The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Nigeria to ‘help develop’ Kenyan oil sector

    Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Mr. Akin Oyateru, said in Nairobi on Thursday that Nigeria would assist Kenya in the management of its oil industry.

    Oyateru made the plan known in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) ahead of the three-day official visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the East African country.

    He said with Nigeria’s comparative advantage over Kenya in the oil sector, the Federal Government would be willing to assist that country in many ways.

    Oyateru said the visit of Jonathan, which would focus on the expansion of co-operation between both countries would be used to achieve the purpose.

    “Kenya just discovered oil, so we have a lot of comparative advantages there, which we can actually impart in them.

    “We will assist in exchanging ideas, collaborate and cooperate in the area of training and capacity building,

    “We could also help them in the area of redrafting their legislation to have a proper legislation in that sector,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that it was recently announced that Kenya oil resources met the threshold for commercial exploitation raising hope of that country joining the league of oil producing nations.

    Specifically, Africa Oil, a Canadian oil and gas company together with British explorer, Tullow Oil Plc had put Kenyan oil reserves at the estimate of 368 million barrels, a level capable of commercial exploitation.

    Oyateru said that Nigeria would also tap from the broad knowledge of Kenya in the areas of horticulture, floriculture, dairy production, hospitality and tourism.

    “In the area of hospitality and tourism, we can learn a lot from Kenya. As you know, Kenya is one of the preferred destinations for tourists,’’ he said.

     

  • Anambra poll: ANPP, CPC withdraw from APC merger

    The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Anambra State have pulled out of the All Progressive Congress (APC) merger ahead of the November 16 governorship election in the state.

    The state Secretary of defunct ANPP, Mr. Mike Igwilo, made this known to journalists in Awka on Thursday.

    Igwilo said the party was pulling out because it was not consulted in all the activities leading to the merger and the recent primaries in the state that produced Sen. Chris Ngige as the flag bearer.

    “We are marginalised in the party and not carried along. For this reason, we find it difficult to explain the merger to our supporters who now float like sheep without shepherd,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the ANPP chief as saying to journalists.

    Igwilo said that ANPP would make public its next plan of action before the end of September.

    At a separate news conference, the state Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Mr. Chuba Ikeagwu, told journalists that the party had joined the newly formed People’s Democratic Movement (PDM).

    He said the APC did not give a level playing ground for other merging political parties to compete for the governorship ticket in the primaries, alleging that only the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) controlled the party machinery in the state.

    “There is no equity in the sharing of positions, ACN dominated and took everything,’’ Ikeagwu alleged.

     

  • 11 parties, 10 candidates for Anambra guber election

    11 parties, 10 candidates for Anambra guber election

    It has now emerged that 11 political parties would take part in the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

    Also 10 candidates have been cleared by the parties to vie for the state number one political seat.

    The parties are – the All Progressives Congress (APC), Accord Party (AP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) and United Democratic Party (UDP).

    Others are Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria peoples Party (NNPP), Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) and KOWA Party.

    Apart from the PDP and APGA who have produced two contenders each, other parties are presenting one candidate each.

    The candidates vying for Governor Peter Obi’s seat are – Sen. Chris Ngige (APC), Dr. Igwebike Hygers (Accord), Hon. Basil Iwuoba (PPN), Godson Okoye (UDP), Dr .Ifeanyi Ubah (LP), Prince Leonard Uchendu (NNPP), Dr. Ifeatu Ekelem (ACD) and Chief Denis Oguguo (KOWA).

    The Nation gathered on Thursday that the other remaining party United Progressives Party (UPP) has not decided on its candidate before the September 2 deadline given by the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) for submission of parties’ candidates for the election.

    For PDP, the fate of Dr. Tony Nwoye who is the preferred candidate of party’s national leadership and Sen. Andy Uba, the preferred INEC candidate is still unknown.

    Also, the emergence of Dr. Chike Obidigbo, the South East chairman of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Governor Peter Obi’s preferred candidate, Chief Willy Obiano has made it difficult for APGA to harmonize.

     

     

  • Egyptian minister survives assassination attempt

    Egyptian minister survives assassination attempt

    Egyptian Interior Minister, Mohammed Ibrahim, on Thursday survived an assassination attempt by unknown persons.

    Report says bombs were set off near his motorcade.

    It was the first of such attack in Egypt in years.

    “The explosion occurred as the minister was on his way in a motorcade from his house in Nasr City, eastern Cairo, to the Interior Ministry building in central Cairo,” the state-run Middle East News Agency reported, quoting a security source.

    The News Agency of Nigeria gathered that six bodyguards were wounded and several cars destroyed.

    The explosion was caused by three bombs attached to a motorcycle parked outside the minister’s house.

    Ibrahim, who is responsible for the country’s security forces, has led a relentless crackdown on Islamists since the army deposed president Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood following massive street protests against his rule.

    More than 1,000 people, mainly Brotherhood followers, have since been killed in the violence.

    Morsi, Egyptian first democratically elected president, is being detained by the army at a secret location.

     

     

  • Robbers raid Eagles player’s home

    Robbers raid Eagles player’s home

    Armed robbers raided the home of Super Eagles forward, Ahmed Musa, in Jos on Wednesday night.

    The CSKA Moscow forward told MTNFootball.com that the gunmen numbering about 10 stormed his house close to the Plateau State Government House in the posh neighbourhood of Rayfield few minutes past 11 in the night and carted away cash and valuables.

    “Armed robbers went to my house in Jos and attacked my mother, they hit her on the head with gun, but I thank God she is okay. She was taken to the hospital after the robbery by my sister,” Musa toldMTNFootball.com.

    “I was told about 10 of them came, tied the security man. They actually came for my wife thinking she was still around as my mum said they asked after her. She went to Jos with my mother, but she has since returned to Kano.

    “It was a pity such thing happened. I thank God they didn’t hurt anyone so badly. They stole money, LED TVs, mobile phones and other valuables.”

    Ahmed Musa is back in Nigeria for Saturday’s crunch 2014 World Cup qualifier against Malawi and he maintained the incident will not affect him.

    “It won’t affect me as I am focused on the weekend match. No one was hurt seriously and what they stole is nothing,” he further told MTNFootball.com.

     

  • Chilean judges apologise for past roles

    The body representing judges in Chile has made an unprecedented apology for the actions of its members under military rule in the 1970s and 1980s.

    In a statement, it said the judiciary at the time had abandoned its role as protector of basic rights.

    “The time has come to ask for the forgiveness of victims… and of Chilean society,” said the judges.

    BBC reports that more than 3,000 people were killed under the dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet between 1973 and 1990.

    The statement by the National Association of Magistrates of the Judiciary comes a week before the 40th anniversary of the coup that brought Gen. Pinochet to power.

    It said its members, and in particular the Supreme Court, had failed in its duty to protect victims of state abuse.

    The magistrates’ association acknowledged that the Chilean judiciary could and should have done much more to safeguard the rights of those persecuted by the dictatorship.

    It said the judges had ignored the plight of victims who had demanded their intervention.

    Chilean courts rejected about 5,000 cases seeking help on locating missing loved ones abducted or killed by the authorities.

    Critics say their usual response was they had no information about their fate.

    Chile’s current centre-right government has said the country will officially recognise the anniversary of the coup.

     

     

  • Wamakko, Lamido, Kwankwaso, others to lose seats – Tukur

    Wamakko, Lamido, Kwankwaso, others to lose seats – Tukur

    . . . Atiku, Oyinlola, Baraje risk expulsion

     The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has vowed to ensure that governors and National Assembly members that joined the Abubakar Baraje led breakaway faction of the party lose their seats.

    Similarly, Tukur said other PDP chieftains that joined the faction would be expelled from the ruling party.

    At a press conference he addressed at the party’s secretariat on Wednesday, the PDP chairman described leaders of the breakaway faction as impostors, saying that security agencies have been detailed to treat them as such.

    He said: “Consequently, we shall ensure that any person who is not duly elected into any leadership position in our great party and has not been duly assigned any role but goes ahead to arrogate such to himself will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    “Similarly, all persons elected on the platform of our great party at all levels who identify with these enemies of the oneness and greatness of our party shall have their seats declared vacant as required by law.

    “We shall leave no stone unturned to ensure that such persons and indeed any other individual who attempts to subvert the leadership of the PDP shall reap in full, the consequences of such actions.”

    Stating that the PDP has no faction, Tukur said there was neither room nor reason whatsoever for such a claim under any guise.

    “The PDP has only one duly elected National Executive Committee (NEC) under my chairmanship. I wish therefore to state with all emphasis that any group of persons parading themselves as leaders of NEC or any other organ of our party are impostors and I urge all Nigerians, especially the security agencies and other institutions of democracy to regard them as such.

    “Let me state categorically that the PDP as the sole custodian of the sacred mandate of over 160 million Nigerians and who in the last fourteen years has lifted high the banner of democracy will not fold its arms while some undemocratic and unpatriotic elements destroy our common destiny by causing divisions and confusion among the people.

    “There is only one lawfully recognised PDP and I am firmly in charge, “Tukur declared.

     

     

  • Ajudua asks for fresh bail

    Ajudua asks for fresh bail

    Lagos socialite and alleged fraudster, Mr. Fred Ajudua, on Wednesday asked a Lagos High Court in Ikeja for a fresh bail.

    Counsel to Ajudua, Mr. Olaekan Ojo, filed the fresh bail application before the court presided by Justice Ganiyu Safari.

    Another accused person, Charles Hijiudu, had earlier been denied bail by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole on June 27.

    Oyewole had ruled that Ajudua failed to present convincing materials to back his claim that he would not escape from trial after doing so for seven years when he was earlier granted bail in 2005.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had in 2003 arraigned Ajudua and his co-accused, Hijiudu, for allegedly defrauding two Dutch businessmen – Mr. Remy Cina and Pierre Vijgen – of about $1.69m between July 1999 and September 2000.

    At the resumption of trial on Wednesday, Ojo, who argued the fresh application dated August 19, said there were fresh facts which emerged after his client was last denied bail by Justice Oyewole.

    According to Ojo, after Ajudua was denied bail, he was rushed to the emergency unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, when his condition deteriorated.

    But the EFCC, through its counsel, Mr. Wemimo Ogunde (SAN), opposed the application, saying Ajudua did not deserve any fresh bail.

     

  • Edo takes custody of stowaway lad

    … Father begs to see kid

    Edo State Government has taken custody of Daniel Ohikhena, the 13-year old boy who flew to Lagos in the tyre compartment of an Arik airplane.

    It was not confirmed on Wednesday where the lad would be kept.

    Many government officials declined comments on the matter but a top source said Daniel would not be given to the family.

    The source said they discovered that Daniel would not do well it he is returned to either his mother or father since they are separated.

    Daniel’s father, Osaigbovo, who suddenly appeared on Tuesday, said he was yet to see his son.

    In a telephone chat, Osaigbovo said he has been begging for them to allow him see his son even for a few minutes, adding that he was yet to be told on what transpired during the meeting between Governor Adams Oshiomhole, officials of the State Ministry of Women Affairs, his wife and son.

    The meeting was also attended by the State Director of DSS, Bakori Tukur.

    Daniel’s mother, Evelyn, however vowed to take custody of her son or government would be ready to detain her along with the lad.

    Daniel was said to have told the governor and security operatives that he does not want to see his father.

     

     

  • Exam malpractices: Offenders face five -year imprisonment

    Exam malpractices: Offenders face five -year imprisonment

    Any West African Examination Council (WAEC) candidate caught indulging in examinations malpractices in any part of the country risks a minimum of five years imprisonment and N200, 000 fine.

    This is because the Federal Executive Council has approved the memo from the Ministry of Education seeking to amend the WAEC Act 2004 in line with the 2003 convention in Ghana.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting on Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’I, said the proposal for the amendment would be forwarded to the National Assembly towards domesticating the convention in Nigeria.

    The minister, who attended the briefing alongside the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu and Minister of Environment, Hadiza Mailafia, said the new penalties also involved barring offenders from taking the examination in future.

    She said: “With this amendment, any person that may be caught in one of those acts will now be fined in the sum of N200, 000 or he may be imprisoned for five years or both depending on the establishment of that offence.”