We haven't breached Vehicle Contract - WhiteHorse Management

... Says logistics, subscribers guarantors responsible for delay

By Matthew Denis, Abuja

The management of WhiteHorse Group Limited has debunked the allegations making round that it has breached a car loan contract with some subscribers from the Federal Fire Service.

Recalled that there was an allegation in some media that the company has failed to deliver vehicles loan contract as at the stipulated scheduled. 

Speaking exclusively to Nigerian NewsDirect on Wednesday, the Managing Director of WhiteHorse Capital a subsidiary of the company, Mr. Elias Ojo Abutu said " we have a car loan scheme under the WhiteHorse Capital which allows clients mostly Civil servants to assess vehicles with a flexible payment system where they pay 50 percent of their choice vehicles then we spread the instalmental payment as long as 12 months.

" We actually entered an agreement with some staff of Federal Fire Service here in Abuja and it was extended to their state branches. 

Explaining further the MD stated that it takes the company a period of 6 to 8 weeks to deliver the cars to  clients who have paid the 50 percent of the loan vehicles.

He said " normal once our clients pay the 50 percent it takes between 6 to 8 weeks to deliver the cars to them. But somewhere along the line we had some hitches with our financial institutions. 

" The money that our clients pay we take the money from the company's funds and we have some arrangements with our venders who also use part of their money to import the cars ship them to Nigeria clear them and then we pick them after we balance them and then we deliver to our subscribers.

Abutu stressed that because of the hitches they had during the transaction in the Covid 19 challenges they tried to source for Facility through their financial consultant with financial institutions but it continues to lingers for long.

" The first one we got was actually given to one of the commercial banks where we make all the payments and somewhere along the line we discovered that they didn't monetize the instruments we have given to them and that actually resulted to some breaches which were explained to our clients including those in the federal fire service.

" We explained and had meeting with them and even went as far as showing them some of our internal documents of the company just to be transparent and make them know that we have their interest at heart just to deliver their cars but it has actually lingers for some time now.

According to him they were giving their clients a timeline based on instructions from their financial institutions and consultants giving to them to access the funds for the agreement.

Default by a subscriber 

Abutu cited a case of a personnel of the Fire Service, Gyenom Yawa Guga whom they delivered a Pontiac Vibe, 2005 model in December 2020 but has defaulted in terms of the instalmental payment for about five months now saying that she only paid for two months out of the seven months now which is one of the reasons the company is making concrete arrangement before disbursement of the cars to the subscribers.

He said " during our last year December disbursement of vehicles we had excess of Pontiac vibe and fortunately we  checked our list and found out that one of the personnel want Pontiac vibe we decided to deliver it to her. 

" After giving her the car ofcourse she was supposed to start the monthly remittance of the 50 percent balance But it so unfortunate that she hasn't make this payment for some months now. As a matter of fact the company became very uncomfortable with that considering the fact there are large number of subscribers from the Fire Service. 

" if one person has defaulted in remittance for several months as a matter of fact the company has to be careful in delivery to them because even with this incident we still admit to deliver the cars to them.

Way Forward 

The MD reiterated that in their usual agreement with their clients they always make provision for a refund should incase they are not comfortable with the scheme vice versa. 

He said " We have however apologized to our clients for the delay and the inconveniences they have encountered and we explained to them also that we are still committed to delivering the vehicles to them. But be that with the present situation and the publication demanding for their refunds we will definitely refund their monies.

" They paid the money to us and we are not denying that fact and since they are requesting for a refund we'll surely do that. 

" We are going to refund and those that still want the vehicles we'll deliver them between now and the first week of August, 2021

Guarantor's issue

The MD explained that the company always approach the cooperative of any organization or parastatals for smooth transaction which it was done at the fire Service too to easily recoup the repayment schedule.

He said " when we wrote letter to the service they replied us that the service itself will not stand for anybody which they have to come to us as individuals and we honored that from them.

" We must ensure concrete Guarantor for the individual subscriber before delivering the car to him or her so that the beneficiary will strictly abide by the monthly remittance guidelines. He stressed.

Kaduna A Mini NIgeria, Safe, Sports Loving - Nimrod

 Chairman of the Kaduna State Beach Soccer Association, Engineer Musa Nimrod said that Kaduna State is a mini NIgeria that is hospitable and a delightful host for many sporting events.

He expressed this, while speaking at a press briefing ahead of the kick off of the  NIgeria Beach Soccer League (NBSL) Super 4 Finals, billed for the Murtala Square, Kaduna on Thursday July 29, 2021.

"Kaduna is so peaceful. In the whole of North West, we are hosting Kano Pillars and Jigawa Golden Stars home matches.

"We hosted the President Beach Volleyball Cup and others here peacefully, even during the NLC strike.

"I hardly go to Abuja by rail, I go by road. The Murtala Square Sporting Complex is a first class in Nigeria. We are going to host a lot of beach games here in Kaduna," he said.

He tasked all the participants at the Super 4 to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship which the game of beach soccer is known for.

"I want us to love ourselves. In beach, it is not like any other sports. I want you all to love yourselves. Today we are all united as winners. Thank you very much and God bless you," he saif.

Some notable dignitaries at the press briefing are,  Director of Sports Kaduna, Alhaji Yakubu Ibrahim and  Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports Development Kaduna State, Alhaji Mahmud Yamusa.

Others are, Chairman Sports Writers Association of NIgeria (SWAN), Kaduna State Chapter, Comrade Isaiah Kemje Benjamin, Secretary NIgeria Beach Soccer League, Taiye Olajide, Engineer Musa Nimrod and Cordinator Nigeria Beach Soccer League and President African Beach Soccer Union, Mahmud Hadejia.

IMN Warns against further persecution of Sheik Zakzakky

The Resource Forum of the Islamic movement in Nigeria, has called for justice and the release of their Leader, Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife who have been under trial by Kaduna government, as a Court in Kaduna is expected to rule on Wednesday on El- Zakzaky’s No -Case Submission.

The Forum prayed that their leader will in no distant time be vindicated and the No case submission will be sustained.

In a statement signed by the leader of the IMN Forum, Mohammed Gamawa made available to Newsmen on Monday, the group said

” The submission on the flimsy charges filed against Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife the Islamic Movement in Nigeria is patiently waiting for the establishment of No case by the Kaduna state government come Wednesday the 28th July 2021.

” The protracted court proceeding which began in Kaduna three years ago and after an

order by the Federal High Court in Abuja for the release of Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife and instructed the Federal government to pay compensation to the duo, which the government apparently defied.

‘ You may recall the 12 December 2015 Zaria Massacre which was carried out by the Baratai). That was the claim and propaganda used to decieve the majority gullible Nigeria

Nigeria Army under the pretext of blocking road to the then Chief of Army Staff (Tukur Buratai) in public.

” However, immediately after the court verdict passed by Hon. Justice Kolawole in Abuja, the Kaduna State Government through its Afforney and Commissioner for Justice filed

charges against Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife which among others include abetment to culpable homicide among others. This is contradictory and antithetical to their earlier Claims and propaganda that Army Chief’s Road was blocked by the IMN members. Thus while testifying before Justice Gwada of Kaduna State High Court, a police officer and

witness brought by complainant confirmed to court that the said Sergent Dankaduna was apparently killed by a friendly hullet fired by one soldier during their attack at Gyallesu Zaria in December 2015.

” Therefore it will interest you to note that all the charges labeled against Sheikh Zakzaky were the same charges filed against the over 200 IMN members prosecuted by the Kaduna State Government before the State’s High Court which eventually discharged and acquitted all the Defendants.

” Hence our case today is a call and a reminder to the general public and particularly the people of conscience in the world of humanity, equity, and natural Justice that we have persevered and endured enough over the incarceration of our leader. 

"We have tolerated enough, but we are grateful to Almighty Allah for giving us the strength, morale and courage to withstand persecution and all sorts of oppressive and repressive powers exerted upon us by this government, as He spares our lives to witness the end of this ease.

” Nigerian citizens and the people of conscience all over the world are keenly and patiently watching the trend of events as they unfold regarding this case. We are very much confident that the court will be left with no option other than to do justice paving way for

yet another victory for us and humanity in general.” he added

Comrade Kennedy Iyere Charge Upright Judges To Save Ezigbo

Comrade Kennedy Iyere, is a renowned NGO executive, who needs no further introduction. He is an internationally acclaimed social entrepreneur and frontline humanitarian activist whose passion is to promote human welfare and social reforms through social investment interventions. He founded Africa's largest youth enterprise non-governmental organization, known as Youths Off The Street Initiative (YOTSI). 

He is also the initiator and coordinator of Civil Society Committee for Anambra Election Security (CISCAES).

Comrade Iyere has made an appeal to noble Judges, especially  within the Appeal and Supreme Courts, requesting their intervention in the ongoing judicial victimization of Valentine Ozigbo by corrupt Judges, who are allies of Chris Uba (and his cohorts),  a serial electoral litigant, who is known for exploiting electoral litigations, as cheap avenues for acquiring massive wealth.

 This appeal was made by Comrade Iyere, in the aftermath of the compromised judgement delivered by Justice O.A Nwabunike, who have in every way, suppressed the voice of conscience by truncating justice against Valentine Ozigbo, who is the known authentic PDP Candidate and winner of the primary, which was lawfully conducted by the national leadership of the Party, on the 6th June, 2021. 

To make matters worse, Justice O.A Nwabunike has also denied Lawyers to the PDP, access to the Case File, which is actually required, in order for the Lawyers to rightly file an appeal. Justice O.A Nwabunike has thrown caution to the wind, allowing himself to be used by those, who have proven themselves, as haters of democracy. 

In order to defend Ozigbo against the ongoing judicial victimization by corrupt Judges, who are allies of Chris Uba and his gang, Comrade Iyere has launched, a judicial anti-corruption electoral movement, known as "JUSTICE4OZIGBO MOVEMENT", its mandate is to track all electoral legal proceedings relating to all cases filed by Chris Uba and his allies, which will seek to challenge the candidacy of Valentine Ozigbo, as the legitimate PDP Flag Bearer, in the 2021 Anambra guber-poll.

   The "movement" aims to expose and indict those Judges, who will allow themselves to be used, as agent of legal oppression, in the ongoing conspiracy by Chris Uba and his allies, to eliminate Valentine Ozigbo from the ballot. This will not only ridicule the Judiciary but will kill the dreams of other noble Nigerians who may be nursing the ambition of serving in political offices.

Ozigbo's victory against Chris Uba and his allies, will be a victory for the judiciary itself and also for democracy in Nigeria. Comrade Iyere, made his pleas at Awka yesterday, during a judicial anti-corruption protest match and a press briefing in Awka. 

While addressing the press, Comrade Iyere, affirmed that the "VICTORY4OZIGBO MOVEMENT", is an initiative of the civil society, driven under the Civil Society Committee for Anambra Election Security (CISCAES), an election integrity project of Youths Off The Street Initiative (YOTSI), the NGO he founded, which presently exists, as the largest youth enterprise non-governmental organization in Africa.

By the establishment of the "JUSTICE4OZIGBO MOVEMENT", the eyes of Nigerians and other members of the International Community will see and observe the way the Nigerian Judiciary will play out its role in the ongoing legal battle between good and evil, stating that Valentine Ozigbo, represents everything good because his political ambition means well for Nigeria’s democracy but his oppressors, such as Justice O.A Nwabunike, Chris Uba and others, are people of evil intentions. 

He further added that the plot to imolize Anambra will never be allowed to succeed. It was the reason he formed the Civil Society Committee for Anambra Election Security (CISCAES), whose focus is to ensure that politicians, candidates, security agents, parties, INEC officials, judges and supporters of parties are compelled to play by the rules. 

According to Comrade Iyere, the "rig and lets meet in court" approach of rigging elections, will not work in Anambra State

SK KILLINGS : SOKIPEP charge security agencies to clampdown on perpetrators

Southern Kaduna: Indigenous peace building group condemns renewed violence

*Tasks security agencies to urgently arrest,prosecute perpetrators

*Accuses SOKAPU of allegedly peddling "lies" capable of worsening situation

*Hails OPSH,other internal security outfits for efforts at restoring normalcy

*Appeals to stakeholders in peace devt. to join in peace building efforts

An Southern Kaduna peace building group,operating under the aegis of Southern Kaduna Peace Practitioners Network (SOKIPEP),has condemned the renewed violence in the area which it noted, has claimed a number of lives and property in the area.

It describes the development as the handiwork of those it referred to as "criminal elements" benefiting from the ugly situation and charged the security agencies not only urgently apprehend them but also make them face the full wrath of the law over their actions.

But the group,in a statement, Friday,by its national coordinator,Rev. Dauda Fadia, cautioned the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), an umbrella body of Southern Kaduna natives which it accused its leadership of fueling the crisis in the area with ceaseless biased comments and statements.

It tasked SOKAPU to drop its approach and call some deviant youths fueling crisis in Southern Kaduna to order, as according to it,the continuous profiling of one party as aggressors would rather worsen the situation.

However,the group hailed Operation Safe Haven (OPSH),an internal military outfit working for the restoration of peace in the area and other security agencies for their efforts so far in ensuring that peace reigns.

"We condemn in the strongest term the killings of innocent farmers and herdsmen in Southern Kaduna by criminal elements from both sides of the divide and appeal to security agencies to immediately apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous crime against humanity,"SOKIPEP said in the statement.

It appreciated the efforts  of OPSH  and the Sector 7 Commander of the security outfit and it thus read:"We want to sincerely appreciate the tireless and exceptional efforts of the new Commander of Operation Safe Haven, OPSH   Major General I.S Ali, the special military task force in charge of Southern Kaduna and its Sector Commander in Sector 7, Kafanchan and their officers and men for their  selfless efforts toward the restoration of law and order in the area."

According to the group,"We are particularly pleased with approach they are adopting to end this crisis."

"The engagement of stakeholders , community groups and peace builders in the Southern Kaduna by the  task force is already paying off. We enjoin the commander to sustain it,"it said, adding:""We appeal to them not to be discouraged by the deliberate blackmail by some enemies of peace just to score sentimental points. They should remain resolute and do their work professionally."

The group which expressed its unflinching support to the internal security outfits, insisted that it was time for peace building practitioners to work to the emplacement of total and sustainable peace in the area.

" We in the entire peace building community are solidly behind them. We appreciate all they do to keep us safe. We want to appeal to all the peace practitioners to come on board and support the peace process in Southern Kaduna," it said.

Part of the statement read:" Our attention has been drawn to a daily daylight lies and outright distortion of facts in the renewed crisis in Southern Kaduna by the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU)

" We would have ordinarily ignored them because lie is one of the major aims and objectives of SOKAPU but for the sake of innocent readers who may not be abreast with the reality of things in Southern Kaduna and its environ.                             

While not justifying the senseless killings of innocent farmers in our locality by some criminal herdsmen,it is pertinent to state that the renewed crisis in Southern Kaduna was caused by some sponsored criminals in our locality who we suspect were obviously working for some crises merchants.

"The killings and rustling of cattle by these criminals no doubt shattered the peace process earlier emplaced by security agencies, especially the Operation Safe Haven. We expected SOKAPU, being our umbrella body to state the facts as they happened but unfortunately,this was not the case.

" Until SOKAPU  and other groups of questionable characters within our locality start speaking the truth and exposing some of our youths who are criminals, this crisis will not stop.   

 "We can’t continue to pretend that we are not aware that on 7th July 2021, some of our youths took laws into their hands and attack some Fulani herdsmen in Gora Gan Community, killing about eight of them including women and children besides rustling their cattle without any form of provocation. 

"The next day, some of our deviant youths went on rampage thus burning down all the hamlets belonging to Fulani in Southern Kaduna.

 It is on record that when some patriotic members of the community tried to speak to them on the need to embrace dialogue,they threatened all of us with  death.  

"We cannot also pretend that we are not  aware of how some of our local farmers poisoned Fulani cattle almost on a daily basis which resulted in  the death of about 650 cattle in Southern Kaduna. We expected SOKAPU to come out to condemm this act in the strongest possible terms but where was SOKAPU then? 

"Our youths with the active connivance of some keys leaders in our locality have turned stealing of cattle into lucrative business and our elders are aware of these facts.

" If we must seek equity,we must go with clean hands. We observed with regret that there is a huge conspiracy of silence on the part of some of our elders, who instead of speaking the truth against some of our criminal youths, have hidden under religious and ethnic sentiments. "Enough of this if we value peace."

NEMA Leads Other Agencies To Flag Off Operation Safe Eid-el-Kabir On Highways In Kaduna

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has in collaboration with other stakeholders, flagged off Operation

Safe Eid-el-kabir" 2021.

The joint.operation witnessed presence of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Nigerian Red Cross and Kaduna State Transport Law Enforcement Agency (KASTLEA).

In his remarks, the Zonal Coordinator NEMA

Northwest Zonal Office, Imam Garki said that the exercise is to compliment efforts of the FRSC and other road agencies.

"It is my pleasure to welcome you to this great gathering of critical

stakeholders in Road Disasters, to flag-off a Special Operation

Coded"Operation Safe Eid El- Kabir". 

"This exercise is to compliment the efforts of the Federal Road Safety Corps, which is the lead agency in road related emergencies," he said.

He explained that the menace of road traffic crashes has continued to occupy center stage within the global arena. 

"This informed the rollover of thee

United Nations decade of actions against road traffic injuries and

reduction of fatalities to 50% from year 2021 to 2030.

"The Exercise is an initiative of the National Emergency Management

Agency (NEMA) in view of the previous records of successes in road Crash prevention through the "Operation Eagle Eye" exercise carried out by the Agency in collaboration with FRSC, SEMA, Nigerian Red Cross, National Union of Road Transport Workers

(NURTW) KASTLEA and the Media in every December and spills," he added.

The Zonal Coordinator who was represented by Amina Ahman, the operation which spilled over to the New Year festive period, is a

paradigm shift of Disaster Risk Management likewise the need to

ensure safety of lives and properties during the festive period, that the Director General Alhaji Mustapha Habib Ahmed directed that the agency should extend the exercise to the Eid El- Kabir festive

period due to the upsurge of vehicular movements on the roads.

"The exercise is aimed at timely response activities by deploying

personnel at strategic locations across the country while rover

patrols will be carried out at intervals and ensuring the General

Public adhere to traffic rules and regulations," he assured.

He seized this opportunity to appreciate all the

stakeholders for their support.

Wishing you a "Safe Eid El-Kabir" and Happy Sallah in advance.

Thank you and God bless

FRSC Zonal Commanding Officer Zone 1, Godwin Omiko tasked drivers to ensure safety of lives and property on the highway.

He tasked all the agencies to ensure they work together to.prevent loss of lives during the Eid-el-Kabir.

Others at the flag off were,  Suraj Sufiyanu Ahmed (Red Cross) Malam Usman Ahmed (NURTW) and  Sector Commander Hffiz  Tarauni Mohammed (FRSC).

2023: Northern Youth Leaders Insist On Transmission Of Electoral Results Electronically, Disagree With Southern Govs On Zoning

Rising from a a three days stakeholders consultative tour of the Northern-East Zone, the Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit results of subsequent elections electronically.

In a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Eliot Afiyo,  dated July 15, 2021 and made available to our correspondent, the group also viewed the Lagos declaration by the Southern Governors demanding for a Southern President in 2023 as a deliberate and intentional scheming to project the political interest of a few individuals against the collective National interest.

"The NYLF commends the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) for the introduction of electronic transmission of election results in Ondo and Edo States Governorship elections which gives credibility to the process and eliminated ballot box snatching, falsification of results and other election violence. 

"NYLF is of the opinion that this process should not only continue but also be maintained and sustained in all the future elections," it said.

They added that they are also of the opinion that electronic voting no matter how good or necessary it seems to be, should not be introduced for now because of the literacy ratio in the country especially in the North.

"To this end, we call on the National Assembly to include electronic transmission of election result but discard the electronic voting in the Amended Electoral Act," it advised.

On the Southern Governors demand for a Southern President in 2023, they said, "We viewed the Lagos declaration by the Southern Governors demanding for a Southern President in 2023 as a deliberate and intentional scheming to project the political interest of a few individuals against the collective National interest which has exposed the political inexperience and infancy of the Governors. Going by their declaration, it is now an established truth that the Southern Governors lack political mastery and planning. 

"The implication of this declaration tends to tell the Northerners that the 2023 Presidential election would be based on North versus South instead of political parties," the group stressed. 

They averred  that  the declaration is provocative, insensitive, offensive, challenging and a political war which must be given thorough and intelligent consideration and action. 

"No matter how important the 2023 Presidency is to the South, the declaration is indeed ill-timed, ill-advised, wrongly calculated and presented. 

"We expect that the Governors should have decamped from their respective parties, form a new party or decamp to just one party or at best, lobbying their parties to zone the position to the South and ensure that their Aspirants emerge during primaries instead of such pronouncement.

 "If at all the Southern Governors desire the presidency indeed, they should have summoned the courage to specify the geopolitical zone. 

"It is a known fact that you don’t get power in a democratic system by coercion or intimidation but through negotiation and understanding," the statement said.. 

They argued that the only zones that are qualified to demand for the 2023 presidency are North-East, South-East, South-South and possibly North-Central.

Pushing their position further, they recalled that the forum endorsed Senator Bala Mohammed as their Presidential Candidate for 2023 Presidency. 

"In view of this we engaged Stakeholders from all the six geopolitical zones so as to have an all-encompassing following towards our goal. 

"It is in the course of this engagement that it becomes absolutely necessary to address you today on some important National Issues," they pointed out.

While dissecting the protest by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kaduna State, they disagreed with the approach adopted by the workers union.

"We observed with great dismay the last protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kaduna State during which essential services and workers were shut down and forcefully pushed out. 

"Doctors and Nurses were forced to leave their wards and Theatre, electricity cables and transformers were disconnected, water board and independent boreholes were attacked and disconnected, water hawkers popularly known as mai ruwa were threatened and intimidated, markets were closed and traders were chased out. 

"All major’s roads were barricaded. Pharmacies, Patent Medical stores and chemists were closed. As a result, many lives were lost due to lack of medical attention," they said. 

The group revealed that NYLF lost 67 of its members due to the protest they described as  "unconstitutional and selfish desire" by the NLC. 

"These essential services are not allowed to be disrupted even during any war but NLC disrupted and even closed them.

"Kaduna State is presently engulfed with insecurity leading to killings, kidnapping and many more. 

"The NLC led by Comrade Ayuba Wabba did not feel any concern that requires mass protest. 

"The increase in pump price of petrol has become a recurrent decimal and electricity tariffs are being increase on quarterly basis yet, Comrade Wabba did not think of any minor protest at least to draw the attention of the people, but organised a mass protest because the Kaduna State Government wanted to downsize the workforce which constitute only 20% of the population. 

"Even the minimum wage that was approved for the workers is not paid by many State Governors and NLC does not bother about it because NLC is yet to implement it for their workers," they lamented.

They said that, "without mincing words that NYLF would not allow any form of protest by the NLC in Kaduna State and any other Northern State including Abuja against any other policy except on insecurity. 

"We want to sound a note of warning to Comrade Wabba and his colleagues to stay clear from Kaduna State not to talk of organising a protest against the downsizing of the workforce. 

Consequently, our North-West Zonal Coordinator is hereby directed to implement this decision without any fear. 

"We cannot afford to lose a life in Kaduna State again as a result of protest by the NLC."

NYLF therefore, urged the Federal Government not to waste time in setting up a committee as it is not necessary. 

"Doing so means acknowledging and recognizing ineptitude and sycophancy," they advised. 

They appreciated the efforts of the Security Agencies towards addressing the insecurity in the country and encouraged them to do more. 

"Surely we will overcome someday somehow," the statement concluded.