BY: Justice Godfry
Harmony Holdings Ltd, the investments holding company of Kwara State described as misguided and false allegations being news circulating in the media to the effect that certain Government companies, including Harmony Holdings Ltd “have been converted to private property” for the exclusive benefit of certain individuals in the State.
While stating that such allegations are blatantly false and totally far-fetched, the Company a spokesman, Tunde Abodunde, said they feel it is necessary to set the records straight and keep the good people of Kwara State and the general public informed about the true state of affairs as regards the ownership of referenced government entities.
“For the umpteenth time, we affirm that Harmony Holdings Ltd is wholly owned (100 per cent), by Kwara State Government. Apart from registration documents (which are readily available for verification at the Corporate Affairs Commission), the Kwara State House of Assembly has since 2018 passed a resolution attesting to the ownership of Harmony Holdings by Kwara State.
“Some other companies mentioned in the mischievous publication such as Kwara Cashew Processing Company Ltd, Patigi Regatta, International Cargo Terminal, are the shareholders of Harmony Holdings Ltd, on the basis of their being wholly owned by Kwara State. These companies are under the supervision of Harmony Holdings Ltd, representing the interest of the State.
“Kwara State holds and continues to hold minority shares in Shonga Farms Holding Ltd (between 10% and 25%) and Kwara Mall Development Company Ltd (30%). These are held in the form of land provided for the businesses. Harmony Holdings supervises the minority interest of Kwara State in these two companies.
“The attached documents (which bears the names of the immediate past directors of Harmony Holdings Ltd), attests to the ownership of Harmony Holdings Ltd and other referenced entities contrary to the falsehood being peddled”, the Statement obtained GrassRoots.ng reads.
How eight people sold train ticket for N15,000 in Abuja, Kaduna
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested eight suspected train ticket racketeers in Abuja and Kaduna.
The agency said Clement Zakka, Udim Samson, Adams Danladi, Otitomoni Omobolanle and Hassan Dauda were nabbed at the Kubwa train terminal, Abuja, on Saturday while three others including a Nigeria Railway Corporation worker and two touts were apprehended at the Rigasa station in Kaduna on Sunday.
They were were said to have sold the train tickets for between N2,500 and N15,000.
The EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade, said in a statement on Monday, that the suspects sold the N1,300 economy ticket for between N2,000 and N5,000 while first class ticket was sold for between N7,000 to N15,000 up from the official N2,500.
It said, “The Commission swung into action after receiving an intelligence report alleging that some group of people at the Idu and Kubwa train stations have been racketeering train tickets making it difficult for passengers to have access to tickets and further sabotaging government efforts in ensuring easy transportation across the country.
“The suspects were arrested during a sting operation at the stations; They will soon be charged to court.”
The anti-graft agency said its investigations revealed that some members of staff of the stations connived with touts to defraud unsuspecting travellers by selling the tickets at a higher rate.
It explained that the Station Manager, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Parcel Booking Officer of the Kaduna Railway Station have also been invited for questioning.
According to reports, the ticket racketeering at the Kubwa train station and complaints by passengers about the disorganized ticket system designed to exploit customers.