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Sunday 9 September 2012

Suspending Dana Air licence was wrong – FG

The Federal Government on Friday admitted that the suspension of the Operating Licence of Dana Airlines immediately an aircraft belonging to the airline crashed on June 3 was against global aviation practices.

The FG said the best it could have done then was to isolate the particular aircraft involved in the crash and carry out the necessary investigations.

Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, gave the explanation on a Channels TV breakfast programme.

She was reacting to the strong condemnations from the family members of the victims of the crash, after the FG restored the airline's operating licence on Wednesday.

The FG had suspended Dana's licence on June 5, 2012, two days after its Abuja-Lagos flight 0992 crashed into residential and commercial buildings in Iju-Ishaga, on the outskirts of Lagos, killing 153 passengers and crew on board.

But on Wednesday, the FG lifted the suspension, saying it was satisfied with the air-worthiness of the airline after a rigorous technical, operational and financial audit. The decision, however, attracted criticisms from those affected.

The victims of the crash, claim that their agony has been worsened by the fact that the government restored the licence even when investigations into the crash are yet to be completed and the remains of some of the deceased are yet to be buried. To them, Dana Air, which they accused of negligence, should not be allowed to fly any of its aircraft in the Nigerian airspace. But Oduah explained on Friday that it was against best practices to ground an airline because of a crash.

She explained that what was allowed in the aviation sector was to segregate an aircraft and conduct an audit. She said the decision to restore Dana's licence was taken with a sense of responsibility, adding, "a firm cannot be indicted until the results of investigation are released." She said, "Rather than indict it (Dana), the result clearly showed that the airline is one of the best in the country today." She, however, added that the lifting of the suspension did not translate to the fact that the airline would return to the air immediately. She explained that the airline must still undergo the process of recertification. She said, "There is no perfect firm or organisation and that is why we started with institutional reform starting from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

"Dana is not a perfect company by any means just like any other firm. "Dana's manuals, log book and administrative policies are all in compliance with the NCAA rules and regulations. We're satisfied that thorough investigation was carried out and that was why we said they can go back to work." When probed further, the minister said the government would not hesitate to apply appropriate sanctions once the final result was released and the airline found culpable.

She said once completed, the report, being a public document, would be widely publicised for every concerned individual and group to access. When asked to give an insight into the cause of the crash since she claimed the preliminary report was out, the minister said the remote cause was "very technical." "I don't know the cause of the accident but I know what is not the cause.

The accident was not due to NCAA's lack of responsibility and it was not due to Dana not doing what they ought to do," she explained. Oduah added that despite the clean bill of health, the FG was still strengthening the NCAA to ensure it performed better. The minister expressed surprise that relatives of some of the victims of the crash were yet to receive their compensation because she had held meetings with the airline and the insurance firm on the issue.

Meanwhile, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Abdulwahed Omar, has said that organised labour did not have anything against the restoration of Dana's licence. He said there was nothing wrong if the decision was based on the findings by engineers and technicians, who found the aircraft airworthy.

Fashola declines Oba’s chieftaincy title

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola on Saturday politely declined the honour of a chieftaincy title from a royal father, Oniru of Iru land, Lagos, Oba Abidun Idowu Oniru.

He, however, received the award of excellence conferred on him by the monarch who was celebrating his 75th birthday and 18th coronation anniversary.

While expressing his appreciation to Oba Oniru for honouring him, Fashola said the task of governance required absolute focus and would want the chieftaincy title to wait for now.

He said, “Kabiyesi and his chiefs can continue to lead us, let them deal with all those traditional and chieftaincy issues. At the appropriate time, we will come and join them, but for now, leave us in our suits, booths, overalls and helmets, because this agbada is not good for clearing refuse and tarring the roads.”

On the award for excellence, Fashola said it was not for him; rather he dedicated it to all the civil servants in the state who he said were responsible for the giant strides of his administration. Fashola said “This award does not belong to me; it belongs to all the public servants in Lagos State who do the great work that is responsible for the progress in the state.” While acknowledging the mornach’s exemplary leadership and support for his administration and his predecessors, the governor expressed his gratitude to the Oniru on behalf of members of the state executive council.

He confessed that when the state Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure, Prince Segun Oniru, informed him of the event, and told him that the Kabiyesi wanted to present him with something, he had made it clear that he would not attend the event if what the Kabiyesi wanted to present to him was going to be a chieftaincy title, but that Oniru had assured him that that would not be the case. Former Lagos State governor and national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Senator Bola Tinubu was also conferred with an award of excellence.

But Tinubu was not present as he had travelled to the United States. Other dignitaries at the occasion included the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Oba Abdulfatai Aromire Ojora, Oba Tijani Akinloye, Chief GOK Ajayi, (SAN), former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Adewusi, chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, as well as all the white cap chiefs.

Today: Armed robbers kill two policemen, seven others in Lagos

Armed robbers went on the rampage this afternoon in Lagos and killed several people including two policemen inside their patrol vehicle.

The robbers, said to be six men and two women, drove round parts of the city in a Prado and Armada and shot the policemen inside their patrol vehicle, killing them instantly.

The policemen were part of a team of security agents that chased the robbers but were outgunned and killed near Guinness brewery in Ikeja.

The hoodlums attacked currency changers at Agege, killing four persons and injuring two of them who tried to resist the invasion. They also carted away two bags of currencies.
A stray bullet shot by the robbers also hit a six-year old girl in the eye and her grandmother on the forehead while they were watching TV in their home at 15, Alfa-Nla, Agege.

A stray bullet also hit a parked Volvo ambulance with registratyion number HL 355 AAA belonging to Motolani Medical Centre, and shattered the rear windscreen. The robbers began their raid on the city at about 10.35a.m from Ifako-Gbagada and drove through Oshodi to Mile 2 and Agege.

The state Police Command spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, also did not speak on the incident when our reporter put a call across to her this afternoon.

Atlanta 96' Gold medalist, Chioma Ajunwa Gives Birth to Triplets

After a long wait for the friut of the womb, Nigeria’s first ever Olympic gold medalist, Chioma Ajunwa (MON) has put to bed a set of triplets. The 41 years old police officer was delivered of the bundles of joy, last week.
The triplets, two boys and a girl, are in a good state of health and so is Chioma.

Accomplished athlete and police woman who happens to be a Divisional Police Officer and her husband, Howell Chidera. Wow! Congratulations!

Boyfriend stabs his lover to death after she didn't tell him she had HIV before they had sex

Larry Dunn Jr

A man confessed to stabbing his girlfriend to death because she did not tell him she was HIV positive before they had sex.
'She killed me, so I killed her', Larry Dunn Jr, 36, told officers in Dallas, Texas, after the body of Cicely Bolden, 28, was found by her two young children returning home from school.

The 28-year-old was lying naked from the waist down on her bedroom floor bleeding from two stab wounds in her neck.

'Something's wrong with mama': Cicely's two young children found her dead body in the bedroom of their home

Ms Bolden and 36-year-old Dunn had recently started dating. He later told police that when she confessed to having the virus she then told him it was 'not that bad'. He became upset and walked to the kitchen to get a knife which he used to kill her with, according to police.

Neighbor Latoya Arnett, who called 911, told Kens5: 'All I know is, she didn't deserve it and her kids didn't deserve to see her like that. 'She was a good mom. Loved her kids to death. I can't imagine my kids seeing me like that. I know it hurt them.' Police say Dunn cooperated fully with their investigation. During a recorded interview he admitted the crime and revealed he burned his clothes afterwards and dumped the knife in the garbage at a waffle house.

Police later recovered the weapon. The father of Cicely's son, Jeff Busby, told Fox that Bolden had contracted HIV within the last couple of years. He is currently looking after her son and daughter. Speaking about Dunn, who is being held on $50,000 bond, he said: 'I hope he rots in prison.

She did not deserve this.' Ms Arnett said she went inside the apartment and found Cicely lying on the bedroom floor. Earlier that day, she claimed, she had seen Dunn arriving at the apartment. Stuffed teddy bear toys have been laid outside what's now a boarded-up apartment in Highland Village Drive with candles lit in memory of Ms Bolden.

Cicely Bolden

12 burnt to death in Ogun road crash

No fewer than 12 persons were allegedly burnt beyond recognition during a fatal motor accident which occurred between Odogbolu and Ososa areas of Ogun State, along Sagamu/ Benin express way this afternoon.

It was gathered that the auto crash which involved a Toyota Hiace bus marked XA 659DBC and which belonged to Ajetunmobi Express and a truck numbered LG 35BBG caused major traffic gridlock on the expressway.

The impact of the collision, it was gathered triggered an explosion that left the victims burnt. According to the Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement (TRACE), Mr. Ade Adebiyi, blamed the crash on over speeding.

The bodies of those that were burnt beyond recognition have been deposited at the mortuary of the General Hospital, Ijebu Ode. Commander Adebiyi however warned motorists to desist from over said three persons escaped unhurt and warned motorists of the dangers of over speeding with approach of the end of the year.

Illegal Nigerian immigrant admits using dead man’s ID to work in the US

An illegal immigrant from Nigeria admitted at the weekend he assumed the identity of a murdered man so he could work at Newark’s airport, New Jersey, where he was a security supervisor for 20 years. He now faces possible deportation.

Bimbo Oyewole, 54, pleaded guilty in a state court to using a fake security badge under a plea deal in which prosecutors agreed to recommend he receive probation. He had been charged with identity theft when he was arrested in May.
He will be jailed pending sentencing Oct. 19. The state attorney general’s office, which prosecuted the case, said Oyewole faces potential deportation.

Oyewole admitted in court that he is in the country illegally, having entered on a student visa in 1989 and stayed after it expired. “I came in legally,” Oyewole, hands cuffed behind his back, told the court. He admitted he used the identity and identity papers of Jerry Thomas, who was shot outside a Queens, N.Y., YMCA in 1992.

Authorities had said Oyewole assumed Thomas’s identity weeks before he died. Police in New York said Thomas had sold his documents to a Nigerian cab driver, who then sold them to Oyewole. They said they had no evidence tying Oyewole to Thomas’ death. Oyewole said he presented Thomas’ birth certificate and Social Security card to airport officials. He then received ID cards that give airport workers security clearance. Prosecutors said Oyewole also obtained a New Jersey driver’s license and high school equivalency diploma under Thomas’ name.

The Port Authority, which operates Newark Liberty International Airport, said Oyewole most recently worked for FJC Security Services, a contractor that staffs access gates and had access to airplanes and the tarmac. He supervised about 30 guards. Port Authority officials were alerted to Oyewole after receiving an anonymous letter about him.

“Today’s conviction will serve notice to all that the Port Authority of NY and NJ will not tolerate fraud or any other criminal misconduct at its facilities,” Port Authority Inspector General Robert E. Van Etten said in a statement.

Air Nigeria passengers stranded for hours in London, asked to Contribute Money for Aviation Fuel

Over 190 Air Nigeria passengers arrived Gatwick Airport 8:30 yesterday morning to fly back to Nigeria, and for 8 hours, they were stranded at the airport.

The travelers were informed of lack of 'JET A1' to fly the aircraft to Lagos, and were told to contribute extra £40 each for purchase of the Aviation Fuel

Eventually, the plane left Gatwick airport at 4:30 pm and arrived Nigeria at about 12:30 early this morning.

Upon Arrival, passengers got the shock of their lives when they were told to come back for their luggage! Many of the Passengers were so angry about what they went through yesterday and are planning to sue Air Nigeria and it's chairman, Jimoh Ibrahim. From tomorrow Monday September 10th, Air Nigeria will no longer fly for at least a year, having sacked all but 50 of their staff.

Saturday 8 September 2012

Kate Milddleton expecting Prince William's first child

Rumour has it that Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge,is pregnant with her first child.

Three oil marketers on the run -EFCC begins search

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are looking for three oil marketers who are involved in the fuel subsidy scam. This was made known by the acting head of media and publicity of the commission, Wilson Uwajuren.

The trio of 31 year old Abdul Afeez Olarenwaju Olabisi of Fargo Petroleum and Gas Limited, Abubakar Peters Ali Jeldi(34yrs), managing director of Nadabo Energy Limited and Ikechukwu Onuabuchi Nworgu(46yrs) of Star Inspection Services Nigeria Limited were declared wanted by the commission for offences bordering on Criminal Conspiracy, Forgery, Obtaining Money by False Pretences and Money Laundering running into several billions of naira.