3,000 Graduates Sit For NDDC's Foreign Scholarship Test

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtz6hqLxDcw7Tmiu7hCDUi_ob6zmvVcPxM1cFyiH_A67WW7leCX3vNMix7guEEkNu6gGdFj-gQxke55lsrdslYkMBqX5JytmQ1Et5EAifGAiqxQGgxjxmPFKUrAHHVMaXXWZ3PsV10XjE/s1600/nddc-scholarship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtz6hqLxDcw7Tmiu7hCDUi_ob6zmvVcPxM1cFyiH_A67WW7leCX3vNMix7guEEkNu6gGdFj-gQxke55lsrdslYkMBqX5JytmQ1Et5EAifGAiqxQGgxjxmPFKUrAHHVMaXXWZ3PsV10XjE/s1600/nddc-scholarship.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>The Niger Delta Development Commission has begun a selection process for its foreign scholarship scheme with the conduct of a computer-based aptitude test.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> At least, 3,000 graduates drawn from nine states of the Niger Delta region, took part in the computer test, which was held on Monday, at the ICT Centre of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Giving details of the foreign scholarship scheme in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the Deputy Director of Education, Health and Social Services, Dr. Solomon Ita, said 4,000 candidates applied online for the scheme.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Ita disclosed that out of the number, 3,000 were invited for the aptitude test, explaining that 2,000 successful candidates would be invited for oral interview before the final selection would be made.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He added that the NDDC foreign scholarship scheme, which started four years ago, had so far sponsored 1,021 graduates for Masters and Doctorate degrees in Engineering and Sciences, including Medicine, in the best universities across the world.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “We have ensured that the selection process is as transparent as possible to give all qualified candidates a fair chance to compete.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “From the online application to the computer test, the candidates are given the opportunity to be part of the process. At the end of the computer test, each candidate sees his or her result before signing out,” he stated.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He pointed out that emphasis was placed on science disciplines because of a noticeable deficiency in this area in the oil industry, which made it difficult for firms to employ young graduates from the region in the sector.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “You know we have a lot of gaps in our oil and gas sector and these (science disciplines) are what we desire in the Niger Delta region. Before now, the oil and gas industry had discriminated against fresh graduates from the region for not possessing the requisite qualifications.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “We also need to encourage our youths to show interest in engineering for the sake of our projects. We need qualified engineers that can manage our projects just as in agriculture, environmental science and other science related courses,” Ita added.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A representative of the NDDC’s consultant on the scholarship scheme, Mr. Nnamdi Munonye, said there was no room for cheating in the computer-based aptitude test.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Source: <a href="http://www.punchng.com/news/3000-graduates-sit-nddcs-foreign-scholarship-test/">The Punch</a></b></div> <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>=============================================================</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;">PLACE YOUR TEXT ADVERTS HERE </span>=============================================================</b><br /> <b>Need Dubai visas (2 weeks or 3 months)? 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3,000 Graduates Sit For NDDC's Foreign Scholarship Test

The Niger Delta Development Commission has begun a selection process for its foreign scholarship scheme with the conduct of a computer-...

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Real Madrid Out Of UEFA Champions League

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wmY6zer2v5dTItfSxAROYw4V1zcP6sLukQsoPYp_ZV-eYsfuNOiMQ0iOT3wmqVOhDRykNbjYEwwkY2F_-uqKOKxBfU_l6oeNQ-V-_LxqkuzeAz-WFbeWoSbg_LTbRw3rBPr7vfpey_q5/s1600/Madrid+v+Juventus.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wmY6zer2v5dTItfSxAROYw4V1zcP6sLukQsoPYp_ZV-eYsfuNOiMQ0iOT3wmqVOhDRykNbjYEwwkY2F_-uqKOKxBfU_l6oeNQ-V-_LxqkuzeAz-WFbeWoSbg_LTbRw3rBPr7vfpey_q5/s1600/Madrid+v+Juventus.jpeg" /></a></div> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Juventus will meet Barcelona in the Champions League final after Alvaro Morata scored against his former club to knock holders Real Madrid out.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Real trailed 2-1 from the first leg but levelled on aggregate following Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty after he was caught by Giorgio Chiellini.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A first 'El Clasico' final looked on the cards until Morata fired into the ground and past Iker Casillas.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez went close but Juventus held on.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: '';">Juventus reach first CL final since 2003 and will face Barcelona in Berlin on June 6.</span></div> <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>=============================================================</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;">PLACE YOUR TEXT ADVERTS HERE </span>=============================================================</b><br /> <b>Need Dubai visas (2 weeks or 3 months)? Contact <span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Rukky Travels and Tours</span> on <span style="color: red;">rukkytravels@gmail.com</span></b><br /> <b>******************************************************************</b><br /> <b><span style="color: red;"><i>Shopify</i> makes it easy to open an online store by providing all the tools and help you need.</span> <a href="http://www.shopify.com/?ref=tnnng" style="color: #20124d;">Click here to try it for free!</a></b><br /> <b>******************************************************************</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"><a href="http://goo.gl/JoPv8J">Want An Exotic Car Ride? These Luxury Cars Are Superb. CLICK HERE To Rent One.</a></span></b><br /> <b>******************************************************************</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>YOU TOO CAN HAVE YOUR TEXT ADVERTS PLACED HERE. CONTACT US AT <span style="color: red;">tnn.ng1@gmail.com</span> FOR AD PLACEMENT DETAILS</b></div>

Real Madrid Out Of UEFA Champions League

Juventus will meet Barcelona in the Champions League final after Alvaro Morata scored against his former club to knock holders Real M...

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I Went To Court In 2003, 2007, 2011 For Nigeria To Be Free - Buhari

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmXR5aEREzDtm_6BbfJfczU4H7CEsV8VsKXdcDXj6gO1DgzMtbdUDa_7Plq0NNzGH3EvXRj5y9-DS668znm4bqlKCaggYve8w5vMXverTot979pixF5StEbCb7v08OmUBazH-TF1BTRNs/s1600/GMB+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmXR5aEREzDtm_6BbfJfczU4H7CEsV8VsKXdcDXj6gO1DgzMtbdUDa_7Plq0NNzGH3EvXRj5y9-DS668znm4bqlKCaggYve8w5vMXverTot979pixF5StEbCb7v08OmUBazH-TF1BTRNs/s1600/GMB+006.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday explained why he went to court to challenge results of the presidential elections he lost in 2003, 2007 and 2011.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Buhari, who stated this when Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) members visited him in Abuja, said he took the decision because he believed Nigeria must be free.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Buhari said: "Going through the court is not easy, both materially and physically, and I maintained that consistency because my view about my country is that Nigeria should be truly free."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He condoled with the delegates over the killing of some people during the last general elections.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The president-elect added: "I understand why many of you, who were denied the opportunity to choose those you want to represent and lead you are taking the line I took in the last 12 years in line with our constitution.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "Whether you get it or not, the most important thing is that you believe in the system and you should continue to try until the system is perfect.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "I express my condolence to you for the people murdered and I assure you that my objective of remaining consistently in partisan politics is to make sure that Nigerians are given their inherent right to choose whoever they want to lead them."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The president-elect said he would never support anybody who undermined that right of Nigerians.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He added that arming unemployed youths and sending them to kill their own people was the worst thing anybody, aspiring to leadership, could do.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> According to him, he will concentrate on what Nigerians would be proud of, adding that Nigerians would be respected.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Buhari explained that the first objective of the APC would be security, adding that insecurity destroys the economy.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The leader of the delegation and the APC governorship candidate in the state, Olorogun Otega Emerhor, alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) disenfranchised the people of Delta State and the South-South at both the presidential and governorship elections.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He stated: "As our submission to the tribunal in respect of the governorship and Atate Assembly elections will demonstrate, in truth, majority of Deltans were ready for the change you represent and were geared to vote massively for you and APC.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "Unfortunately, a grand design executed by the PDP in the South-South and South-East and particularly Delta, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, made sure that no proper elections took place."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He alleged that result sheets were confiscated and results fabricated, alleging that PDP resorted to violence and intimidation.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Emerhor said: "Our election petition shows that while announced voter accreditation was over 1,017,796, the actual card reader accreditation report shows only 709,700.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "As you are aware, Delta State, along with Akwa Ibom and Rivers States are rich in oil resources and the PDP is determined to hold on to these States at all cost in order to utilise the huge revenue base of these States to re-launch itself to national reckoning."</div> <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>=============================================================</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;">PLACE YOUR TEXT ADVERTS HERE </span>=============================================================</b><br /> <b>Need Dubai visas (2 weeks or 3 months)? Contact <span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Rukky Travels and Tours</span> on <span style="color: red;">rukkytravels@gmail.com</span></b><br /> <b>******************************************************************</b><br /> <b><span style="color: red;"><i>Shopify</i> makes it easy to open an online store by providing all the tools and help you need.</span> <a href="http://www.shopify.com/?ref=tnnng" style="color: #20124d;">Click here to try it for free!</a></b><br /> <b>******************************************************************</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"><a href="http://goo.gl/JoPv8J">Want An Exotic Car Ride? These Luxury Cars Are Superb. CLICK HERE To Rent One.</a></span></b><br /> <b>******************************************************************</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>YOU TOO CAN HAVE YOUR TEXT ADVERTS PLACED HERE. 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I Went To Court In 2003, 2007, 2011 For Nigeria To Be Free - Buhari

President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday explained why he went to court to challenge results of the presidential elections he lo...

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Unpaid Salaries: Court Freezes Plateau, Benue States Accounts

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUZho_S5mDufzEXOFcukEqAC6FB3VNgspCP-yrn1UmCAFsy9k5LlbAfdIqSwVlVNDTAFboE2bgXDZH-EB67Tb0ZPumUw9JmFAtOCBhaOwQBNSq30fbe4QcyEtMSRRoKiUU0TGMVhm1anX/s1600/Court2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUZho_S5mDufzEXOFcukEqAC6FB3VNgspCP-yrn1UmCAFsy9k5LlbAfdIqSwVlVNDTAFboE2bgXDZH-EB67Tb0ZPumUw9JmFAtOCBhaOwQBNSq30fbe4QcyEtMSRRoKiUU0TGMVhm1anX/s1600/Court2.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the freezing of accounts belonging Benue and Plateau States in four commercial banks, over their alleged refusal to release funds for the payment of wages and allowances of court workers in the states.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Justice Ademola Adeniyi , who gave the order while ruling on two ex-parte motions filed by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), who sought to attach the States' accounts in the banks over their alleged refusal to pay about ₦1.6 billion to satisfy the January 13, 2014 judgment given by the judge.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Judge ordered the state governments to show cause why an <i>order nisi</i> should not be made absolute by the court.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Justice Ademola, in the 2014 judgment, affirmed the financial autonomy status granted the judiciary by the constitution and abolished funding of the arm of government by the state governments.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Union stated, in their ex-parte motions, that the amount due to Benue State Judiciary “as at March 2015, is ₦957.6 million” and the amount due to the Plateau State Judiciary for the same period is ₦673.01 million.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Justice Ademola adjourned the case to the 1st of June 2015.</div> <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>=============================================================</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;">PLACE YOUR TEXT ADVERTS HERE </span>=============================================================</b><br /> <b>Need Dubai visas (2 weeks or 3 months)? Contact <span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Rukky Travels and Tours</span> on <span style="color: red;">rukkytravels@gmail.com</span></b><br /> <b>******************************************************************</b><br /> <b><span style="color: red;"><i>Shopify</i> makes it easy to open an online store by providing all the tools and help you need.</span> <a href="http://www.shopify.com/?ref=tnnng" style="color: #20124d;">Click here to try it for free!</a></b><br /> <b>******************************************************************</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"><a href="http://goo.gl/JoPv8J">Want An Exotic Car Ride? These Luxury Cars Are Superb. CLICK HERE To Rent One.</a></span></b><br /> <b>******************************************************************</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>YOU TOO CAN HAVE YOUR TEXT ADVERTS PLACED HERE. CONTACT US AT <span style="color: red;">tnn.ng1@gmail.com</span> FOR AD PLACEMENT DETAILS</b></div>

Unpaid Salaries: Court Freezes Plateau, Benue States Accounts

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the freezing of accounts belonging Benue and Plateau States in four commercial banks, over th...

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Race For Labour Leadership Hots Up As More Aspirants Emerge

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78-QpnyuU6GTZeNHkQiWA5G53Gj094P1_-ZawIFq7j1ljUw5WRWgFULldhjs8cJlt15NcIFyxCrs1qUVUv3thwr-AEEZ_hwcqngAGR7bvaMyi5X8mwUeqlThGKB5waFu7LqZDtFOkJo3s/s1600/Andy+Burnham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78-QpnyuU6GTZeNHkQiWA5G53Gj094P1_-ZawIFq7j1ljUw5WRWgFULldhjs8cJlt15NcIFyxCrs1qUVUv3thwr-AEEZ_hwcqngAGR7bvaMyi5X8mwUeqlThGKB5waFu7LqZDtFOkJo3s/s1600/Andy+Burnham.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>UK's Labour Party has said it will select a new leader in mid-September, ahead of the party conference, with Andy Burnham the latest to say he will stand.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The shadow health secretary announced his bid to succeed Ed Miliband after the ruling National Executive Committee set out the timetable for the election.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna and shadow care minister Liz Kendall have already declared an interest.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Acting leader Harriet Harman pledged an "open and honest" debate on the future.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "Our challenge now is to use this time to listen and learn, to elect a new leader and deputy leader who will rebuild the Labour Party in order to take the fight to this Tory government and to stand up for Britain."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 'Centre ground'</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr Miliband resigned last week after the party was left with just 232 seats, having sustained heavy losses at the hands of the SNP and failing to make ground in England. The Conservatives defied the opinion polls to win an overall majority.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Yvette Cooper, Tristram Hunt and Mary Creagh are also seen as potential successors.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> However, work and pensions spokeswoman Rachel Reeves has ruled herself out, telling the <b><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32714809?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_breaking&ns_source=twitter&ns_linkname=news_central">BBC</a></b> the party needed to be in the centre ground of British politics to win the next election.</div> <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>=============================================================</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;">PLACE YOUR TEXT ADVERTS HERE </span>=============================================================</b><br /> <b>Need Dubai visas (2 weeks or 3 months)? Contact <span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Rukky Travels and Tours</span> on <span style="color: red;">rukkytravels@gmail.com</span></b><br /> <b>******************************************************************</b><br /> <b><span style="color: red;"><i>Shopify</i> makes it easy to open an online store by providing all the tools and help you need.</span> <a href="http://www.shopify.com/?ref=tnnng" style="color: #20124d;">Click here to try it for free!</a></b><br /> <b>******************************************************************</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"><a href="http://goo.gl/JoPv8J">Want An Exotic Car Ride? These Luxury Cars Are Superb. CLICK HERE To Rent One.</a></span></b><br /> <b>******************************************************************</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>YOU TOO CAN HAVE YOUR TEXT ADVERTS PLACED HERE. CONTACT US AT <span style="color: red;">tnn.ng1@gmail.com</span> FOR AD PLACEMENT DETAILS</b></div>

Race For Labour Leadership Hots Up As More Aspirants Emerge

UK's Labour Party has said it will select a new leader in mid-September, ahead of the party conference, with Andy Burnham the lates...

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NDIC Drags Okupe To Court Over ₦34 Million Debt

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHl3VEwjAr2E5tM3xOmRBAkWo7HVODOGVhnNn1kkff7xgdYNfnXP8IzeHkDdbgoD9eTzB3tyQz-F8VDnAO_e6jUXJ34ncyLY0xsjqvmnoxZyh_s9qXtG7Xsfq43RWMsctwU7Z-FihFqSM/s1600/Okupe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHl3VEwjAr2E5tM3xOmRBAkWo7HVODOGVhnNn1kkff7xgdYNfnXP8IzeHkDdbgoD9eTzB3tyQz-F8VDnAO_e6jUXJ34ncyLY0xsjqvmnoxZyh_s9qXtG7Xsfq43RWMsctwU7Z-FihFqSM/s1600/Okupe.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>The Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has urged a Federal High Court in Lagos to place a debt recovery suit filed against the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Doyin Okupe and two others on an undefended list.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> NDIC, who is the Liquidator of defunct Gulf Bank Nigeria Plc, made the application following alleged failure of Okupe and other defendants in the eight year old case to file their defence.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Apart from the president's aide, other defendants in the case are: an investment company, Value Trust Investment Limited, and a Director of the company Ray Ahazie.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> NDIC is claiming Okupe, who is the chairman of the company and other defendants owe the sum of ₦34,168,064.51 as outstanding balance of a loan they took from liquidated Gulf Bank Plc in 2000.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The corporation is also claiming interest on the said sum at the rate of 21 per cent per annum from May 2007, until the final liquidation of the said sum.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> NDIC in a statement of claim filed on its behalf by its counsel, Dr Abiodun Layonu, alleged that the defendants were granted a credit facility in October 2000, by Gulf Bank Plc, to finance the importation of 10,000 metric tonnes of rice for onward delivery to the Bayelsa State government in the sum of ₦448 million vide an offer letter dated 27 October 2000, and that the terms and conditions of the offers and acceptance were later formalised in a memorandum of agreement duly signed and stamped by the bank and defendants.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The plaintiff (NDIC) averred that in securing the facility granted the defendants, the Bayelsa state government through its banker, Societe Generale Bank granted a bank guarantee in contract sum of ₦500 million in favour of Gulf Bank and in further securing the facility, the Investment company’s directors, Dr Okupe and Ahaze, entered into joint and several guarantee to pay full amount granted in favour of the Gulf Bank.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The bank also by way of security has a lien on the shipping documents in respect of the goods financed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> NDIC further stated that when the ship carrying the 10,000 metric tonnes of rice arrived Nigerian territorial water on December 28, 2000, it could not berth at Apapa Port until January 03, 2001, because the port was congested and that the ship arrived Port Harcourt territorial water on July 26, 2001, but refused to berth on the ground that the shipping agency fee $155,000, (about ₦18.6 million) had not been paid.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Upon enquiry, the Nigeria's representative of the shipping company, Koda International Nigeria Limited, informed Gulf Bank that a bill of $155,000 had been sent to the first defendant, Value Trust Investment Limited, for settlement as per the agreement between the investment company and the oversea supplier, Luck Rice International.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> That when it appears that the investment company could not come up with the $155,000 USD, forming the shipping agency fees, Gulf Bank decided to pay the fee to Koda International Nigeria Limited.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> NDIC further averred that when Bayelsa state government reneged on its promise to take the rice, Gulf Bank was forced to commence an open market sale of the rice.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> At the end of the sale, Gulf Bank was only able to realise the sum of ₦454,574,150 in the account resulting in a difference of ₦70,425,850 between the initial overdrawn position of ₦525 million in Value Trust Investment Limited account, and the difference has been attracting interest since 2001.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Sometimes in September 2005, it had a meeting with the defendants at the Ikoyi office of Economic and financial crime commission (EFCC) with a view to resolving the indebtedness of the defendants.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It was agreed in its letter dated September 21, 2005 to waive the sum of ₦196,642,996.08 from the outstanding debt of ₦240,811,060.59, thereby repayment due to Gulf Bank stood at ₦44,168,064.51 and sequel to the meeting at the EFCC office in September 2005, the defendants were only able to pay the sum of ₦10 million leaving the outstanding balance unpaid in the sum of ₦34,168,064.51.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> However the defendants have refused, neglected and failed to liquidate their indebtedness despite repeated demand on same despite the fact that the defendants have admitted owing the aforesaid debt, as this was evidenced in their letter dated February 15, 2006.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Consequently, NDIC is claiming the sum of ₦34,168,064.51 being the agreed outstanding indebtedness of the defendants; and interest on the said sum at the rate of 21 per cent per annum until the final liquidation of the said sum. It is also claiming the cost of instituting this legal action.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> When the matter came up for hearing, the NDIC lawyer, Oburume Ayeteno told the court that he has filed an application to place the suit on undefended list which he was ready to argue.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> But Okupe’s counsel, Yemi Gbonegun objected on the ground that he had filed a statement of defence on behalf of the defendants but the statement of defence which the plaintiff had file a reply to cannot be traced in the court’s file, consequently he needed time to reproduce the said statement of the defence.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The presiding judge, Saliu Saidu adjourned till 8th of July 2015, for Gbonegun to regularise his position.</div> <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>=============================================================</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;">PLACE YOUR TEXT ADVERTS HERE </span>=============================================================</b><br /> <b>Need Dubai visas (2 weeks or 3 months)? 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NDIC Drags Okupe To Court Over ₦34 Million Debt

The Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has urged a Federal High Court in Lagos to place a debt recovery suit filed against t...

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