SPRINTER, VERONICA CAMPBELL CLEARED OF DOPING ALLEGATIONS

Two-time Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown says she has been cleared to race again by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).

The 31-year-old Jamaican has not competed since she tested positive for a banned diuretic last May.
Campbell-Brown said in a statement: "The final court available to us as athletes have spoken and humbly I say they have confirmed my innocence."

She added the past few months have brought "much pain and suffering".

“I lost out on the opportunity to compete for most of 2013 and the chance to defend my World 200m title. However, I press on.”

Veronica Campbell-Brown

Campbell-Brown was provisionally suspended by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association after failing a test at the Jamaica Invitation meeting on 4 May.

In October, a Jamaican disciplinary committee review deemed a reprimand was sufficient punishment because the banned substance was not used for performance enhancement.
However, Campbell-Brown, who has won seven Olympic medals, had to wait for the IAAF's verdict before she could compete again. It appears the body that governs world athletics decided to hand the case to Cas.
Campbell-Brown added: "Yes, I lost out on the opportunity to compete for most of 2013 and the chance to defend my World 200m title. However, I press on.
"Dr Martin Luther King Jr spoke of the redemptive quality of unearned suffering and I must say I am redeemed."
She also thanks the IAAF for "expeditiously handing my case to Cas".
Campbell-Brown could return to competition at next month's World Indoor Championships in Poland, with the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July also an option.
Monday's news is a boost for Jamaican athletics, which has been under scrutiny following a series of failed tests.
Last year, Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson tested positive for banned substances and missed the World Championships in Moscow.
In 2009, Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake and three other islanders received reduced suspensions of three months after testing positive for a banned stimulant.    (BBC)

FCT POLICE BOSS BEEFS UP SECURITY AHEAD OF NIGERIA's CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

FCT Police Commissioner, Joseph Mbu has issued a forty-eight hours notice for owners of vehicles plying Abuja roads without approved number plates.

Mr Mbu issued the directive in Abuja today, Monday, shortly after assessing the security situation on the Abuja-Lpkoja Highway.

FCT POLICE BOSS, JOSEPH MBU

The FCT Police Commissioner said security was being beefed up in and around the FCT ahead of the Centenary Celebrations.

He stressed that the Police will from Wednesday this week, go hard on vehicle owners, hawkers, motorcyclists and tricycles popularly called ‘keke napep’ that flout existing traffic rules.    

The Police boss asked all those without approved tinted glasses to remove them immediately.

Mr Mbu also warned other criminal elements within the FCT to stop their nefarious activities or face the full weight of the law.

CENTENARY: PRESIDENCY TO HONOUR QUEEN ELEZABETH, AZIKIWE, BALEWA, AWO, ACHEBE, OTHERS

Murtala, Obasanjo, Babangida, Abacha, Yar’Adua, Soyinka, Fawehinmi, Ojukwu, Dangote, Adenuga make list
Queen Elizabeth II of England and 99 other Nigerians and foreigners are to be specially honoured by President Goodluck Jonathan as part of the activities marking Nigeria’s Centenary celebration.
On the list are the late Chief M.K.O Abiola, Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, the late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa; first President, the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe; first Premier of the defunct Western Region, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and the first Premier of the former Northern Region, the late Sir Ahmadu Bello

Also to be honoured are the late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the richest man in Africa, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed Dangote and business mogul, Otunba Mike Adenuga.
The Presidential Committee on the Centenary Celebrations said last night that the awards would be bestowed on the recipients on Friday, February 28 at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja.
Below is the full list of the recipients and the categories to which they belong.
A. CONTRIBUTORS TO THE MAKING OF NIGERIA
1.Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II
2. Frederick John Dealtry Lugard
3. Dame Flora Louise Shaw, Lady Lugard
B. HEROES OF THE STRUGGLE FOR NIGERIA’S INDEPENDENCE/PIONEER POLITICAL LEADERS
4.Herbert Samuel Heelas Macaulay
5. Rt. Hon. Dr. Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe, GCFR
6. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, KBE
7. Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, GCFR
8. Sir Ahmadu Bello, KBE
9. Professor Eyo Ita
10. Jaja Anucha Wachuku
11. Pa Michael Imoudu
12. Chief Anthony Enahoro
13. Chief Joseph Sarwan Tarka
14. Mallam Aminu Kano
15. Margaret Udo Ekpo
16. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti
17. Hajiya Gambo Sawaba
C.PIONEERS IN PROFES-SIONAL CALLINGS/CAREERS
18. Christopher Sapara Williams
19. Chief Frederick Rotimi Alade Williams, SAN
20. Chief Akintola Williams
21. Major-General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi
22. Vice Admiral Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey
23. Brigadier General George Tamunoiyowunam Kurubo
24. Louis Orok Edet
25. Major-General Abdullahi Mohammed
26. Professor Thomas Adeoye Lambo
27. Professor Kenneth Onwuka Dike
28. Capt. Chinyere Kalu
29. Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Oviemo Ovadje
30. Professor Grace Alele-Williams
D. PIONEERS IN COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
31. Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu
32. Alhaji Alhassan Dantata
33. Chief Adeola Odutola
E. PROMOTERS OF DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION IN NIGERIA
34. Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, GCFR
35. Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola
36. General Shehu Musa Yar’adua, GCON
37. General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar, GCFR
F. HEROES IN GLOBAL SPORTS COMPETITIONS
38. Madam Chioma Ajunwa
39. Nwankwo Kanu
40. Richard Ihetu (Dick Tiger)
41. Chief Michael Okpala (Power Mike), MON
42. Monday Ochuko Emoghawve
G. ACCOMPLISHED PIONEER PUBLIC SERVANTS
43. Chief Stanley Olabode Wey
44. Justice Egbert Udo Udoma
45. Chief Emeka Anyaoku
46. Sir Adetokunbo Adegboyega Ademola
47. Dr. Taslim Olawale Elias
48. Dr. Rilwan Lukman
49. Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki
50. Alhaji Aliyu Mai Bornu
H. ACCOMPLISHED CONTEMPORARY ENTREPRENEURS
51. Alhaji Aliko Mohammed Dangote
52. Chief Mike Adenuga
53. Chief (Dr.) Innocent Chukwuma
I. DISTINGUISHED ACADEMICS
54. Professor Benjamin Oluwakayode Osuntokun
55. Professor Kelsey Harrison
56. Professor Chike Obi
57. Professor Dagogo Fubara
58. Professor Jacob Festus Ade-Ajayi
59. Professor Claude Ake
60. Professor Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa
61. Professor Godwin Olu Patrick Obasi
62. Professor Umaru Shehu
J. INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ARTISTS, LITERARY ICONS AND JOURNALISTS
63. Michael Taiwo Akinkumi
64. Professor Wole Soyinka
65. Professor Chinua Achebe
66. Prof John Pepper Clark
67. Cyprian Odiatu Duaka Ekwensi
68. Alhaji Abubakar Imam
69. Daniel O. Fagunwa
70. Ernest Sesei Ikoli
71. Alhaji Ismail Babatunde Jose
72. Kenneth Nnebue
73. Patience Ozokwor
74. Alhaji (Dr) Mamman Shata Katsina
75. Hubert Adedeji Ogunde
76. Fela Anikulapo Kuti
77. Stephen Osita Osadebe
78. (Dr.) Ladi Dosei Kwali
79. Ben Enwonwu
80. Oludotun Jacobs
K. OUTSTANDING CONTEMPORARY PUBLIC SERVANTS
81. Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule
82. Professor Akinlawon Ladipo Mabogunje, NNOM
83. Dr. Barnabas Sanyaolu Oloruntoba, OFR
84. Honourable Justice Maryam Aloma Mukhtar, GCON
L. OUTSTANDING BRAVERY AND PUBLIC SPIRITEDNESS
85. Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN
86. Michael Chukwugekwu Ihuka
M. OUTSTANDING PROMOTERS OF UNITY, PATRIOTISM AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
87. General Yakubu Gowon, GCFR
88. General Murtala Ramat Mohammed
89. General Olusegun Mathew Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo, GCFR
90. General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR
91. General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, GCFR
92. Chief Ernest Shonekan, GCFR
93. General Sani Abacha, GCFR
94. Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua, GCFR
95. General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, GCON, fss
N. EXEMPLARY SERVICE IN THE PROMOTION OF PEACE AND MORAL EXCELLENCE
96. Sir Abubakar Sadiq III
97. Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi
98. Blessed Cyprian Michael Tansi
99. Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye
100. Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi                                                              (NATION)

GOV. UDUAGHAN DECRIES POOR SANITATION ATTITUDE OF DELTANS

GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan yesterday in Effurun, Delta State took a swipe at the lackadaisical attitude of Deltans to environmental sanitation, calling for a total attitudinal change with a view to attaining a better healthy living.

A visibly angry Uduaghan particularly expressed his displeasure at the popular Airport Junction where he officially mounted a special environmental sanitation monitoring roadblock and apprehended several violators.

The Governor wondered why people should allow their surroundings to be filthy, warning them of the grave health implication of dirtiness.

Uduaghan accompanied by few aides took sanitation violators unaware as he drove himself and mounted road blocks at different junctions querying the offenders’ reasons for not harkening to stipulated laws on no movement on sanitation day.

A mild drama played out as one of the violators, a power bike rider in a show of impunity glided towards the blocked junction blaring sirens to the consternation of the Governor and his security details who later found out that the offender was a motor mechanic.

The Governor who directed that car keys of all offenders be seized to force compliance with the no movement order for the specified period expressed disappointment with residents and violators who stood by cheering his action.

He called for a change of attitude, and that people should be responsible for the cleanliness of their areas.

 “If you leave your areas dirty you will become sick after sometime. Your attitude today is very bad, you litter your surrounding with refuse and today being sanitation when you are supposed to be seen cleaning your environment, you are here shouting and making noise. I am very angry at what you all are doing”, he stated.

He called on medical personnel, security officers and others who go to work on sanitation day to Endeavour to get to their duty posts early, urging them to be law abiding and become role models to others.

The Governor took time to drive round Effurun and Warri axis in the monitoring exercise. (GVT P.R.)

PRESIDENCY SAYS SUSPENSION OF NIGERIA'S APEX BANK GOV. NOT A WITCH-HUNT.

The suspension of the Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is not an act of witch hunting neither is it a deviation from the anti-corruption drive of the Jonathan administration.

A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe explained that the issues that culminated into the suspension of the CBN Governor dates back to April 2013 following the submission of the CBN audited accounts for the year that ended on December 31^st 2012 and which was submitted to the President by the Apex bank.

The statement said there were several grievous issues bothering on impunity, incompetence, non-challance , fraud, wastefulness, and gross abuse of and noncompliance with provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007 by Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

This caused Mr President to issue a 22-paragraph query to the suspended CBN Governor on the 4^th of May 2013 and the subsequent written explanation by Mallam Sanusi which was forwarded to the President on the 22^nd of May 2013.  After painstaking analysis and examination, the response was forwarded to the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria for further scrutiny and professional advice.

The Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria thereafter forwarded a 13-page response to Mr President with various critical observations and far-reaching recommendations. One of the recommendations states thus “ Your Excellency may wish to exercise the powers conferred on Mr President by Section 11(2) (f) of the CBN ACT 2007 or invoke Section 11 (2) (c) of the said Act and cause the Governor and Deputy Governors to cease from holding office in the CBN”

It is also important to note the unrestrained manner, recklessness and impunity with which the CBN Governor had governed the apex bank in the last few years. In 2013 alone, the suspended CBN Governor single-handedly made spurious donations and awarded questionable contracts totaling 163 billion Naira (over 1 billion US dollars) to various institutions without recourse to the President as stipulated by Section 7 sub-section 5(a) of the CBN Act.

Most unfortunate is the fact that of the 63 projects listed under the Corporate Social Responsibility of the CBN, ONLY 3 of the contracts above 1 billion Naira were referred to the bureau of Public Procurement as required by law.

It was based on this and other recommendations contained in the said report and after further consultations among stakeholders that Mr President in his wisdom and in the interest of probity, accountability and in order to preserve the integrity and sanctity of the Nations apex bank, decided to take the appropriate decision to place Mr Sanusi Lamido Sanusi on immediate suspension.

This action of Mr President is coming after a painstaking appraisal and investigation of all issues involved. The fact that this has occurred at the same period that Mr Sanusi accused the NNPC of non- remittance of 20 billion dollars to the Federation Account does NOT in any way derogate from the grave infractions and illegalities discovered in the audit report of the CBN and its operations.

 For the avoidance of doubt, Nigerians should be assured that Government will go to any length to ensure that Mallam Sansui’s allegations against the NNPC are fully and conclusively investigated and if anyone is found culpable, they will be subjected to the full weight of the law.

SIGNED

Dr Doyin Okupe

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs

FEDERAL POLY OFA, PULLS OUT OF ASUP STRIKE----RESUMES ACADEMIC WORK, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Federal Polytechnic Ofa branch, on Wednesday said it had pulled out of the ongoing nationwide strike by the union.

The Chairman, ASUP, Federal Polytechnic Ofa, Dr Shola Ojeniyi, in a telephone interview said that they would now resume “normal academic activities on Monday, Feb. 24’’.

He said the decision to suspend the strike was taken at a congress of the association on Wednesday.

Ojeniyi said the congress took the decision to enable the school conduct examinations for the students of the institution.

“I can confirm that the Congress of ASUP Federal Polytechnic, Ofa branch has pulled out of the strike. “We will come in, write our exams and complete our session and rejoin the strike,’’ he said.

ASUP had embarked on the ongoing strike on Oct. 4, 2013.

Some of the striking lecturers’ demands include the need for a re-constitution of the Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics which were dissolved in 2010.

Also, they are demanding the migration of the lower cadres on the CONTISS 15 salary scale.

ASUP had initiated series of meetings and indeed met several times with government since August 17, 2013 to ensure industrial peace was maintained in the polytechnics. (NAN)