NNPC DISOWNS RECRUITMENT ADVERTISEMENT TRENDING ON SOCIAL MEDIA

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has disowned a recruitment advertisement purportedly by the corporation currently trending in the social media.

The corporation in a statement by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, Mr Ndu Ughamadu, in Abuja on Wednesday, described the advertisement as phoney.

It advised unsuspecting members of the public to be wary of the scam.

“The advertisement, set in NNPC’s corporate colour with its logo and a corporate picture, sets candidates’ entry requirements to include Master’s degree, Bachelor’s degree, Higher National Diploma (HND) and National Diploma, is fake.

“The recruitment announcement or invitation to recruitment interview of this nature appearing intermittently in the social media should be discountenanced,’’ it said

According to the statement, the NNPC is not carrying out any recruitment exercise now.

“The National Oil Company dissociated itself from the fake e-mail address to which unsuspecting prospects were asked to direct their Curriculum Vitae in the placement advert,’’ it added.

The corporation further reminded job seekers to note the antics of scammers who deploy, on social media platforms, such communication strategies as text messages, vacancy announcements and forged letters inviting them for non-existing job interviews.

These, it said, were tricks to extort money from them, and cautioned that any applicant who entertained such invitations would have himself or herself to blame.

It encouraged those who had already fallen victims to volunteer information to the law enforcement agencies.

The corporation stated that it would as usual advertise at appropriate time, vacancies in the corporation through the national dailies.

NFF BANS, FINES COACH SALISU YUSUF FOR TAKING BRIBE

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)’s Committee on Ethics and Fair Play has placed a one –year ban from all football –related activities on Super Eagles’ Chief Coach, Mr. Salisu Yusuf.

This is sequel to its consideration of a complaint by the NFF as well as the Coach’s defence of a video documentary in which he was seen to accept the sum of $1,000 from an undercover reporter posing as a player’s agent.

The coach must also pay a fine in the sum of $5,000 to the Federation within three months.

In its report submitted to the NFF Secretariat on Tuesday, days after inviting the coach to state his own side of matters, the Committee, chaired by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, said it:

“Established from the admission of Coach Salisu Yusuf and also found as a fact from the documentary and video evidence before it, that he accepted the cash gift of $1,000 offered by Tigers Player’s Agency, an undercover reporter, purportedly interested in acting on behalf of Players Osas Okoro and Rabiu Ali, for their inclusion in the list of players for 2018 CHAN Competition in Morocco.

“The Committee found as a fact that it was not an error of judgment on the part of Coach Salisu Yusuf but a conscious and deliberate decision to have accepted the cash gift of $1,000 from the decoy player agent/undercover reporter, purportedly interested in acting on behalf of Players Osas Okoro and Rabiu Ali, even though the evidence before the Committee did not establish that his conduct influenced the choice of the two players.

“That the two Players could have made the team to 2018 CHAN Competition in Morocco on the basis of their talent and performance.

“That Coach Salisu Yusuf did not accept the offer of 15% of the anticipated transfer fees of the said players, as there was no follow –up action on the promise.

“That the act of the Coach, which was widely published on the British Broadcasting Corporation, has a damaging effect on the reputation and integrity of Nigerian Football, as he ought to have conducted himself more professionally in line with the Code of Conduct signed alongside his Contract with the Nigeria Football Federation, as his conduct in public and in secret should be exemplary, since coaches are role models.

“That the FIFA Code of Ethics, NFF Code of Ethics and FIFA Disciplinary Code, did not contemplate negligence or error of judgment as a defence to violation of any of the provisions as contained therein, as punitive measures must be adopted to serve as deterrent to other intending offenders, even though, that he is a first time offender.”

The Committee therefore, resolved that: “In accordance with Art. 22, FIFA Disciplinary Code, he is hereby banned for the period of one year, from partaking or involvement or participation in any football related activity, effective from the date of this decision.

“He is also fined in the sum of $5,000 to be paid within three (3) months of the date of this decision…” The Committee also ruled that an appeal against the decision can be made to the NFF Appeals Committee.”

PETROL SCARCITY LOOMS AGAIN AS NUPENG THREATENS STRIKE OVER SACK OF WORKERS

The National leadership of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has criticised the sacking of workers by some oil and gas companies for active unionism.

NUPENG described the action as oppressive and a height of high handedness on the part of the firms.

It accused the management of Sterling Energy Exploration Company (SEEPCO) and its drilling arm, British Oil and Gas Ltd of denying workers their rights to unionise.

The union, therefore, called on the authorities and other relevant stakeholders in the sector to wade into the issue without delay to avert industrial crisis in Kwale, Warri area of Delta.

“For the records, five drilling oil rigs being operated by Sterling Energy Exploration Company (SEEPCO) and its drilling arm, British Oil and Gas Ltd in Kwale, Warri, have been in operation for several years.

“The period has witnessed continuous refusal by the management of these drilling companies to allow workers to join the union.

“Workers of these drilling rigs have overtly indicated their willingness and readiness to join the unions of their choice and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has responded appropriately to the request.

“Unfortunately, the management of SEEPCO and its drilling arm, British Oil and Gas Ltd have resulted to high handedness and violence through the use of military men and armed militias to forcefully evacuate over 2, 500 workers from the five drilling rigs.

“These companies are Indian operated companies and NUPENG found it grossly unfortunate and unacceptable that these companies would be using brute force to dehumanise, terrorise, and victimise Nigerians in their own country,” the union said in a statement on Wednesday signed by its President, Mr Williams Akporeha.

It vowed not fold its arms while its members were being dehumanised in the course of demanding for their legitimate rights as recognised by labour laws and the International Labour Organisation charter.

To avoid further escalation, NUPENG urged the authorities, particularly the Federal Government and its agencies, to call the management of the companies to order, while directing them to follow path of best practices by granting the legitimate wishes of the workers.

NUPENG also called on its members to be “on red alert” as they might be called upon at very short notice to withdraw their services nationwide in solidarity with their oppressed colleagues if the situation was not addressed immediately.

GUNMEN KILL 5 AT PLATEAU MINING SITE

Gunmen have killed five persons at a mining site in Gana-Ropp village of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau.

DSP Terna Tyopev, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in the state, confirmed the incident on Wednesday in Jos.

“On Tuesday at about 12:30.p.m, we received distress call from Da Gyang Pam, the village head of Gana-Ropp village in Barkin Ladi, saying that there had been sporadic gunshots at a mining site around the area.

”A team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Barkin Ladi Division was dispatched to the scene of crime.

“On arrival, it was discovered that five persons were shot by gunmen who fled the scene before the arrival of policemen

”Our men immediately moved those with gunshots to the General Hospital in the locality but were confirmed dead by the doctor on on duty,“ Tyopev said.

He said that the dead bodies had been released to the families of the victims for burial.

He said investigation was ongoing to arrest those behind the dastardly act.

The police spokesman called on members of the public with useful information on the killings to make it available to the security agencies for prompt action.

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT TASKED ON WASTE MANAGEMENT

A consultant on Environment, Mr. Taiwo Adewole, has called on the Lagos State Government to open more transfer loading stations to facilitate quick disposal of waste in the state.

Adewole, the Chief Executive Officer of Adewole and Associates, Lagos, made the call on Thursday in Lagos.

He said the two newly inaugurated transfer loading stations (TLS) opened at Odaleke and Agunlejika areas of the state were insufficient to tackle the waste management challenges.

TLS is a building or processing site for waste before they are taken to the engineered landfills where waste materials are buried.

He suggested that more TLS should be provided in all the local government areas to effectively do the job.

“We need at least a TLS per local council and a waste recycling collection centers that will also be managed by the private sector in partnership with the state government.

“Besides, the TLS and waste recycling collection centers will create employment for many youths,” he said.

Adewole advised the government to revisit the PSP/Waste Collector Operatives (WCO) put together by his predecessors by giving them more slots in waste evacuation in the state.

He said Visionscape, the current sole manager of waste might be overwhelmed by the waste situation should the government fail to address the current challenges.

Adewole said waste should be managed before moving it down to the TLS to reduce the congestion at the landfill sites.

“The worst hit is Amuwo Odofin down to Ojo and to Badagry zone of Lagos state where trucks queue daily to tip off their waste at the dumpsite.

“More infrastructures should be in place to manage waste at every local government level in partnership with the PSP, especially during the raining seasons for easy evacuation to the dumpsites to reduce cost,” he said.

POLICE KILL 2 SUSPECTED KILLERS OF IGP MEN

The Kaduna State Police Command said on Thursday that its men killed two suspected killers of IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Sabon Birni Village, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Acting Commissioner of Police, DCP Ahmad Kontagora, disclosed this at a news conference in Kaduna.

Kontagora said the police, since the incident, had embarked on intensive manhunt of the perpetrators and other cases of crime within the command to arrest and bringing all the culprits to book.

“The successes recorded in the fight against crime and criminality in Kaduna command during the few weeks under review shows that on Aug. 16, the IGP Special Tactical Squad (STS) alongside operatives from Operation Yaki, acted on intelligence and raided an armed robbers/kidnappers hide out on Sabon Birni village.

“After a fierce gun duel with the bandits, two suspected armed bandits were fatally injured and rushed to Barau Dikko Hospital Kaduna for treatment but were confirmed dead on arrival,” he said.

He said arms recovered from the suspects included one AK 47 Riffle, and five live ammunition from the scene.

“Investigations reveal that the suspects belong to the gang of criminals terrorising Birnin Gwari axis and are responsible for the killing of one Inspector Felix Yohanna attached to FSARS last year.

“He was killed at Walawa forest and the four IGP IRT personnel died in an ambush at Jankasa.”

He said that the command`s Anti Kidnapping and FSARS squads as well as the SIB had also recorded additional successes in arresting suspected criminals and made recoveries of exhibits during the period.

“They include seven suspected kidnappers, eight suspected armed robbers, four suspected notorious fraudsters and three suspected shop breakers.

“We recovered three AK 47 Riffles, three magazines with 20 rounds of ammunition, two motor vehicles mainly Golf Wagon with registration Number ES 904 FST and a Toyota Corolla with number plate RBC 04 MQ, all blue in colour.

He said the suspects had made useful statements and were still undergoing investigation and would be charged to court on completion of investigation.

The commissioner assured members of the public that the command would not relent on its efforts in fighting all forms of crime and criminality in Kaduna State.

He appealed to the public to continue to assist the police and other security agencies with useful information about the activities of persons likely to constitute danger to the society, to ensure effective crime prevention and control.

The IGP, IRT operatives where ambushed on Aug. 11 at Jankasa village of Rigasa in Igabi Local Government Area.

PASTOR BAGS 54 MONTHS JAIL TERM FOR STEALING

A 58-year old self-acclaimed pastor, Abel Olukayode, is to spend four and half years in jail for stealing N984,450 from Wema Bank Plc.

The convict stood trial on a three-count charge bordering on stealing.

An Igbosere Magistrate, Mrs A. T. Omoyele, sentenced Olukayode without an option of fine after finding him guilty of the offences.

Delivering her judgment, Omoyele said the convict was guilty as charged, and accordingly sentenced him to six months imprisonment on the first count and two years each for the count two and three.

She, however, said that the jail term would run concurrently.

The convict, a resident of 26, Sadiku Ayinla St., Odo-kekere in Ikorodu was arraigned on November 22, 2012.

Olukayode who was 52 years old when he was arraigned, had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Cyriacus Osuji, had told the court that Olukayode committed the offences between March 5 and March 6, 2012 through mobile banking App on his phone.

He said “Olukayode with the aid of his mobile phone with sim no. 08034456771, stole the sum of N22,550, through his Wema Bank account, property of Wema Bank plc.

“The convict at the same time and place with the aid of his mobile banking transferred the sum of N701,900, from Wema Bank to his GTB Bank account.

“Olukayode also transferred another amount, N260,000 to his First Bank account, property of Wema Bank plc”.

The prosecutor was able to establish to the court that between March 4 and March 6, 2012, the bank system malfunctioned.

He said the convict who had only N300 in his account at that time, took advantage of the situation to steal the said amount.

The offences contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.