The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Three Ghanaians among suspects held for ‘illegal’ fishing

    The Central Naval Command (CNC) of the Nigerian Navy (NN) has nabbed three Ghanaians and 49 others for ‘illegal’ fishing activities on Brass River, Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

    The suspects including four fishing trawlers were on Wednesday transferred to the Federal Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (FDFA) for further investigations and prosecution.

    The Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base (FOB) FORMOSO, Capt. Suleiman Ibrahim, handed over the four vessels christened, Star Shrimpers 3, Cosmos 1, Trade Wind and ORC VII and the crew members to officials of FDFA in Brass.

    Ibrahim said the feat was an indication that the partnership involving the Navy, which is under the Federal Ministry of Defence, the FDFA and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was yielding positive results.

    He recalled that a few days ago two vessels with crew members were also handed over for trespassing the restricted zones.

    He noted that the law stipulated clearly that fishing trawlers were not allowed to fish within the five nautical miles at the restricted zone.

    He said, “The Navy detected the illegal activities of these four fishing vessels with the use of maritime domain awareness equipment trawling within the five nautical miles restricted zones, and we thereafter deployed our operatives to intercept them.

    Read Also: 15 suspects paraded in Enugu

    “Precisely on the 24th of this month, we handed over two fishing trawlers for fishing within the 5 nautical miles restricted zone. The same scenario is happening again, four fishing trawlers were also arrested for the same offense and we tracked intercepted them.

    “I believe with this existing collaboration and partnership with other government agencies, we will be able to educate the companies more on the need to stay away from the restricted areas to avoid crisis with local fishermen”.

    Speaking on the development, the Assistant Director and Head of Monitoring Control and Surveillance, FDFA, Popoola Babatunde, said said his interactions with the suspects revealed that the impounded vessels, dropped within the non- trawling zones meant for canoe fishermen.

    He noted that if found culpable, the suspects and their firms would be punished accordingly.

    Captain of one of the vessels, Emilola Tebiti said their raider and GPRS while trawling showed they were not within the restricted areas.

  • Ohanaeze youths to Customs: stop extorting traders

    The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has raised the alarm over the worsening cases of extortion of Igbo traders by officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on highways in the country.

    Addressing journalists in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Wednesday, the president of the OYC, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka said the series of extortion of Igbo traders and businessmen in the country, especially in Lagos State, by officials of the Nigeria Customs Service had reached an alarming stage.

    According to him, the officials no longer hide “their inclination and pleasure in extorting money from Igbo traders doing legitimate business in Nigeria”.

    He said, “Verified complaints reaching the OYC has confirmed that customs officials have continued to request undue and illegal ‘customs duties and levies’ from Igbo importers as a condition to clear their goods. They also stop Igbo traders on the roads to extort from them. They employ the use of coercion, threats, closure of shops and seizure of goods worth billions of naira to unlawfully obtain money from their victims.

    Read Also: Ohanaeze youths warn Ihedioha over ‘arrest Okorocha order’

    “Recently, some of the officials from the custom office in Ikeja, without court order, stormed Igbo shops at Maryland, Coscharis, Ikorodu and other areas in Lagos and carted away their goods and locked their shops over products that have already been cleared by the same custom officials when it entered Nigerian borders.”

    Reacting to the allegations, the NCS spokesman, Joseph Attah, a deputy controller of Customs, admitted that there was an ongoing  clampdown on smuggled goods especially vehicles, but  denied that the action was targeted on any ethnic group in the country.

    “My brother, why are you bringing in ethnic sentiment to an official action? There is nothing tribal about it because whatever is going on in Lagos is going on in Kaduna, Kano, even Port Harcourt and other parts of the country. As I’m talking to you, I’m in Kaduna to sensitise the people on the ongoing partial border closure and some of the people there  were asking this same question. They are not Igbos. So, there is nothing tribal about it. Those people telling you this have to know that Igbos are not the only ones selling cars,” Attah told The Nation on the  telephone.

    Reminded of the allegation that appropriate duties have been paid on some of the seized vehicles, Attah said, appropriate actions would be taken after investigations.

  • Danish ‘double murder’ suspect opens defence Oct 25

    An Igbosere High Court in Lagos has adjourned till October 25 for a Danish

    man, Peter Nielsen, to open his defence to a double murder charge.

    Nielsen, 54, is standing trial for the April 5, 2018 death of his Nigerian singer wife, Zainab and their three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Petra.

    The Lagos State Government accused the Dane of smothering Zainab and Petra to death at about 3:45am at No. 4, Flat 17, Bella Vista Tower, Banana Island Ikoyi.

    Nielsen was arraigned on June 13, 2018 on two counts of murder contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    He denied the charge.

    Lagos State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey closed the government’s case on Friday, September 20.

    Justice Okikiolu Ighile fixed October 25 for trial to continue.

    Last Friday, defence counsel, Mr Olasupo Shasore SAN cross examined the

    prosecution’s ninth witness Dr. Idem Richard Somiari.

    Dr. Somiari stated that the defendant’s DNA was found in the apartment and on Zainab’s night gown, but neither on the body of his deceased daughter, nor in the kitchen where the bodies were discovered.

    The expert also stated that he found DNA of an unknown female in the kitchen.

    Read Also: 19-year-old remanded over ‘N550,000 theft’

    When confronted that the crime scene investigation and forensic DNA analysis was deliberately aimed at gathering evidence and arriving at results showing that the Defendant was guilty of the murder, Dr Somiari denied it.

    Somiari stated that the forensic DNA team took steps to prevent contamination of the crime scene by putting on gloves, shoe covers, and disposable laboratory coats.

    But when he was later shown photographs from his visit to the crime scene, he admitted that some members of the DNA team did not put on the protective gear.

    Dr Somiari was also unable to account for the number of people that had access to the crime scene in the period between the discovery of the bodies and the examination of the crime scene by forensic experts.

    The prosecution witness also informed the court that samples for DNA analysis were only taken from three occupants of the apartment; the defendant and the two deceased persons even though six people lived in the apartment at the time of the murder.

  • Why our service chiefs deserve national honour

    When recently, I heard a member of the Nigerian Senate asking what the Service Chiefs have done these years on ending Boko Haram,  I knew immediately that there is another set of people that have been ignored in our hall of fame. It became clear to me, our politicians will stop at nothing to glorify themselves over nothing,  but excitedly spite others.
    The Senator who asked the rhetorical question amazed me infinitely. If today, and under President Muhammadu Buhari, any Nigerian can claim even in satiric excitement or in mocking ambience not to understand or feel the impact of the Service Chiefs on insurgencies, it only exposes our hypocritical selves.
    And when I hear such obscenities from politicians, it baffles me on why these same persons have found themselves in leadership positions. A friend of mine, once told me   that when our politicains tell you to stand, make sure you sit down immediately. They are hostile to truth, but worship falsehood with reverence.  This is the extent Nigerians perceive the dishonesty in our politicians.
    Therefore, spreading mischief and malicious interpretations of our problems by these politicians would not obliterate the reality. We all know, truth is constant and sacrosanct. Only lies mutate in character severally within a day.
    The same Senator, I have no reason to doubt his dementia has forgotten that in the Three Arms Zone in Abuja where he attends parliamentary sessions, insurgents bombs exploded at Eagle Square when former President Goodluck Jonathan was the chief landlord of Aso Rock.
    And even the Louis Edet House, which houses the  Nigerian Police Headquarters also felt the heat of Boko Haram bombs. The bomb explosions at Nyanya bus station; Barnex Shopping Mall, the UN Building and hordes of other places within the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) undeniably expressed our national tragedy.
    That a serving Senator today does not know that no bomb has exploded anywhere in Abuja under the Buhari Presidency and deridingly questions what the Service Chiefs have done would not plunge me into a nightmare. He is merely voicing out his foolery, in a demeaning fashion.
    If we are held back by sentiment not to commend the Service Chiefs for taming insurgencies and insurrections in Nigeria,  we should rather be mute. But polluting the air with such malicious condemnations of the sacrifices they are making to give us peace and security is the height of idiocy.
    I feel the current Service Chiefs, especially the Chief of Army Staff ( COAS) and helmsman of the anti-insurgency operations in Nigeria, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai deserve national recognition with national honours. The Brazilian Government was not foolish to have conferred the highest military honour on Gen. Buratai for his contributions in decimating / defeating Boko Haram terrorism and therefore, scaling up world peace!
     I know some Nigerians as people who are never proud of hard working, selfless and patriotic leaders like Gen. Buratai and the others are just victims of a disfigured national pysche.
    So, for the records, and to those who are likely to be misled by the dishonest views of my Senator- friend, I wish to reply briefly by replaying the impact of Service Chiefs appointed in 2015 which he deliberately feigns ignorance.
    I want to be specific and would x-ray just the war against terrorism. Before the Buhari Presidency,  18 local governments in the Northeast were under the full control of Boko Haram. The  terror gang also had partial control of seven others. Terrorists deposed traditional and religious leaders, foisted their Jihadi flags and governed conquered territories on the dictates of Boko Haram’s weird doctrines, with headquarters in Gwoza.
    But Gen. Buratai ingeniously and courageously led Nigerian troops to reclaim all seized territories of the Nigerian state within one year! Nigerians only knew of Boko Haram’s abduction of the 276 Chibok schoolgirls. However, over 20, 000 Nigerians were held hostage in Boko Haram’s secret camps in the Northeast. The Army Chief led the assault which has freed over 17, 000 Boko Haram hostages in the last four years.
    Today, we are not under the phobia of a dreaded Sambisa forest. We are pleasantly talking about a demystified and dismantled Sambisa forest, an enclave now sprawling with games and hunting . I am still thinking of who some debased politicians in the country think has accomplished these feats, if not the Service Chiefs, with Gen. Buratai as the Chief Armour Bearer.
    Nigerians are no longer under the nightmare of the spell of Boko Haram, constantly visiting atrocities and horrendous attacks,  so recklessly on any part of the country as obtainable in the past. Of course, I won’t say, Boko Haram insurgency has completely ended, but it has been severely degraded and decapitated, to the extent that now insurgents only strike at obscure locations.  But our gallant soldiers are still on their trail in Clearance Operations. We cannot be this blind to reality!
    We can only appreciate Gen. Buratai if we know that he has been able to stop the massive recruitment of our sons and daughters into Boko Haram as footsoldiers.  It’s a difficult task, but he has done it. It means Gen. Buratai has confronted insurgency on all fronts- battlefield, cyberspace,  pyschological and ideological warfares.
    I am not wise, but I know when someone attempts to fool me. If at this point, some Nigerians still doubt what the incumbent Service Chiefs have done in combating terrorism, they could even query the day of their birth. Had other Service Chiefs did half of what current batch are doing now in finally routing out Boko Haram terrorism, Nigeria would have been a free nation by today.
    I feel these Service Chiefs deserve national honors. It’s the only way we can convince an inquisitive world about appreciating their service and sacrifices to our  fatherland in quelling terrorism.
    Onmeje wrote this piece from Bromley, London..

  • Apochi battles Pryor in Houston

    Efetobor ‘Nigerian Pitbull’ Apochi will climb back into the ring tomorrow at the Arena Theatre, Houston, Texas, USA as he takes on journeyman Larry Pryor.

    The 31 year-old Ughelli-born boxer is confident Pryor would not last more than four rounds in the scheduled eight-round bout.

    “This fight should be over by the 4th round. He is no match for my ferocity and punching power.

    “The fight will surely end early despite Pryor’s experience because the ‘Nigerian Pitbull’ plays rough,” Apochi told NationSport in a Facebook chat.

    An accomplished amateur in Nigeria where he captained the boxing team to a bronze-winning performance at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Apochi has knocked-out all his opponents in his Eight fights since turning professional in 2017.

    Apochi knocked out Earl Newman in the 7th round in his last fight in Biloxi, Mississippi in May.

    He is trained by the legendary Ronnie Shields who also trains heavyweight prospect Efe Ajagba.

    Pryor, 37, a Frederick, Maryland native, is looking to bounce back from a decision loss to Raphael Murphy in August. He has won 11 out of 32 fights since he began professional boxing in 2005 and has lost the remaining 22.

  • Lagos closes Costain Bridge

    The Lagos State government on Wednesday disclosed plans to shut down the Costain Roundabout inwards Funso Williams Avenue for three months, beginning from Thursday October 3.

    The closure, according to a statement, is to facilitate the completion of the ongoing construction of the bridge.

    The Federal Government had embarked on building a new flyover bridge to replace the existing one whose headroom had been inadequate for the speed train being proposed to connect Apapa ports for wet and cargo freight services.

    Government issued a travel advisory for commuters and motorists on the road, urging motorists coming from Funso Williams Avenue  enroute Apapa Road/Iganmu to Apapa to make use of Alaka to Eric Moore to Abebe Village (Nigerian Breweries) and continue the journey, while those heading to Lagos Island from Funso Williams can connect through Eko Bridge from Ijora Olopa or Apongbon.

    Read Also: Civil society groups protest at Lagos Assembly

    Those heading to Lagos Island from Orile can use Iganmu Road to connect Eko Bridge through Costain.

    Motorists coming from Lagos Island that have no business in Costain and its environs can make use of Eko Bridge to Funso Williams Avenue.

    Those foing Costain Roundabout,  Alaka, or Ebute Meta can take Apapa Road to Abule Nla Road to connect Funso Williams Avenue by Leadway Assurance building to continue their journey.

  • Post primary: Court orders substituted service on Lyon, running mate

    AN aspirant in the  governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Preye Aganaba, has moved a suit he filed against the party and its candidate, Chief David Lyon, from the state to the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    A copy of the court proceeding showed that the case came up  on Wednesday for mentioning at the Federal High Court 4, Abuja presided over by Justice I.E. Ekwo.

    Granting  a motion ex parte filed by Aganaba, Ekwo ordered substituted service of all the processes in the suit on David Lyon and his running mate, Biobaekuma Degi.

    The judge ordered that the substituted service should include pasting the originating process or other processes on the wall or any part of the National Headquarters of the APC.

    Ekwo also described that the mode of service he issued against the APC candidate and his running mate as sufficient.

    But the court turned down one of the prayers by the plaintiff, asking the court to abridge the time which the defendants may enter appearance, file and serve their respective defence process to 14 days.

    Read Also: I won’t disappoint Bayelsa, says Lyon

    Ekwo, who said he could not issue such order in the absence of other parties, adjourned the case to October 16.

    Aganaba in the substantive suit asked the court to void the primaries that produced Lyon as the candidate of the party for the Novermber 16 governorship election in the state.

    Aganaba, a founding member of the APC in Bayelsa, sued the APC, Lyon, Degi and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to  court as defendants in a suit he  filed on  Seprember 12.

    The aspirant urged the court to make a declaration that the primaries scheduled for September 4 across the 105 wards in the eight local government areas of the state did not take place.

    He also asked the court to make a declaration that since there were no primaries, the declaration of results that produced David Lyon as the candidate of the party was illegal, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect.

    The aspirant further demanded an order setting aside the results of the APC primary election, which returned Lyon as the candidate of the party for November 16 election.

  • APC chief raises alarm over violence

    The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Yekini Nabena, has raised the alarm over  what he called the rising politically-motivated violence in Bayelsa State, ahead of the November 16 governorship election.

    Nabena, who raised the alarm on Wednesday during a chat with reporters in Abuja, also called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Adamu Mohammed, to proscribe the state security outfit, Operation Doo Akpo over alleged compromise and being used by the state government to harass and intimidate the opposition.

    The deputy national publicity secretary, who spoke  on the backdrop of the violence that erupted in the Bayelsa State capital, Yenagoa, on Monday, following the  House of Assembly’s crisis, alleged that a principal official of the state, had been instigating unrest in the state.

    Read Also: Council primaries: Ekiti APC aspirants, reject imposition

    He said he had reliable information that some elements within Bayelsa State chapter of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had mobilised thugs with dangerous weapons from neighbouring states to cause unrest in the state before the election.

    “With the popular APC candidacy of David Lyon, Bayelsans have already decided to do away with the failed administration of Governor Dickson and his stooge which he has foisted on the PDP. No amount of rigging and intimidation will deter Bayelsans. The wind of change is blowing across the state, regardless of party leanings.” Nabena said.

  • ‘We will keep building on founding fathers’ legacies’

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), governorship candidate, in Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has assured the people  of his desire to build on the legacies of the state founding fathers if elected on November 16.

    Diri, in a statement to mark the 23rd anniversary of Bayelsa creation and Nigeria at 59 said that Bayelsa and the nation shared the same anniversary, adding  that it was a time for stock-taking and renewal.

    He said that despite the challenges facing Bayelsa State, there were glittering spots to cheer about, adding that successive administrations had made impact and the people should look forward with hope and confidence.

    Diri said his aspiration to be governor was founded on the need to regenerate the cause of development and socio-economic betterment of the  people.

    He vowed to build on the legacies of the founding fathers and in particular the achievements of the Restoration Administration of the incumbent Governor Seriake Dickson.

    Read Also: Jonathan’s kinsmen declare support for Diri, running mate

    He said:” On the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of Bayelsa State, I want to express my heartfelt wishes to all our people, at home and abroad. Like with all states and indeed the nation, the challenges of socio-economic and political stability are issues of concern. But we must be resolute that we would overcome and become better.

    “The challenge is for us to strive harder and rekindle hope and continue to build on the legacies of our founding fathers to make Bayelsa State a distinct land of beauty where peace reigns and enterprise matches prosperity for the good of all Bayelsans.

    “The import of my message is to insist on the right leadership at all levels, a kind of  leadership that is imbued with vision and commitment for the overall welfare of the people.

    “Yet, it is gratifying that despite the situation around us, we can still see some glittering spots of concrete achievements from the past till now as manifested in the remarkable legacies of the Restoration Government ably led by Governor Seriake Dickson. This is a thing we should rejoice about as we look forward with hope and confidence to build on these legacies and create a better Bayelsa State.“

    The PDP governorship candidate also called on Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the cause of nationhood by embracing patriotism and work collectively to enhance peace and unity.

  • Jonathan’s kinsmen unite for PDP candidate

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s kinsmen in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, have declared support for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for November 16 election, Senator Douye Diri and his running mate Senator Lawrence Ewrujakpor.

    Rising from their meeting convened by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the kinsmen vowed to vote massively for the PDP candidate.

    The stakeholders at the meeting tagged: Ogbia Unity Congress and organised by the Ogbia Restoration Crusaders, dismissed insinuations that Diri was stingy, describing the candidate as a nice man.

    A member representing Ogbia Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Fred Obua, said the PDP was stable in the state, adding that Ogbia would deliver 95 per cent of the votes to the PDP.

    Commenting on Diri’s personality, he said: “Douye Diri is a free man , nobody should use the name of stingy as a campaign strategy. He is a nice man, somebody that is accessible.  He is a highly experienced man and somebody you can trust anytime.”

    Read Also: Goodluck Jonathan’s son-in-law shot in Calabar

    In his remarks, the Chairman of Ogbia Local Government Area , Mr.Ebinyo Turner noted that Ogbia youths were happy with the PDP because of its generosity in bringing development to Ogbia land.

    He said that Ogbia had been a traditionally undivided PDP support base and would rally round the PDP for massive victory in the governorship election in November 16.

    Also a PDP chieftain and Commissioner for Information, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, hailed leaders and stakeholders  for their support to the candidate  and his running mate.

    He said he was happy that  leaders from the council came out en masse to endorse the PDP candidate.

    He  thanked the Chairman of the Ogbia Restoration Caucus, Chief George Okirinya, Graham Ipigansi and the member representing Ogbia Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Fred Obua.