STARCOMMS BATTLES WITH VISAFONE OVER OMH PACKAGES
Top players in the telecommunication industry are again engaged in a show of shame over who is rendring the best quality at the right time. Two CDMA providers in Nigeria, Starcomms and Visafone are at war over who is the first to launch the Open Market Handset (OMH) to the Nigerian market.
Visafone claimed it launched the package last December amidst press conference after it was certified by CDMA Development Group (CDG) as the first in Africa to introduce such package. Starcomms, on its part, has been parading itself as the first to launch the services in the country.
An insider in Starcomms revealed that the network providers applied for the certification of OMH in October 2009 and that it was granted the license before other CDMA providers.
The source added that after the certification, Starcomms went back to the drawing board to standardize its network before introducing it to subscribers. While standardizing, the source added, Visafone got the certification and introduced it to the market, and is now claiming to be the first to acquire the certification.
The source added that Starcomms is the leading CDMA operator in the country with different packages for subscribers and will never lay claims to what has not been done by them. “We have what has never been done in the history of telecommunication in this country, so we can make issues with anybody who wants to take the glory for our hard work. We operate our OMH from a megahertz that is different from what they launched, so we are still on the better side,” he said.
A source in Visafone disagreed with this, and claimed that the company got the certification first and launched it immediately for its teeming subscribers. The source proved his statement with documents and newspaper reports in December 2009 with pictures of Visafone MD/CEO, Mr. R. Balachandran signing documents with CDG and NCC representatives.
The source said “we are the first OMH-compliant operator in this country. Visafone will support OMH devices that will be sold across the entire CDMA ecosystem. It’s funny to hear that barely two months after launching the service; Starcomms is claiming to be the first OMH compliant network in Africa.” The source added that Visafone is not ready to make case with anybody, but that is just needs to clear the air about who is the first to give such cutting edge service to Nigerians and Africans generally.
Efforts to get the communication managers of both organizations on the issue proved abortive as they were not ready to entertain any question on the matter.
OMH is a CDG initiative that opens distribution channels and increases CDMA device variety. It aims to do so by separating a subscriber’s decision to buy a handset and a decision to buy an OMH SIM card from their preferred CDMA services provider.
EXPIRED BOOM-BOOM ENERY DRINK FLOODS MARKET
Boom Boom Energy Drink was introduced into the Nigerian market four years ago by JaffJoe International Limited come. It was gathered that Boom Boom Energy Drink, which expired in December 2009, are still seen in the Nigerian market.
Sources said these expired batches are found in markets in Ikotun, Iyana-Iba and Oshodi areas of Lagos State, where they are sold at cheap prices.
Those who should know revealed that the product, which usually goes for N200 per can now sells for N100 in those markets, and the consumers were told that the price was reduced because of an on-going sales promotions.
Our source also revealed that the expiry date has been scrapped off from the can to deceive the consumers, and that expired products have lost original taste of the energy drink.
A consumer in Iyana Iba, who gave his name as Vincent, who said he bought the product from sales promoters in the market, revealed that after consuming the energy drink, he has been a regular guest at the hospital. He said it was confirmed that he consumed a poisonous substance, which he has now traced to the expired Boom Boom Energy Drink he consumed.
Another consumer in Oshodi market said he took the drink with four of his friends and that barely two hours after consumption, he and his friends started experiencing stomach disorder, and that he purged for almost three days. The man promised to deal with the company’s sales representatives anytime he sees them again.
According to an impeccable source, the product had problem with NAFDAC when it was first introduced into the country, which was the products were kept in a store, while negotiation with the agency lasted.
He said further that the product was stored in a warehouse that has a temperature, which was above what was specified by the maker and that the imported batch had expired before an approval was given to the company by the agency.
After the approval, the source added that the maker in Australia stopped the production of the particular flavour that was approved by NAFDAC, but that the company in Nigeria (JaffJoe Int Ltd) still ordered for the flavour that was not approved by NAFDAC, but that the registration that was given for the initial batch was insribed on the new one without the knowledge of NAFDAC.
When A&B visited the market to confirm the story, we saw the sales promoters who are selling the expired products to consumers and we later visited the head office of the company head office in Ikeja, Lagos, where we met one of the directors, Mr. Hussein M. Dayekh who declined to comment on the issue and dares us to go ahead with the story.
SOVEREIGN MFB BOSS, SOJI OGUNAIKE IMPREGNATES HOUSE MAID
Sovereign Microfinance Bank boss, Mr. Adesoji Ogunaike has been alleged to have impregnated his friend’s housemaid simply called, Kemi, who resides close to him around Surulere area of Lagos.
According to reliable source, the bank boss who started his banking career with Devcom Merchant Bank, now Equitorial Trust Bank in 1990, and who claims to be a pastor in of the Pentecostals churches, is alleged to be notorious in flirting with young girls. Those who should know said whenever the bank boss visits his friend, which he does on a regular basis; he entices the young lady with money.
The source sited an occasion when Mr Adesoji joined Sovereign Microfinance Bank in 2009 and he celebrated in the church with friends and family. He was said to have invited his newly married friend to his church. He was alleged to have insisted that the couple should come along with their housemaid, who he later bought a nice dress for with the excuses that she must look decent to the church.
After all advances, the young lady eventually fell for the bank boss, who usually took her out whenever she was alone in the house without the consent of her boss.
Those who should know confirmed that there are many occasions where the banker’s friend and his wife questioned the housemaid for being in possession of huge amount of money which they knew she couldn’t have got easily.
The whole truth blew open when the housemaid started behaving funny and started showing sings of pregnancy. Her madam was said to have taken her to the hospital where she confirmed that Kemi was 2month pregnant.
After much punishment from the couple, the maid revealed the identity of the man who put her in family way. The mentioning of Mr. Adesoji’s name as the man responsible for the pregnancy was said to have shocked the couple who leaked the secret to the banker’s wife.
Impeccable sources added that Mr. Adesoji didn’t deny the alleged relationship with the housemaid that led to pregnancy. He was alleged to have told his wife to stay clear of the issue if she still wanted to remain in her matrimonial home.
Source close to the family of the banker confirmed that he has now rented an apartment for the maid in Abule Egba area of Lagos.
N120 MILLION LARGESSE TEARS NBC APART
Indigenous brewery, Nigerian Breweries Plc has been torn apart following N120million largesse coming from the producer of its annual musical talent hunt called, Star Quest, Seyi Siwoku.
The musical talent hunt, which has been in existence close to five years, has regularly been produced by EXP Momentum until 2009 that it was given to Seyi Siwoku’s Jungle Film works. Source close to Jungle Filmworks revealed that hell was let loose last year when both Jungle Film Works and EXP Momentum collided at the 60th year celebration of the Star Lager Beer held at Tafawa Balewa Square.
At the celebration, the Marketing Manager, Star Lager, Tony Agenmonmen who runs a private agency, gave the audio/visual coverage to Jungle Filmworks, but EXP Momentum’s agreement to still handle audio/visual coverage still stands with Nigeria Breweries.
Sources disclosed that it took the intervention of top management to send Jungle Filmworks back and let EXP handle the coverage looking at the fact that Jungle Filmworks has just concluded the coverage and post production of Star Quest of 2009.
According to an insider, Star Quest was seized from EXP Momentum following Seyi Siwoku’s promise to top executives like Sampson Oloche, a senior brand manager of Star lager that he (Seyi Siwoku) will annually give N120million to the executives to get the job always.
Impeccable source divulged that Jungle Filmworks gave N100 million last year to some managers to approve the project, while this year, he gave N120 million. But some executives, led by Sampson Oloche sat over the money, claiming that Jungle Filmworks has not totally fulfilled his promise to managers.
It was also gathered that since Jungle Filmworks has been alleged to give money to the top management of Nigeria Breweries for the project to be given out, the other managers who did not benefit from the initial settlement have sworn not to give the project to Jungle Filmworks except he comes back to mention who he gave the first money to and how much.
Insider revealed that the largesse has created problem and has delayed the project, Star Quest which normally takes place every January of the year. The delay, according to an insider, has made the foreign counterpart of Nigeria Breweries to query the delay of Star Quest and demand for an explanation from the top executives why the project has been delayed till date.
The leading lager beer, which has been enjoying patronage from Nigerian consumers for over 60 years, continues to lead the stage despite the crisis rocking the manufacturer. A source close to Nigeria Breweries divulged that the company still tops the sales chat of lager beer in the country even with the entrant of new ones in the market.
DAARSAT HIT BRICKWALL
…AS DEBT ACCUMULATED WITH PR AGENCY
The latest entrant into the pay television list, DAARSAT, owned by Raymond Dokpesi has hit a brickwall following its low subscriber’s level. The pay-TV has enjoyed low patronage since inception despite massive media hype given to it by the operator.
According to a user, the DAARSAT crisis started from bad signal to bad decoder which eventually led to the untimely death of the pay-TV.
Those who should know divulged that for subscribers not to raise eyebrow over non-performance, the operator has decided to air local AIT channels on DAARSAT channels. It was even alleged that the only existing channel on DAARSAT now is FAAJI TV which is being co-ordinated by Ambrose Somide.
Impeccable source divulged that local channels like AIT Lagos, Port Harcourt and AIT International are what is being aired on DAARSAT now after other 32 channels have pulled out due to low subscriptions of viewers.
A source revealed that subscribers are being swindled by DAARSAT claming to have more channels and lowest tariff than its counterpart, whereas local channels are what they now aired and the signal is always bad.
Insider alleged that Raymond Dokpesi was lured into the business with the deceit that he will make millions of naira in a twinkle of an eye from the business. It was gathered that the late Ladi Lawal was not in support of DAARSAT, but insisted that the local television stations and staff welfare should be standardized first before going into satellite television.
Another development revealed that DAAR Communications, owner of DAARSAT allegedly owe the public relations outfit that managed the company about N140 million. According to an insider, Verdant Zeal, the PR outfit, has scheduled many meeting with the DAAR Communications Directors to fashion out ways to settle the accumulated bills but were always turned down by DAAR communications. A source revealed that Verdant Zeal has threatened to wash its hand off DAARSAT with all its alleged atrocities.
Insider from Verdent Zeal revealed that the agency is now bidding for another satellite television operator, HITV precisely with another name user name called First2Event to handle the public relations of its pay-TV since DAARSAT has become a torn in the flesh to them
Those who should know added that the son of Raymond Dokpesi, Raymond Jnr., allegedly approach key management staffer of Verdant Zeal with N50 million to erase the accumulated debt and be ready to support DAARSAT against all odds. The said money has divided top management staffers who claimed that collecting the money might hinder the negotiation of new clients.
N250 MILLION FRAUD ROCKS INTERCONTINENTAL BANK
Intercontinental Bank Plc has been involved in a fraud following the disappearance of N250million belonging to the Alhaji Rasak Shauibu-led AROCOM which has its head office in Abeokuta.
The Sapon, Abeokuta, Ogun State branch of Intercontinental Bank, where AROCOM opened its account, penultimate week declared the account balance of the pyramid scheme house to be lesser with N250million against the calculations of the teller submitted by the customer of AROCOM. AROCOM which is a pyramid scheme house that empower artisans with tripple amount of money saved, has branches spread across the nations with district coordinators who collect money from participants and pay into a specified Intercontinental account weekly. The payment, according to a south west co-ordinator, will indicate what has been saved by participants and how loan will be granted.
The coordinator revealed that the fraud was revealed when some participants stormed the Abeokuta office of AROCOM to inquire why their loans have to be granted after saving the required amount within the stipulated duration. It was revealed that the tellers show what has been saved, but the account balance was contrary. Investigations revealed that the money saved at Sapon branch of Intercontinental Bank by the participants are the ones among the missing millions.
According to an impeccable source, Alhaji Rasak Shuaibu make it clear to all participants not to save in any Intercontinental Bank until there is a directive from them to do so and he gave an ultimatum of three weeks for the branch manager to produce his N250million or face the wrath of the law.
The source added that the missing N250milions was accumulated within 3months of savings by the participants and that the issue has been creating problem in smooth operation of AROCOM
N250M FRAUD ROCKS GUINNESS NIGERIA OVER IMPORTATION OF ARMSTRONG DARK ALE
Internationally acclaimed brewing house, Guinness Nigeria is said to be rocked with fraud over the importation of its new product, Armstrong Dark Ale. Information made available revealed that top executives who cleared the product from one of the Nigerian ports claimed to have spent N250 million to settle all necessary bills, but it was later discovered by the company’s Managing Director, Mr. K.R.M Taylor that the said amount was inflated.
Insiders disclosed that the importation process, which lasted almost one month generated brouhaha within top management staff when cost of the importation was submitted to the account department.
Sources said that some managers who did not benefit from the money started circulating the allegation to people who are close to the company’s chairman, who was said to have ordered the managing director to look closely into the issue.
Those who should know revealed that a committee was then set up to make necessary enquiry over the alleged fraud and that the committee revealed that N100 million was given out to top customs officers for the importation of the ten 40 feet containers with which the products were imported as against the N250 million claimed by the managers who handled the job.
It was also gathered that the managers involved in the fraud have been summoned by the managing director and were asked to give details of how they spent the N250 million they claimed to have spent.
Impeccable sources revealed that Armstrong Dark Ale, which was launched in Nigeria around January this year in Lagos, was billed to be promoted in major cities in Nigeria before it would be made available to consumers.
Sources said that the quantity imported so far is meant for sampling across the states of the federation.
