News
Law Firm Asks NiRA to Shut Down Daily Times Website
Ikechukwu Obiorah Chambers, a law firm, has accused Folio Communications Limited of illegally publishing the Daily Times newspaper (DTN).
Cable reported that, the firm has asked The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA) and SmartWeb Nigeria Limited – providing and hosting the online domain and platform – to take down the newspaper’s website “immediately”.
In February, a federal high court sitting in the FCT granted an interim injunction stopping the further publication of the newspaper either by Folio Communications or any of its associates.
The law firm said being the managers of the domain and the platform carrying the website ‘dailytimes.ng’, the court injunction also affects NIRA and SmartWeb Nigeria Limited.
In a letter written to the two bodies and dated March 15, the firm said continuing to manage the newspaper’s online edition will amount to disobedience of the court order.
It alleged that the Anosike brothers have “for a long time seized [sic] being members, officers and/or authorised associates of DTN in any capacity whatsoever and have no consent of the DTN to engage in the publication of DailyTimes.”
The letter, signed on behalf of the law firm by Ifunanya Oranuba, read: “Take notice that unless you take down the website immediately, you would be in contempt of court thereby exposing yourselves to sanctions of court including imprisonment.
“Please be aware that sanctions shall apply to the executive members being the principal officers and NIRA as well as SmartWeb Nigeria Limited jointly and severally.
“Take further notice that your participation in the illegal publications of ‘Daily Times’ by providing the platform and website with which the publication is made and sold to the public through subscriptions and adverts, also exposes you to the criminal charges of cheating by impersonation and of criminal conspiracy as provided by section 321 and 96 of the penal code respectively.
“Note also that civil damages and restitution to DTN will in due course be claimed from you in a separate lawsuit.”
The federal government owned 96.05 percent shares of Daily Times before it was sold to Folio Communications Limited in 2004 during the Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration.
Since the privatisation exercise, however, Folio Communications has been embattled with court cases with Ikechukwu Obiorah, one of the managers of the law firm.
This led to a subsequent take-over of the assets of DTN by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
When contacted by TheCable for reaction, Bonaventure Melah, spokesman of Folio Communications, accused Obiorah of flouting court orders, and “going through the backdoor” to obtain the said court ruling.
News
Legit.ng, Shade of Life Foundation Partner to Advance Autism Awareness in Nigeria
Legit.ng recently joined forces with the Shade of Life Foundation to become a voice of autism, and drive advocacy for improved media support during Autism Awareness Month.
Conversations around media support exploration was led by Joseph Omotayo, head of Department for Human Interest Stories at Legit.ng, and Dr. Eziafakaku Nwokolo, founder and CEO of the Shade of Life Foundation,
This partnership is a response to the concerns raised by organizations like the Shade of Life Foundation about the level of support received from the media in discussing autism as a disability.
While other disabilities may receive attention, autism, with its critical developmental implications often lacks adequate representation in mainstream media.
Recognizing the importance of addressing these concerns, Legit.ng took proactive steps by integrating itself into the essence of autism awareness.
It facilitated a one-hour workshop with Dr. Nwokolo, the founder of the foundation, to deepen our understanding of autism, its various spectrums, and the language boundaries associated with it.
Other steps we took in advocating autism awareness in the media, can be seen in our attached press release.
Legit.ng believes that by amplifying the voices of autism and advocating for better media representation, we can contribute to creating a more inclusive and accepting society for all.
News
As Nigeria Struggle, Tanzania Turns off Power Plants Due to Excess Supply
While 85 per cent of Nigeria is in darkness, Tanzania, an African country has shut down five hydroelectric stations in a bid to reduce excess electricity in the national grid.
Kassim Majaliwa, prime minister, Tanzania, has said the main plant, Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station, alone generated enough electricity to power major cities, including Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub.
It is the first time Tanzania, which suffers chronic power shortages, has closed hydroelectric stations due to excess production.
“We have turned off all these stations because the demand is low and the electricity production is too much, we have no allocation now,” an official from state-run power company, Tanesco, said.
The 2,115MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Dam is said to be almost filled with water following heavy rains that started early this year.
Meanwhile, while the country has an installed capacity of 1,938MW and the grid installed capacity of 1,899MW, Nigeria which has an installed capacity of 13,000MW is struggling to electrify 85 per cent of its electricity consumers.
News
President Tinubu Appoints Jim Ovia as Student Loan Fund Chairman
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Jim Ovia, renowned banker and businessman, as the Chairman, Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
Ovia’s appointment is contained in a State House statement titled, ‘President Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as Chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund,’ and issued on Friday by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the President, Media & Publicity.
The statement noted that “Ovia is the founder of one of Nigeria’s leading banks and a respected business leader, with a surfeit of efforts and benefaction towards nurturing and empowering young Nigerians.
“He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana.”
The National Student Loan Programme is a pivotal intervention that seeks to guarantee sustainable higher education and functional skill development for all Nigerian students and youths.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the implementing institution of this innovation, demands excellence and Nigerians of the finest professional ilk to guide and manage.
“The President believes Mr. Ovia will bring his immense wealth of experience and professional stature to this role to advance the all-important vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers a capricious end to their pursuit of higher education over a lack of funds,” the statement partly read.
Ovia’s appointment will also ensure “that Nigerian youths, irrespective of who they are, have access to higher education and skills that will make them productive members of society and core contributors to the knowledge-based global economy of this century.”
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