News
Senate Investigates Ajaokuta Steel Company Over $496m Settlement
Published
2 months agoon
By
EditorThe Senate on Tuesday resolved to carry out a thorough investigation on the affairs of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and the National Ore Mining Company in Kogi State from 2008 to date.
It planned to unravel the mystery behind the payment of $496m allegedly made to Pramod Mittal, Chairman, Global Infrastructure Holdings Ltd by the Federal Government in September 2022 as a settlement over said contractual disputes.
It also resolved to investigate the circumstances that led to the re-concession of NIOMCO even when the initial Concession Agreement was validly terminated by the Yar’adua Administration with a positive review by the International Chamber of Commerce, London.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: FCT Police Arrest Wanted Kidnap Kingpin
Senate’s resolutions to this effect were sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan ( PDP Kogi Central) and exhaustively debated by many of the Senators.
Akpoti-Uduaghan said the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and the National Iron Ore Mining Company located in Kogi State were established sometime in the late 70s by the Federal Government with the potential to put Nigeria on the path of technological and industrial advancement and establish the country as one of the leading exporters of steel products in the world.
She lamented that decades after their establishment, the Ajaokuta steel mill and NIOMCO have remained inoperative and unable to produce steel despite seeming efforts by several administrations due to a lack of earnest political will and bureaucratic corruption.
READ ALSO: Full List: ‘Oppenheimer’ Wins Top Prize At 30th SAG Awards
According to her, Nigeria currently expends about $3.3bn annually on steel imports and is quite saddened that a nation blessed with abundant natural ore resources yet plagued by moribund Ajaokuta and Delta steel that have become conduits pipes for diversion of public funds at the expense of Nigerian tax payers.
She added that there exists an abnormal management structure at the Ajaokuta Steel Complex whereby a Sole Administrator has unilaterally decided upon the steel mill’s corporate affairs for the past 12 years.
She said, “This has further worsened the inefficiency of the moribund company with the recently queried 33bn naira electricity debt incurred by Presidential villa.”
READ ALSO: Man Kills Pastor Inside Osun Church
The Senate after debate on the motion, consequently set up a committee to be chaired by Senator Adeniyi Ayodele Adegbonmire ( SAN) with senators Natasha Akpoti (Kogi Central), Onawo Mohamed (Nasarawa South) Joel Onowakpa (Delta), Onyesoh Allwell Heacho (Rivers East) Abdullahi Yahaya (Kebbi North), Sen Patrick Chukwuba Ndubueze (Imo North), Tokunbo Abiru (Lagos East) and Osita Ngwu (Enugu West) as members.
While the committee is to report back to the Senate in two weeks, they are also to interface with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies and other critical stakeholders in the steel sector especially those with interest in Ajaokuta Steel Manufacturing Plant and (all mining company NIOMCO to obtain relevant information and submit a comprehensive report to the Senate regarding the affairs of the two plants between 2018 to date.
You may like
Budget Padding Controversy: Akpabio Knocked, Asked To Immediately Step Aside
[JUST IN] Budget Padding: Rowdy Session As Senators Confront Ningi Over Allegation
US Citizen, Akpabio’s Aide Disagree Over Letter Seeking USAID Funds
Senate Summons CBN Officials Over N30tn Loans
Senate Passes South East Development Commission Bill
JUST IN: Senate Rejects Planned Increase In Electricity Tariff
News
74-year-old Woman Robs Bank At Gunpoint After Losing Life Savings To Online Scammers
Published
2 hours agoon
April 27, 2024By
EditorA 74-year-old woman, Ann Mayers has been arrested and charged after she robbed a bank in Ohio at gunpoint.
Mayers, 74, who robbed an Ohio credit union last week, April 19, is a victim of an online scam who may have been trying to solve her financial problems, according to her relatives.
Mayers faces counts of aggravated robbery with a firearm and tampering with evidence in Friday’s robbery in Fairfield Township, north of Cincinnati.
The second charge stems from Mayers’ decision to toss her clothing out the car window while making her way home after the robbery, according to the complaint.
READ ALSO: Man Shoots Friend Dead For Taking Bite Of His Girlfriend’s Burger
If convicted, Mayers could face up to 15 years in prison.
She remained jailed Wednesday, April 24, on a $100,000 bond pending an initial court appearance, and court records don’t list an attorney for her.
Officers arrested Mayers at her Hamilton home shortly after the robbery, Fairfield police said in a Facebook post. A handgun was found in her car, which police allege she used in the robbery.
Ann Mayers allegedly told investigators with the Fairfield Township Police Department (FTPD) that she was the person who walked into the AurGroup Financial Credit Union Bank and demanded a teller turn over some of the bank’s cash while brandishing a gun, according to a copy of the complaint.
Bodycam footage taken at the time of her arrest shows that it only took Mayers a few seconds to allegedly confess, as she immediately tells the arresting officers: “I did whatever you’re here for.”
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Meet Nigerian Pastor Who Predicted World Will End April 25
The officers then ask Mayers to be more specific, at which time the footage shows her saying: “The robbery.”
74-year-old woman robs bank at gunpoint after losing her life savings to online scammers
According to police, Mayers walked away with $500 from her bank heist.
Authorities later learned that Mayers might have been a scam victim and are looking into the claims. Her relatives told detectives that she had been sending money to an unidentified individual, The Columbus Dispatch reported Wednesday.
“In that aspect, some may see her as a ‘victim,'” Sgt. Brandon McCroskey told the newspaper.
“Unfortunately, Ann chose to victimize several other people in the bank by robbing it with a firearm as a remedy for her situation.”
READ ALSO: Suspect Arrested Over Murder Of British-Nigerian Man In London
If what her relatives say is true, McCroskey called Mayers’ situation “very sad and unfortunate.”
He said she reportedly spoke with family members about robbing banks in the days leading up to the holdup, but they didn’t take her comments seriously.
Scams against seniors have become increasingly common over the last 10 to 15 years, according to experts.
Among them are so-called grandparent scams in which callers claim to be anyone from a victim’s grandchild to a police officer and tell the victim something terrible happened and that their younger relative needs money.
News
Edo Guber: ‘Which Campaign Council’, Orbih Fumes, Rejects Inclusion
Published
3 hours agoon
April 27, 2024By
EditorThe end seems not to be in sight to the crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the South South Zonal National Vice Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, has disassociated himself from the recently constituted 200-man Edo PDP Governorship Campaign Council.
Chief Orbih, said that he was not consulted before his name was included in the list which was unveiled on Thursday by the Edo State Organizing Secretary of the party, Mr. Anthony Anenih ,jnr.
Governor Obaseki, former Governor Lucky Igbinedion, Senator Daisy Ehanire-Danjuma, ex-Foreign Affairs Minister, Tom Ikimi, among others are to lead the Advisory Committee of the Governorship Campaign Council while former Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Mathew Iduoriyekemwem will lead the Management Team as Director General.
READ ALSO: Edo Guber: PDP Unveils 200-member Campaign Council
Again, the top PDP leader said that none of the party’s chieftains bothered to inform him that his name was included in the list as he was not invited to the meeting when the decision to set up the council was taken.
He fumed: “Nobody told me of any campaign council and I am not aware of it. Some people who saw my name on the list called me. I have not seen the list and I am not aware of it and not party to the composition of the council.”
The name of immediate past member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama (Oredo), an ally of the South South Zonal national Vice Chairman, was conspicuously missing on the list.
READ ALSO: LG Poll: Voter Apathy As Makinde Votes In Ibadan
Chief Orbih’s headed Legacy Group has been at daggers drawn with the Governor Godwin Obaseki led group for the control of the soul of the party.
The cold war between the two feuding factions led to several litigations during the run up to the 2023 polls as the two camps jostled for the party’s tickets for the National and the States House of Assemblies.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Saturday, urged residents of the state to come out en-masse to perform their civic responsibility in the ongoing Local Government election.
Our correspondent, who monitored the election, observed that eligible voters refused to come out to participate in the ongoing election.
The governor made this appeal while speaking with journalists shortly after casting his vote at Ward 1, Unit 11 in the Ibadan North East Local Government Area of the state.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Oyo LG Polls: Hoodlums Attack Electoral Officials, Snatch Ballot Papers [PHOTO]
Makinde reminded them of the need to take part in choosing their leaders.
He, therefore, appealed to residents to come out to exercise their civic responsibilities.
The ongoing local government election is expected to end by 3:pm.
Details later…
74-year-old Woman Robs Bank At Gunpoint After Losing Life Savings To Online Scammers
Edo Guber: ‘Which Campaign Council’, Orbih Fumes, Rejects Inclusion
LG Poll: Voter Apathy As Makinde Votes In Ibadan
Trending
- Entertainment5 days ago
Bridesmaids’ Dance At Wedding Causes Stir On Social Media [VIDEO/PHOTOS]
- Metro5 days ago
VIDEO: ‘UNN Lecturer’ Caught Pants Down With Married Student
- News3 days ago
Drama! Supporters Of Yahaya Bello Perform Rituals to Prevent His Arrest By EFCC [Video]
- Headline4 days ago
Drama As Women Fight Dirty, Breasts Fall Out During Spring Break Outing In US [PHOTOS/VIDEO]
- Entertainment3 days ago
Nollywood Actor, Zulu Adigwe Is Dead
- News3 days ago
VIDEO: Force PRO Orders Arrest Officers Caught On Video Bashing Driver’s Car
- Headline4 days ago
Meet 17-year-old Nigerian Who Won $3.5m Worth Of Scholarships From Harvard, 13 Other Foreign Universities
- Metro3 days ago
Edo Cultists Kill Rival In Daughter’s Presence, Abandon Getaway Car
- News5 days ago
IGP, Jonathan Disagree Over State Police
- Headline4 days ago
Video Of Girl Being Bullied, Slapped At Lead British School Sparks Outrage Online [PHOTOS/VIDEO]