Re-burial Of Isaac Boro

MID-May, the remains of Major Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro were re-interred at the Heroes Park in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State. Most people below 50  may not know Boro, a student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, who died fighting in the civil war.
Convinced that peoples of the Niger Delta were not benefitting enough from the proceeds of crude oil, he left school to lead an armed protest. His Niger Delta Volunteer Force declared the Niger Delta Republic on 23 February  1966. Boro’s republic lasted 12 days. Federal forces contained the insurrection.
He was jailed for treason. General Yakubu Gowon granted him amnesty in May 1967, after which he was commissioned a major in the Nigerian Army. He fought in the 3rd Marine Commando when Colonel (later General) Benjamin Adekunle was boss. According to official accounts, a Biafran soldier who was hiding in an empty house by Okrika water side killed Boro on 18 May 1968 as federal troops advanced towards Port Harcourt which they captured six hours after Boro’s demise.
Boro, who initially took up arms against Nigeria, defended the same country against secession. His interment at the military section of Ikoyi Cemetery accorded him a national status and recognition for fighting against secession.
The event in Yenagoa, and the government’s investments in it – a DNA was conducted on his exhumed bones in London to ascertain the remains were his – raise some curiosity. Why would the remains of a soldier who fought gallantly to preserve the fidelity of the nation be re-buried in a state government cemetery? Why would the Nigerian Army permit the re-burial? Boro was more than an Ijaw nationalist; he was a Nigerian nationalist who paid the supreme price defending Nigeria. Would it be the rule hence to re-bury every nationalist, of Bayelsa origin, at the Heroes Park?
Late General Andrew Owoye Azazi was buried in the same park. Azazi was a four-star general of the Nigerian Army, not Bayelsa’s army. He was Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, not Security Adviser to Bayelsa State Government. In the United States, whose system of government we copied, people like Boro and Azazi, would have been interred at any of the US’ 146 national cemeteries. The one in Arlington, Virginia, seems to be the most prominent.
The re-burial of Boro, whatever it was meant to achieve, simply diminishes him, cascading him from the lofty status of a nationalist to a state irredentist. A statue at the Heroes Park would have been adequate recognition for Boro without de-nationalising him.
In future, when posterity and propriety drive governance, both men will secure final resting places in a befitting national cemetery – they deserve no less

Father of 3 commits suicide after being sacked

BENIN— A father of three, who was identified as Patrick Essien, was reported have committed suicide, yesterday, in Benin after he was allegedly sacked from the transport company where he worked.
His dangling body was found in the roof of the toilet at the residence at Imasabemwen Street, off Siluko Road.
Some co-tenants, who spoke to journalists, said the deceased had complained earlier that he had been sacked, although they could not volunteer the name of the company.
According to them, a co-tenant, who went to the toilet to ease himself, peeped in after knocking several times without getting any response. That was when he saw a body dangling from the roof.
They said the late driver had been living at the residence for the past 14 years without any wife or children but that he told them he had a wife and three kids somewhere.
According to them, “we saw him this morning. He said he was sacked and we later found him dead in the toilet.”
His corpse was later taken away by the police.
In a related development, a 74-year-old man, Clement Omorogbe, has been jailed by an Egor Magistrate Court for raping a minor in November 2010.
Presiding Magistrate, Eboh Braimoh in her judgment, said there were increasing cases of rape and sentenced the accused to serve as deterrent to others.

AUST partners Alofos Foundation on green, solar energy design

The African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja has partnered Alofos Science and Technology Foundation to organise a workshop titled AUST-ALOFOS Foundation Workshop in Lagos.
The workshop was aimed at enlightening students from the senior secondary and tertiary institutions about green energy with a focus on solar energy. In the course of the programme, the students were first introduced to the basic principles of electricity generation and consumption and then to more advanced principles.
Thereafter, they were lectured on the various means of green energy generation visa-a-vis wind, solar which are renewable energy sources. The lecturers also provided the students with insights into the various non-renewable energy sources that are in use today such as natural gas, coal, oil, and uranium that contribute to global emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants that result in global warming among other environmental ills.
The four facilitators of the one week workshop who are doctoral students of AUST include: Joseph Asare, Benjamin Agyei- Tuffour, Egidius Rwenyagila and Chukwuemeka Ani Joseph, brought with them Instructional materials and instruments for use by the students.
With a predilection for solar energy, the facilitators helped the students to understand that the field of solar energy research is an ever evolving one as the energy from sun is an under-tapped resource that is being looked into globally. They explained that in order to help in solving the world’s energy needs, Nigeria by virtue of her geographical position, has this resource in abundance hence the need to be on the front lines in this research.

Kings College wins Bestman Games Monopoly Tournament

It was an awesome day for students and staff of Kings College(Lagos) when Habeeb Rabiu, an SS2 student of the school won N1,000,000 from Stanbic IBTC Bank for emerging overall winner of the 1st Annual City of Lagos Monopoly Tournament, organised by Bestman Games.
The tournament saw students of Kings College and Queens College, Lagos, lock horns to produce the finalists. While Rabiu went home with N1m, the 1st runner-up, Daniel Oyeduntan, SS2 student of Kings College and the 2nd runner-up, Akpanuwa Udeme, SS1 student of Queens College, went home with N100,000 and N50,000 respectively.
Present at the tournament were the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; former Petroleum Minister, Odein Ajumogobia; CEO, Stanbic IBTC, Sola David-Borha; Head, Business Development, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Ltd, Nike Bajomo; Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications, First Bank Nigeria Plc, Victoria Onwubiko and CEO, Bestman Games, Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe.
Lauding the organisers and sponsors of the tournament for the initiative, the CBN Governor noted that it was a right step in the right direction.
“This tournament is a unique way of encouraging connection with financial managers. It’s laudable as is aimed at targeting young boys and girls, trying to get them at the very early age to understand the importance of financial management and personal finances. So, this is an initiative that is in the right step with the objectives of the Central Bank.”
Presenting Rabiu with the cheque, Sola David-Borha, an old girl of Queens College, said; “Monopoly encourages hard work and investment amongst players, and I encourage all of you to imbibe in your growing up, the financial skills acquired through this game.

Community worried over kidnap of 2 NYSC members in Rivers

PORT HARCOURT — Rumuewhor community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, has tasked the Rivers State Government and the Police to intensify efforts to secure the release of abducted two National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members by kidnappers in the state.
It will be recalled that two NYSC members were,  two days ago, abducted from Odegu Comprehensive High School, Rumuewhor by gunmen, who invaded the NYSC quarters in the community school.
Their whereabouts is still unknown, as no contact had been established with their abductors.
His Royal Highness, Oha Ikech Igbukwu, Yeweali Rumuewhor, who spoke on the development, said the community was calling on state government and the police to help free the corps members.

Robbers attack, snatch Pasuma’s SUV

Gunmen, Monday night, attacked fuji artiste, Wasiu Alabi, popularly known as Pasuma, along Abeokuta Expressway, snatching his Range Rover Sports Utility Vehicle, SUV.
It was gathered that the gunmen, numbering nine, intercepted Wasiu, who was on his way to perform at a function, at 9pm.
Wasiu and his friend were said to have been driven in the car by four members of the gang for about three hours before they were pushed out somewhere in Ogun State.
The robbers, thereafter, zoomed off in SUV with number plate MUS 830 AP.
One of his back-up singers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “The incident happened at Ahmadiya area of Abeokuta Expressway. They took all the money that was on him, his mobile phones and those of his friend.
“They were dumped in a bush at Itele area of Ogun at 12midnight. While that was on, Pasuma hid his face from them so as not to be recognised. Sympathisers later came to their aid and assisted them back home.”

Opposition parties have played credible roles in Nigeria’s democracy – Moghalu

 ABUJA — AS Nigeria celebrated Democracy Day yesterday, Secretary, ANPP National Rebuilding and Inter-party Contact Committee, Dr. George Moghalu, said opposition parties in the country have played a prominent role to sustain the nation’s democratic experiment since May 29, 1999.
Moghalu told Vanguard in an interview that opposition parties had done well in checkmating the party in government but added that a lot more needed to be done by the opposition parties in this regard.
He said:  In looking at the performance of the opposition parties, we must also look at the challenges. Like I have said time and time again, we are in a system where government has become the only business which has brought about the total collapse of the private sector.

I Don’t Take Men Seriously Again – Nigeria’s BBA Rep, Beverly Osu

“Once bitten twice shy”…..We’ve all heard this saying before and some of us still don’t get it. Big brother Africa housemate from Nigeria, Beverly Osu spoke her heart out on matters of the heart.
When questioned about falling in love in the Big Brother Africa house, the Rubies housemate said:
I was in a relationship with this guy and I was close to marrying, but I broke up with him after fighting with my parents over him, and with my friends too, only to find out that he had not a single feeling for me. So I had to break up with him. After all that this guy did to me, every guy I’ve met or any one that tells me he’s in love with me, I don’t take seriously.
All I know is that you guys will be chasing something and on getting it, you leave the morning after that.

Bayern takes over as most valuable football brand

London – Champions League winners Bayern Munich have taken over as the most valuable football brand in the world from Premier League club champions Manchester United.
The 2013 list compiled by British company Brand Finance values the Bundesliga club at 860 million dollars – 23 million dollars more than United.
Real Madrid, valued at 621 million dollars, are third, with their Spanish rivals, Barcelona fourth, valued at 572 million dollars.
Five Premier League clubs are in the top 10, with the other five places belonging to two German clubs, two Spanish clubs and AC Milan. (dpa/NAN)

2015: Lamido, Amaechi’s posters flood Abuja

ABUJA – AS impeachment threat dangles before the embattled Rivers State Governor Hon. Chibuike Amaechi , posters bearing his photograph and Governor Sule Lamido for the 2015 presidential election now litters some parts of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
But the Governor has denied having any ambition to contest the 2015 election against President Goodluck Jonathan, saying that it might be the handiwork of his political detractors’ flooding some parts of FCT with his posters.
Governor Amaechi’s poster with the Peoples Democrtic Party, PDP, logo, pested along the highway and some bus stop especially, the Federal Housing Estate Kubwa, Dutse bus stop and some other bus stops were struggling spaces with Church Crusade posters and were posted early morning of the Democracy Day.
Commenting on the appearance of his posters in Abuja, Governor Amaechi who spoke through his Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari said that he neither has no political ambition for the 2015 presidential election nor printed posters.
More details soon

Qatar appoints stadium consultants for 2022 FIFA World Cup

DOHA, QATAR  - The Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee has appointed Amsterdam Arena and IMG as the Stadium Operations Consultants for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar on Sunday.

Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General for the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, expressed his enthusiasm following the appointment of the two Stadium Operations Consultants:

“We are looking forward to working together closely with these two extremely professional partners, who between them have invaluable experience in stadium operation in some of the most significant sporting sites across the globe.”

“The appointment of Amsterdam Arena and IMG is crucial in delivering an outstanding 2022 FIFA World Cup. We are thereby placing a key focus on an amazing fan and player experience in all our stadiums,” he added.

Stadium Operations Consultants assist on the development of business cases for all of the competition venues of the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ including, stadiums, stadium precincts and training sites, in alignment with the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee’s goals and the Program Wide Strategy.

The consultants will also work on developing the Program Wide Business Plan relative to stadium operations.

Amsterdam Arena and IMG will perform technical reviews for all competition venues at each individual design stage, assessing operational aspects related to the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™, including, catering and commercial strategies; venue operations pre-tournament, during the tournament and post-tournament; safety and security; pitch and building maintenance; access zones; precinct functionality and operations; technology integration; overlay elements analysis confirming tournament functionality and sustainability.

Henk Markerink, CEO of Amsterdam ArenA stated: “I am impressed by the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee’s ambitious and professional approach to the organization of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and I feel a shared commitment to make the World Cup in Qatar an amazing event with a great legacy to Qatar and the world. We are very honoured and pleased to be part of the Q22 team. By involving us in this early stage and letting us develop the Program Wide Strategies on various subjects we can optimally contribute to the organization of the World Cup”.

Iain Barnett, Vice President, from IMG’s Stadium Group, said: “IMG is honoured to have been selected to support the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee on its ambition for an amazing World Cup.  We are delighted that the perspective of stadium operators has been integrated at such an early stage of the development process which is vital not only for successful delivery of the tournament but also a sustainable legacy.”

IMG is a global leader in venue commercialisation, financing and development. IMG’s stadiumclients include some of the best-known sporting stadia in the world, including Wembley Stadium, the Maracana in Rio De Janeiro and Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

Amsterdam Arena is a team of specialist consultants and stadium managers for conception, development and operation of multifunctional venues.

Amsterdam ArenA is the owner and operator of the multifunctional football stadium in Amsterdam, home of A.F.C. Ajax and recently host of the UEFA Europa League Final. It is also a world renowned specialist in the development and management of (multipurpose) venues around the world. Clients include Donbass Arena; Ukraine, Olympic Stadium Kiev; Ukraine, Spartak Moscow; Russia and Olympic Stadium Berlin; Germany. Besides this Amsterdam ArenA is involved in the day-to-day management of two 2014 FIFA World Cup stadiums in Salvador and Natal; Brazil and Arena Porto Alegrense, home of football club Grêmio in Porto Alegre; Brazil.
IMG Worldwide is a global sports, fashion and media business, with 3,500 employees operating in more than 30 countries around the globe. IMG’s areas of expertise are diverse and wide ranging:  IMG College; IMG’s Joint Ventures in India, Brazil, China and Turkey; IMG Media; IMG Events and Federations; IMG Golf and IMG Tennis; IMG Fashion; IMG Models; IMG Art+Commerce; IMG Clients; IMG Academy; IMG Consulting and IMG Licensing.

3 Urgent Vacancies at GIL Automations(Oil and Gas Company) – Nigerian Job Vacancy

1) Communications/Media Executive.

Job Description

- Steers and promotes company’s brand vision, brand position, brand architecture and achieves overall business goals for the brand.

- Provides direction for

key customer innovation summit presentations.

- Initiates and organizes customer interaction forums

- Preparation of newsletters, exhibition materials, adverts and jingles and all media interactions.

- Responsible for company Social media and press interaction.

- Keep current with emerging web technologies through relevant blogs, listservs, and events, etc.

- Assure web-based information is archived for future needs and reference.

- Track and report on all site metrics.

- Copyedit and proofread all web content.

- Provide analytical support for the creation of information sharing policies and procedures.

- Create, develop and manage content for organization’s web presence (requires working with content management software).

- Monitor industry statistics and follow trends.
Requirements:

- Relevant Degree in communications or Arts with strong IT background.

- Marketing experience in a B2B service company will be an advantage.

- Experience with Web interaction tools and technologies will be an advantage.

 

2) Workshop Supervisor/Technologist

o       Qualification: B.Eng Electrical / Electronics or B.Tech Electrical/Electronics or HND

o       Minimum of 3-6 years Experience in panel building works

o       Knowledge of control panels, LV/MV panels and panel fabrication

 

3)  Workshop Apprentice/Technician

o       Qualification: City & Guilds or NABTEB or OND

o       Minimum of 2-5 years Experience in electrical wiring works and mechanical workshop duties

Method of Application

Please send CVs to hr@gilautomation.com on or before 31^st May 2013. With subject of the vacancy as heading.

Democracy Day: Nigerians express mixed feelings

From Abuja -  Nigerians have expressed mixed feelings over governance as the country celebrates its 14th Democracy Day .
The Federal Government had declared May 29 Democracy Day in 2000 to commemorate the return of civil rule after many years of military governance of  the country.
Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, handed over power to  President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999 and the year after, the latter declared the date a national holiday.
Commenting on the celebration, the Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters’ Mosque, Sheikh Muhammad Khalid, urged Nigerians to offer special prayers for peace, unity and national stability.
Khalid told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  in Abuja that prayer was the only way for the country to sustain its democracy.
“We are calling on Nigerians to intensify prayers for the strengthening of our evolving democracy in line with international best practices,’’ Khalid said.
He, however, advised Nigerian leaders to address issues of justice and equity to achieve meaningful development.
“The current wave of insecurity and social injustice in the country are great threats to people’s liberty and freedom, which is against the values of real democratic society,’’ Khalid said.
He advised government at all levels to be more proactive in addressing poverty by creating conducive atmosphere for industrialisation.
On their part, some Christina leaders called for an end to corruption to achieve the potential of democratic governance.
The President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, the Most Rev. Ignatius Kiagama, told NAN in Jos that corruption in government had become so devastating and assumed a culture emulated by others.
Kaigama said corruption had created laziness among the people, who felt satisfied with immediate gains.
The archbishop, however, said that there was a remedy if individuals would come to terms that government had not been doing enough to empower them and resort to identifying and putting their potential to best use in creating wealth.
“There is a lot that can be done by individuals since government has not been doing enough to empower them.
“Look at the vast farmlands we have, the vast opportunities we have in our young people who should be contributing enormously to the growth of the nation.
“But because people are so self-centred, corruption has become so devastating that people don’t ever see goodness again. People are just satisfied with just what brings them immediate dividends,’’ the bishop said.
The President of Church of Christ In Nations,  Rev. Soja Bewarang, described corruption as a tragedy that had befallen Nigeria and a burden on the common man.
He said that the common man had been suffering under the burden of corruption, which kept growing everyday.
“The interesting aspect about it is that fresh cases keep coming to light almost on daily basis leading to shattered dreams, dashed hope, misery and despair,’’ he said.. (NAN)

We feel ashamed, says Adebolajo’s family (UK murder)

London -  The family of a man suspected of hacking a British soldier to death on a London street condemned the attack as senseless on Tuesday, distancing itself from the murder which has provoked an anti-Muslim backlash.
Lee Rigby, a 25-year-old soldier, was butchered in broad daylight by two men who said they killed him in the name of Islam.
Police shot and wounded the assailants, both Britons of Nigerian descent, at the scene.
In their first public remarks since the attack on Wednesday, relatives of one of the suspects, Michael Adebolajo, 28, a British-born convert from a Christian Nigerian immigrant family, said they felt ashamed and horrified.
Adebolajo went by the nickname Mujahid – warrior – after taking up Islam as a teenager in a suburb on the northeast outskirts of London.
“Nothing we say can undo the events of last week,” the family said in a statement.
“However, as a family, we wish to share with others our horror at the senseless killing of Lee Rigby and express our profound shame and distress that this has brought on our family.
“We wish to state openly that we believe that there is no place for violence in the name of religion or politics,” the family said.
“We believe all right thinking members of society share this view wherever they were born and whatever their religion and political beliefs.”
The murder has galvanised Britian’s small but noisy far-right movement, with more than 1,000 protesters shouting “Muslim killers, off our streets” marching through central London on Monday.
In the northeastern city of Grimsby at the weekend, unidentified attackers threw fire-bombs at a mosque.
Similar attacks happened in southern England last week.
Police have arrested 10 people in connection with the murder.
The second man shot and arrested at the scene of the crime, Michael Adebowale, 22, was discharged from hospital on Monday and moved into police custody where he was arrested on a separate charge of the attempted murder of a police officer.
Intelligence agencies have come in for scrutiny after uncorroborated allegations by a friend of Adebolajo that officers tried to recruit him six months ago.
Sources close to the investigation have told Reuters the attackers were known to Britain’s MI5 internal security service, raising questions about whether it could have been prevented.
Adebolajo had handed out radical Islamist pamphlets, but neither of the two men was considered a serious threat, sources said.
Kenyan police said at the weekend that Adebolajo was detained in Kenya in 2010 on suspicion of seeking to train with an al Qaeda-linked group in Somalia.
That will intensify calls for Britain’s spy agencies to explain what they knew about the suspect and whether they could have done more to prevent Rigby’s killing. (Reuters/NAN)

Help! I am being prosecuted innocently, cries man

Babatunde Akinremi

34-year -old  Babatunde Akinremi, a car wash operator around St Finbarr’s road Akoka, Lagos, has raised alarm over what he described as false allegation and alleged threat to his life by his landlady, over an issue he claimed he did not know anything about.
The car wash operator  who was docked before the magistrate court Yaba , over a case of theft , pleaded not guilty to the charge, insisting rather, that he was merely being  victimized.
He was accused  of stealing an iron rod at the car wash . Trying hard not to betray his emotion, Akinyemi told Crime Alart  shortly after the court session that  trouble  started in 2008, following a petition written against him by authorities of  CMS  Grammar School Authority.
According to him, “ the Lagos state government asked me to vacate the premises located at Number 109, St. Finbarr’s road,  Akoka; where I used for my car wash business. I called my Landlord, who let out the place to me to intervene  but when  he got to Alausa, he was asked to produce the Certificate of Ownership of the said premises, only for him to come  back and told me to go and sort whatever  problem I was having with Alausa people, there  was a demarcation on the piece of land, signifying where their’s ends.
A week after the incident, the Lagos state government came  to plant flowers  there. And  for  six months, I did not  work. They further advised me to go back and settle my case with the school, that it was the school that wrote a petition against me, since the piece of land belongs to them .

In 2009, I went to the school authority to plead with them. We held a meeting and I was told that as an old student of the school, I could make use of the premises on three conditions: firstly, that I keep the premises clean, secondly, that I clear the drainage at all times and the third condition was that at anytime they needed the premises, I would vacate it. I agreed to these terms and resumed my car wash business”.
But barely had i resumed work than one of my former landlord’s  sisters,  Olubunmi Fashida started troubling me, that I should go and pay the sum of N200,000 into an account as payment for two year rent. After much ado, I paid the sum of N130,000  at the insistence of her elder brother in June 2011. but to my surprise, four months after I had paid, (2012), she came and started making trouble with me. And anytime she starts,she will throw all my car-washing equipments into the gutter in front of the premises; I also have pictures as evidence to this effect”, he said.
Police harassment
However, this time , she went to Bariga police station and invited  the police to forcefully move me out of the premises that the water from the car-wash was weakening the foundation of their building. I was arrested, taken to the police station, with the police forcing me to write an undertaking not to be seen loitering or come any where round the  premises and  that I should also, not threaten Olubunmi, which I did.
But before packing out,my father volunteered to come and speak with Olubunmi on the issue.  But immediately she sets her eyes on him,  she stood up, grabbed his shirt, tore it and called in the police, alleging  that my father  brought charms to her shop.  After considering the whole trouble the car-wash issue has caused me, my father advised me to leave everything to God and get a new place . I finally left the premises on 20th April, 2012,only for her to set up a car wash of her own there.
Theft allegation
His movement however, did not provide the needed succor as Olubunmi who insisted on getting back the N130,000 rent he claimed to have paid to Olubunmi as two years rent., took the  case to the Bariga Mediation centre,where Olubunmi as gathered, said the amount for payment for Akinremi’s outstanding rent.
But the whole matter took a different dimension, following the invasion of Akinremi’s new shop by some  policemen .
“I was surprised when I returned home from work on Thursday, May 7th 2013, and was told the police came to look for me. I went to the station only to be informed that   my former landlady came to lay a complain against me, that since I left the premises, she has not had peace, that both the Lagos state government and school authority has been on her neck to vacate the premises. And that an iron and a covert she placed at the premises were missing  and I am the prime suspect. I was detained for a night. Again, I begged her to leave me alone and to forgive me if I had done her wrong.
Again, policemen came on may 15 to invite me to the station, only to take me straight to the court, over an offense I know nothing about. Since I left that place last year, I had neither gone there nor set my eyes on my former landlady”, he said betraying his emotion.
When Crime Alert  visited the car-wash premises to get the defendant’s side of the story, Olubunmi Fashida told our reporter to go see her lawyer, that she did not have anything more than what is in court to say concerning the case. Efforts to reach to her lawyer whom she said lives  some where around Sura area of Lagos Island, proved abortive as she refused to give out his contact.
The accused was however, granted bail in the sum of N100,000 and two sureties in like sum when the case was adjourned to a later date.

Seven docked over sale of fake orange drugs products

*Drug store

Seven traders were recently arrested at the Agege market in Lagos,  for allegedly selling fake Orange Drugs Products to unsuspecting members of the public, using the company’s seal.
Information made available to Crime Alert revealed that the suspects were arrested following a petition to the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubabar that a group of person were selling counterfeit products of the brand, consequent upon which some of the products were traced to Agege market.
However the suspects were reportedly released on bail, with a promise to show up whenever they were needed, only for them to allegedly jump bail.
Rather than turning a new leaf the suspects allegedly continued in the illicit business. “The next thing was that  the company  started receiving series of calls from some unidentified persons; some claiming to be journalists, said  that the traders were just being victimized.
Some of them even claimed that the police asked these traders  to bring an undisclosed  amount of money so that the case could be scrapped. This went on until  the case was charged to court. That was why the police went after them again a couple of days ago and was able to arrest the trio of  Sabinus Ikejube (48) Innocent Nwanedo (52)Mustapha Badamosi (35) out of the seven that were initially arrested”, a representative of the company told crime Alert at the Yaba magistrate court last Thursday.

Drugs manufactured in Germany and Benin Republic

However the traders told the court that  some individuals based in Germany and Cotonou in Benin Republic, manufacture the products and import them into the country, admitting that they only bought from them in whole sale prices and sell to members of the public. They however could not mention names of the purported manufacturers.
Legal counsel to Orange Drugs limited,Chinonso Akponu said after a drastic drop in sales of the products was brought to the notice of the company’s  management,  investigation was carried out to ascertain its cause, during which  it was discovered that some products were being packaged with the Orange Drugs seal and sold in the markets.
Some of the products included Delta soap, Tempovate cream and  Neutrotone. “Currently,  it has not been made  known how these manufactures manage to smuggle the Orange Drug products into the country. What  we noticed is that these products, are being packaged with the Orange Drug seal but   written on the pack that it is manufactured in Germany.
Also some of our marketers have been helpful in supplying us with these information, because they are on ground at the market places.  Aside this, we also  have our task force personnel who visit  market places based on information, to raid these traders. These task force personnel  make sure that arrested traders are handed over to the police for prosecution at the end of the day”.
Harmful components used in manufacturing some of these fake products:
Continuing,  Akpoku decried the effect of the fake product on unsuspecting users , stating for instance that fake  Tempovate products contain  component believed to be very harsh to the human skin.
Following this discovery,  the company has  embarked on moves to inform the public about the existence of these fake products through the use of bill board advertisements and distributing fliers at rallies. We also educate them on the dangers of using these counterfeit products.
“The company has been given the sole right to the ‘Orange Drugs seal’ in Africa, this registration was recently concluded. With this move, we will be able to monitor these infiltration, not just here in Nigeria but in other African countries. I believe that in no time, with the help of the police and full corporation from our loyal marketers, this challenge will be curtailed”, Chinonso stated.
Inspite of these moves, Crime Alert findings show that  some of these counterfeit products are still being sold in the markets.
Said a director in the company, Dr. Ugochukwu Ezenna: “For a product to be faked, it simply means that product is doing well in the market. Otherwise those  who engage in counterfeiting our brand will not  be doing so in the first place. Be it as it may, these activities is affecting  our reputation.
You cannot compare the substance used in manufacturing these fake  products to the quality we use in manufacturing the genuine products. On the other hand, it is affecting sales, because when the market is flooded with these fake products, which also comes cheaper; some of the whole sellers and retailers who are still oblivious of the activities of these impostors, will naturally shift base, and start patronising them simply because they want to make more profit.