NEMA Boss Abdulsalam Badamasi Slumps, Dies In A Hotel.

The Northeast Zonal coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Abdulsalam Badamasi is dead. He was reportedly slumped in a hotel room in Maiduguri, and later died at the hospital he was rushed to early hours of Friday.

NEMA Information Office, Mr Sanni Datti, confirmed the sad incident.  “Yes, He is dead, after he slumped at his room early hour on Friday and he was rushed to hospital but later gave up," Sanni said.

Meanwhile, it has before now reported that some staff of NEMA have threatened to embark on a nationwide strike over non-payment of N665 million staff claims.

The claims, tagged unverified, the staff said have been generating crisis between the workers and the management of the agency which said the claims are not verified.

There are reports that the workers who are under the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) are also protesting the transfer of the secretary of the Women Commission Member of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Shiaibu Afusatu to Lagos.

Source: Naij.com

"We Spent N177m To Bribe Nigerian Lawmakers"-Professor Cries Out After 40 Years Imprisonment Sentence.

A former director of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Professor Benjamin Ogunbodede, who was sentenced to 40 years imprisonment on Tuesday, has claimed that he and two other convicts spent N177million naira to bribe lawmakers and some employees of the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, had on Tuesday, sentenced Ogunbodede, to 40 years imprisonment for corruptly enriching himself to the tune of N177 million.

Zacheus Tejumola, a former Chief Accountant of the institute, was also sentenced to 40 years imprisonment while Clement Adenose, another staff, bagged four years in jail.

In a judgment which lasted over two hours, Ayo-Emmanuel said that he convicted the trio based on the overwhelming evidence against them.

The judge, however, said that he had no reason to convict them on count 13 due to want of evidence. “There is no ambiguity in the facts tendered by the prosecution that the three convicts conspired, converted and stole the hazard allowance of N177 million belonging to the staff of IAR&T.

Ogunbodede and Tejumola are therefore, sentenced to 40 years imprisonment each for their roles for counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 and 16.

“Adenose is sentenced to four years in prison. The sentences will, however, run concurrently,” Ayo-Emmanuel stated.

However, Ogunmodede claims he and two other persons convicted alongside him spent N177m to bribe lawmakers and some employees of the Federal Ministry of Finance. They claimed that a huge part of the money was used to bribe members of House of Representatives and some staff of the Federal Ministry of Finance who facilitated the release of the fund for the research institute, Punch reports.

Earlier, Mr Tunde Olupona, the counsel to Ogunbodede, had pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing his client. He argued that his client lacked administrative experience in running such a sensitive position.

Similarly, Mr I.A Salawu and Mrs Yetunde Adegboye, counsel to Tejumola and Adenose, pleaded with the court to show mercy to their clients, citing various portions of the constitution.

However, Mr Nkwuruka Amana, the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), urged the court to sentence the convicts in accordance with the stipulation of the law.

Ogunbodede, Tejumola and Adenose along with 10 others had since 2014 been standing trial over a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful conversion and stealing of N177 million hazard allowance belonging to the staff of the institute.

Ten of the defendants had earlier pleaded guilty and opted for plea bargain arrangement. Nine out of the 10 previously convicted were different companies which Ogunbodede, Tejumola and Adenose indirectly used to siphon the N177 million.

Olupona, who spoke after the judgment, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he and his other colleagues were still studying the judgment and would in due course take appropriate decision on whether to appeal or not.

The conviction of the trio is coming on the heels of the directive by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, to heads of the divisions of courts to create special courts for corruption and financial crimes cases.

Onnoghen said this directive is to end the unnecessary delay associated with the prosecution of corruption cases.

The CJN also ordered that all lists of pending corruption cases in the various courts be forwarded to the NJC.

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Read COZA Pastor, Tunde Fatoyinbo's Touching Tribute To Late Dad..

Senior Pastor at the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo, has penned a very touching tribute to his late Dad. Fatoyinbo announced the father's death on social media.

"My Father has gone to glory. I am so privileged to have come to this earth through You. I learnt humility, love, leadership and kindness from you. You taught me how to deal wisely, how to manage people and how to choose my words whenever I talk. I am close to my children only because of how you loved us your children. I miss you already, but I am grateful for the privilege God gave to us (your children) to look after you properly. I appreciate the times we spent sharing about Jesus and praying together. I am consoled that you are with the Lord Jesus. I know your kind soul rests in peace already. Love you Dad."

When Lagelu Grammar School Old Boys Reunite In Ibadan.

Influential Nigerians, groups and associations have been admonished to lend hands of support to governments at all levels to radically transform the country’s education sector.

This admonition was given by Professor (Chief) Emmanuel Olufemi Omisore of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife over the weekend while speaking at the 2017 Reunion of the 1982 set of old boys of Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan.

Professor Omisore who is also the National President of Lagelu Grammar School Old Boys (LAGSOBA) explained further that the economic recession being experienced by the country has made it imperative for concerned groups and individuals to lift more than one finger in support of education in the country.

His words “when we take care of education, we take care of the future. The present generation of youths must be supported to acquire quality education. Governments at all levels must get their priorities right. Education should be given the kind of attention it requires.”

He also took time to salute members of LAGSOBA for doing a Yeoman’s job of keeping their alma mater in top shape and for contributing to the smoothness of the flow of education there.

“We thank God that Lagelu Old boys are excelling in all spheres and are everywhere all over the world. I am also proud that they love their alma mater and have been doing their very best to make it the best.

“Permit me to use this opportunity to urge them strongly to do more especially when we are about to mark the 60th anniversary of the school.”

Professor Omisore elaborated more on the 60th anniversary which comes up sometime in January, 2018.

“We have set up several committees that will work to ensure that the anniversary celebration records resounding success. We are insistent that we will use the opportunity to further transform the school and the lives of the present students and those coming behind them.”

Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the set, Mr Sunday Amoo enumerated some of the contributions of the set towards the growth of the school.

According to him “we have been paying the WAEC fees of some indigent students in the school, we produced stools for students’ use at the laboratories among others.”

During the two-day reunion, LAGSOBA 1982 set members had the opportunity of being lectured on how to make money via agricultural practices.

A lecture on personal health was also delivered by one of them, Dr Kayode Afolabi who was a onetime Commissioner for Health in Oyo State. He is now a Director at the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja.

Before Afolabi, another 1982 set member, Pastor Taiwo Otegbeye equally delivered a lecture on personal insurance policy choices. Otegbeye was also a former Commissioner for Information and Culture in Oyo State.

Another high point during the reunion was the official swearing in of the National Executives of the group led by Mr Sunday Amoo. They were sworn in by Colonel Bola Ogunsanwo (Rtd), the Chairman, Board of Trustees of LAGSOBA. He was earlier decorated as the ‘Role Model’ for the 1982 Set members. The set’s board of trustee was inaugurated too.

A gala night was held afterwards with many prizes won by members during the ‘raffle draw’ segment.

The two-day reunion was rounded off on the second day with a visit to the school at Agugu, Ibadan.

While speaking after the event, the new Chairman for LAGSOBA ’82, Mr Sunday Amoo thanked all who contributed to the success of the event.

Said Amoo “On behalf of LAGSOBA 82 set, I thank all who worked assiduously to ensure the success of our two-day reunion. We thank God that we enjoyed clement weather. We thank our national President, Professor Omisore and both Comrade Wale Adeoye, the National Secretary and Engineer Lukman Olateju, the National Financial Secretary who accompanied our President.

“We are also grateful to Colonel Bola Ogunsanwo, our Role Model for graciously accepting to identify with us.

I must specially thank the Diaspora-chairman for LAGSOBA 82, Pharmacist Sikiru Odediran for coming all the way from the US to attend. I can’t forget our Reunion Chairman and Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Tunde Braimoh who could not make this event because it falls on his birthday and he has to attend to his constituent in Lagos.

“My appreciation goes to other members of the organizing committee including Godwin Okorie, Kolawole Amole, Toba Fabiyi and Bola Adeyemi. May God continue to keep us in one love.”

The two-day event took place at the exclusive Pristine Guests’ Place, Alalubosa GRA, Ibadan between Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1, 2017.