News
The United Kingdom has released a new update on the processing of visa applications for countries on its red list.
On Sunday, the British High Commission announced that it will “pause making decisions” on visitor visa applications from all red list countries, including Nigeria.
The development came after the UK put Nigeria on its travel red list as a result of Covid Omicron cases linked to Nigeria.
The ban, which took effect on Monday, means only UK residents or citizens can enter the country from Nigeria.
According to the new update released on Monday, the UK said visa applications in other categories such as for persons who wish to study, work or live permanently, will continue to be processed.
“To support the UK Government’s aim to protect public health from Covid-19 and associated variants of concern (VOC), UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) have paused making decisions on visitor visa applications in all red list countries until travel restrictions are lifted,” the statement reads.
“Applications in other categories (student/work/live permanently in the UK) will continue to be processed.
“If you have been in a red list country in the 10 days before you arrive in England, once you arrive you must quarantine for 10 full days in a managed quarantine hotel (the day you arrive in England is day 0).”
The UK also said anyone who wishes to get their passport back after they had made a visitor visa application before the travel restriction should contact the Visa Application Centre (VAC).
“If you had already made a visit visa application before the travel restrictions in Nigeria started and wish to get your passport back whilst your visit visa application is paused, you can contact the VAC where you submitted your application and request return of your passport,” the statement reads.
“Once you have contacted the VAC to request the return of your passport, you will need to either collect in person for free at the VAC or request a courier service for your passport to be returned to you.
“If you have yet to apply for a visit visa from a red list country and decide to go ahead with your application, when you attend your Visa Application Centre (VAC) appointment you can either: submit your passport with your application or pay the ‘keep my passport’ fee to retain your passport whilst the pause is in place.
“If you decide to submit your passport when making your application and later require it back, you will need to pay the ‘keep my passport’ fee and either collect in person at the VAC or pay for a courier service for your passport to be returned to you.”
The Cable
Lauretta Fagbohun
The 75 victorious Obas popularly known as G75 Obas in Ogun state have lauded Governor Dapo Aboidun of Ogun state for giving the Judiciary the free hands to treat and adjudicate on their matter based on merit, thereby, overturning their demotion earlier done by the Ogun State Government.
The 75 Obas, who spoke with Pressmen through its Secretary, Oba Tanimowo Folarin, Olu of Ipebi, Ijebu-Mushin, pledged their loyalty to Governor Dapo Abiodun-led Administration in the state.
It will be recalled that the Ogun State High Court last week overturned the State Government's decision to demote the aggrieved 75 Baales that were promoted in 2019 by the immediate Administration of former Governor Ibikunle Amosun to Coronet Obas which promoted the concerned Obas to seek legal redress in Court.
While speaking with journalists in Abeokuta recently, the Secretary of the 75 Coronet Obas, Folarin, Olu of Ipebi, Ijebu-Mushin said, "We want to pledge our loyalty and our support to the administration of Dapo Abiodun, we want to tell His Excellency to be aware that we are prepared to work with him and his administration".
"We, Traditional Rulers of various domains in Ogun state, we recognize His Excellency as our Number one and no other person.
"We G75 obas of ogun state has been loyal and also been working with his excellency for a better Ogun state.
"We've been playing a good role in terms of administrating our various domains, pledging loyalty is just to re-assure his Excellency that what we have been doing, we would continue to do more.
"Regarding the judgment,We are not fighting the government, we just feel normal things should be done since the court has pronounced. We are happy and i know our Government too would be happy, his Excellency believes the right thing should be done and that is what we are also doing.
"We have been on this issue for over two years and we have been living our life and we have a government that respects the law.We don't envisage anything negative.
"We are giving the government full assurance that we are here for them and also we would communicate to the government through writing which we have been doing over the years.
The G75 obas also commended the government of Dapo Abiodun especially on the completion of the projects he met on ground saying "there are many projects that have not been completed and Prince Dapo Abiodun has completed some and is still working on them"
The secretary of G75 said " I have never meet Ex Governor Ibikunle Amosun, I have no relationship with him but I know he is one of the senators in Ogun State and I have been installed as baale over 10 years.
The British High Commission says it will “pause making decisions” on visitor visa applications from all red list countries, including Nigeria.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Sunday by the commission.
The development comes hours after the UK added Nigeria to its travel red list as a result of concerns over the Omicron Covid variant.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday, Sajid Javid, the UK health secretary, had announced a temporary ban on foreign travellers from Nigeria, adding that “only UK residents or citizens of the UK can enter the UK from Nigeria from that point onwards, and they would have to quarantine in one of the relevant hotels”.
On the announcement on the suspension of processing visitor visa applications in Nigeria, the UK said the decision will be in effect until the travel ban is lifted.
“To support the UK Government’s aim to protect public health from Covid-19 and associated variants of concern (VOC), UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) will pause making decisions on visitor visa applications in all red list countries, including Nigeria, until travel restrictions are lifted,” the statement reads.
“Visit visas cover travel to the UK for tourism, visiting family and friends, undertaking short-term business activities (for example, attending meetings), undertaking short-term studies (under 6 months), taking part in research or exchange programmes as an academic, medical reasons (for example, receiving private medical treatment).
“If you apply for a visit visa in a red list country and you meet the UK Immigration Rules, your application will be paused. You will not receive a decision on your visit visa application whilst red list travel restrictions remain in place.
“You will not be able to request a refund of your visa fee once you have given your biometrics at a Visa Application Centre (VAC). If you already hold a valid visit visa and are intending to travel to England as a visitor from a red list country, you will not be allowed to enter.
“Separate guidance is available for travellers entering Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Use https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control and https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-list-of-countries-and-territories.”
The commission also said visas or entry permits from red list countries will only be issued where there are compelling and compassionate circumstances.
“There are only very limited exemptions to travel and entry requirements for critical workers and medical and compassionate cases,” the statement reads.
“If you have submitted a visit visa application and you do not wish to withdraw, we will continue to hold your application.
“If you choose to continue with your visa application, you will not receive a decision on your visit visa whilst red list travel restrictions remain in place.”
Persons interested in applying on compassionate grounds can find more information on the process here.
The Cable
Federal Government on Sunday ruled out the possibility of restricting foreign travellers from visiting Nigeria despite travel bans on the country by Canada, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
This is just as the government stated that most of the in-bound passengers that tested positive for Covid-19 were from the UK.
The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, said this on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme on Sunday.
Ehanire described as unfortunate the knee-jerk reaction of some countries to the Omicron strain. He noted that even the World Health Organisation had said recently that countries should focus more on collaboration rather than shutting borders.
“At the moment we have no plans restricting anybody coming from another country,” he said.
The UK on Saturday night announced that it found 21 cases of the omicron variant which were linked to Nigeria. It announced that it would, from Monday (today), restrict all flights emanating from Nigeria.
It also suspended all pending visa applications in Nigeria due to the ban on flights from Nigeria due to the Omicron variant.
In a statement on Sunday, the commission said, “To support the UK Government’s aim to protect public health from Covid-19 and associated variants of concern, UK Visas and Immigration will pause making decisions on visitor visa applications in all red list countries, including Nigeria, until travel restrictions are lifted.
“If you apply for a visit visa in a red list country and you meet the UK Immigration Rules, your application will be paused. You will not receive a decision on your visit visa application whilst red list travel restrictions remain in place. You will not be able to request a refund of your visa fee once you have given your biometrics at a Visa Application Centre. If you already hold a valid visit visa and are intending to travel to England as a visitor from a red list country, you will not be allowed to enter.”
The UK said there are only very limited exemptions to travel and entry requirements for critical workers and medical and compassionate cases.”
But the minister said the Omicron strain could not yet be declared as a deadly strain because no deaths had so far been recorded across the world.
“We are watching what the science community is saying and of course not rushing to judgment and we are also not applauding any lockdowns or any prohibitions or banning of flights or movement of people until we know more.
“We believe that the harm it will do to livelihoods and economies may be more that the perceived value that will be derived from shutting movement between countries. I believe countries should come together to take a common approach and that includes the UK and other countries contemplating a red list,” Ehanire added.
When asked why there was a large number of outbound Nigerian passengers testing positive abroad despite testing negative in Nigeria, Ehanire admitted that indeed, some fake test results were being presented by passengers.
The minister said the government had tightened its mechanism for spotting fake results and vaccination cards.
He, however, argued that the development was not peculiar to Nigeria, adding that most of the inbound passengers that tested positive in Nigeria were actually from the UK.
“Because of the very large volume of travellers from the UK, we also have the most positive Covid-19 virus coming from the UK too,” the minister said.
When asked if anyone had been prosecuted for presenting a fake vaccination certificate or test result, Ehanire explained that the normal procedure was to quarantine such people before handing them over to the police. He admitted that he never followed up to know what happened to such people.
Ehanire said the government was exploring the option of setting up vaccination centres at supermarkets and worship centres.
The minister added that the government was looking at vaccinating at least 70 per cent of the population against coronavirus.
He stated that Nigeria had about 100 million doses which would be delivered to the country in phases.
On the possibility of vaccine production, Ehanire said the Federal Government was seriously looking towards that, adding that it would be a collaborative effort with the private sector.
Regarding the possible spike in Covid-19 infections during the Yuletide, Ehanire said the government would continue to encourage non-pharmaceutical interventions like wearing of masks, social distancing and use of hand sanitisers.
When asked if Nigeria was already facing another wave of Covid-19 infections, he responded in the affirmative, adding that the 4th wave had been predicted long ago and this may just be it.
Ehanire stated, “We had the so-called third wave already with the Delta variant. This is what we are looking at as the 4th wave and it was predicted as far back as a month ago that there might be a 4th wave in Nigeria and perhaps the world and it is already accurately manifesting. We hope it doesn’t get to be that and if it becomes the 4th wave, it will not be deadly to our citizens.”
Between Nov 22 and Nov 28, 67 inbound passengers tested positive – NCDC report
Meanwhile, more inbound passengers are testing positive to Covid-19, an analysis of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control’s weekly situation report has shown.
The report obtained from the NCDC website on Sunday indicated that positivity rate among inbound travellers had increased by 74.6 per cent.
It was also gathered that 48 out of the 94 test centres for inbound persons of interest had not sent in reports of persons tested for three weeks. According to NCDC, in its latest situation report, a total of 17 inbound passengers tested positive between November 15 and November 21.
It however added that between November 22 and November 28, a total of 67 passengers tested positive signifying a 74.6 per cent increase.
Punch
Residents of 1000 Housing Estate in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, woke up to an explosion Saturday morning.
The explosion believed to have been triggered by Boko Haram fighters sparked tension in the area.
A rocket also landed at Gomari, a community about four kilometres from the airport located in the state capital.
In a video seen by Daily Trust, residents of the estate were discussing the incidents in groups.
A large crowd was also seen in one of the houses affected by the explosion.
A resident said no life was lost in the incident but Daily Trust could not independently verify this at the time of this report.
A military source said troops of 33 artillery, Njimtelo, opened fire when they sighted insurgents on the outskirts of Maiduguri.
The insurgents were said to have also engaged troops in a gun battle.
The incident happened after at least 20 persons, including two army officers, lost their lives when suspected ISWAP fighters and troops clashed at a military base in Rann, headquarters of Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno.
Security sources said the incident occurred around 1:30am of Friday at Rann, which shares borders with Cameroon.
It was learnt that troops killed more than a dozen of the outlawed group and destroyed their operations vehicles.
There was also an attack at Malam Fatori, headquarters of Abadam Local Government Area of Borno.
The town, which shares a land border with Niger Republic, had been attacked several times by Boko Haram fighters.
Daily Trust
The United Kingdom says Nigeria will be added to the countries on its red list as a result of the discovery of Covid Omicron cases linked to Nigeria.
Sajid Javid, the UK health secretary, disclosed this on Saturday in a television interview.
The South Africa National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) had, on November 25, announced the discovery of 22 positive cases of the new Omicron variant.
Following the discovery, a number of countries banned travel from countries in southern Africa.
The UK had also placed a temporary ban on air travel from six southern African countries — South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe — with immediate effect to prevent importation of the variant into Britain.
According to the new protocol announced on Saturday, non-UK and non-Irish citizens who are travelling in from Nigeria will not be allowed entry into the UK.
“Over the recent days, we have learned of a significant number of growing cases linked to travel with Nigeria. There are 27 cases already in England and that’s growing. Nigeria narrows second only to South Africa in terms of cases linked to Omicron,” he said.
“So today, the government has decided to add Nigeria to the travel red list and that will be effective from 4am on Monday. This will mean that only UK residents or citizens of the UK can enter the UK from Nigeria from that point onwards, and they would have to quarantine in one of the relevant hotels.
“We’ve also decided to require pre-departure tests for all inward travellers that will be effective from 4am on Tuesday, and they’ll be required maximum of 48 hours before the departure time.”
A statement by the British High Commission also noted that the ban is temporary and “follows 21 recent cases of Covid-19 variant B.1.1.529 (Omicron) linked to Nigeria”.
The ban will also not apply to persons “staying airside and only transiting through”.
The Cable
PRESS RELEASE
Presidential Steering Committee on Covid-19 has reviewed the International Travel
Protocol of 22nd October 2021. This revised protocol is aimed at further reducing the risk of importation and exportation of Covid-19 especially the variants of concern.
In-bound Passengers:
All passengers arriving in Nigeria are expected to provide evidence of and comply with the following rules:
1. Covid-19 PCR test to be done within 48hrs before departure
2. Post-arrival Day 2 Covid-19 PCR test
3. Self-isolation for 7 days (For unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals)
4. Day 7 post-arrival exit PCR test (For unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals)
Out-bound Passengers
All out-bound Passengers are required to provide either of the following documentation:
1. Valid evidence of full vaccination against Covid-19.
2. Negative PCR test result within 48hrs from the time of boarding.
The review of the protocol is based on science, national experience, and global developments.
The PSC assures Nigerians that it shall continue to monitor global and specific country situations with a view to taking necessary measures to safeguard the health of Nigerians.
The PSC calls on all Nigerians to ensure that they have taken their full dose of Covid-19 vaccinations and to continue to observe compliance to public health social measures.
This revised protocol comes into effect on 5th December, 2021.
Sun
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is to launch a nationwide deployment and use of virtual court proceedings in Nigeria’s correctional centres.
AGF’s spokesperson, Umar Gwandu, said in a statement on Friday that the minister would “launch the pilot project for the deployment and use (of) Virtual Court Sitting facilities at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja on Monday, December 6, 2021.”
Gwandu explained further:, “The development is part of the process to implement the Post-Covid-19 Justice Sector Plan marshaled out by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in April, 2020”.
The statement added, “Secretary of the Presidential Committee on Correctional Reforms and Decongestion, Leticia Ayoola-Daniels working with the representative of the supporting organization; Oyinye Ndubuisi of the UNDP are working assiduously to ensure achievement of the laudable project.”
This is coming more than a year after Malami muted the idea in the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown in April last year.
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic last year, virtual court proceedings have gained traction in the Nigeria’s judicial system, due to the lockdown and other safety measures that restrict physical court sittings.
National Judicial Council (NJC) has also issued a virtual court sittings guidelines for various courts, many of whose chief judges have also issued practice directions to that effect.
Gwandu further said on Friday that the initiative was one of the strategic interventions by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice “towards engendering lasting reforms in the Criminal Justice Sector in Nigeria.”
As a way of addressing the intractable delays in Nigeria’s criminal justice system, the statement said the Justice Ministry in collaboration with the Presidential Committee on Correctional Reforms and Decongestion, conceived the project to “expedite engagement with the Nigerian Correctional Centres to make it possible for evidence of suspects in custody to be taken without their physical presence in court to avoid disruptions.”
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service; Halilu Nababa as well as members of the Presidential Committee on Correctional Reforms and Decongestion, are some of the dignitaries expected at the occasion.
PT
Two persons were on Friday killed during an attack by bandits on Ungwan Gimbiya community, in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Over 50 residents of the community were also said to have been abducted by the attackers who invaded the area in the early hours of Friday.
The attack was carried out barely a week after the state government restored telecommunication services that had earlier been shut down to tackle insecurity in some parts of the state.
As of the time of filing this report, there were no official reactions to the latest attack.
Many residents of Ungwan Gimbiya, located around Sabo, had fled the area following the activities of bandits.
The community is a few kilometres away from Kakau Daji where over 60 worshippers of the Emmanuel Baptist Church were kidnapped on Sunday, October 31, 2021, during a church service.
Two of the abductees were killed on the spot while two others were later shot dead.
Similarly, some bandits were reported to have invaded Kainuwar Isa and Kigu of Dutse ward in the Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing one person and abducting 13 others.
The incident, it was gathered, took place Thursday night, according to a source, who added that the gunmen shot indiscriminately when they stormed the community.
There has been no official statement from the authorities.
Punch
Nigeria’s debt to China, France, Japan, India and Germany rose to $4.26bn as of June 30, 2021 from $3.85bn at the end of 2019, according to data obtained from Debt Management Office.
An analysis of the data showed that the country spent $402.74m in the 18-month period servicing bilateral loans, even as it borrowed $400m.
As of December 31, 2019, Nigeria owed $3.18bn to the Exim Bank of China, $76.13m to France’s Agence Francaise Development, $361.75m to Japan International Cooperation Agency, $32.14m to the Exim Bank of India, and $202.27m to Germany’s Kreditanstalt Fur Wiederaufbua.
The bilateral loans accounted for 13.89 per cent of the country’s total external debt of $27.67bn as of the first quarter of 2020.
A total of $94.99m was paid as debt service for bilateral loans in Q1 2020, with China and India $94.61m and $382,310 respectively. Japan, France and Germany got nothing within this period.
The bilateral loans increased by $110m to $3.95bn on June 30, 2020, accounting for 12.54 per cent of the total external debt of $31.48bn.
The country spent $14.26m servicing the bilateral loans in Q2 2020, with France and Germany getting $14.22m and $44,340 respectively while China, Japan and India got nothing.
The debt owed to the five countries rose by $130m in Q3 to $4.08bn on September 30, 2020, making up 12.74 per cent of the total external debt of $31.99bn.
The cost of servicing bilateral loans was $114.6m in Q3, with China, India and Germany getting $100.86m, $412,220 and $13.32m respectively, while Japan and France got nothing.
Nigeria’s total indebtedness to these countries fell slightly by $2m to $4.06bn at the end of 2020, accounting for 12.17 per cent of the total external debt of $33.35bn as of December 2020.
The country incurred a debt service cost of $34.34m in Q4, with China, France and Germany receiving $20,000, $21.14m and $13.19m respectively, while India and Japan got nothing.
The bilateral loans rose by $120m in the first three months of this year to $4.18bn, accounting for 12.73 per cent of the total external debt of $32.86bn.
A total of $106.33m was paid as debt service for bilateral loans in Q1 2021, with China and India receiving $102.2m and $4.13m, while France, Japan and Germany got.
The total debt owed to the five countries increased further to $4.25bn as of June 30, 2021, with China having $3.48bn; Japan, $74.77m; France, $482.15m; India, $34.59m; and Germany, $174.39m.
Bilateral loans accounted for 12.70 per cent of the country’s total external debt of $33.47bn at the end of June, while it spent $38.22m servicing the loans in Q2 2021.
Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said in October that the Federal Government was uncomfortable with the fact that it exceeded the borrowing threshold in the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
“But we have made sure that we have planned over the next few years that the borrowing is scaled down, and also that we are able to borrow at levels that we can actually repay the debt service obligation,” she added.
Punch
More...
Lagos State has shut down Dowen College, Lekki, indefinitely following the death of a student, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr, after allegedly being bullied by schoolmates.
Commissioner for Education Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo announced the closure after a meeting with the School Management and Staff.
State authorities said the school will remain shut until the completion of the investigations by the police. The Commissioner called for calm, saying no effort would be spared in getting to the root of the incident.
Sylvester Oromoni, a 12-year-old student of Dowen College, located in Lekki area of Lagos State, was allegedly murdered by some cult groups.
The deceased was said to have been assaulted by some cult groups, who he identified before his death, as students of the college for refusing to join the fraternity.
He was admitted in a Lagos hospital on Friday following the attack and confirmed dead on Tuesday.
A relation of the deceased, Perrison Oromoni, took to the micro blogging site, Twitter on Wednesday, to announce his demise.
He revealed that the 12-year-old passed away on Tuesday after a series of tests and X-rays indicated that he sustained internal injuries from severe beating.
But Dowen College, who reached out to the family, said his injuries were sustained while playing football.
Speaking further on the issue, Perrison said: “We’re from Delta State, but he goes to Dowen College in Lekki.
They called my uncle because his son was injured when he was playing football. Reaching the hospital, it was confirmed that he was being bullied and beaten up, causing internal damages.
“After tests and X-rays, it was confirmed he was beaten up badly. He died yesterday (Tuesday) morning, and his entire body was swollen.
“Before his passing, he said they had been pressuring him to join a cult group.. He said they were going to kill him if he talked.”
In a screenshot shared on his blogging site, Perrison said the late Sylvester mentioned a few names of the students, who pressured him to join their cult group before he died.
He said: “Anybody that can kill me should kill me now. My brother won’t die for nothing, Anslem Temile, Michael Kashamu and Benjamin Favour and Dowen college, just know he called your names before he died.”
According to a media report, a representative of Dowen College, Ayomide Falona, has said investigations have begun into the matter while refuting the claims of assault.
When contacted the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adekunle Ajisebutu, said, he had not been briefed.
Thousands of travellers were stranded on Thursday on the Benin-Auchi Road as drivers blocked the route with their vehicles to protest against the abduction of one of their colleagues on Wednesday.
The blockade, which was mounted along the road at Ugha community, left many commuters lamenting their fate.
One of the drivers said they blocked the road to draw attention to the continuous abductions of their colleagues by gunmen on the route.
He said, “One of our drivers was kidnapped on Wednesday and we reported to the police, but nothing is being done to search for him. Another one was kidnapped several months ago and we are afraid he may have died as he is yet to be found.
“We are not leaving here until the government does something about it. We brought with us seven bags of rice, pots and other ingredients to cook. That is how serious we are.”
A passenger, Collins Aghedo, who was travelling to Abuja, stated that passengers had been stranded for hours as the drivers were bent on drawing the attention of the authorities to their plight.
“It has been very tough since morning. Getting stuck in one place without knowing what will happen is a harrowing experience. We hope that the police will come to our rescue,” he added.
Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Kontongs Bello, said the police visited the protest ground to pacify the drivers, adding that efforts were being made to rescue the victims.
In a statement on Thursday, the PPRO said, “On December 1, around 8.52pm, credible information from the Obagie vigilante chairman revealed that armed bandits, suspected to be kidnappers numbering about 20, intercepted a Galaxy bus with the number plate, JJT 989 FC, on the Benin-Auchi Road by Rubber Plantation/ Ugha slope with nine passengers, en route to Uromi, Edo State, from Ibadan, Oyo State.
“On receipt of the information, the Ehor DPO, Ben Alpha, swung into action, mobilised police operatives in collaboration with military and local vigilantes for bush combing and rescue operation. In the process, six victims were rescued unhurt — four males, one female and a baby. Bush combing is still ongoing with the aim of rescuing the remaining four victims and further arrest of the suspected kidnappers.”
Punch
A poultry farm, Redi Foods has dragged Hybrid Feeds Limited to court over sale of poisonous poultry feeds in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
Our correspondent gathered that Redi Foods had over a three-month period last year bought poultry feeds from Hybrid Feeds.
It was however revealed that more than 2,000 birds that consumed the feeds purchased by Redi Foods died few days after consumption of the feeds.
Tests conducted by a government approved laboratory revealed that the laying birds kept for breeding by the claimant died as a result of the contaminated feeds.
Our correspondent who witnessed the Court session on Thursday, gathered that failure of the Hybrid Feeds to compensate the claimant made the claimant to drag the company to Court.
Counsel to the claimant, Mr Adebayo Salau told Justice Ishola of Court 8, Oyo state High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan on Thursday that all efforts made by the claimant to get compensation proved abortive.
He said, "I am here to represent my client who is the claimant. What happened was that my client purchased some poultry feeds at Hybrid Feeds and almost the whole stock died.
"It was discovered that the feeds were highly poisonous, with Aflatoxin level 11 times above the safe levels permitted, to the extent that the birds reared by my client died rapidly within a few days.
“At the last sitting of the court on March 11, 2021, counsel to Hybrid Feed pleaded with the court to grant it time to settle out of court with my Client, Redi Foods. It turned out, however, that they were merely playing games and probably looking for ways to buy time.
"Now, today we have applied to the Court that the case be adjourned for hearing.
"We are demanding the sum of N12.5m for the loss and we are demanding the sum of N5m as general damages, making a total of N17.5m
Counsel to the defendant, Ms Seun Akande, in her submission told the Court that the defendant and the claimant were yet to agree on the terms and conditions in the out of Court settlement process.
She said, "We have not been able to reach a compromise".
The presiding judge after listening to both the claimant’s and defendant’s counsels on Thursday, then adjourned the case till 1st March, 2022.
The judge said, "The case has been adjourned till 1st March 2022 for hearing".
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced three telcos as approved bidders of the forthcoming 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum auction for the deployment of the fifth generation (5G) networks.
The qualified bidders include MTN Nigeria Plc, Mafab Communications Limited, and Airtel Networks Limited.
Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s director of public affairs, said this in a statement issued on Thursday.
The commission said that the qualified bidders met the criteria for participation in the licensing process of the 3.5Ghz spectrum, including payment of the stipulated Intention to Bid Deposit (IBD) as outlined in the Information Memorandum (IM).
NCC said that the three telcos will proceed to take part in the next stage of the bidding process. The telcos will participate in the mandatory mock auction process and the main auction.
“Consequently, the stage is now set for the three companies to participate in the Main Auction as well as in the mandatory Mock Auction process, which will come as a precursor to the Main Auction,” the commission said.
The commission also reaffirmed dates for the conduct of both auctions.
The mock auction is scheduled to hold on December 10 at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja by 11:00 a.m, while the main auction will hold December 13 at the same venue and time.
In November, telcos had called on the NCC to reduce the $197.4 million (N75 billion) reserve price set for the planned auction of the 3.5GHz spectrum.
The Cable