The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Fire guts Warri refinery

    Fire guts Warri refinery

    The Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company, Delta State, was on Tuesday morning gutted by fire.

    The cause of the fire, which started at about 11.00am was not immediately known.

    Eyewitness said it started from one of the refining plants in the complex. The fire was still raging at the time of this report and Warri and its environ was engulfed in huge overcast of smoke pouring into the sky from the blazing inferno.

    It was gathered that the management of the company, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, has sent SOS to the state fire service and companies that have private fire fighting equipment to join in the efforts to quell the inferno.

     

     

  • Three parastatal chiefs re-appointed

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday approved the re-appointment of the Director of the National Teachers’ Institute, Kaduna, Dr. Aminu Ladan, and the Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund, Mr. Habu Gumel.

    Also re-appointed, according to the News Agency of Nigeria is Mrs. Taiwo Akande, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, in Ekiti.

    This is contained in a statement from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim.

    The statement, which was signed by the SGF’s Media Assistant, Mr. Sam Nwaobasi, said that Ladan’s re-appointment took effect from February 1, while that of Gumel and Akande will take effect from December 1, and December 19 respectively.

     

  • Relegated 3SC to sack coach

    Relegated 3SC to sack coach

    Relegated Shooting Stars management has concluded plans to fire coach Hakeem Busari after the club’s relegation to the lower division last week.

    Shooting Stars finished bottom of the Nigeria league on Sunday and management board member Tunde Kelani told MTNFootball.com that the board plan a massive reorganisation of the famous club to ensure its immediate return to the top flight.

    “We have already begun a massive reorganisation of the club because we do not belong in the second division and we need to start getting results,” said Kelani.

    “What we need at this time is everyone’s support and not sabotage. There is strength in unity and commitment.

    “We hope we can return to the premier league after one season in the lower division.”

    MTNFootball.com gathered that Busari, who was confirmed head coach in the course of the season, will be shown the exit door along with his assistants led by Tunde Odubola aka Coach Zico.

     

     

  • Australian capital legalises gay marriage

    Australian capital legalises gay marriage

    The Australian Capital Territory has become the first part of Australia to legalise same-sex marriage.

    The ACT parliament passed a bill that will allow gay couples to marry, after a short debate on Tuesday.

    BBC reports that celebrants will now be allowed to marry same-sex couples inside the ACT, regardless of which state they live in.

    Federal law, however, specified in 2004 that marriage was between a man and a woman, and the federal government is expected to challenge the move.

    The move was passed in the 17-member ACT Legislative Assembly, backed by Labor and the Greens, with the Liberals voting against.

    “There is no longer any excuse, if there ever was, to discriminate against same-sex couples in our community,” ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher told the parliament.

    “They are our children, our parents, our brothers, our sisters, our leaders, our business people, our mentors and our colleagues.”

    “More than anything, they are our equals. The Marriage Equality Act puts this fundamental principle and human right into law,” the Australian Broadcasting Corporation quoted her as saying.

    Ms Gallagher said that the first weddings could take place by the end of the year.

    Attorney-General George Brandis, however, says the local law will face a legal challenge, because it is inconsistent with the national-level Marriage Act.

    “It would be very distressing to individuals who may enter into a ceremony of marriage under the new ACT law, and to their families, to find that their marriages were invalid,” a statement from the Attorney-General’s Office said.

     

     

  • UN review of human rights begins

    As the Human Rights Council’s 17th Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Session began on Monday, the protection of the rights of women, children and vulnerable groups topped  the list of discussion at the United Nations office in Geneva, Switzerland.

    Saudi Arabia and Senegal reports on human rights protection came under strict review by the session, with  both countries being urged  to intensify efforts in the protection of rights of women and children and other vulnerable groups.
    Nigeria will  present its  records on efforts towards human rights protection in the country on Tuesday  at the session.
    In its report, the Federal Government has reiterated its “commitments to the Human Rights Council through its active participation in the work and activities of the Council, support for the National Human Rights Commission, commitment to human rights instruments and support for all strategies at regional and international levels to promote and protect human rights”.
    Other countries listed along Nigeria for the 17th session, which will run till November 1, include China, Mexico, Senegal, Jordan, Malaysia, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo and Belize.
    Afghanistan, Chile, Vietnam, Uruguay, Yemen, Vanuatu, Eritrea and Cambodia have been listed for the UPR 18th session. 
    About 30 journalists worldwide  would be covering the sessions along with attending a special training tagged: Media Empowerment on Human Rights organised by Gmedia Centre, a Geneva-based initiative committed to empowering the  media to further human rights and democracy goals.
    The training  is sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Switzerland Government as part of the human rights review.
    Eight Nigeria journalists at the session include,  Sebastian Ebhuomhan (National Mirror), Tobi Soniyi (Thisday), Utibe Umoren (African Independent Television), Anwulika Ngene (Superscreen Television), Innocent Anaba (Vanguard); Bosede Ijelekhai (Federal Radio Nigeria); Yahaya Ibrahim (Daily Trust) and Evelyn Osagie (The Nation).
     
     
  • Arisekola son’s bid to quash subsidy charge dismissed

    Arisekola son’s bid to quash subsidy charge dismissed

    A Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Monday dismissed an application by an oil marketer, Abdullahi Alao, seeking to quash the fuel subsidy fraud charge against him and four others.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the application was dismissed by Justice Lateefat Okunnu for lacking in merit.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on October 10 last year charged Abdullahi, son of a prominent businessman, Alhaji Abdullazeez Arisekola-Alao, to court.

    He was charged alongside two other oil marketers, Olarenwaju Olalusi and Opeyemi Ajuyah, and their companies -Majope Investment Limited and Axenergy Limited for fuel subsidy related scam.

    The defendants were alleged to have obtained N1.1 billion from the Federal Government for the importation of 15,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

    Okunnu, while ruling on the application to quash charges filed by Alao’s counsel, Mr. Oluwaseun Awonuga, held that the charge before the court was competent.

    The judge dismissed the defence submission that the fiat obtained by the EFCC from the Attorney-General of Lagos State had “expired.”

    She held that the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation were empowered to prosecute criminal offences under state laws, even without a fiat from the state’s attorney-general.

    Okunnu said: “Section 211 (1) of the Constitution allows for circumstances in which any other body other than the Attorney-General can institute criminal proceedings against a person.

    “The EFCC Act, which is an Act of the National Assembly, also empowers the agency to prosecute criminal matters under a state law,” she said.

    The judge noted that the EFCC Act and the Constitution were superior to any law passed by a state House of Assembly.

    She also held that the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State 2011 gave powers to the EFCC to prosecute the defendants before a state high court.

     

  • Why Justice Salami’s valedictory service was delayed – Court

    Why Justice Salami’s valedictory service was delayed – Court

    The Court of Appeal has explained why it was yet to hold the customary valedictory service for its retired President, Justice Isa Ayo Salami.

    The explanation came in the wake of speculation that the court’s leadership was in a quandary as to whether such event should be held for Justice Salami or not in view of the circumstances leading to his retirement.

    Justice Salami, who formally bowed out of office having attained the mandatory retirement age on October 15, was suspended by President Goodluck Jonathan, upon a recommendation by the National Judicial Council (NJC) on August 8, 2011, following a disagreement with then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alloysius Katsina-Alu.

    Although the NJC later recommended his recall on May 10, 2012 President Jonathan refused to act on the recommendation until Justice Salami attained his retirement age.

    Customarily, it was the tradition of the Court of Appeal to either organise a valedictory court service for its retired Justice immediately he/she retired or make public its plans to do so later.

    The court’s silence on the issue a week after Justice Salami retired fueled speculation that the court’s management was unsure of how to handle the matter.

    When The Nation visited the court’s headquarters on Monday, Justice Salami’s picture, placed alongside that of President Jonathan, on the entrance to the ceremonial court, has been removed.

    A spokesperson of the court, Isa Shuaibu Musa, denied that there was anything unusual.

    Musa, who is the Personal Assistant to the court’s Chief Registrar, said the delay resulted partly from the fact that the day Justice Salami formally vacated the court’s service was a public holiday.

    “There is nothing unusual about the delay. It has not always been the practice that we hold a valedictory service immediately any Justice retires. We have to plan and agree on a convenient date.

    “It is only after that, that we can then send out invitation. There is no way the media will not be aware of such arrangement. You know we are just back from the Sallah holiday. We will surely hold the ceremony anytime soon,” Musa said.

     

  • Confab findings should be implemented – Jang

    Confab findings should be implemented – Jang

    The Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, has said the findings of the National dialogue, when concluded should be implemented and not abandoned like many findings from past conferences.

    Jang said this when the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, paid him a courtesy call on Monday in Jos.

    Jang lamented that Nigeria has had so many conferences whereby the results of such confabs were never implemented.

    “If conferences were a successful way of running a country, we would have been the best country in the world.

    “Unfortunately, once such confabs are over we push it to the archives without ever implementing them,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the governor as saying during the visit.

    He said that national dialogue was very timely; however, the results from it “must” be implemented this time around.”

    Jang appealed that, as we dialogue, Nigerians must first embrace each other and do away with their various differences.

    He said the conference would help solve some of the disagreements we have.

    The governor further said that for a balanced federation, the disparity in revenue sharing must be addressed so that all states could be fully developed.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Femi Okurunmu, told the governor that the committee’s mission was to consult widely with the people.

    He urged that people should be free to air their views to the committee.

     

  • IBB seeks devolution of powers

    IBB seeks devolution of powers

    The former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), on Monday called for the devolution of powers between the federal, state and local governments in the spirit of true federalism.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Babangida made the call when the Chairman of Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Chief Elias Mbam, paid him a visit at his Minna residence.

    The former president said that besides proper devolution of powers, there was need for a review of revenue sharing formula in favour of the states and the local government councils.

    He said that a greater percentage of revenue should go to the state and local governments because of their closeness to the masses.

    The former military president also canvassed for diversification of the economy from the current mono-source – oil, to other revenue alternatives.

    Babangida commended the commission for carrying out its assignment diligently in spite of the challenges.

    Earlier, Mbam said the visit was part of extensive consultation with all stakeholders before drawing up a new revenue sharing formula.

    He noted that the review of the revenue sharing formula was last held during the Babangida regime.

    The chairman said the new revenue sharing formula would be ready by December.

     

  • NURTW member remanded in prison for alleged rape

    A Lagos High Court, Igbosere, on Monday remanded in prison, a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ajao Akinyemi, for allegedly raping a 19 -year old girl.

    Akinyemi, 29, was arraigned on a one- count charge of rape before Justice Adeniyi Adebajo, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Akin-Adesomoju told the court that the defendant, a resident of 22, Agoro Street, Lagos Island, committed the offence in June 2011.

    She said the defendant had unlawful carnal knowledge of his victim (names withheld), without her consent.

    Akinyemi, being a friend of the victim’s brother named Akeem, had proposed to the young girl, but allegedly raped her along the line.

    According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Section 358 of the Criminal Code Law, Laws of Lagos, 2003.

    However, counsel to the defendant, Ms C. Obasi, while applying for Akinyemi’s bail, told the court that he was granted bail at the Magistrate Court during his first arraignment.

    She prayed the court to uphold the lower court’s bail.

    Although the prosecutor did not object to the bail application, she informed the court that the defendant’s surety who was issued a Bench Warrant was brought before the court from Alausa Police Station, by the liaison officer, Bolaji Samuel.

    In his ruling, Adebajo held that the court cannot continue with the magistrate court’s bail.

    While remanding the defendant in custody, he ruled that a proper bail application should be made to his court and adjourned the case to December 4.