The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Senate to probe purchase of bullet-proof cars

    Senate to probe purchase of bullet-proof cars

    The Senate Committee on Aviation on Tuesday said that it will carry out thorough investigation into the controversial N255million armoured cars purchased by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Hope Uzodinma, denied that the upper chamber was unduly delaying in ordering investigation into the alleged car scam.

    Uzodinma explained that the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah and heads of agencies under her ministry, did not appear before the Senate on Tuesday because his committee is yet to formally invite them.

    Speaking to reporters after plenary in Abuja, the lawmaker stated that the Senate had just approved the votes and proceedings of its sitting on October 8, where the Senate resolved to summon Oduah and other heads of aviation parastatals over frequent air mishaps in the country.

    Uzodinma said: “With the approval of the votes and proceedings of the last Senate session today (Tuesday), containing the summoning of the minister, our committee will now meet within the week to fix the date to invite the minister and other relevant aviation chiefs for questioning on the troubled sector.”

    On why the Senate has not commenced investigation into the N225million bullet proof cars allegedly bought by the NCAA for the use of the minister, Uzodinma said the Senate can only speak after thorough investigation.

    He said, “As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, I have read a lot on the alleged scandal in the media and I believe other members of the committee are also up to date on the raging issue.

    “However, we cannot jump into the fray of the controversy like that in the strength of media information alone without properly checking our records for facts and figures on whether the alleged vehicles bought were appropriated for or not by the agency that purchased them.

    “Our appeal to the general public for now is that they should exercise patience on the entire crisis bedevilling the aviation sector as the Senate and in particular, its committee on aviation will surely carry out thorough investigation to unravel all issues behind the whole crisis.”

     

  • Three -storey building collapses in Edo

    Members of The Lord of All Grace Ministry are currently singing praises to God after a three- storey building housing their church collapsed moments after a church service.

    The house is located at Edo Street, Off Upper Sokponba Road in Ikpoba Okha local government area of Edo State.

    No life was however lost in the incident.

    Pastor of the church, Sandra Ogbemudia, said they noticed a crack after a heavy downpour the previous day.

    She said children were playing inside the church after the service and the building came down few seconds after she asked the children to leave the building.

    Sandra appealed for support to help rebuild the church.

     

     

  • Bamidele resigns as Ekiti caucus leader in House

    Bamidele resigns as Ekiti caucus leader in House

    Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele has resigned his position as the Ekiti Caucus Leader in the House of Representatives.

    According to the lawmaker who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, the resignation is to allow him realize his ambition of governing Ekiti State in 2014.

    In a letter to the state governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and copied to the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and the Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Opeyemi said he could no longer tarry in responding to the yearnings and aspirations of the people in the state.

    The letter dated October 22, 2013 and titled: “Resignation as Ekiti Caucus Leader in the House of Representatives,” reads in part: “I hereby resign with immediate effect, my appointment as the leader of Ekiti State Caucus in the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “This resignation has become a cogent and compelling step for me to take at this time to enable me pursue, by the special grace and uncommon favour of Almighty God, my aspiration to be the Governor of Ekiti State by the year 2014 based on my personal conviction and in response to the popular demand and clarion call of well-meaning Ekiti sons and daughters at home and in the Diaspora who believe that our dear state needs a critical intervention at this time so as not to become a failed state.

    “I can no longer tarry in responding to the yearnings and aspirations of the violated children, the deserted youth, the disillusioned women, the unfulfilled civil and public servants, the neglected artisans, the jobless and underemployed men as well as the heart broken elder statesmen and frustrated founding fathers who genuinely desire to see the emergence of a rallying point ( across political and ideological divides) that would herald in a new and united Ekiti State where our past glory will be brought back from sabbatical ; where integrity and strength of character, which is the hallmark of Ekiti personality, will be celebrated again; and where job creation, food security, law and order, as well as infrastructure and human capital development with high premium in health and education will be the utmost priority as the minimum agenda for good governance in compliance with global best practice standard.”

     

     

  • Pirates kill policeman in Bayelsa

    The Bayelsa State Police Command on Tuesday confirmed that a mobile policeman was killed by suspected sea pirates in the state.

    The policeman was said to have been gunned down by the bandits along the Ikebiri community, Southern Ijaw local government area of the state.

    The Nation gathered that the victim was among passengers of an open commercial boat heading for Koluama community when the incident occurred.

    The commercial boat was reportedly attacked by the gunmen at about 6pm on Friday.

    Two mobile policemen were said to be onboard the boat.

    But one of them was reportedly shot dead after 15-minute gun battle between the policemen and the pirates.

    The surviving mobile policeman who sustained serious injury was said to be receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in the state.

    The deceased policeman and his colleague, according to the Police, were on a private visit to the state from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    The efforts of the policemen were said to have saved the passengers from the sea robbers.

    “The shoot out caused panic but we later discovered that one MOPOL lost his life and the civilians were saved,” a source who pleaded anonymity said.

    When contacted on the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, confirmed the development.

     

  • EFCC asks judge to hands off Atuche, Ojo’s trial

    EFCC asks judge to hands off Atuche, Ojo’s trial

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked a judge of the Federal High Court, Lagos, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, to withdraw from adjudicating the trial of former Managing Directors of Bank PHB Plc and Spring Bank Plc, Francis Atuche and Charles Ojo respectively.

    The trial was fixed for Tuesday, but it did not go on, and no new date was fixed.

    After a brief meeting with the judge in chambers, Atuche’s lawyer, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN), came out of the court, visibly angry.

    Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, he accused the EFCC of “selecting” which judges would try their cases.

    “EFCC is choosing which judge to hear their cases,” Idigbe alleged.

    Atuche and Ojo were among bank chiefs sensationally arraigned in 2009 for allegedly granting loans without security.

    It was learnt that EFCC requested that the case be transferred to another judge because Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia is from the same state (Delta) as the first defendant (Atuche).

    It was also learnt that the judge indicated that she would return the case-file to the Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta for re-assignment to another judge.

    When asked what transpired in the chambers, EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), declined comments.

    He also did not elaborate when asked why the case did not go on again, but said his witnesses who were on subpoena were in court.

    Asked if it was true that the case-file would be returned to the Chief Judge for re-assignment to another judge, Pinheiro said: “Was it announced in court?”

    Atuche and Ojo were first arraigned on October 20, 2009 on 45- count charge.

    They were accused of granting questionable loans to the tune of N125 billion without board approval.

    Their case has gone through two judges of the Federal High Court, before their fresh re-arraignment on November 15 last year before Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia.

     

  • Four arraigned over plot to bomb Kirikiri

    The Federal Government on Tuesday arraigned four persons at the Federal High Court, Lagos for allegedly belonging to the proscribed Boko Haram sect.

    It said the first and second defendants allegedly plotted to attack the Kirikiri Maximum Prison to free their members held in custody.

    The accused persons are – Adamu Mohammed, Mohammed Mustapha, Bura Hassaini and Mohammed Ibrahim.

    Security was tight at the court as armed State Security Services (SSS) personnel mounted guard around the premises.

    Officers manned the court’s two gates, screening people as they went in.

    Those carrying bags were asked to open them for examination.

    They suspects were brought in hooded.

    The charge, numbered FHC/L/316c/13 was signed by E. K. Ugwu, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

    In the first count, the government said the four, sometime in June and July at Wasein, a hideout at Orile-Iganmu area, Apapa, Lagos, and at 3 Denton Street, Yaba, within the court’s jurisdiction, were arrested by a team of security agents “for belonging to a proscribed organisation to wit: Boko Haram sect.”

    The prosecution said the accused persons thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and punishable under Section 2 (3) (i), read in conjunction with Section 33 (1) (b) of the Act as amended by the Terrorism (Prevention) (Proscription Order) 2013.

    In the second count, the government alleged that Mohammed and Mustapha, with others at large, on or about June 26 this year at Wasein, conspired among themselves “to commit a felony to wit: act of terrorism by organising a planned attack of the Kirikiri Prison in Lagos State to free detained members in prison custody.”

    The alleged offence, the government said, is contrary to Section 8 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under Section 8 (1) of the same Act.

    Following Ugwu’s oral application, the charge was read in English and explained to the accused persons in Hausa language.

    The court, presided over by Justice Saliu Saidu, asked each of them: “Do you understand the charge read to you?”

    The accused persons all responded in the affirmative and pleaded not guilty.

     

  • Reps to probe Oduah’s N255m cars

    Reps to probe Oduah’s N255m cars

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday mandated its committee on Aviation to commence an immediate probe into the purchase of two BMW armoured cars by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah.

    The decision to probe the $1.6 million car purchase was sequel to a motion brought under matters of urgent national importance by the Minority Whip, Hon. Samson Osagie.

    The House, which has just returned from a three-week break, resolved to mandate the House committee on Aviation to investigate the matter and report back within one week with specific terms of reference that included the following:

    -To find out whether it was correct that the purchase was made and whether the purchase was authorized by any appropriation law. They committee will also determine if the NCAA has been complying with Fiscal Responsibilities Act on the remittance of its internally Generated Revenue.

    – The committee will also find out whether the minister is entitled to such vehicle under any law in Nigeria and whether the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and all anti- corruption agencies are not bound to investigate and prosecute all those involved if no appropriation law approved the purchase.

    – The committee is also to find out whether (even if any appropriation law approved it) the President can retain the services of the minister and all those involved in the matter.

     

     

  • Police stop ASUU street protest in Bayelsa

    The police on Tuesday continued their nationwide clampdown on street protests organised by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

    This time it was in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where the Niger Delta University’s chapter of the union was prevented by the police from holding a public rally to protest the Federal Government’s refusal to implement the 2009 agreement signed by both parties.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Hilary Opara, was said to have issued an order to the leadership of ASUU-NDU preventing any form of public protest by the union.

    The order, however, allowed the aggrieved university lecturers to hold their protest within the university’s Law Faculty in Yenagoa.

    The placard-carrying lecturers soon converted their protest to a prayer session where they took turns to “cast and bind” all the spirits that had prevented the government from honoring the agreement.

    The lecturers also sought divine intervention to all the cases of blackmail and intimidation against the union by the Federal Government.

    Chairman of ASUU-NDU, Beke Sese, who addressed the rally, also disclosed that the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Governor Seriake Dickson interrogated him few hours to the planned protest.

    Some of the placards displayed by the lecturers bore messages such as, “Not every child can go to Ghana to study,” “Agreement is Agreement,” “Government save our universities,” “Poor people’s children need universities,” “Can your child afford to go to Ghana and Malaysia, if no then join ASUU to better our universities.”

    Sese said the 17-week old strike was being sustained by ASUU’s collective resolve to stem the downward trend government had subjected public education to.

    He said the government was “systematically destroying public education through mindless neglect and near total abandonment.”

    He also observed that some opposition politicians had capitalised on the strike to cast aspersions on the government and thereby trivialising ASUU’s genuine struggle.

    Sese said ASUU struggles had been driven by legitimate causes rather than regional, ethnic or any other political considerations.

    He said the on-going strike has presented the government a golden opportunity to make history by revitalizing public universities in Nigeria.

     

  • ASUU strike: NUT meets Thursday

    ASUU strike: NUT meets Thursday

    The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) is to hold a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday to decide its next line of action over the lingering strike by university teachers.

    The NUT President, Mr. Michael Alogba-Olukoya, said this in a telephone chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.

    The union had on September 26 given a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government and the lecturers to resolve their differences and end the strike or face nationwide strike by NUT members.

    The lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on the nationwide strike on July 1.

    The lecturers described the strike as “comprehensive, total and indefinite.”

    Alogba-Olukoya told NAN that the union extended the ultimatum following appeals from well-meaning Nigerians.

    He, however, noted that the extension would end on Tuesday.

    “Since we gave the ultimatum, well meaning Nigerians have been pleading with us.

    “In order not to cry more than the bereaved, we gave them till October 22. The NEC members will meet on Thursday to decide our next line of action, “he said.

    NAN reports that the university teachers are protesting non-implementation of an agreement they signed with the Federal Government in 2009 on improved funding of universities and payment of allowances to ASUU members, among others issues.

     

     

  • FG, WHO to establish 774 dental clinics

    FG, WHO to establish 774 dental clinics

    The Federal Government and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are to establish 774 dental clinics across the country.

    The Director, Inter-Country Centre for Oral Health, Dr. Emmanuel Otoh, told journalists in Makurdi on Tuesday that the project was to improve oral health service delivery in the country.

    “The Federal Government policy on oral health has made provision for the establishment of one dental clinic in the 774 local councils in the country.

    “This will be done after the ongoing training of primary health workers in the country on basic dental and mouth related diseases.

    “The policy is in line with the 2005 WHO survey on the state of dental personnel in the country.

    “The survey showed that the country was lacking dental personnel, this is why we are training primary healthcare workers who are everywhere in the country.

    “The trained health workers will assist in identifying some of the cases, treat the few they can and recommend the others to appropriate hospitals for treatment,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the oral health specialist as saying at the forum.

    Otoh said they had concluded arrangement to start two-day free medical treatment for teeth and other mouth-related diseases in Makurdi local government area between October 23 and October 24.

    He appealed to the government to make oral health training courses compulsory in all health institutions in the country for the purpose of improving good health.