.

But, the defunct agitator confirmed the negotiation in a statement by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo on Sunday.

The statement reads: “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) wishes to confirm that indeed it has been in preliminary talks with the Federal Government through oil companies and law-enforcement agencies as revealed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, July 21, 2016.

“These preliminary talks are the precursor to a wider dialogue between the Federal Government and the MEND Aaron 2 peace initiative, which will seek to find solutions to the short, medium and long-term future of the Niger Delta region.”

The former militant group disclosed that the Federal Government in the course of the meeting, “made it clear that a negotiation with criminals is out of the question.

“The Niger Delta Avengers, internet-based ‘militant’ groups such as Joint Revolutionary Council, Ultimate Warriors etc., an Ijaw opportunistic tribal assembly, which were compromised to keep silent during the six (6) years of Goodluck Jonathan’s misrule and neglect, pirates, pipeline vandals, oil thieves, commercial kidnappers, waterway.” [myad]

Kenya Deports Congolese Singer, Koffi Olomide, For Kicking A Female Dancer

Greenbarge Reporters

July 24, 2016

Kenyan authorities have expelled Congolese singer, Koffi Olomide, a day after he was arrested for kicking one of his female dancers, his lawyer said Saturday.

“I can confirm to you that my client, Koffi Olomide was expelled this morning and I have just spoken to him,” Olomide’s Kenyan lawyer, George Wajakoyah said, adding that he had landed back in Kinshasa.

The rumba singer, hugely popular across Africa, had Friday, been caught on camera kicking out violently at a dancer in full view of two Kenyan policemen as he arrived at Nairobi’s international airport.

The incident sparked a storm of criticism after footage of the incident went viral on social media. Kenya’s youth affairs minister, Sicily Kairuki slammed the 60-year-old singer for “insulting Kenyans” with his behaviour.

Wajakoyah retorted that his client had been treated “inhumanely” as two of the dancers were arguing and he tried to intervene.

“My client denies striking one of them.”

Olomide was arrested outside a television station Friday night where he had appeared in a bid to defend himself over the incident. He was escorted back to the airport.

Four years ago, Olomide, who has put out more than two dozen albums and won several industry awards, was given a three-month suspended jail term in Kinshasa for assaulting a producer. [myad]

Akarigbo Of Remoland Dies At 80…Ex Kano Deputy Governor Too At 69

Greenbarge Reporters

July 24, 2016

The paramount ruler of Remoland, Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo, is dead. He died Saturday evening in London.

This was even as the death of the former Deputy Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Magaji Abdullahi , also occurred in the early hours of Sunday, aged 69. He died after a protracted illness at his residence located at NNDC Quarters, Sharada area in Kano metropolis.

Oba Sonariwo, who was the Chairman of Ogun State Traditional Council, was flown to London on July 17 following an illness.

Oba Sonariwo, who ascended the throne on July 14, 1990, was born on July 28, 1936 and also died in July.

“He died Saturday evening in UK where he was flown to since July 17 after a brief illness. He joined his ancestors in the presence of his Olori, Abosede, who accompanied him on the medical trip,” a family member said.

A Sagamu high chief described the departed Oba as a great philanthropist, saying: “he donated 30-bed ward to the Ogun State Teaching Hospital, Sagamu at a point in time. I can vividly remember that.”

Sonariwo, who was born in Ita Eleye in Lagos State in 1936, attended St. John’s School, Aroloya, Lagos from 1941 to 1949 before he proceeded to Methodist Boys High School from 1950 to 1955.

The traditional ruler, who became an orphan at the tender age of six and had dreamt of working with the Central Bank of Nigeria to become the Governor, “so that I would sign my name on the naira notes,” later travelled abroad for further studies and series of training in tax and the accounting profession.

He worked with the Inland Revenue Service before he was invited to ascend the throne of his forefathers.

A source from the government confirmed that the news of the monarch’s death has been communicated to Governor Ibikunle Amosun by the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa and Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Bashorun Muyiwa Oladipo, both indigenes of Sagamu.

The death of Magaji Abdullahi was confirmed by his former spokesman, Alhaji Abdulkadir Ibrahim, and said that the deceased is survived by one wife, many children and grand children.

According to him, the deceased was a one-time commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport between 1989 and 1990, and later commissioner for Water Resources.

Magaji Abdullahi came into limelight when he contested for the governorship of Kano State under the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1991.

In 1999, he defeated Senator Kabiru Gaya in the APP governorship primaries, but lost to Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.

He later became Malam Ibrahim Shekarau’s running mate in 2003 and served as Deputy Governor under APP and later ANPP from 2003 to 2007.

The deceased had since been buried in accordance with Islamic rites at the Dandolo grave yard at Goron Dutse in Kano metropolis.

Among those who attended the funeral prayer were Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and his Deputy, Professor Hafiz Abubakar, as well as other top government officials and politicians from within and outside the state. [myad]

Lagos: How Militants, Armed To The Teeth Overpowered Us – Civilian Security Personnel

Greenbarge Reporters

July 24, 2016

A civilian security personnel, known as vigilante, has narrated how members of the Niger Delta militants invaded Fatoki community in the Igando area of Lagos with superior arms and ammunition that led them to take to their heels.

According to the personnel, who begged that his name should not be mentioned: “we were at our duty posts when the militants stormed our community. They had more superior arms than us. We took to our heels. They were armed with GPMG (General Purpose MaChine Gun, with ammunition chains). They were shooting everywhere. I thank God that we were able to escape from the militants.”

The militants were said to have attempted to kidnap a businessman (names withheld), but the man escaped through the window.

The hoodlums stormed the community in the wee hours of Saturday and unleashed terror on the residents as they tired to abduct a wealthy man in the area but the man fortuitously escaped.

The militants were said to have started shooting sporadically at anyone they saw, and in the process shot a Police Inspector and other people.

It was gathered that the community sent a distress call to the police, who stormed the place and engaged the militants in a gun battle that lasted for about two hours.

A police source said that when the militants exhausted their bullets, they escaped through Totowu Waterways, Ogun State, and abandoned some of their guns.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmos confirmed the incident and said two persons including a Police Inspectors were shot.

“The Command foiled an attempt by a group of militants that invaded Fatoki community in Igando area of the state. The hoodlums stormed the place through the waterways, shooting sporadically.

“Police teams were promptly dispatched to the scene and engaged the militants in a gun battle. The superior firepower of the police forced the militants to abandon their mission and escape through Totowu Waterways.

“A civilian and a Police Inspector were injured during the gun battle. I want members of the public to report to the nearest police station, anyone seen with bullet injuries as some of the hoodlums escaped with bullet injuries.

“The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has advised the members of the public to always alert the police whenever they see suspicious people in the neighbourhood. This will enable the police to nip in the bud activities of criminals.”

As at press time, residents of Fatoki were still living in fear of a possible reprisal attack by the militants.

A resident, Banjo Oyewole, said: “I am leaving the area right now. I am waiting for my wife to pick up her loads so that we relocate to Ipaja. If you heard the gunshots, you wouldn’t wait for someone to advise you on what to do.

“It was like a war situation. I thought the community had finished, I was surprised to hear that only six persons were shot. But I doubt it was only six persons that were shot.

“We need security in our waterways. The Police should not wait for them to attack, they should be proactive.” Source: Sunday Sun. [myad]

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