The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • RevolutionNow: 90-day detention must be challenged, says Falana

    Is it constitutional for a judge to order the detention of a citizen for 90 days as provided under the Terrorism Prevention Act? Activist-lawyer Femi Falana SAN said yesterday that it is time to find out.

    Falana said the detention of the convener of #RevolutionNow protests, Omoyele Sowore, has provided that opportunity.

    A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday granted a Department of State Services (DSS) request to further detain Sowore for 45 days pending the conclusion of its investigation.

    The DSS had applied for a 90-day order, but Justice Taiwo Taiwo exercised his discretion and slashed the period by half in the first instance, noting that it could be renewed upon an application.

    In the motion ex parte brought by the DSS under Section 27(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, the agency accused Sowore of engaging in acts of terrorism.

    According to Falana, the country’s human rights credentials was at risk of worsening under a democratically elected government, than “under the worst military dictatorship” if the 90-day order is legitimised.

    Read Also: #RevolutionNow: SERAP seeks UN council’s session over attacks on journalists, protesters

    He said: “I met Mr. Omoyele Sowore in detention yesterday (Wednesday). He is in high spirits. In anticipation of today’s (Thursday’s) ruling, he had instructed us to challenge the refusal of the SSS to charge him with the alleged offences of terrorism or treason within 24 hours of his arrest as stipulated by Section 35 of the Nigerian Constitution. More so, that some of those who participated in the Revolution Now protests in Lagos and Calabar have since been charged with unlawful assembly and breach of the peace!

    “It is, however, pertinent to note that the Terrorism Prevention Act as amended which empowers a judge to order the detention of a citizen for a period of 90 days was not enacted under the Buhari regime. It was enacted by the national assembly in 2011 and amended in 2013. But it has never been invoked to justify the detention of placard carrying protesters in any part of the country!

    “We had convinced the authorities to repeal the obnoxious provision of the Act. Instead of acceding to our request the national assembly enacted the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 which permits a pre-trial detention period of 14 days subject to renewal.

    “No doubt, the Sowore case provides an opportunity to test the constitutional validity of the 90-day detention period.

    “Even under the worst military dictatorship in Nigeria the maximum detention period was three months subject to renewal by the detaining authorities. Our situation should not be worse under a democratically elected government.”

  • Flower Convention holds in Lagos

    Silverbird Entertainment Limited, in partnership with Business Day Newspaper and Eventstracer, will hold The Lagos Flower Convention from August 16 to 18.

    The convention is the premier event in its recently launched Small Business Event Circuit (SBEC). It will hold at the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The Lagos Flower Convention is an exhibition and sales event that aims to explore and expose the untapped economic value of the floriculture industry by connecting various small businesses (florists, landscapers, gardeners, etc.) involved in the cultivation and sale of flowers and other related items to a broad-based audience consisting of industry experts, investors and visitors.

    There will be a variety of selected exhibitors showcasing and selling floricultural products ranging from freshly cut & beautifully arranged flowers to other ornamental plants.

    To be a part of the free event, Intended participants should register at the eventstracer.com.

  • We’re ready to tackle insecurity, says Wike

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has reiterated the government’s commitment to tackling insecurity.

    He said the government would do everything to protect life and property.

    Wike said the government had proscribed youth groups in the state because they have been hijacked by cultists.

    A statement by the governor’s media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, said he spoke yesterday when he handed over 40 patrol vans fitted with communication gadgets to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), See 4 Eye, Police Anti-Kidnapping, Police Anti-Cultism, Federal Road Safety Corps and Eagle Crime at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

    The statement reads: “The Rivers State government is fully prepared and will do everything required to protect lives and property. Without the protection of lives and property, there will be no governance and development.

    Read Also: Wike to youths: contribute your quota to development

    “We are one state that has suffered neglect from the Federal Government in terms of support to fight insecurity. They have refused to pay back funds that we used in building federal projects. But that will not stop us from intervening when the need arises.”

    The governor said he would  increase support to security agencies because of the success of Operation Sting.

    Wike announced a N30 million reward for anyone with information leading to the arrest of killers of a director in the civil service during the Choba crisis, and a notorious criminal, Bobrisky in Gokana council.

    “Anybody operating under a youth body henceforth will be arrested by security agencies. Before you contest for any youth body’s leadership, you must send the names to the DSS and Police for screening. If they are cultists, we will not allow them to operate,” he added.

    The governor said the vehicles and gunboats must be deployed to secure Rivers State.

    Commissioner of Police Mustapha Dandaura said the security agencies would use the vans to tackle criminals.

    He said since the inauguration of Operation Sting, there had been improvement in security of life and property.

  • ‘Yaba deserves special recognition’

    The Executive Chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Authority (LCDA), Kayode Omiyale, has appealed to the Federal Government to give special recognition to Yaba LCDA which was carved out of the Lagos Mainland Local Government Area because of major critical institutions located there.

    Institutions domiciled in the council include University of Lagos (UNILAG), Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), West African Examination Council (WAEC), Federal College of Education (Technical), Psychiatric  Hospital, among others.

    According to the chairman, none of the institutions occupying half of the council’s land is paying a dime into its purse. “We spend a lot of money to provide infrastructure, maintain them and make workers of these institutions comfortable.”

    Read Also: Govt assures Lagosians of peaceful Sallah

    Omiyale spoke during a business summit organised by the council to provide a forum for interpersonal  relationship between the council and the business community.

    He said: “Very few of the businesses operating within Yaba LCDA pay our rates; some of those paying are doing it after being compelled. We have shown them what the resources we get is spent on, we are very prudent in our spending, and hence rate payers should be encouraged. That is why we have identified 10 companies to be recognised for paying our rates without being coaxed.”

    The council chair urged business owners to prioritise youths in Yaba for employment, sine it was part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

    Facilitator of the summit, Prof. Abiola Sanni, a tax consultant, advised the councils to embrace e-payment and reduce physical contact and cash payment. This, he said, would ensure prompt issuance of receipt. A call was made for heads of the institutions to pay the required rates for the businesses operating within their institutions.

  • Rotary, Oyo partner to eradicate polio

    The Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee of the Rotary International and Oyo State government have met to evolve strategies for the eradication of polio in the state.

    Mr. Yinka Babalola, the leader of the delegation, said the team was on an advocacy visit to Governor Seyi Makinde to bring to his attention, issues concerning polio eradication.

    According to him, eradicating polio worldwide was a Rotary-driven initiative, and the organisation is committed to making every child polio-free globally.

    Babalola hinted that the geographical spread of polio has reduced to only Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. He said Nigeria was close to totally eradicating the disease, stressing that it was moving toward the end of the epidemic.

    Read Also: Kano to immunize 3.2million under-five children against polio

    He, however, warned stakeholders not to relent in the battle against polio.

    Dr. Tunji Funsho, a member of the delegation, urged the government to be more committed toward polio eradication. “Oyo State has not recorded any case of polio for 10 years, but there are risks. The risk is that Oyo is surrounded by states with issues of vaccines deprived polio still paralysing children.

    “That is why it is good to tighten security as far as polio eradication is concerned through strengthening routine polio immunisation,” he said.

    Governor Makinde assured the delegation that his government was committed to polio eradication as well as adequate health care delivery. He promised that counterpart funding and other support would be given attention.

  • APC chieftain slams Jonathan’s comment

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yekini Nabena, has cautioned ex-President Goodluck Jonathan against making statements that can undermine his image.

    Nabena, who is APC’s deputy national publicity secretary, said the statement credited to Jonathan regarding the ability of APC in Bayelsa State was uncalled for.

    He noted that the “push and start President” never won any election, even in his home state of Bayelsa.

    He was reacting to a statement credited to the ex-President, where he described APC in Bayelsa as lacking the political presence to win the November 16 governorship election.

    The party chief noted that Jonathan had never contested any election and won, saying he lost the 2015 election which he contested as a sitting President.

    Read Also: Jonathan: APC can’t win in Bayelsa

    APC also defeated Jonathan’s candidate in the senatorial election in the state, Nabena added.

    He said: “Jonathan is attempting to rewrite history on presidential elections conducted under his watch in Bayelsa State while he was President. He never won as votes never counted. Aided by security agents, election results were simply announced in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “Former President Goodluck Jonathan even lost senatorial zone in the last National Assembly election won by APC. So, one wonders the party Jonathan refers to as not being on ground in Bayelsa State.”

    The APC chieftain accused PDP and Governor Seriake Dickson of plotting to use the state’s security outfit, Operation Doo Akpo, to rig the election.

  • Hospital installs 3500kg incinerator

    The Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, (FETHI), Ekiti State, has installed a 3500kg capacity incinerator capable of combusting both medical and household wastes.

    The incinerators will henceforth dispose the hospital waste effectively and eliminate its danger to the environment, as well as the cost and stress of having it transported to a landfill.

    Officer in charge of the hospital’s waste management Babatunde Adeniran (Principal Environmental Health Superintendent) said the incinerators (3000kg and 500kg) can run for 24 hours throughout a week. He also affirmed that the incinerators are eco-friendly, adding that the ashes cannot cause hazard to the environment.

    FETHI now operates in compliance with International Emission Regulations to protect human health by installing incinerators that can effectively reduce the quantity of waste, as well as providing a safe alternative for the disposal of hazardous waste generated within the hospital community.

  • Eid-el-Kabir: Police warn against street carnivals in Oyo

    THE Oyo State Police Command yesterday gave a stern warning to organisers of street carnivals to be wary of disgruntled youths and idle individuals, who are always willing to use such avenues to extort money, intimidate their perceived rivals and commit crimes.

    Some residents were in the habit of organising street carnivals, especially during the Ileya festival, which on many occasions turned violent and bloody.

    The police, however, said it would not hesitate to deal ruthlessly with anyone found in the act of disturbing public peace during and after the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, under any guise.

    Read Also: Eid-el-Kabir: Obaseki approves immediate payment of August salary

    In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Olugbenga Fadeyi, the command said the police would not stand by and watch some violent individuals or groups under the aegis of carnivals to engage in activities that would disturb the peace of the environment or that may lead to a breakdown of law and order.

    “Consequently, organisers of such unapproved street carnivals should be ready to bear the consequences of any negative fallout before, during and after the celebrations,” the police said.

  • Ondo poly union hails Akeredolu over re-absorption of sacked workers

    Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnic (SSANIP), Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) chapter has hailed Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for ordering the reabsorption of disengaged 59 workers at the polytechnic’s staff primary and secondary schools.

    Speaking with reporters in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the SSANIP chapter’s chairman, Comrade Chris Olowolade, described the mode of the sack by the management and governing council as unacceptable.

    He, however, lauded Akeredolu for his timely intervention.

    Olowolade accused the polytechnic’s authorities of treating the disengaged staff school’s workers like lepers.

    Read Also: Akeredolu appoints SSA on Diaspora Affairs.

    He said: “We want to appreciate our Governor Akeredolu for directing reabsorption of the disengaged workers.

    “Staff schools are an integral section of the polytechnic; the staff there are employees of the polytechnic since its creation.”

    The SSANIP chairman said it was unpopular for the governing council to decide to privatise the staff school, when the school is performing optimally in both academics and extra-curricular activities.

    “Education is a social responsibility and not a profit-making venture,” he said.

    Olowolade added that it was unfair for the management and the governing council to treat the staff of the polytechnic staff school negatively at the crucial period of their careers.

  • Oyo Assembly confirms Makinde’s commissioner-nominees

    THE Oyo State House of Assembly yesterday screened and confirmed 14 commissioner-nominees sent to it by Governor Seyi Makinde.

    Their names were contained in a message the governor sent to the House and read at the plenary by the Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin, on July 25.

    Among those confirmed are four former lawmakers in the House of Assembly – Mr. Kehinde Ayoola (former Speaker), Mr. Adeniyi Farinto, Mrs. Funmilayo Orisadeyi (the only female nominee) and Mr. Ojemuyiwa Ojekunle.

    In accordance with tradition, the former lawmakers were asked to take a bow and go after they briefly introduced themselves.

    The decision to allow the former lawmakers take a bow and go followed motions moved and seconded by the Assembly members.

    Read Also: Lagos Assembly ad hoc committee drills eight commissioner-nominees

    Others cleared are former Director-General, Seyi Makinde Campaign Organisation Chief Bayo Ojo, Dr. Bashir Abiodun Bello, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, Prof. Dawud Sangodoyin, Mr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye and Mr. Adeniyi Olabode Adebisi.

    The nominees confirmed also include Mr. Raheem Abdulraheem, Mr. Seun Ashamu, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun and Mr. Akinola Ojo.

    The nominees were differently grilled by the lawmakers, who asked them probing questions bothering on their professional and educational experiences and how they intend to bring their wealth of knowledge and training to bear in the various positions they are being considered for.

    Most of the nominees expressed happiness at their nomination by the governor and described the opportunity as a call to serve the people of Oyo State and also contribute to good governance as promised by the PDP-led administration.

    Addressing reporters after the plenary that lasted about seven hours, Ogundoyin expressed satisfaction with the calibre, intelligence and educational pedigree of those confirmed.

    He added that the team would give fresh impetus into Governor Makinde-led administration, calling on them to ensure they put to use their years of experience in the private sector to run the public sector.

    Ogundoyin appealed to the people to show understanding by supporting the government and giving it time to translate its good intentions into reality.

    Also, the House screened and confirmed the appointment of Dr. Nureni Adeniran as chairman of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). Mr. Akeem Oladeji and Mr. Dayo Ogungbenro were confirmed as full time members of the board.

    The nominees are expected to be sworn in by the governor soon.