Dangote: 27 Staff Shot During Closure Of Our Factory By Kogi Govt – Newstrends
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Dangote: 27 Staff Shot During Closure Of Our Factory By Kogi Govt

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Dangote Cement Plc has disclosed that 27 workers of the company were shot at when armed thugs suspectdly acting on the order of Kogi state government invaded its Obajana cement plant.

The company in a statement by its Group Managing Director, Michel Pucheros, said that the invasion was carried out by armed vigilantes, led by some officials of the state government acting on the resolution of the Kogi state House of Assembly on controversial tax claims.

“In the process of forcefully evicting workers to enforce the shutdown, the vigilantes shot at 27 of our workers and also destroyed some of the company’s property at the plant,” he said.

While reiterating that Obajana cement plant is 100% owned by Dangote Cement Plc, Pucheros said steps have been taken to arrest the vigilantes who carried out the invasion.

Meanwhile Organised Private Sector (OPS) under the aegis of National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) have berated the Kogi State government over the closure of Dangote Cement, Obajana Plant, describing the action as being hasty.

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This is just as Lagos and Abuja branches of the Chamber in separate statements described the action of the state governor, Yahaya Bello as “shocking and disappointing” at the least, regretting that for every day the factory is shut, millions of naira are lost and the reputation of Kogi state takes a negative hit.

NACCIMA expressed regret that the issues between the company and the state over tax dispute ought not to have led to sealing of the company but should have been resolved in a conciliatory and amicable atmosphere.

The body, in a statement signed by its Director-General, Olusola Obadimu and issued in Lagos, said the state government should have trodden a path of caution, and called for the immediate reopening of the factory for normal production activities to resume.

Obadimu stated that NACCIMA’s position was based on some key considerations bordering on the impact of the factory’s closure on the economy and thousands of people whose means of livelihood depend on the production activities of the factory.

“It is vital to note that it is a huge production plant that supplies key domestic input (cement) into the economy and employs hundreds of thousands of Nigerians, directly and indirectly. This is aside from its substantial budget for corporate social responsibility outside of taxes.

“Shutting off the factory does not necessarily help the controversial issue of compliance on tax remittable to Kogi state government. Rather a continuous operation of the plant would more likely facilitate a faster resolution of the dispute,” he said.

The LCCI, in its statement signed by its Director General, Dr. Chinyere Almona said the attack on the cement factory reflected the poor handling of investment protection issues in the country.

The Chamber said it believed there are more decent ways to handle regulatory and legislative matters concerning businesses in Nigeria than resorting to violence. According to the Chamber, the invasion of the Dangote Cement Factory by youths that led to the shooting of factory workers is unfortunate and avoidable.

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“We advocate a win-win situation for businesses and the government. We will therefore call on all parties to exercise caution and be protective of jobs, assets of production, and government revenues from corporate organisations like Dangote Cement Factory,” she added.

The LCCI boss noted that the Federal Government and Kogi State Government had hitherto benefited from business revenues and social investments, and added that, “It is therefore expected that the government would be interested in creating an enabling business environment that can attract both local and foreign investors. And where there are infractions, handling such should be in accordance with best practices and the rule of law that protect investors’ rights and human lives.”

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry in a statement signed by its Director General, Ms. Victoria Akai urged the state government to employ dialogue in resolving whatever differences it has with the cement company so as to protect the image of the state as an investment destination.

The Kogi government on Wednesday sealed the plant, formerly owned by the state government, on the allegation that it was improperly acquired by Dangote Industries Limited, the parent company of the cement giant.

The state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kinsley Fanwo, in a statement, said the state government sealed the factory in Obajana following agitations by Kogi indigenes on the questionable circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the company.

Daily Trust

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Alleged money laundering: Court temporarily freezes 21 bank accounts, orders holders’ arrest

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January 3, 2025

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Alleged money laundering: Court temporarily freezes 21 bank accounts, orders holders’ arrest

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the temporary freezing of 21 bank accounts domiciled in some commercial banks and directed the arrest of the account holders by the police.

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after counsel for the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Ibrahim Mohammed, moved a motion ex-parte to the effect.

Justice Nwite also granted the “order directing the banks to issue details of the account package(s) and to place a Post-No-Debit (PND) on the accounts, disable the ATMs while allowing inflow into the said accounts” pending the conclusion of the investigation.

“I have listened to the submission of the learner counsel for the applicant and gone through the affidavit evidence.

“I am of the view that the motion ex-parte is meritorious.

“The application is hereby granted except that the period of the investigation can only last for a period of 90 days,” Justice Nwite said.

The judge adjourned the matter until April 3 for mention.

The banks are Access Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Ltd, Wema Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc, Guarantee Trust Bank Ltd, United Bank of Africa Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, First Monument Bank Plc, Heritage Bank Plc, TAJ Bank Plc and Keystone Bank Plc.

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while the I-G is the applicant in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1965/V/2024, the 13 banks are sued as 1st to 13 defendants respectively.

The I-G, in the motion filed by Mohammed, sought an interim order directing the listed “banks to freeze the accounts mentioned in the schedule attached to this summon pending investigation and prosecution of this case.

“An order directing the banks to issue details of the account package(s) and to place a Post-No-Debit (PND) on the accounts, disable the ATM while allowing inflow into the said account as from the date of this court order.

“An order of the court, directing the bank to apprehend the account holder or any person transacting business on the said account and contact the police through this number 09011483807”

Giving two grounds, the lawyer said the accounts are subject of investigation and are reasonably suspected to be warehousing proceeds of unlawful activities or fraud.

He said “iIf there is any dealing with the accounts by way of withdrawal or transfer to another account by the person under investigation/investigator and the person that have absolute power to deal with the account will render nugatory any consequential order(s) which the court may make at the conclusion of this application.”

In the affidavit deposed to by Glory Ohio, a detective with the Nigeria Police Force attached to Force Criminal Investigation Department, on Feb. 12, 2024, the I-G received a petition bordering on stealing and breach of trust which preliminary investigation revealed to be money laundering.

Ohio averred that the head of the team was assigned to investigate the complaint to determine the allegations contained in the petition and investigations were initiated in that respect.

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“That the complainant alleged that, he needs a (SPV) Special Purpose Vehicle company to enable him secure the contract with Nigeria Navy which led him to entered a joint venture agreement with the defendant who has the company name Indetix Limited.

“That the petitioner was offered contract to supply ICT Equipment and Accessories, supply 10 wooden canoes and out Board engines, supply of 13x115HP Yamaha 4-stroke long shaft outboard engines, supply and installation of inverter batteries and supply of outboard engines and firefighting equipment.

“That the Nigeria Navy offered the petitioner the contract and both parties open a joint account with Zenith Bank where they made themselves the two signatories to the account.

“That both parties concerned drafted memorandum of understanding and a clause spelt the sum of 15% of the profit to be paid to the defendant and parties append their signatures.

“The Nigeria Navy disbursed the contract sum in instalment to be used in execution of the contract.
“That the petitioner received a letter from the complainant that he is not comfortable with the first agreement signed by both parties for 15% of the profit rather a 7.5% of the total sum of the contract to his own share of the contract.

“That the petitioner disagreed with the proposal and the new terms intended to be smuggled into parties earlier agreement.

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“That the refusal of the petitioner does not go well with the suspect as a result of which the suspect sent a purported company resolution to the bank and removed the petitioner as a signatory to the joint account, which makes him the sole signatory.

“That his act was motivated in furtherance of his clandestine motives to steal from the joint account and he did stole money under the guise of purchase of the board engine.

“That the suspect further transferred the contract sum paid into the joint account to various accounts in other to disguise the origin of his illegal activities,” the officer said.

Ohio said the purported money disbursed for the purchase of the engine board was later transferred back to the suspect different account from the joint account.

According to the detective, this is done to promote money laundering and conceal his illegal activities.

The officer said the intelligent report gathered so far revealed that the suspects were making effort to transfer or withdraw money from the accounts and that unless the court grants the order, otherwise, the investigation will be jeopardise.

 

Alleged money laundering: Court temporarily freezes 21 bank accounts, orders holders’ arrest

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Youths beat Osun monarch for appointing Imam on disputed community

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4 hours ago

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January 3, 2025

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Youths beat Osun monarch for appointing Imam on disputed community

The crisis erupted in the Hallelujah community in Egbedore local government area of Osun State on Friday, as enraged residents beat the newly installed Ajeniju of Hallelujah, Oba Jelili Olaiya while attempting to conduct jumat service in the area.

The Ajeniju, who was installed by the Timi of Ede a few months ago, against the will of the Ido-Osun community, was beaten to a pulp by angry youths, saying he had no right to install a chief Imam in the community.

It was gathered that the monarch had last week turbaned one Ahmad Tijjani as Chief Imam of the Hallelujah community, but while gathering some people at his palace to observe jumat prayer, some youth allegedly from Ido-Osun invaded the palace and disrupted the exercise.

Some of the aggrieved youths while shouting at the monarch queried his authority to install and conduct jumat prayer in a domain belonging to a separate monarch.

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The mob beat the monarch seriously and vandalised the palace before security operatives could intervene in the situation.

A security source who pleaded anonymity disclosed that it took the intervention of security operatives to rescue the monarch from the scene.

“The situation escalated, resulting in the vandalization of the palace and a physical attack on Ajenifuja of Hallelujah, who sustained serious injuries. He has since been taken to the State CID for further investigation and safety”, said the source.

However, another source in the community disclosed that the monarch has been taken to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo for treatment.

Confirming the incident, the Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Security, Hon. Samuel Ojo said he will not comment on the incident pending the outcome of an investigation on the matter.

Youths beat Osun monarch for appointing Imam on disputed community

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Lagos commuter bus summersaults, LASTMA rescues 8 injured passengers

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5 hours ago

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January 3, 2025

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Lagos commuter bus summersaults, LASTMA rescues 8 injured passengers

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has rescued eight injured passengers involved in an accident at Hammadiya inward Abule-Egba.

The LASTMA General Manager, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, confirmed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

The statement was signed by Mr Taofiq Adebayo, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA.

Bakare-Oki said the road traffic incident which involved a commercial long bus, popularly referred to as ‘Molue,’ at Hammadiya inward Abule-Egba, caused severe injuries and significant disruption to traffic.

“The accident was triggered when the vehicle, registered as KTU 801 XM, lost control at excessive speed, reportedly due to driver impatience.

“In an attempt to avoid colliding with another LT commercial bus and pedestrians awaiting transport at the roadside, the driver veered sharply, resulting in the bus crashing into the expressway median and overturning.

“Several passengers sustained injuries, while others escaped through the bus’s windows,” he said.

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He said that officers from LASTMA promptly arrived at the scene, executed a well-coordinated and efficient rescue operation.

“Eight individuals, including five males and three females, suffered varying degrees of injuries. Among the injured was the bus driver, who sustained a fractured left arm.

“All victims were immediately handed over to LASAMBUS medical personnel and transported to the General Hospital at Ile-Epo for urgent medical attention,” he said.

Bakare-Oki said to ensure the free flow of traffic and public safety, LASTMA’s Response Unit was swiftly mobilised to oversee the removal of the overturned vehicle.

He added that security support was provided by officers from the Meran Police Division, ensuring that the rescue operation proceeded without hindrance.

Bakare-Oki extended his sympathies to the injured passengers and conveyed his wishes for their swift recovery.

He emphasised the importance of strict adherence to traffic regulations, particularly compliance with speed limits as prescribed by the Lagos State Government.

He also implored commercial and private vehicle operators to prioritise regular maintenance of their vehicles, with particular attention to critical systems such as brakes, to avert preventable accidents.

“This unfortunate incident underscores LASTMA’s resolute commitment to preserving lives and ensuring safety on Lagos roads through proactive interventions and collaborative engagements with emergency response agencies,” he said.

 

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