News

NAGAFF Carpets Keyamo Over Certificate Forgery

Published

16 years ago

November 9, 2009

The maritime stakeholders under the umbrella of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Public Policy Advocacy department has carpeted the Lagos based lawyer and human rights activist, Barrister Festus Keyamo over the embattled Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service.

The group urged Lagos lawyer Festus Keyamo to follow due process in handling the allegation of certificate forgery against the present Comptroller General and not to make a mess of it.

In a statement signed by the National President of NAGAFF, Usman S. Sanusi and Barrister Fred Akokhia, NAGAFF Legal Adviser, and made available to The Tide On Sunday in Lagos, stated that a careful appraisal of Keyamo’s antics in recent times seems to leave a sour taste in the mouth of not a few critically-minded Nigerians including NAGAFF as a body.

“A feeling of fear and misgiving whether you are really toeing, the foot steps of other heroes past/present who had charted this same course, the likes of late Alao Aka-Bashorun, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome, Femi Falana, late Ubani and late Dr Beko Ransom Kuti”, the association posited.

The association alleged that Keyamo had handled many cases in the past without seeing to their successive end. They mentioned the case of a young university drop-out called Baba Fryo, who claimed to know those who killed former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola lge, adding that the claim was found to be untrue when Keyamo’s younger brother Lucky Keyamo made a revelation on the well-planned blackmail which he said “himself was involved.

“Not long after that, you again paraded another young man who told Nigerians that he was part of a killer squad hired to kill the then governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu. The man gave full details of how they were moving from one state to the other, to strategize on how to carry out their nefarious act. The young man claimed they were hired by former chairman of the Board of Trustees of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih. Again after much drama you handed over the man to the police, the claim was found to be untrue”, the association said.

The association noted that some couple of months ago, “you came up with another allegation bordering on financial crimes against the leadership of the House of Representatives over the purchase of some units of Peugeot 407 Cars.

“The allegations raised a lot of dust, investigations were carried out by both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the House of Representatives. Relevant bodies like officials of the House and Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) testified and provided documents, figures and data, adding that at the end of the day, the allegations were found to be spurious.

The association advised that the Lagos based lawyer should stop judging the case on the pages of newspapers as it is not the normal practice in law. NAGAFF asked that concerning the matter of certificate forgery involving the Comptroller-General, Keyamo should leave everything to the court of law to determine, instead of pronouncing the man guilty before the outcome of the court.

“We will want to believe that as a lawyer, you are not unaware that matters that are before a court of competent jurisdiction should not be subject to adjudication on the pages of newspapers. This unfortunately you have decided to do in most of the cases you have had the privilege of handling”.

NAGAFF noted that Keyamo’s action was unprofessional and clearly against the ethics of the legal profession and the judiciary.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.