The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • SSANU, NASU accuse Fed Govt of discrimination

    Non-teaching workers of Nigerian universities, under the aegis of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), have accused the Federal Government of giving preferential treatment to their academic counterparts.

    They warned that unless the government meets their demands, the warning strike, which ends today, may snowball into “mother of all strikes”.

    The unions insisted that the government must release N30 billion to them for payment of their earned allowances.

    According to them, giving 80 per cent of the money earlier released to universities to academic workers was too discriminatory. Their threat is coming as the National Universities Commission (NUC) issued a circular to Vice Chancellors of all Federal universities on the payment of salaries and arrears to teachers of university staff schools.

    Read Also: SSANU, NASU strike paralyse UI

    This has been a subject of industrial crisis between the government the unions since 2016.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the unions, led by SSANU’s National Vice-President/Zonal Chairman, Comrade Solomon Alfa, said the five-day warning strike, which started on Monday to press home their demands, was successful.

    The two unions said the money they were demanding from government would be spent to close the gap created by the discriminatory disbursement of funds earlier approved for settlement of university workers’ Earned Allowances.

    Alfa said the unions were not happy about government’s alleged discrimination in disbursing N25 billion allocated to Federal universities with the academic workers alone taking 80 per cent of the money. The union leader advised the government to immediately reopen renegotiation with them on the 2009 agreement, which he said was long overdue for renegotiation.

    According to him, the unions were protesting the continued discriminatory practice by government in favour of the academic workers in the sharing of money meant for the payment of earned allowances.

    “Consequently, the JAC of SSANU and NASU is demanding N30 billion from the Federal Government for payment to non-teaching workers in order to close the gap it created by the discriminatory allocations.

    “Thereafter, JAC expects that government will not allow such dichotomy to raise its ugly head in the system against after defraying the balance,” he said.

    Alfa said the unions decided to give further update on their warning strike.

    The union leader said the strike was also an opportunity for the unions to create awareness abouth their actions.

    He urge Nigerians to prevail on the government to prevent the “mother of all strikes” in the nation’s tertiary institutions.

    Alfa added: “This repeated discriminatory practice by government of the day in favour of ASUU and against the non-teaching workers is not only worrisome but has portrayed the present government as bias as well as well as causing divide-and-rule capable of creating disharmony in the system as an avenue to crumble and kill the university education system.

    “Therefore, the JAC of SSANU and NASU is calling on all Nigerians to condemn this act of government with a view to correcting itself.”

  • We will execute projects to change Nigeria’s narrative, says President

    President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged that his administration will continue to implement policies and execute people-oriented projects that will change the narrative for Nigerians.

    The President spoke yesterday in Zaria, Kaduna State, at the inauguration of the city’s water supply expansion project.

    He said the Federal Government, despite its lean resources, spent N11.8 billion on the construction of the multipurpose 186.1 million cubic meter Galma Dam as its contribution to the project.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser (SA) on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said: “This project is the culmination of the joint efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Kaduna State Government, Islamic Development Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

    “The multilateral nature of the funding for this project underscores the great importance the Kaduna State government and the Federal Government attach to this project, which is designed to provide adequate water supply to the growing city of Zaria and its environs.”

    Read Also: Buhari: we’ve invested N1.3tr in education

    Praising Governor Nasiru El-Rufai for completing the water project, which had hitherto languished for years.

    President Buhari said: “I am aware that the governor undertook to offset all outstanding payments to the contractor in 2015, which led to the resumption of construction activities at the 150 million litres-per-day water treatment plant.”

    The President also praised the state government for demonstrating an appreciable commitment to development through people-oriented projects.

    “To our multilateral partners, the Islamic Development Bank and the AfDB, we are grateful for your part in providing the needed funding to undertake and complete the transmission mains, service reservoirs, booster stations and distribution network.

    “We could not have done it without your contributions. We are hopeful that this partnership will continue as we seek to reach out to other communities, cities and states in Nigeria to provide water facilities and other essential services,” he said.

    The President challenged the Kaduna State Water Corporation, responsible for operating and maintaining the system, to live up to expectation, urging beneficiaries to be responsible citizens by ensuring vigilance over the facilities and payment for water consumed.

    He noted that water infrastructure investments such as this one would serve for decades if they are well managed and well maintained.

    “The project is partly funded by loans that will be repaid by coming generations. We should ensure that they are appreciative even as they continue to pay back the loans,” the President said. President Buhari, who congratulated “the good people of Zaria for being the beneficiaries of such a timely and life-changing water project”, hailed the contractors and consultants for doing quality job and timely delivery.

  • Court dismisses HDP’s petition against Buhari

    The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and its candidate Ambrose Owuru against President Muhamadu Buhari’s election for being unmeritorious.

    A five-man panel, in a unanimous judgment, held that the petition’s first leg was outside the court’s jurisdiction, and that the petitioners failed to prove the second leg.

    In the first part, the petitioners sought to be declared winners of the last presidential election.

    It was on the ground that they won a referendum purportedly conducted on February 16, the date earlier scheduled for the presidential election before it was held on February 23.

    In the second part, the petitioners claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) unlawfully excluded them from the election, their candidate having been validly nominated.  The Presiding Justice, Justice Mohammed Garba, who read the lead judgment, held that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the aspect of the petition relating to referendum.

    He said the court, under Section 239(1) of the 1999 Constitution, exercises original jurisdiction in presidential election dispute to determine whether or not a person was validly elected, not the outcome of a referendum.

    Justice Garba noted that the only part of Constitution where referendum was provided for are in sections 69 and 110, which deal with the process of replacing a recalled legislator, and not for the election of a person into the office of President.

    He added that the Constitution also makes provision for how the outcome of elections should be contested.

    According to him, no provision exists in the Constitution that allows a petition to challenge the outcome of a presidential election by alluding to a purported referendum.

    On the petitioners’ argument that INEC lacked the power to postpone an election, Justice Garba said Section 26(1) of the Electoral Act allows the commission to do so and fix dates, provided the reasons are cogent and verifiable.

    Read Also: Court adjourns for judgment on Atiku’s petition

    “Since INEC is empowered to postpone an election and choose election date, the power to decide matters of postponement is outside the jurisdiction of this court,” the judge said.

    While further holding that the court lacked jurisdiction, Justice Garba noted that since the act of postponement occurred before the election, which was held on February 23, it was a pre-election matter that should be decided at the High Court within 14 days.

    “Being a pre-election matter, which is not within the jurisdiction of this court, and having not been filed within the stipulated 14 days, the jurisdiction of this court cannot be invoked to determine this case,” he said.

    On alleged exclusion, Justice Garba noted that in some of the exhibits tendered by the petitioners, it was obvious that the petitioners were not truthful about their claim to have been excluded from the election.

    He noted that from the final list of candidates made by INEC, which the petitioners tendered, Owuru’s name appeared as number 69, while its logo was conspicuously printed on the ballot papers.

    Justice Garba held that the petitioners did not prove allegation of valid nomination and unlawful exclusion from the election.

    He dismissed the petition, but declined to award cost against the petitioners as prayed by the respondents – President Muhammadu Buhari, INEC and the All progressives congress (APC).

    The court, in three earlier rulings, upheld the respondents’ preliminary objections.  The court held that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the petition and that it constitutes an abuse of court process.

    According to the PEPC, the issues raised in the petition were similar to those raised in two suits numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/221/2018 and FHC/ABJ/94/78/2019 pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

  • Teenager, dad held for N1.2m ‘fraud’

    The police in Lagos have arrested a 19-year-old boy and his father for allegedly defrauding a businessman of N1.2million under the guise of selling Bitcoins to them.

    The suspects, Emmanuel Amadi and his father, John, were trailed to Iyana Ishashi on Wednesday by operatives attached to the Area ‘F’ Command, following a petition by the victim, Obinna Ekemezie.

    It was gathered that the teenager had met Ekemezie on a social networking site, Facebook, last month where they became friends and he told the victim that he was into foreign exchange (FOREX) business and was looking for buyers.

    Read Also: Man held for allegedly impregnating daughter 

    Ekemezie, who claimed to be into forex and had his businesses in Enugu and Lagos, developed interest in a proposed deal and agreed to send the agreed amount of N1.2million to the teenager’s bank account.

    Upon receipt of the money, Amadi allegedly blocked the victim on his social media platforms they usually communicated through, as well as mobile calls.

    Disturbed by the development, the victim, it was learnt, petitioned the police and supplied them the suspect’s telephone numbers, which they had used in communicating.

    “The phone numbers 0814369123 and 07053248619 were later tracked to somewhere in Iyana Isashi, Lagos, on August 21. His father was arrested because the suspect said he collected N500,000 of the money.

    “The suspect is a serial cybercrime fraudster who has been duping some naive businessmen. He exploits their desire to get forex at low rates from him. Investigation shows that he has done a similar thing to unsuspecting businessmen,” a source said.

  • Two arraigned for alleged assault, phone theft

    Two men, Taoreed Mustapha, 19, and Kareem Lawan, 21, were yesterday arraigned at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for alleged assault and theft of an Infinix smart phone worth N80, 000, property of Bature Musa.

    Mustapha and co-defendant, Lawan, live in Agege, Lagos.

    They are facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, assault and stealing before Magistrate Mrs. M. I. Dan-Oni.

    Prosecutor Inspector Victor Eruada told the court that the defendants with others at large committed the offences on August 13 at 24, Adeniyi Street, Agege.

    Read Also: Six in court for alleged membership of cult

    He alleged that the defendants stole the phone belonging to the complainant, Musa.

    Eruada also alleged that the defendants assaulted Mr Muhammed Sani by using a cutlass to inflict injury on his hands and head.

    The prosecutor said the defendants allegedly inflicted injury on Sani while attempting to steal from him.

    The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Dan-Oni granted each of the defendants N100,000 bail with one surety each in the like sum.

    She adjourned the case till September 19.

  • Three killed as ‘kidnappers’ move to free arrested colleagues

    Two of the four suspected kidnappers arrested in Ogun State and one of their ‘colleagues’ have been killed.

    The Nation learnt that they were on Wednesday killed during a gun battle with policemen.

    The suspects, who were arrested at Ijebu waterside and were being moved to the command headquarters in Abeokuta by the team, were said to have been caught in a crossfire between policemen and their gang members, who laid ambush between J4 and Abigi in a bid to rescue them.

    It was gathered that the four members of the gang allegedly responsible for the kidnap of three persons, including the son of a Chief Imam on Sallah Day, were arrested after they came out of the creek where they had been hiding.

    Although the police succeeded in rescuing the victims on August 16 and arrested one of the suspects, they were forced to retreat after some cops sustained injuries in the operation.

    Read Also: Fayemi seeks citizens’ support for Army to tackle kidnapping, others

    Police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said detectives continued to trail the criminals who were hiding in the creek and their efforts paid off on Wednesday morning when four gang members came out.

    “They came out probably to relocate to another place, not knowing that they were being trailed. The police swooped on them and nabbed them. Two cut to size guns, four live cartridges, a cylinder, one boat engine and assorted charms were recovered from them.

    “While the arrested suspects were being taken to the command headquarters in Abeokuta by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), their other colleagues, who had laid ambush for them between Abigi and J4, attacked the team with a view of freeing their arrested members.

    “This resulted in a crossfire between the gang and the police. At the end, two of the arrested suspects and one of the attackers were fatally injured. One pump action gun belonging to the attackers and three expended cartridges were recovered on the scene of the ambush, while some of the attackers escaped with bullet injuries.

    “The command hereby takes this opportunity to appeal to the public, especially hospitals, to report anybody seen with gunshot injury to the police in their area.”

    Three killed as ‘kidnappers’ move to free arrested colleagues
    The recovered arms and ammunition

  • Illegal medicine stores shut

    The Ondo State Joint Task Force on Fake and Counterfeit Drugs has clamped down on illegal Patient Vendors at Ayede-Ogbese and Shasha markets in Ondo State.

    They shut 10 medicine stores.

    The Chairman of the Ondo State Joint Task Force on Fake and Counterfeit Drugs, Mr. Olugbenga Lasekan, a pharmacist, who led the team, decried the recalcitrant attitude of most patient medicine vendors in the areas visited, “as they open premises without recourse to rules of practice.”

    He said according to the rules laid down by the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN), no medicine outlet should be opened without consulting the PCN for approval, premises should not be sited at filling stations, markets and motor parks; and containers should not be used as shops.

    Lasekan said: “Shops that open without following laid down rules and are not licensed are illegal, while drugs without NAFDAC registration are fake.

    Read Also: Kano seals up illegal pharmaceutical company, patent medicine stores

    “By the rules of practice, patient medicine vendors have list of drugs they are permitted to sell, which does not include antibiotics, injections and control drugs.

    “People are not allowed to hawk drugs because the drugs are supposed to be stored under certain temperature, which the practice of hawking violates, thus making the drugs unhealthy for human consumption.”

    He added that that the state has zero tolerance for fake, adulterated and unwholesome products as well as illegal premises and will not rest on its oars until the state is rid of defaulters.

    Lasekan warned that the government will not hesitate to prosecute recalcitrant vendors and association leaders who aid and abet illegality.

    He advised vendors to obtain licences from PCN, to avoid harassment and embarrassment.

  • Ohanaeze condemns woman’s murder

    The Ohanaeze Ndigbo has condemned the murder of Mrs. Pat Ngwu at Nchatancha community in Enugu State.

    Mrs. Ngwu went missing on Wednesday on a farm and her body was found on Thursday.

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo has accused herdsmen of killing the woman and warned that the people may resort to self-help if nothing is done to stop the killings.

    A statement yesterday by the Publicity Secretary, Uche Achi-Okpaga, reads: “The spate of rape, kidnapping and killings in Igbo land by herdsmen has reached an alarming crescendo. The recent killing of an innocent woman in Nchatancha, Enugu, is alarming.

    Read Also: Teenage daughter of British millionaire found dead in pool

    “With the situation virtually out of hand of the security agencies, the people may be compelled to resort to self-help for survival unless a drastic effort is exerted by the security forces to stop the impending national holocaust.”

    Achi-Okpaga called for a thorough investigation and prosecution of the killers to assuage the people.

    “We, therefore, call on the police to investigate this act and bring the culprits to justice, to restore the people’s confidence.”

    Enugu State Government has condemned the alleged murder of the woman.In a statement yesterday by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, the government condoled with the family of the deceased and urged the security agencies to begin investigation with a view to arresting the culprits.

  • Guard charged with stealing N2.8m

    A guard, Nasiru Abubakar, on Thursday appeared at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing 8,000 dollars (about N2.8 million) and a phone belonging to an expatriate.

    Abubakar, who lives at Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, is charged with theft.

    Prosecuting Inspector Patrick Ebri said the defendant committed the offence on May 26, at 3pm, at 33A, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way.

    He alleged that Abubakar broke into the house of the complainant, Mrs. Iryna Dubuchenko and stole the 8,000 dollars and a Samsung J7 phone valued at N150,000.

    Read Also: Six in court for alleged membership of cult

    Ebri said the offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    After the charge was read to him, he pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate O. O. Fajana admitted the defendant to N300, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She said the sureties must be relations of the defendant and must be employed.

    Falana ordered that the sureties must show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case was adjourned till September 18.

  • Police arraign dismissed cops for alleged extrajudicial killing 

    The four policemen caught on camera allegedly killing two suspected robbers have been dismissed and charged to court, the command said on Thursday.

    Inspector Fabiyi Omomayara, Sergeant Olaniyi Solomon, Sergeant Solomon Sunday and Corporal Aliyu Mukaila were alleged to have killed the victims on August 19. They were alleged to have shot dead the suspects they arrested for allegedly robbing a man of his phone valued at N450,000.

    The policemen, who had disarmed the suspects of a locally-made gun and cartridges they used in attacking their victim; took them to a commercial bus and suddenly shot them, a video that surfaced online showed.

    The suspects were immediately arrested and subjected to orderly room trial on the instruction of Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu.

    Read Also: Suya seller arraigned for allegedly assaulting brothers

    According to a statement yesterday by spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), the policemen were found culpable, dismissed and charged with conspiracy and murder before an Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    Elkana said they were subsequently remanded in prison custody pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    He said: “The policemen were subjected to internal disciplinary proceedings at the Provost Department. They were tried on three count charges bordering on discreditable conduct; unlawful and unnecessary exercise of authority and damage to article.

    “The four policemen were found guilty and awarded the punishment of dismissal from service and prosecution. They were subsequently handed over to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Yaba, Lagos for prosecution in a conventional court.

    “The four suspects, ex-Inspector Fabiyi Omomayara, ex-Sergeant Olaniyi Solomon, ex-Sergeant Solomon Sunday and ex-Corporal Aliyu Mukaila were on August 22  arraigned at Magistrates’ Court 5 in Ebute Meta, Lagos for conspiracy and murder and were remanded in Ikoyi prison. The case is adjourned till September 29 for DPP advice. This will act as a deterrent to others.”