The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • U.S ambassador summoned over mobile row

    Germany has summoned the United States ambassador in Berlin over claims that the U.S monitored German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s mobile phone.

    Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle will meet U.S envoy John Emerson later in what is seen as an unusual step between close allies.

    Mrs. Merkel has demanded a “complete explanation” of the claims, which are threatening to overshadow an European Union summit.

    She discussed the issue with U.S President Barack Obama on Wednesday.

    President Obama told Mrs. Merkel the U.S was not monitoring her calls and would not in future, the White House said.

    However, it left open the question of whether calls had been listened to in the past.

    French President Francois Hollande had already called for the issue to be put on the agenda of the summit – where EU leaders are due to discuss Europe’s digital economy, economic recovery and immigration – following reports that millions of French calls had been monitored.

    BBC reports that other leaders are also likely to want further clarification from Washington over the activities of its National Security Agency (NSA) in Europe.

     

     

  • Ex-PMAN president Amego is dead

    Ex-PMAN president Amego is dead

    Terminally ill Nigeria’s affable funk master and former president of Performing Musician Association of Nigeria, Mustapha Amego is dead.

    He died on Thursday morning after he was discharged from the Maryland Medical Center, United States.

    He was discharged from that hospital on Wednesday.

    Musky as fondly called by friends was expected to begin a hospice home care, indefinitely.

    Amego, widely known to Nigeria’s music lovers of 80s through late 90s, as “Funky Mallam” has been incapacitated by colon cancer that had spread to other body organs in the last few months.

    According to Mr. Azuka Jebose, who had a telephone conversation with Mustapha before his passing, his voice waning, weak and frail, barely audible, he expressed appreciation for the support and empathy from well meaning Nigerians since his family went public with his health challenges.

    He reportedly told Jebose, “Zuky, I just wished God would give me more time to thank every Nigerian. I am grateful to have been born Nigerian. I hope someday we would resolve our various differences and live as one Nigeria, be as great as the United States. We are a resilient people, regardless of our diversity.

    “Where else can you find a unique ethnic people under one nation, with beautiful and diversified cultures, people, traditions and customs? Nigeria is such a glorious nation and I pray the powers that be would someday allow our children to tell the stories of our resilience and our great people.

    “Zuky, I thank you, Joel, Jude, Alex Zitto, and everybody. I am at peace and have accepted my circumstance. I don’t have much time left. But I am fulfilled… I want to be remembered as a son, a father who did his best to reach out, remember me as somebody who, despite disagreements, always found ways to put myself in people’s shoes.

    “Zuky, it’s in God’s hands now. And I am a happy man, because I started this life’s journey with half full cup and filled it. It was difficult, but I filled it. I am fulfilled.”

     

  • ASUU ‘wants N1.5tr’ to end strike

    ASUU ‘wants N1.5tr’ to end strike

    The Senate on Wednesday said that the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) wants N1.5 trillion to end its ongoing strike.

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, released the figure in his contribution on a motion urging the striking lecturers to call off their strike.

    The motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, and 106 others is entitled: “Appeal to Academic Staff Union of Universities to call off the strike action and return to work.”

    Chukwumerije, who read the controversial 2009 agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU, said that part of the component of the agreement on funding stipulated that “all regular federal universities shall require the sum of N1.5 trillion for the period 2009 to 2011.

    He said that ASUU is insisting that the agreement must be implemented to the latter.

    He said the agreement also said that “This money is to be paid in three installments, 2009 – almost N500 billion; 2010 – almost N500 billion and 2011 – almost N506 billion.

    Apart from the N1.5 trillion the agreement also stipulated that “each state university shall require N3.6 million” while “a minimum of 26 per cent of the annual budget should be allocated to education.”

    According to him, the agreement also said that “education should be put on First Line Charge” while the Education Tax Act should be amended to its original concept as High Education Fund.”

    He noted that the agreement said that “Governing Council of Universities should access and effectively utilize from Education Tax Fund funds for research, training and development of academic staff.”

    Other components of the agreement included Salary Structure of Academic Staff of Nigerian universities and earned academic staff allowances.

    The earned academic staff allowances include: “Post graduate supervision allowances; teaching practice and industrial allowances; honorarium for external moderation of undergraduate and postgraduate examination system, postgraduate study grants; external assessment of readers or professors, call duty and clinical duty and hazard allowance and excess workload allowance.”

     

  • EFCC insists on Fayose’s prosecution

    EFCC insists on Fayose’s prosecution

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday insisted that former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, has a case to answer in respect of N1.2 billion poultry project fund allegedly mismanaged during his tenure as governor.

    The case had come up before Justice Adamu Hobon presided Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    Opposing an application by Fayose’s counsel, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi, which sought to quash the charges against the former governor, Mr. Adebisi Adeyemi, who represented the EFCC said in a counter-affidavit that the anti-graft agency had “established a prima facie case against Fayose.

    Adebisi insisted that Fayose’s application was “entirely lacking in merit and a ploy to frustrate the case and waste the court’s precious time as necessary facts have been established against him.”

    EFCC prayed the court to dismiss the application, saying “we have established a prima facie case against Fayose and there is enough evidence to prove our case.”

     

     

  • Ojukwu’s family to Bianca: Bring proof of marriage to late warlord

    Ojukwu’s family to Bianca: Bring proof of marriage to late warlord

    As the tussle over ownership of late Chief Odimegwu Ojukwu’s transport company and his estate rages, some members of the late warlord’s family have asked his wife – Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, to provide evidence of legal marriage to him.

    The Ojukwu brothers along with Ojukwu Transport Limited, in a 19 paragraph statement of defence filed before Justice Funmilayo Atilade of a Lagos High Court, also demanded proof that Bianca’s two sons, Afamefuna and Nwachukwu are biological children of the late warlord.

    Bianca had on behalf of her sons, dragged Prof. Joseph Ojukwu; Emmanuel Ojukwu; Lotanna Putalora Ojukwu; Dr. Patrick Ojukwu; Edward Ojukwu; Lota Akajiora Ojukwu and Mrs. Massey Udegbe before the court, seeking a declaration that her children are entitled to the possession and occupation of 29, Oyinkan Abayomi Street, Ikoyi until the harmonisation of the management and administration of the assets of OTL.

    Bianca had through her lawyer, Chris Ezugwu, prayed the court to declare as illegal the threat of forceful ejection of her sons from the property in dispute by the defendants.

    She had urged the court to declare that they are entitled to possess 13, Hawksworth Road, Ikoyi (now 13 Ojora Road); 32A Commercial Avenue, Yaba, Lagos; 30 Gerard Road, Ikoyi, and 30 McPherson Avenue, Ikoyi.

    Bianca had stated that the defendants played no role all through the period her sons’ father (Ojukwu) struggled to retrieve the above properties from the state government.

    Hence, the claimants want an order of court restraining the defendants, their agents or privies from interfering with their possession and control of the properties.

    But the defendants through their lawyer, George Uwechue (SAN) averred that the subscribers of the Memorandum of Association of OTL (1st defendant) at incorporation in 1952 were L.P Ojukwu and Betram Chukwuemeka Obi, adding that the late Ojukwu and one Prof. Joseph Ojukwu (2nd defendant) were later appointed as directors in 1953.

    They stated that the late Ojukwu ceased to be a director of the company prior to the Nigerian civil war and was reappointed as a director on December 16, 2005 while the third and fourth defendants were appointed directors in 1954 and 2005 respectively.

     

     

     

  • Subsidy bribe: Lawan’s bid to stall proceedings dismissed

    Subsidy bribe: Lawan’s bid to stall proceedings dismissed

    An Abuja High Court in Maitama on Wednesday dismissed a fresh application for stay of proceedings in the trial of former Chairman, House of Representatives ad hoc Committee on Subsidy Probe, Farouk Lawan and the committee’s Secretary, Boniface Emenalo.

    Lawan and Emenalo are being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for allegedly receiving $620,000 from a businessman, Femi Otedola to influence the report of the committee in favour of his company, Zenon Oil and Gas Limited.

    The court had rejected a similar application by the accused in a ruling on July 10 this year and adjourned till Wednesday (today) for commencement of trial.

    The prosecution, represented by Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) was to call its first witness, when the lawyer told the court he was served with an appeal notice by the accused persons on August 8.

    “Also this morning in court, I was served with an application filed and dated July 15 at the Court of Appeal by the accused, praying for an order of stay of further proceedings in this charge,” Awomolo added.

    He recalled that the court had on July 10 dismissed similar application for stay of proceeding.

    Awomolo said the accused filed similar application before the Court of Appeal a week after the court dismissed their earlier application.

    He argued that in view of the court earlier ruling, it could only adjourn proceedings, but not stay it.

    Lead defence lawyer, Ricky Tarfa (SAN), confirmed that the defence filed an application dated July 15 before the appellate court.

    Tarfa urged the court to stay proceedings in view of the pending appeal.

    He argued that it will be neater and in the interest of justice for the trial court to await the outcome of his clients’ application before the Court of Appeal.

     

     

  • Bullet proof cars: Jonathan moves to probe Aviation minister

    Bullet proof cars: Jonathan moves to probe Aviation minister

    ... Sets up three-man panel

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday set up a three-man administrative panel to probe the reported purchase of two bullet proof vehicles at N255 million for the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Jonathan, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the three-man committee is to be chaired by a former Head of Service, Isa Bello Saleh.

    Other members are the National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki and Dick Iruenaevere. The office of the NSA will serve as the committee’s secretariat.

    The panel, Abati said, is to ascertain whether the purchase followed due process, the main purpose for which they were purchased and any other related issues.

    He said the panel is expected to submit its report within two weeks.

     

     

  • Nigeria faulted on death penalty, Same Sex bill

    The international community has faulted  Nigeria’s stand on capital punishment and “Same Sex Marriage”, saying both legislation are human rights violations.
    They made their  submission at United Nations Human Rights Council’s 17th Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Session  as Nigeria presented its scorecard on the protection of the rights of its citizens in Geneva, Switzerland.
    The June 24 execution of four Nigerian inmates in Edo State was said to be  against the moratorium on executions in place since 2006.
    With Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands and Portugal spearheading the advocacy  against the penal code, they called for its abolition, while urging Nigeria to comply with the Second Optional Protocol of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
    Canada, Norway, Australia and Czech Republic, among other countries, called for the amendment and review of the proposed “Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill”.
    They stated that criminalising of persons on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity “contravenes the rights to free assembly, association and expression, as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution”.
    “Minority groups in Nigeria continue to face discrimination, including on the basis of their religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. Nigeria should take steps toe ensure the human rights of all citizens are protected, regardless of their religion, sexual orientation or gender identity,” Australia recommended.
     
    While noting that Nigeria respects and is determined to protect the rights of its citizens, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, reiterated Nigeria’s stand on both issues.
    On the June 2013 killings, he said, due process was followed in the trials.
    According to him, the Penal code and Criminal code prescribe death sentence for anybody who commits culpable homicide punishable with death and murder respectively, saying it is a valid part of Nigerian law.
     He noted that there is no act discrimination based on sexual orientation, noting that “Nigeria does not accept this recommendation because same-sex marriage is against its national values.”
    Recent polling data according to the Minister  suggests that 92% of Nigerians support the Anti Same spoke -Sex Marriage Bill passed by the Senate.
    While lamenting that terrorism and violent insurgency continues to pose “existential threats” to Nigeria, he, however, noted that Nigeria has taken some milestone steps in curbing corruption and reducing human rights violations through the establishment and amendment of some of its legal frameworks and mechanisms which include the Child Rights Acts; Legal Aids Council; financial autonomy of Independent National Electoral Commission; Freedom of Information Act and amendment to the National Human Rights Commission Act in 2010, among others.
    “The Government of Nigeria sees the promotion and protection of human rights as a continuous process.  It, therefore, remains determined to improving the well-being of the citizens, especially the under-privileged, including women and children,” the Minster stated.
  • Alleged theft: Judge assures Atuche of fair trial

    Alleged theft: Judge assures Atuche of fair trial

    Justice Lateefat Okunnu of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Wednesday assured the former managing director of Bank PHB, Mr. Francis Atuche, of a fair trial.

    Okunnu gave the assurance following the claim by Atuche’s counsel, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN) and Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), that their client was not being given fair trial.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Atuche and his wife, Elizabeth, are standing trial for allegedly stealing N25.7 billion belonging to Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank).

    They were charged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Mr. Ugo Anyanwu.

    During Wednesday’s proceedings, Oyetibo complained that the EFCC was creating an impression that Okunnu would convict the defendants.

    The counsel said that the commission had, on October 22, asked Justice Sarah Ofili-Ajumogobia of a Federal High Court, Lagos, where the defendants are also being prosecuted, to excuse herself from the matter.

    “The impression being created by the prosecution is worrisome.

    “At the Federal High Court, the judge had excused herself because they told the court that she would not jail the defendants,” he said.

    On his part, Idigbe faulted Okunnu for awarding N10, 000 cost each against himself and Oyetibo, for their absence in court on October 3.

    According to him, both lawyers had formerly writing to the court, giving reasons for their absence, hence there was no need to award the cost.

    He sought the leave of the court to appeal against the order at the Court of Appeal and to stay execution of the order, pending the decision of the appellate court.

    Idigbe also asked Okunnu to excuse herself from the case, alleging that “the court has descended into the arena.”

    Counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), did not oppose the application.

    In her ruling, Okunnu granted Idigbe’s application, but refused to excuse herself from hearing the case.

     

  • US, UK condemn terrorism, impunity in Nigeria

    US, UK condemn terrorism, impunity in Nigeria

    The United States and United Kingdom on Tuesday condemned  the Boko Haram insurgency in some parts of country, the extra-judicial killings and acts of impunity of security forces.
    They urged the Federal Government at the ongoing United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR) session in Geneva to ensure perpetrators are made to face the wrath of the law, while advising that more proactive ways be explored in resolving security situation and promoting accountability for gross violation of human rights. 
    They also  called for credible and independent investigations into reports on human rights abuses by security members, particularly on detainees during counter terrorism operations.
    US said: “We condemn Boko Haram’s horrific attacks on Nigerians, including members of the public and their government. We are also concerned by the reports of Nigerian security forces perpetrating serious human rights violations in their counter-insurgency efforts, particularly against detained in state custody, and we urge Nigeria to respect human rights in any security response.
    “Hold security forces accountable for human rights violations, and establish a system for human rights violations, and establish a system for human rights monitoring to promote accountability for gross violations of human rights.”
    While defending Nigeria’s human rights record at the UPR session the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Mohammed Adoke, SAN, said Nigeria has put in place measures to improve the security situation.
    According to him, terrorism and violent insurgency such the Boko Haram’s are externally-induced internal adding that  the Nigerian Government has kept open communication channels through the activities of a Presidential Committee on Security Challenges towards working out a peaceful resolution of the crisis.
    In spite of the difficult circumstances that terrorism generates, the Minister said  law enforcement agencies have been instructed to observe human rights while countering acts of terror.
    He said other measures have been taken  to improve security, including enactment of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 and its subsequent amendment in 2013 to broaden the scope of its application; development of a Counter Terrorism Strategy and creation of crisis management centre in the office of the National Security Adviser; coordination of enhanced capacity building for all security and intelligence outfits at both the strategic and tactical levels; the National Security Adviser coordinates efforts among the security and intelligence agencies to ensure protection of the human rights of all persons in counter terrorism operations.
    “Let me state here that torture, as a means of extracting information from suspects, has no place in Nigerian law enforcement. In addressing the problem, the government has adopted constitutional measures which include the “declaration of a state of emergency” in the states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe of the Northeast Nigeria, where the insurgents have their base.
    ” The Joint Task Force and the Special Task Force have been deployed with the required legislative authorisation to utilise rights-based “Rules of Engagement” and “Operational Plans” in combating the insurgency.
    “Government has already proscribed Boko Haram as well as the Jamāʿatu Anṣāril Muslimīna fī Bilādis Sūdān and stipulated a 20-year jail term for anybody who aids or sponsors them in any manner whatsoever. The Government has also put in place an amnesty programme to dissuade terrorists and other extremists from violence, ” the minister stated.