nicki minaj, on her 26th birthday outfit......

Court adjourns hearing in suit on DDC machines

A Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned till Dec. 13, hearing in the suit challenging the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC)'s award of the contract to procure Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines awarded to three firms.

The plaintiff, Technocrat Consult and IT System Ltd, had sued the INEC and three firms for excluding it from the contract to procure the machines.

The firms joined in the suit were Zinox Technologies Ltd, Haier Electrical Appliances Corporation and Avante International Technology Inc.

In the suit, the plaintiff argued that it ought not to have been excluded from the award of the contract because it invented an integral part of the machine and had the patent right in Nigeria.

The plaintiff is claiming N8 billion as damages for the breach of contract.

Technocrat Consult and IT System Ltd claimed it invented the technique-portable telecommunication device used in biometric identification, with the patent right No RP: NG/P/2010/283 on the invention.

The invention, the plaintiff added, comprised a portable and lightweight fingerprint apparatus, which can scan and record fingerprint images in the field.

It said that the images could subsequently be wirelessly transmitted to a central transactional unit for the purpose of providing immediate identity and background checks on the individuals being fingerprinted.

It also alleged that INEC infringed on its patent right when it included the technique in the DDC machines contract, which was awarded to Zinox, Haier and Avante International, without its permission.

The plaintiff is therefore asking the court to restrain the defendants and their agents from importing, manufacturing or distributing the DDC machines within the scope of its registered patent on the technique.

It further prayed the court to hold that it was the original author/inventor of the technique, contending that the defendants' DDC machines infringed on his patent right.

When the matter came up before Justice Okechukwu Okeke on Friday, the plaintiff's counsel, Norrisson Quakers, told the court that he was ready to go on with the case.

"We served all the defendants with the court processes so I am ready, with the permission of the court, to go on with the case," he said.

Yusuff Asama-Kadiri, the Defence Counsel to Haier Electrical Appliances Corporation, said that his client, based in China, had not been served court processes and urged the court to adjourn the case to enable the plaintiff to serve them.

The judge thereafter re-issued his earlier order directing the plaintiff to retrieve the proof of service from the DHL office and file same before the court.

Mr Okeke ordered that the companies which are based abroad could be served the court processes through courier services and that the proof of service should be filed before the court.

Back

Sambo says EFCC recovered 11 billion dollars .

Vice President Namadi Sambo on Friday said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had so far convicted 400 persons and recovered 11 billion dollars.

Delivering an address at the 10^th anniversary of the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) in Abuja, Sambo said the government was committed to fighting money laundering to a standstill.

The vice president, who was represented by Emmanuel Iheanacho, the Minister of Interior, explained that the country was the first in the West African sub-region to enact an anti-money laundering legislation in 1995.

Mr Sambo stressed that the country was the first in the sub-region to establish a Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) in 2004.

The vice president stated that the establishment of the anti-graft bodies represented a practical approach to the prevention and control of financial crimes based on international conventions and best practices.

"The government has a zero tolerance policy for corruption and financial crimes and will continue to provide resources to the various anti-graft bodies to carry out their functions optimally," Mr Sambo said.

He said the country was committed to the principles and objectives of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), adding that the authority would implement the recommendations in the mutual evaluation of the country's financial system.

He urged the development partners and multilateral institutions to continue in their provisions of technical assistance to deal with the multi-faceted problems of transnational crimes.

Mr Sambo said the country was delighted with the efforts of GIABA in the last 10 years to curb the impact of money laundering and terrorism in the sub-region.

According to him, the issues of corruption, money laundering and terrorism financing were a major problem not just within the West African sub-region, adding that it was a global phenomenon.

"The crimes have had adverse impact on regional security and development, including reputational damage to the image of member states,'' Mr Sambo said.

IBB threatens to leave PDP......

“Every member of the party is required to comply with the provisions of the Party Constitution. And so is the President who is the leader of the Party. As great as the office of President is, we should never forget that it does not precede membership of the Party. On the contrary, it is membership of the party that pre...cedes the office of President of the Federal Republic so far as the president was not elected as an independent candidate. If the Party has become so helpless in the face of these gross violations of its own constitution by its officers and its highest elected representative, then, many of us shall have no alternative but to reconsider our continued membership of the Party.” - General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd.)

Julius Agwu plans big for tenth anniversary

The comedian is planning mother of all shows to commemorate the tenth anniversary of his annual Crack Ya Ribs. The shows are slated for Sunday 19th of Dec at Expo Centre, Eko Hotel, and another one on Christmas Day, Dec 25th at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt.

It will feature Ali Baba, Basorge Tariah Jnr, Gordons, Terry G, Timaya and many more.
You don't wanna miss this!

"I still don't know why Dauda slapped me" actress Uche Obodo

Actress Uche Ogbodo, was recently assaulted by comic actor, Kingsley Ogbonna, popularly known as Dauda on the set of their new movie, Temptations. Here she explains what transpired between them on the day of the alleged assault.
Why should a guy slap a girl?

Unbelievable! DDC machines stolen at Lagos

The porous nature of the nation’s airports has again been laid bare as some of the Direct Data Capture machines for the registration of voters for the 2011 elections were allegedly stolen at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

The machines were awaiting clearance by Independent National Electoral Commission agent when the theft took place.

Record Breaking Beyounce.........

Some nights ago,  Beyonce received 2 Grammy nominations (Best Female Pop Vocal for "Halo (Live)" & Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for Telephone) giving her a grand total of 42 nominations, more than any other female in Grammy history.






My type of gal......

Quote of the day........ by Nigeria's Kenny Saint Brown.

“Dem say I no fit sing. Well, Kirk Franklin cannot sing or rap but has since remained relevant”. Kenny Saint Brown said while receiving her “Best Gospel Video” award at the 2010 Nigerian Music Video Awards that held last week.