The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Gunmen abduct five workers in Bayelsa

    The waves of kidnapping swept across Bayelsa State on weekend as unknown gunmen abducted five workers at Opuama, Southern Ijaw local government area of the state.

    The gunmen who operated on a speedboat reportedly seized their victims in the early hours of Friday and took them to an unknown place.

    The victims were identified as workers of Beks Nigeria Limited and M. Sidom Limited.

    It was gathered that the companies were engaged by the Niger Delta Development Commission to carry out shore protection and reclamation at Opuama waterways.

    The abductors have asked the companies to pay N6m ransom on each of the victims.

    But a security source only identified three of the victims.

    He gave their names as Anukuru Godwin, Samuel Edeh and Jackson Ibani.

    The development, it was learnt, forced the companies to temporarily vacate the dredging sites.

    The kidnappers were said to have established contacts with the companies.

    The source who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter said the gunmen had yet to state their terms.

    He said: “The kidnappers created panic in the area. They have contacted the companies but are yet to state their terms. We are monitoring the situation.”

    It was also gathered that a speedboat conveying workers of Shell Petroleum Development Company came under attack at Bonny Island, Rivers State, over the weekend.

    The workers were said to have been attacked at Cawthorne Channel while on their way to carry out repairs on SPDC facilities.

     

     

  • Terrorist attacks affect cost of governance – AGF

    Terrorist attacks affect cost of governance – AGF

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) on Monday said terrorist attacks have been affecting the cost of governance.

    He also said the interventions of the courts have saved the nation’s democracy and constitutional evolution.

    He, however, warned politicians against abuse of freedom of expression to incite violence in the country.

    Adoke made the submissions in an address at the 2013 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the International Conference Centre in Calabar.

    In the address, which was released to journalists in Abuja, the AGF urged Nigerians to support the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He said: “In Nigeria, the challenges of nationhood are more pronounced in the areas of security, fostering of national unity and democratic consolidation.

    “The threat of global terrorism hitherto considered an alien phenomenon has unfortunately found a place in our nation.

    “Media reports of terrorist attacks on innocent citizens, members of the armed forces and police and our critical infrastructure have continued to weigh heavily on the cost of governance and the ability of the citizenry to carry out their social and economic activities with grave consequences for the nation.

    “In its determined effort to combat the insurgency; government has had to impose a state of emergency in three states in the northeast geopolitical zone, (Adamawa, Borno and Yobe).”

    The AGF also said the interventions of the courts have saved the nation’s democracy and constitutional evolution.

    He said: “There is no doubt that any society, which desires to bring about social justice and development, will ultimately address the functionality and centrality of law. In my respectful view, social justice and a developmental perspective to nation’s legal system require that the rule of law must be sacrosanct.

    “This fundamental concept entails that rights (including economic rights) are protected and that arbitrary powers of the State are curbed by the prescription of rules and codes that regulate and sanction.

    “By the same token, in a constitutional democracy like Nigeria, the rule of law connotes not only that the judiciary is independent but that judicial orders and judgments of courts are obeyed and enforced. This is more so when only the courts of law are mandated to state with finality the position of the law as it governs the affairs of the society and the nation.

     

  • Female lawyers fault Rivers acting CJ’s appointment

    The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has faulted the decision by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State to appoint the President of the state’s Customary Court of Appeal, Justice P. N. C. Agumagu, as the state’s acting Chief Judge.

    The group contended in a statement on Monday that the appointment amounted to “a flagrant breach of section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution.”

    It stated that the most appropriate person for the position is Justice Daisy Okocha, who had been recommended by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for appointment in that capacity.

    FIDA also faulted the argument by the state’s Attorney General, Worgu Boms, to the effect that Justice Agumagu is the oldest serving judge in Rivers State.

    The group urged the state governor to “in the interest of justice and fair play” be properly guided by the provisions of section 271(4) of the Constitution and appoint an acting Chief Judge in accordance with the constitutional provisions.

    FIDA argued that the state’s Attorney General’s contention that Justice Agumagu was appointed into the High Court bench and not the Customary Court of Appeal bench was misleading.

     

  • Jonathan sacks Minister of Youth Development

    Jonathan sacks Minister of Youth Development

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday sacked the Minister of Youth Development, Inuwa Abdul-Kadir, from the cabinet.

    However, a statement signed by Special Assistant (Media), Sam Nwaobasi, on behalf the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, did not give reasons for the termination of the minister’s appointment.

    The statement entitled: “Termination of the appointment of the Honourable Minister of Youth Development” reads: “His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR President and Commander –in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria has relieved Inuwa Abdul-kadir, Esq of his appointment as Honourable Minister of Youth Development with effect from the 26th of August, 2013.

    “The former minister is to hand over to the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.

    “Mr. President expresses appreciation to the former minister for the time he put in the services of the nations and wishes him success in his future endeavours.”

     

     

     

  • Anambra: PDP declares Nwoye as flag bearer

    Anambra: PDP declares Nwoye as flag bearer

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced a parallel candidate, Mr. Tony Nwoye, as the party’s candidate for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

    The National chairman of the (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, announced Nwoye as winner of the party’s primaries held on Saturday.

    The election was conducted by the Ken Emeakayi -led faction of the state’s executive committee.

    The announcement was based on a report on the election submitted to the party’s leadership by Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema.

    Shema was the chairman of a five-man Anambra governorship congress committee set up the PDP to conduct the election.

    According to Shema’s report, Nwoye scored 498 votes to beat Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu who scored 357 votes. Dr. Alex Obiogolu came third with 13 votes.

    The report said 14 aspirants participated in the congress in which 916 delegates voted.

    However, a parallel congress conducted by the Ejike Oguebego faction had declared Mr. Andy Uba as winner of the congress and by extension the party’s flag bearer for the same election.

    The Oguebego faction is the one recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) while the PDP leadership backed the Emeakayi faction.

     

     

  • APC sets up state harmonisation committees

    APC sets up state harmonisation committees

    The National Interim Executive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has approved the establishment of State Harmonisation Committees (SHC) for the party, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    In a statement issued on Sunday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the committees would regulate activities of the party at the state level and the Federal Capital Territory.

    The party said the decision to set up the committees followed the adoption of the report of the Aminu Masari Committee by the National Interim Executive in Abuja.

    It said the committee comprised of former presidents and vice presidents, governors and deputy governors, Senators and members of House of Representatives, as well as Speakers and Minority Leaders of State Houses of Assembly who were members of parties that crystallised into the APC.

    Also included as members were serving and past ministers, immediate past National Executive members, gubernatorial candidates and their running mates, who were members of the parties that formed the APC.

    According to the statement, in any state where the party does not have an incumbent governor that was a member of the coalition parties, nine persons, comprising of three elders, three youths and three women selected from the three Senatorial Districts, State Chairmen and the Secretaries of the legacy Parties, members of the National Interim Executive and Federal Commissioners who were members of the party, would be co-opted as members.

     

  • Catholic priest found dead in Edo

    A Catholic priest Rev. Father Peter Ayala, was on Sunday morning found dead in his apartment inside the St. Thomas Moore Catholic Church, Sobe, in Owan West Local council area of Edo State.

    The deceased who was expected to conduct the morning mass at 7am was said to be cleaning his double-barreled gun inside his apartment within the church premises, when the gun reportedly went off and killed him.

    The Nation gathered that the incident took place in the early hours of Sunday before the priest dressed up for the mass, while worshippers were gathering for the worship service.

    The development threw the church into confusion as both mass servers and church elders made frantic efforts to rescue the priest who was lying prostrate in his apartment.

     

  • Bale joins Madrid for £86m

    Bale joins Madrid for £86m

    Gareth Bale is free to join Real Madrid after Tottenham agreed a world record £86million deal with the Spanish giants on Sunday night, Daily Mail reports.

    Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy signed off the staggering move for the PFA Player of the Year following talks with directors in the boardroom at White Hart Lane.

    Bale’s transfer to Real beats the previous world record of £80m which the Spanish giants paid to Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.

    Levy returned from talks in Madrid with Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett and Tottenham director of football Franco Baldini to watch his club’s 1-0 victory over Swansea City after agreeing the deal.

    It is understood that the decision to travel to Madrid to meet Perez — who is known to revel in these situations — was part of a tactic designed to get the highest possible price.

    The fee represents an extraordinary return on the £7m Spurs paid Southampton six years ago and will only add to Levy’s reputation as the toughest negotiator in the game.

    It also brings to an end one of the most protracted transfer sagas in the history of the game following a summer of talks.

     

  • Five die in Mexico’s train accident

    At least five people are dead after a cargo train notorious for transporting Central American migrants hoping to reach the United States derailed in southern Mexico, authorities have said.

    Officials said at least 35 people were injured, 16 gravely. It is feared the death toll could rise.

    An unknown number of people were also trapped, the Red Cross said.

    BBC reports that soldiers, marines and emergency workers were trying to access the remote crash site, which ambulances could not reach.

    Officials were working to establish air or water access to the site.

    Cesar Burelo Burelo, the head of civil protection for Mexico’s Tabasco state, said the derailment occurred early on Sunday in a remote area with no mobile phone coverage.

    Mr. Burelo said dozens of people had been on the train, which was moving north from the border of Guatemala.

    The train, sometimes called “the beast”, often carries hundreds of people on the roof as they undertake the risky journey to the U.S.

     

  • Odemwingie good for Swansea – Laudrup

    Odemwingie good for Swansea – Laudrup

    Swansea boss Michael Laudrup has said Osaze Odemwingie would fit the bill as the club shop for a striker before the transfer deadline, MTNFootball.com reports.

    Laudrup watched his team fire a blank at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday as Roberto Soldado’s penalty condemned Swansea to another defeat after last week’s 1-4 loss to Manchester United.

    According to South Wales Evening Post, Landrup said he believes the club would land Osaze, who is a summer transfer target for Swansea City and two other EPL sides, Stoke City and Cardiff City.

    Swansea manager has hinted that West Bromwich Albion outcast Odemwingie is a strong option as he bids to add one last player to his new-look squad.

    “We want to add one more who can give us that in a certain part of the game or in certain games,” Laudrup said.

    “And he (Odemwingie) is a player with pace who knows the league.”

    The Danish legend is keen on the 32-year-old Nigeria international, who is surplus to requirements at ‘The Baggies.’

    There are now suggestions that Swansea has tabled an offer of close to £2 million for Odemwingie.