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The Senate on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye as Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Owasanoye, a professor of law and indigene of Ondo, takes over from Ekpo Nta, whose five-year tenure expired in September, 2017

With his confirmation, Owasanoye becomes the fourth substantive chairman of the anti-graft agency, succeeding Justice Mustapha Akanbi, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola and Nta.

Confirmed along with the chairman are eight members of the ICPC board, including Grace Chinda from Delta, Okolo Titus (Enugu), Obiora Igwedebia (Anambra)

Others are Justice Adamu Bello (Katsina), Hannatu Muhammed (Jigawa), Abdullahi Saidu (Niger) and Yahaya Dauda (Nasarawa).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo appointed the board members in August, 2017.

Thursday’s confirmation came after the Chairman of the Committee on Anti-corruption and Financial Crimes, Sen. Chukwuma Utazi, presented the committee’s report on their screening.

Presenting the report, Utazi said the nominees were found to possess the integrity, professional competence and experience to discharge their duties in the

NAN reports that before Utazi presented the report, the Majority Leader, Sen. Ahmed Lawan, observed that there was lopsidedness in the current composition of the 12-member ICPC board.

Lawan said the North East had no representation yet when it ought to have two members, while the South South so far had only one member as against two.

He reminded his colleagues of the suspension of the confirmation of four EFCC board nominees over a similar issue on Dec. 11.

While the North East and South West had two nominees each in the six-member board of the EFCC, the South East and South South were excluded.
This sparked a protest from senators from the affected zones, prompting the Senate to stand down their confirmation.

Lawan said while the imbalance in the EFCC board would be corrected, the executive had also assured the Senate leadership of doing same in the ICPC board.
“The executive arm of government has promised us that they will send the two nominees for the North East, and the remaining one from the South South to complete the full nomination.

“It is important that we approve the nine nominees here before us so that the ICPC would have a balanced governing board to make it more effective and efficient,” he said.(NAN)

President Buhari attends Passing Out Parade Ceremony of the 1st Regular Course of the Nigeria Police Academy in Kano State on 20th Dec 2018

Police pix: President Buhari with Etsu Nupe Alh. Yahya Abubakar and Emir of Kano H.H. Muhammadu Sanusi II during the Passing Out Parade Ceremony of Cadets of 1st Regular Course of the Nigeria Police Academy in Kano State on 20th Dec 2018

Police pix: President Buhari presents Award to the Best Female Cadet Evangeline Babuba during the Passing Out Parade Ceremony of the 1st Regular Course of the Nigeria Police Academy in Kano State on 20th Dec 2018

Police pix: President Buhari presents Sword of Honour to the Best All Round Cadet Shuaibu Aminu during the Passing Out Parade Ceremony of the 1st Regular Course of the Nigeria Police Academy in Kano State on 20th Dec 2018

In a statement on Wednesday, it said interested candidates can now apply for trades/non-tradesmen and women categories.

The application windows opened on December 19 and will last until w January 31, 2019.

..While the Army emphatically noted that the application is free, it said applicants are expected to be between the ages of 18 to 22 and they can apply through its portal, recruitment.army.mil.ng

Access /Diamond Bank Merger 1000 staffs back to Labour Market ….

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The bank said that following a strategic review leading to a competitive process, the board had selected Access Bank as the preferred bidder with respect to a potential merger of the two banks that would create Nigeria and Africa’s largest retail bank by customer base.

It stated, “The proposed merger would involve Access Bank acquiring the entire issued share capital of Diamond Bank in exchange for a combination of cash and shares in Access Bank via a scheme of merger.

“Based on the agreement reached by the boards of the two financial institutions, Diamond Bank shareholders will receive a consideration of N3.13 per share, comprising of N1.00 per share in cash and the allotment of two new Access Bank ordinary shares for every seven Diamond Bank ordinary shares held as at the implementation date.

“The offer represents a premium of 260 per cent to the closing market price of N0.87 per share of Diamond Bank on the Nigerian Stock Exchange as of December 13, 2018, the date of the final binding offer.

“Immediately following completion of the merger, Diamond Bank would be absorbed into Access Bank and it will cease to exist under Nigerian law. The current listing of Diamond Bank’s shares on the NSE and the listing of Diamond Bank’s global depositary receipts on the London Stock Exchange will be cancelled, upon the merger becoming effective.”

In the same vein, Access Bank said in a statement that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Diamond Bank regarding a potential merger of the two banks.

The recent endorsement of the Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos, Hon. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu by the entire Igbo Communities living and doing business in Lagos on the 16^th of December, 2018 at an elaborate event, came to many people, especially, the major opposition parties in Lagos, as a rude shock, going by occurrences in previous elections in the state where SENTIMENTS were placed above reality as though the opposition parties in Lagos had magic to perform when they get into office.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and its PERPETUAL Governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje had always played the tribal card to Igbos in Lagos. During the periods he had contested for the highest seat in Lagos, claiming to have what it takes to move or replace the original owners of the land, maybe, with Igbos and possibly change his name from Jimi Agbaje, to maybe Jimeofor Agbajioku, all in his bid to woo the uninformed to his side, but still, he kept loosing.
In 2011, Jimi Agbaje visited and canvassed for the support of the Igbos in Lagos, he lost that election, after which he lost touch with them, neither did he return back to say “THANK YOU” for the support they gave him.
And in 2015, he was out again in their faces, this time, canvassing more than ever before, especially after a statement credited to the Oba of Lagos became an issue, Jimi Agbaje felt that was his time to utilize the bad press to his advantage and off he went, going from one Igbo meeting to another, talking and sweet-mouthing them, making promises that even a ten year old would know were all lies to get them on his side, and ofcourse, he didn’t win that election, yes he didn’t win because Lagos and her citizens were wiser and could not be overtaken by the desperation of one man whose agenda was to grab power and then, start turning back the hands of time in the development plan of Lagos that has gone beyond even his analogue thinking.
One thing I have come to understand about politics and the people who play the game involved with it is that, once you start playing the tribal and religious drum over a long period of time, same people you are trying to appeal to will start asking if there is no other songs available other than tribe and religion. You don’t play on the intelligence of people for too long, especially when they know exactly the type of rhythm the song you are bringing to them would have and so, before you start, they’ll ask “WHAT IS IT AGAIN”?
So, the endorsement and the conferment of the chieftaincy title of “UGO CHINYERE EZE” by the entire Igbos living in Lagos is a sign to show where the direction for the 2019 governorship election in the state is headed, even though we know how some of the Igbo people behave when it comes to voting.
It is no longer news therefore that the candidate of the PDP has in the past disappointed the Igbos, who after gathering them, making them gigantic promises, would abandon them after he loses, making them spare tyres or use-and-dump kind of tribe, never returning and in another “FOUR YEARS”, he is back to seek their help for another election.
The question on the lips of everybody, including myself who is Igbo is, “WHY REDUCE YOURSELVES TO A MERE POLITICAL USE & DUMP PEOPLE WHEN YOU HAVE AN ALREADY EXISTING STRUCTURE THAT HAS ACCOMMODATED YOU AND GIVEN YOU SOME SENSE OF BELONGING”?. In this Lagos, Igbo sons have been appointed into various offices, at different levels, some have also been elevated through the instrumentality of the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu and we are still not satisfied?
We, the Igbos in Lagos have forgotten that our votes alone cannot make anyone GOVERNOR, as there are other tribes resident here, such as the Hausa Communities, Niger-Delta, the Middle-Belt and therefore must align with the ruling party, a party that has in the last 19 years of the administration started with Tinubu as governor, Fashola, now to Ambode and in 2019 to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, ignored other tribes in the sharing formula and recognized just the Igbos and yet, my people still complain?.
No other tribe or non-indigenous community complains the way the Igbos do and though we must agree with the fact that their numbers maybe more, but on a scale of measurement, the shocker maybe severe to ignore as the other tribes put together will out-number the Igbos and yet, these other tribes neither complains, nor revolts.
So, the advice here would be for Igbos to unitedly consolidate on their endorsement of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and not play the politics they are known for, reneging at the last minute to follow an already expiring political product, who can never win an election, including that of counselorship, in the Lagos of today, even if he is the candidate of 100 political parties put together.
This is the time to fully make Lagos ours, own her through the ballot and work for her progress in all ramifications with the choice of Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, who is the game change in this current dispensation and prove that of a truth, he is “UGO CHINYERE EZE” of Lagos.
TO BE CONTINUED! By written by Precious EZE

https://www.facebook.com/731927346/posts/10156661454232347/?sfnsn=mo

Igbo community in Lagos, under the aegis of “Ndigbo Friends of Sanwoolu in Lagos”, Sunday, conferred on the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu, a chieftaincy title of “Ugo Chi Mere Eze.” The title, meaning “its God that makes a king,” was attended by heads of igbos in the 57 council areas of Lagos State.

At the ceremony, which took place at the National Stadium, Surulere, a leader of the group, Dr. Chris Nwachukwu, said Igbos in Lagos has made up their mind to vote the APC in the 2019 general elections. According to him, “We see a quality in APC and it’s governorship candidate and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat. Come 2019, we will vote enmasse for Sanwoolu, because with these two gentleman, Igbo’s interests will be protected.” While responding, Sanwoolu assured the gathering that his government would protect the interest of various nationalities in Lagos, especially, the Igbos. “I want to assure you that my government will protect your businesses, protect your family and every thing that belongs to you. “Your children are my children, your family is my family. I really appreciate you all”, he said.

Dr Abdulateef Abdulhakeem, Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, on Saturday called on the residents to  support the APC Governorship Candidate, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who, he said, would build on Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s achievements.

Abdulhakeem solicited the support  at the one year anniversary celebration   of a political group called “Itesiwaju Eko Foundation”.

The occasion held at Ejigbo, Lagos State. He urged Lagos residents, particularly President Muhammadu Buhari’s loyalists, not to allow the rift  among some politicians to deter them from supporting APC in the state. He said that re-election of APC in Lagos State would facilitate infrastructure development of the state. Abdulhakeem said that the political  group was already mobilising Lagos residents  in favour of the APC candidate. “Nobody should make an attempt to destroy the good works of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode. “Ambode is fully with Sanwo-Olu; nobody should misrepresent what is happening in government. “The entire state cabinet is fully with Sanwo-Olu,” he said. Abdulhakeem, who is also the Director, Conflict Resolution of Babajide Sanwo-Olu Independent Campaign Organisation, called on all APC members to reconcile any differences. He said: “Understand that power and authority are in the hands of God. We must work together. “If anybody says he wants to vote for Buhari and not vote for APC candidates at the National Assembly, then he has not voted for Buhari. “We need a National Assembly that would be on the same page with the Federal Executive Council to move the country forward. “Also, if you vote for Sanwo-Olu and you do not vote for members of the House of Assembly, you have not voted for him because the legislature is an apex institution and an important organ of government.” Abdulhakeem, therefore, called on APC faithful to come together for continuity of the party. “Chief Bola Tinubu was succeeded by a performing governor in the person of Mr Babatunde Fashola, who was again succeeded by another performing governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode. “I assure you that Sanwo-Olu will also be a great successor to complete the good works of Ambode,” he said.