The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • WAEC releases May/June 2013 results

    The West African Examination Council on Wednesday released the full results of 1,543,683 candidates who sat for its May/June 2013 Secondary School Certificate Examination.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the number represents 91.38 per cent of 1,689,188 candidates who registered for the examination.

    The Head of National Office (HNO) of WAEC, Dr. Charles Eguridu, announced the results on Wednesday when he addressed a news conference in Lagos.

    Eguridu said 889,636 candidates obtained six credits and above, while 1,074,065 others obtained five credits and above.

    According to him, the results of 145,505 others, representing 8.62 per cent, were being processed due to some errors.

    “These errors are traceable to the candidates as well as their schools in the course of registration or writing the examination.’’

    The HNO explained that such errors were being corrected by the council to enable the affected candidates to get their results fully processed and released subsequently.

    Eguridu disclosed that the council cancelled the result of 2,176 candidates.

    He explained that the cancellation was due to multiple entries by the candidates discovered while processing the results.

    “In line with the council’s regulation, the entire results of such candidates who have been found guilty of this act had been cancelled, “ he said.

    The HNO also said 112,865 results of candidates, representing 6.75 per cent, were withheld due to examination malpractice.

     

  • APC’s invitation, recognition of Jonathan’s qualities – Presidency

    APC’s invitation, recognition of Jonathan’s qualities – Presidency

     

    The invitation by the newly-registered All Progressives Congress (APC) for President Goodluck Jonathan to join the party was on Wednesday described by the Presidency as an acknowledgment of his sterling leadership qualities.

    According to the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the Presidency viewed the invitation as a compliment.

    He told State House correspondents in Abuja that APC Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande’s invitation has shown that leaders of the opposition party recognized the fact that Jonathan is presently the best man for the job.

    Ruling out the possibility of President Jonathan joining the new party, he faulted the party leaders for forming a party only to realise later that they do not have a credible candidate.

    He said: “I think it (the APC’s invitation) is a compliment. What Chief Akande has said in essence is that President Jonathan is the best man for the job.

    “They formed a party only to realise they don’t have a candidate. We thank him for his acknowledgment of the President’s leadership qualities, but he (the President) is happy where he is.

    “We thank Chief Akande for his expression of confidence in President Jonathan’s credibility but the President is happy where he is, as a member and leader of the Peoples Democratic Party to which he remains loyal, and under the umbrella of which he is leading a transformation agenda for the betterment of the lives of Nigerians.”

     

     

  • Rivers commission may question injured lawmaker in London

    The Judicial Commission of Inquiry looking into the crisis that engulfed Rivers State House of Assembly last month may visit London to hear from one of the lawmakers, Micheal Chinda, who is recuperating in a hospital there.

    The Chairman of the commission, Justice Biobele Georgewill, who gave this indication in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, said “when necessary, we may visit London to hear from the injured lawmaker because we want to be fair to all the parties.”

    Georgewill also said the job of the commission would not be complete if the views of both parties are not taken hence the visit to London would be necessary.

    Earlier during the inaugural sitting of the body in Port Harcourt on Monday, the chairman had said that there would be no sacred cow in its report, saying it is out to find a lasting peace in the assembly.

    He said that every person found culpable “no matter how highly or lowly placed would be apportioned blame and relevant recommendations made.”

     

     

  • Sokoto pardons nine prisoners, dethroned monarch

    Sokoto pardons nine prisoners, dethroned monarch

    The Sokoto State Government on Wednesday unconditionally pardoned nine inmates of the Sokoto Central Prison and a dethroned monarch.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inmates were released at a ceremony presided over by the Commissioner for Justice, Alhaji Nuhu Adamu, on behalf of Governor Aliyu Wamakko.

    Adamu said the gesture was in line with the powers conferred on Wamakko by Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    He said that seven out of the freed inmates were convicted, while two others were on awaiting trial list.

    Similarly, four of the freed convicted inmates were females, three of whom each had a child aged between one and two years.

    Adamu also announced the donation of N30, 000 to each of the seven released convicted inmates, courtesy of the state government.

    “The gesture is part of the state government’s efforts to further decongest the prison. It is has always been done during ceremonies like Sallah and Nigeria’s independence anniversary.

    “This is a Holy Month of Ramadan and the state government has decided to extend the same gesture to commemorate the Eid-el-Fitri ,’’ he said.

    Adamu said the 10th beneficiary of the gesture was Alhaji Suleiman Kurdulla, the former Village Head of Kurdulla in Gudu Local Government Area of the state.

     

  • IGP orders ‘water-tight security’ for Eid-el-Fitri

    IGP orders ‘water-tight security’ for Eid-el-Fitri

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered officers in charge of zonal and state commands to take measures to ensure “water-tight security’’ before, during and after Sallah celebration.

    The order is contained in the IGP’s goodwill message to Muslims which was made available to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Abubakar directed Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in charge of the 12 zonal commands to ensure increased surveillance, patrol and tactical police presence on the highways and places of worship.

    According to him, such surveillance and high police presence should be extended to recreation parks, strategic and other vulnerable areas.

    The IGP also directed the commissioners of police in charge of states to adequately deploy personnel to guarantee free flow of traffic and safe passage of travelers through their domains.

    “Highway patrol teams working in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies are equally directed to take adequate measures in preventing road accidents and rendering assistance to travelers, particularly those in distress,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the IGP as saying in the message.

    Abubakar congratulated all Muslims who participated in the Ramadan fasting, and prayed for the peace and security of the country.

    He urged them to imbibe the principles and teachings of Prophet Muhammed.

    He assured Nigerians of adequate security throughout the celebration, adding that the police were working round the clock to ensure that.

     

     

  • Jonathan visits Fashola over father’s death

    Jonathan visits Fashola over father’s death

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday visited Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, at his Marina residence to condole with him over the death of his father.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the president was accompanied by key members of his cabinet, among whom were the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke.

    The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku; Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; Special Adviser to the President on Inter-party Affairs, Sen. Ben Obi; as well as the Chief Imam of Abuja, Alh. Musa Mohammed, were also on the entourage.

    The governor and his wife, Abimbola, his sisters – Mrs. Arinola Fuwa and Miss Olayinka Fashola — their children and some members of the state executive council, were on hand to receive the President and his entourage.

    In his remark, Jonathan described the death of Fashola`s father as saddening ,noting that the late patriarch left at a time when he was most needed to offer counsel that would assist to further develop the nation.

    He, however, said the deceased lived a fulfilled life, and left enduring legacies behind.

    “When we hear about the death of the father of the governor, I was very sad because we know this is a period that we need our parents most, especially parents that would assist us in handling a number of responsibilities.

    “Mr. Governor, it is a sad thing for you to have lost your father at this time, but one must also thank God for the life he has lived. For those of us who are Christians, the Bible tells us we are supposed to live three scores plus ten,” he said.

     

  • Two Wema Bank staff arraigned for fraud

    The Police in Lagos on Wednesday arraigned two staff of Wema Bank Plc before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly defrauding the bank of N93.2 million.

    The police prosecutor, Insp. Chidi Okoye, told the court that the accused– Joseph Adeleye (32) and Bankole Alade (36) were clerks at the headquarters of the bank at Marina, Lagos.

    Okoye said the duo was facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing.

    He said they committed the offence, with others at large, between November 2012 and July this year at the bank’s headquarters and at Emrey Hotel, Lagos.

    The prosecutor said the duo and their accomplices revealed the passwords of the “BSM and TOFT“ (banking software) of their branches to fraudsters.

    “The fraudsters gained access to Wema Bank Fund Transfer menu and transferred the above mentioned sum to various fraudulent accounts and also withdrew same within 24 hours.

    “Adeleye and Alade also revealed the Impute Override Menu and the Override Menu of the bank to the fraudsters, which they used to steal the said amount, using 18 different bank accounts, “the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Okoye as saying during the hearing.

    According to the police prosecutor, the account numbers used by the accused persons are – 0228590857, 0228600022, 0228556552, 0228646558, 0228261847, 0228661344, 0228451413, 0228738905, 0228624574,

    Others are: 0228620124, 0228688141, 0228747675, 0228676645, 0225920608, 0221550018, 0223528581, 0228578220 and 0224440459.

    He said the offences contravened Sections 409, 333 and 285 (6) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    If convicted, they face a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment, if no other charges are considered.

    The Magistrate, Ms. Abimbola Awogboro, granted them bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum each.

     

  • FEC meeting cancelled

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting normally presided over by the President or Vice President could not hold at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday.
    No official reason was given for the cancellation of the meeting.
    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, who heads the Council Secretariat, had late Tuesday issued a circular to the various ministries on  the cancellation of  the  meeting.
    President Goodluck Jonathan was in Lagos on Wednesday  to condole with Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, while Vice President Namadi Sambo, who went to Saudi Arabia for Umra (lesser hajj), was due back to Nigeria Tuesday night.

  • Fire engulfs Nairobi airport

    A fire engulfed Kenya’s main airport on Wednesday forcing the closure of a vital travel and trade gateway to east Africa, BBC reports.

    Flames from the inferno lit up the early morning sky, and the intense heat repeatedly drove back firefighters. A huge plume of black smoke billowed from the airport buildings, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or injuries.

    Hundreds of passengers were stranded outside Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the capital Nairobi, which was cordoned off to keep the public out after the fire started early in the morning in the arrivals and immigration area, officials said.

    The cause of the worst fire in record at east Africa’s busiest airport was not yet known.

    “We are still fighting to contain the fire. Investigations will start immediately after,” Michael Kamau, cabinet secretary for transport, told reporters at the airport.

    “The fire started at a very central part of the airport and this made access difficult. But we have closed the airport indefinitely as we try to contain the fire.”

    One passenger at the airport said he heard two small explosions from the international arrival area, then sirens.

    “I was waiting for my flight around 5 a.m. (0200 GMT / 10:00 p.m. Tuesday EDT) when I heard two explosions, as if from gas cylinder or electricity fault,” said the passenger, a Kenyan who requested anonymity.

    “Within minutes, the entire airport was secured by police and Kenya airport authority personnel, who ordered everybody out of the airport,” he said.

    The airport buildings were ravaged by the fire. Television pictures showed desks that had been reduced to charcoal inside the burned out terminal. The roof had partly caved in, and the floor was flooded with water from fire fighters.

     

  • Nigeria hosts CAF awards January 9

    Nigeria hosts CAF awards January 9

    The annual Confederation of African Football (CAF) awards night would be staged in Lagos, Nigeria, on January 9.

    CAF announced on its website that Lagos would host the event for the second time after it first did so in 2009.

    Manchester City star and Cote d’Ivoire international Yaya Toure is the reigning African Footballer of the Year, while Egypt’s Mohammed Aboutreika was adjudged the best home-based player on the continent.

    MTNFootball.com reports that a total 13 award categories winners would be announced at the event.

    The categories include the prestigious African Footballer of the Year, National team of the Year and Coach of the Year awards.