Court orders warning against soft drinks with Vitamin C (Read full details)

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Vitamin C

Awards N2 million against agency
Justice Adedayo Oyebanji of Igbosere High Court has ordered the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to henceforth mandate the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Plc to include on all bottles of Fanta and Sprite soft drinks manufactured by the company a written warning that the content of the said soft drinks cannot be taken with Vitamin C as same becomes poisonous

Justice Oyebanji also declared that NAFDAC has failed the citizens of this great nation by its certification as satisfactory for human consumption, products in which in the United Kingdom failed sample test for human consumption and which become poisonous in the presence of Ascorbic Acid ordinarily known as Vitamin C, which can be freely taken by the unsuspecting public with the Fanta and Sprite.

The court also awarded a cost of N2 million against NAFDAC.

The judgment of the court was sequel to a suit filed by a Lagos businessman, Dr. Emmanuel Fijabi Adebo and his company, Fijabi Adebo Holdings Limited, against NBC and NAFDAC.

Adebo also urged the court to declare that the firm was negligent and breached the duty of care owed to their valued customers and consumers in the production of contaminated soft drinks with excessive “benzoic acid and sunset” addictive.

He also prayed the court to direct NAFDAC to conduct and carry out routine laboratory tests of all the soft drinks and allied products of the company to ensure and guarantee the safety of the consumable products produced from the factory.

In an amended statement of claim filed before the court by counsel to the claimant, Abiodun Onidare, it was alleged that sometimes in March 2007, Fijabi Adebo’s company purchased from the NBC large quantities of Coca-cola, Fanta orange, Sprite, Fanta Lemon, Fanta Pineapple and soda water for export to the United Kingdom for retail purposes and supply to their customers in United Kingdom (UK).

When the consignment of the soft drinks arrived in the UK, fundamental health related matters were raised on the contents and composition of the Fanta and Sprite products by the United Kingdom Health Authorities, specifically the Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council’s Trading Standard Department of Environment and Economy Directorate.

The findings were also corroborated by the Coca-cola European Union and the products were found to have excessive levels of “Sunset Yellow and Benzoic Acid “which are unsafe for human consumption.

And due to the irregularities and harmful content of the soft drinks, which can cause cancer to the consumers, the claimants could not sell the products resulting in appreciable losses, as they were certified unsuitable for consumption and were seized and destroyed by the UK health authorities.

The claimants alleged further that NAFDAC failed to carry out necessary tests to determine if the soft drinks were safe for human consumption.

However, in its amended statement of defence filed before the court by Mr. T. O. Busari, the NBC admitted supplying the
products but contended that the products manufactured by the company were meant for local distribution and consumption.

It denied that it was negligent in the manufacturing of its products as alleged. It said that stringent quality control procedures were adopted in its production process to ensure that its products are safe for consumption of the final user.

Meanwhile, NAFDAC did not file any defence.

In her judgment, Justice Oyebanji said: “It is imperative to state that the knowledge of the NBC that the products were not to be exported is immaterial to its being fit for human consumption.

“The court is in absolute agreement with the learned counsel for the claimants that soft drinks manufactured by the NBC ought to be fit for human consumption irrespective of color or creed.

“In consideration of the fact that this case was filed in 2008 and that it has been in court for nine years, cost of N2 million is awarded against NAFDAC. Interest shall be paid at the rate of 10 per cent yearly until liquidation of the said sum.”

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Military, MDAs owe power companies N51 billion (Read full details)

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Babatunde Raji Fashola. PHOTO: Bellanaija

• Fashola, Okowa task DISCOs, GENCOs on regular electricity
• Operators need funds, says Elumelu, Transcorp Power boss

An audit report of debt by Federal Government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to power distribution companies (DISCos) has revealed an indebtedness of N59.3 billion by top 100 customers, like defence, military and security agencies owing N51 billion.

This was the communiqué at the 13th meeting of power sector stakeholders yesterday with the Minister of Power, Babatunde Fashola, hosted by the Transcorp Power Limited, Ughelli, Delta State.

The report stated that all verified bills would be recommended for payment on a first-come first-serve basis as a demonstration of government’s determination to lead by example with regards to payment for electricity delivered.

Although the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) reported an improved compliance with submission of audited accounts by DISCos, the stakeholders said that NERC should more rigorously to perform regulatory duties.

In their comments, Fashola and Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa charged power generating companies (GENCos) and the DISCos to do more to ensure regular power supply to Nigerians.

They maintained that regular electricity is critical to the nation’s industrial, technological and infrastructural development.

Fashola also chided the DISCos for failing to strengthen their transformers, thereby leading to epileptic power supplies as a result of frequent breakdowns.

Okowa slammed the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for the poor power supply in his state. He declared: “No matter what you generate, if it does not get to the common man, then it becomes a problem.”

Okowa charged all stakeholders to ensure peace in their communities to ensure peaceful operation of the power companies.

The Chairman of Transcorp Power, Mr. Tony Elumelu told the minister and governor: “We have two issues: one is liquidity. We want the minister to fast-track access to the Liquidation Assurance Programme funds. The second is gas. We want to do, but there is no gas. We can generate 620WM but due to poor access to gas supply we are handicapped.”

The power sector operators present included the NERC, managing directors and CEOs of GENCos, DISCos, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), as well as various government agencies such as the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET), Nigerian Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO) and Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and other operators in the electricity industry.

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MOSOP, INC urge FG to compel oil firms to relocate to Niger Delta (Read full details)

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PHOTO: nta.ng

Delta wades into communities, oil firm’s rift over MoU
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) and Ijaw National Congress (INC) have asked the Presidency to enforce the relocation of multinational oil companies to the Niger Delta.

They said that the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s directives to oil firms to relocate their headquarters to the region without a time-frame creates a lacuna that might be explored by the multinationals to evade the directive.

The President of MOSOP, Legborsi Pyagbara, told The Guardian that the presidential directive was one of the key demands of the people of the Niger Delta as espoused by the Pan-Niger Delta Forum leaders when they met with President Muhammadu Buhari last November.

Pyagbara stressed that government needs to ensure full compliance to this directive within a given time-frame.

He also advocated that opportunities should be given to qualified persons with requisite skills from the Niger Delta to head some of these companies.

In another development, the Delta State Government through the office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice has waded into the rift between host communities in OML 34 and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) over alleged refusal to comply with terms of the project global Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the domestic gas project by the oil company.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Peter Mrakpor, who presided over the mediation meeting, said that he was acting on the instruction of the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.

He said the move was aimed at protecting the rights of the people as well as to create the enabling environment for investors to do business in line with the objective of the state government.

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Rivers will submit report on rerun poll to IGP, says Wike (Read full details)

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Nyesom Wike

• State gets new police commissioner
• Assembly renames RSUST to RSU

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has promised to submit the report of the judicial commission of inquiry on the 2016 rerun election to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

He made the pledge when the Chairman of the panel, Justice Chinwendu Nwogu, submitted its report to the governor at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

The panel was raised to probe the killings and other acts of violence that characterised the December 10, 2016 rerun and supplementary elections in the state.

While expressing doubt at the inspector general of police acting on the report, he said he was optimistic that the police as an institution would perform their constitutional duties.

He disclosed that the state executive council would, after deliberating on the report, issue the white paper on it for necessary action by the police.

The governor commended the judicial commission of inquiry for a thorough report, which included videos, testimonies and relevant accounts of all that transpired during the elections.

Justice Nwogu explained that the commission received 13 Memoranda and several exhibits, including expended bullets and also visited different locations to gather its evidence.

He explained that the report, which is in four volumes, captured all aspects of the commission’s assignment.

Though he did not disclose the content of the report, he explained that the recommendations were in line with the commission’s terms of reference.

However, a new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Zaki Ahmed, has resumed in the state. This followed the death of the former police boss, Mr. Francis Odesanya.

Prior to this posting, Ahmed Magaji, had acted as the commissioner.

The new commissioner, who is from Kogi State, is the 38th commissioner of police in the state.

Meanwhile, the state House of Assembly has renamed the Rivers State University of Science and Technology to Rivers State University.

This followed the passing into law of a bill seeking to rename the earlier name of the Institution.

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Dealers, group differ over customs’ new policy on vehicle duties (Read full details)

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cars

Vehicles dealers in the country have restated their support for the recent directive by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to collect duties for cars and other automobiles of Nigerians who may have defaulted in payment of duties.

National President of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON), Prince Ajibola Adedoyin, who spoke to journalists in an interview at the weekend, described the grace period for the payment as an opportunity for all vehicle dealers and owners to pay duties on their vehicles to avoid losing them.

He said members of the association would take advantage of the duty collection window provided by the Customs from March 13 to April 14, 2017 as demanded by AMDON.

According to him, AMDON had suggested the mode of duty collection on vehicles to the Controller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali as a way of resolving the challenges being encountered by its members.

Adedoyin pointed out that car dealers who were the most affected by seizures of cars and other vehicles had established a partnership with the Customs over the years.

He added that the dealers established a rapport with the Customs to save themselves from losses, arrests and embarrassment occasioned by default in payment of vehicles duties.

“Some of our members were arrested and detained in the past by the police after they sold vehicles that were eventually seized by Customs for non payment of duties. Some of the vehicles, for which our members were arrested, belonged to Nigerians abroad and some importers who only use our sales outlets to market and sell them off.

“Months after such sales were made the buyers will come with police officers to arrest car dealers for selling vehicles without genuine papers. The buyer, with the support of the police, will then be demanding for refunds of total amount spent in buying the vehicle whose money the car dealer had remitted to the actual owners after collecting a commission of less than 5% of the sum,” he explained.

He urged those with vehicles without proof of duty payments to take advantage of the opportunity to pay up the duties. There has been mixed reactions from Nigerians over Customs directive that all vehicles without proofs of duty payment should do so between March 13 and April 14, 2017.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRS) has lauded the National Assembly over its invitation to the Comptroller-General of the Customs, Hameed Ali, to appear before it on Wednesday.

While condemning the new vehicle duties policy, the group said the invitation extended to the Customs boss would sanitise the system and ameliorate the sufferings of the people.

A statement by its Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman, commended members of the eight Senate, particularly Senator Dino Malaye and Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’allah for standing up against what it described as the illegal and anti-people policy of the service.

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Nigeria-born John Oyebode lifts Italy at ITTF Junior Open…See full details

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Nigerian-born John Oyebode is seen as part of the future of Italian table tennis.

Nigerian-born Italian, John Oyebode was in superb form at the just concluded 2017 ITTF Italian Junior and Cadet Open in Lignano, where the 15-year-old claimed two gold medals in the cadet event of the championship.

Oyebode, whose father, Michael, was part of the Nigerian coaching crew to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, partnered Matteo Gualdi to beat Czech Republic’s Simon Belik and Tomas Martinko 11-9, 9-11, 15-17, 11-9, 11-8 (3-2) to claim the gold in the cadet boys doubles.

He also paired Matteo Gualdi to overcome Belgium 3-0 in the cadet boys’ team event.

Despite not playing beyond the second round of the singles event in the cadet boys, Oyebode shone like a star for his adopted country in the junior boys singles as he worked his way into the last four of the event where he was beaten in the semifinal by compatriot, Antonio Amato.

The bespectacled star was seeded number three in the cadet boys and after making the podium in the boys singles, he said, “after the bronze in the Junior Boys’ Singles, the first podium in single in my life, I want another medal.”

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EFCC links Alison-Madueke in trial of ex-minister, SAN (Read full details)

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Former Minister of Petroleum, Alison-Madueke

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has named former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke in the ongoing trial of the former gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN) and the former Minister of Planning, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.

The anti-graft agency alleged that Diezani Alison-Madueke, former Minister of Petroleum, conspired with the accused to take possession of proceeds of crime.

At the resumed trial of the two accused persons, the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court of a five-count amended charge, where the name of the former Petroleum Minister was conspicuously mentioned, and urges the court to allow the amended charge be read to Belgore and Sulaiman, for their pleas to be retaken.

The application was not opposed by counsel to the accused. Consequently, the court granted the application.

In the charges, Alison-Madueke was alleged to have conspired with Belgore and Sulaiman on or about March 27, 2015 to directly take possession of the sum of N450 million, which they reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act.

They were also alleged to have taken the said funds in cash, which exceeded the amount authorised by law, without going through the financial institutions.

Belgore and Sulaiman were also alleged to have paid the sum of N50 million to one Sheriff Shagaya, without going through the banks.

However, counsel to the first accused person, which includes Mr. Ebun Shofunde, Mr. Charles Edosanwa, Mr. Seni Adio, and counsel to Sulaiman, Chief O Ayanlaja, Ladi Rotimi-Williams, and Olatunde Busari, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), pleaded with the court for adjournment for the cross-examination of the witness.

Consequently, the court adjourned the matter till Tuesday (today) for cross-examination of the witness and continuation of trial.

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Witness tells court how NAMA funds were converted (Read full details)

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Ibrahim Abdulsalam

A prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ade Babatunde, yesterday narrated to the court how funds belonging to Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) were allegedly converted by some officials of the agency,

The witness, a staff of Stanbic IBTC bank, was being led in evidence by EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo in the ongoing trial of former employees of NAMA over N6.8 billion fraud.

EFCC had charged NAMA’s former Managing Director, Ibrahim Abdulsalam, alongside a former General Manager of Procurement, Olumuyiwa Adegorite and a former General Manager of Finance, Segun Agbolade. Others are a former acting General Manager of ICT, Bolaniran Akinribido, Sesebor Abiodun and Joy Adegorite.

Also charged are two limited liability companies, Randville investment Limited and Multeng Travels and Tours Limited.

The accused are been prosecuted on a 21-count charge of N6.8 billion fraud.

Babatunde, who is the first prosecution witness said that on July 13, 2015, a cash withdrawal to the tune of N3 million was made by the agency’s former General Manager in charge of Finance (Agbolade), from the account of Randville investment Ltd.

He said that on July 15, 2015, there was a withdrawal of N2.5 million from the account of Randville investment Ltd and same transferred to the account of Segun Agbolade.

He said: “On September 16, 2015, there was a credit transfer of N22 million into the account of Randville investment Limited. On September 28, 2015, a sum of N100 million was deposited in a fixed deposit account and on maturity, same was paid into the account of Randville investment Limited.

“On the same date, N28 million was transferred out of the account, but I cannot confirm the beneficiary because it was not stated on the statement of account. Still on September 28, 2015, N100 million was placed in another fixed deposit account.

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AIB releases final report on Dana plane crash (Read full details)

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Director of Operations, Captain Dayyabu Raka (left); Chief Executive Officer, Akin Olateru; Director of Engineering, Mohammed Wali, all of the Accident Investigations Bureau (AIB) during the presentation of reports  of the 2012 Dana Air crash and other air accidents in Ikeja, Lagos… yesterday.

• Faults N16m operational vote for 2017
Almost five years on, the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) yesterday released the final report on the June 3, 2012 Dana Air mishap in the Iju-Ishaga suburbs of Lagos State.

According to the document, engine failure and poor judgment of the pilots were instrumental to the unfortunate incident which claimed all 153 passengers, six crewmembers and six others aground.

The ill-fated aircraft from Abuja, according to AIB, lost the first engine 17 minutes into the flight before the second packed up five minutes to landing.

Also yesterday, the bureau faulted the N16 million vote captured in the 2017 budget for the investigation of crashes this fiscal year. Though it is to spend N2 billion in the entire 12 months.

The Chief Executive Officer of AIB, Akin Olateru, noted in Lagos that “engine number one lost power 17 minutes into the flight, and thereafter on final approach, engine number two failed to respond to throttle movement on demand for increased power to sustain the aircraft in its flight configuration.”

He added: “The inappropriate omission of the use of the checklist and the crew’s inability to appreciate the severity of the power-related problem, and their subsequent failure to land at the nearest suitable airfield, also contributed to the crash.”

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Zamalek plan to beat Rangers in Enugu, arrive in Nigeria Thursday…See full details

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Zamalek’s Ayman Hefny (right) celebrates his goal against Enugu Rangers when the teams clashed in the first leg of their CAF Champions League qualifier in Cairo…at the weekend. PHOTO. ENGLISH.AHRAM.ORG.

• Flying Antelopes plan Barcelona-like comeback
Egyptian giants, Zamalek, who defeated Enugu Rangers 4-1 in their CAF Champions League first leg last qualifying round, began training for the second leg of the tie yesterday with the intention of beating the Nigerian champions in Enugu on Sunday.

Zamalek are expected to arrive in Nigeria on Thursday for the tie in which the over all winners will move to the group stage of the CAF Champions League.

Speaking before his team began their training session for the return leg yesterday, Zamalek Coach, Mohamed Helmi warned his wards to stay vigilant for the away match.

Helmi told the club’s official website that “victory is just a step towards qualification, which will require effort and focus in Nigeria.”

The five-time Champions, who will visit the Nigerian league holders for the return leg on Thursday, gave an outstanding performance in the first leg, winning the praise of critics and fans.

“Zamalek played a great game. I deeply thank the players for the great show,” football director, Ismail Youssef, said after the game at Cairo’s El-Salam Stadium.

However, while Zamalek have already started looking beyond Rangers in their dream of winning the Champions League trophy, one of the Nigerian champions’ star, Edoh Ocheme, believes his side can upturn the huge deficit. But he agrees the task is enormous.

“I’m still confused how we conceded those number of goals… I think the goals are simply too many. I never thought we could concede more than a goal in the encounter. I wept profusely when the goals kept coming that we were three goals down in the first 45 minutes.

“Well we have come to accept the outcome as it’s as no amount of crying could change the result of the match,” he said.

“Right now we have our jobs well cut out as we must score at least three unreplied goals to progress to the next stage of the competition.

“The task looks daunting but not insurmountable once we are able to do the needful as well as prepare adequately for the reverse fixture clash.

“All hopes are not lost as we are quite capable of scoring the three mandatory goals in the first 45 minutes just as Zamalek SC performed at their backyard in Cairo.

“At least we have role models in Barcelona to copy as well as look up to as we get ready for the reverse clash.

“Barcelona have shown that in football nothing is conclusively done and dust until it’s completely over.

“That’s the mentality we will bring into the second leg coupled with some self-belief I’m sure we will upturn the disadvantage to advance to the next stage of the competition.

“Nigerians should not write us off, we have a second chance to make amend and we will do it to the cheering of our teeming fans,” the former Giwa FC star said.

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