The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Nigerian returns un-opposed in ANOCA poll

    Habu Gumel, Nigeria’s representative at the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has been re-elected the Treasurer-General of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gumel’s re-election was at ANOCA’s 15th Ordinary Elective General Assembly on Friday in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire, with 53 member-nations present.

    Gumel, regarded as “Nigeria’s Ambassador’’ to the IOC, was returned unopposed after two other candidates from Mali and Botswana pulled out of the election.

    Habbib Sissoko of Mali and Negroes Malealea Kgosietsile of Botswana had written letters of withdrawal to the African Olympic body that they were standing down for “a worthy candidate.”

    ANOCA’s close sources, however, told NAN at the assembly that the two candidates had earlier filed their nominations papers after they had been misinformed that Nigeria was no longer interested in the position.

    Gumel, who stoutly denied the allegation, also put up a strong case to convince the electorate.

    He was later, during the plenary session, declared fully qualified for the election after his past expenditures and the budget were passed.

    An elated Gumel told NAN that he was happy to have won, saying that his immediate tasks would be the early completion of the ANOCA permanent secretariat at Abuja.

    “My immediate task on returning to Nigeria is to ensure the full completion of the ANOCA building in Abuja, so that ANOCA can settle in Nigeria.

    “This is part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the Federal Government of Nigeria and ANOCA. As a member of the executive committee, I will work hard to accomplish this task.

    “I also want to help my country to develop the youth programme through ANOCA. This is possible with cooperation with the National Sports Commission,’’ Gumel said.

     

  • INEC to ‘improve’ on election conduct

    INEC to ‘improve’ on election conduct

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it has introduced a more efficient and effective operational mechanism to ensure a free, fair and credible elections in 2015.

    A National Commissioner of the Commission, Dr. Nura Yakubu, disclosed this in Sokoto on Saturday.

    He said the essence was to meet an acceptable target with a view to improving on all electoral processes towards achieving credible general elections come 2015.

    According to him “the commission will continue to be impartial by providing a level play ground for all candidates.

    “The commission will continue to be neutral without compromising its status as an independent body,” he said.

    Yakubu, who was in the state to oversee the Gada West by- election into the state assembly also expressed concern for the need to strengthen the country’s internal democracy, adding that” we are concerned about it. Where there is no internal democracy within the political parties, there is no democracy in a nation.”

    According to the INEC commissioner, political parties have to mobilise their members and supporters by creating civic awareness among them.

     

  • Suspected robbers attack Taraba college

    A gang of suspected armed robbers in the early hours of Saturday invaded the campus of Taraba State College of Agriculture, Jalingo, the Provost, Dr. Elizabeth Wachap, said.

    Wachap told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the hoodlums burgled some offices, including hers, the registrar’s, the bursary as well as the Anatomy Laboratory and Pension Office.

    She said the hoodlums took away the safe in the cash office but that there was no money in it.

    She said the robbers tied one of the security men on duty to a tree before proceeding to carry out their operations.

    When NAN visited the premises, policemen were seen inspecting the affected offices.

    NAN learnt that there had been complaints of increase in cases of robbery attacks on residents of Jalingo in recent times.

    When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Joseph Kwaji, said he had yet to be briefed on the incident.

    Kwaji promised to call back as soon as he got information on the incident.

     

  • Sultan blames parents, leaders over youths’ immorality

    Sultan blames parents, leaders over youths’ immorality

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar on Saturday blamed the failure of leadership for the increasing moral decadence among youths in the country.

    Abubakar said this in Kaduna in a message to the opening of the 8th Ramadan Lecture, organised by the NTA, FRCN and VON, with the theme “Moral Upbringing in Islam.”

     

    He noted that the complete breakdown of family and leadership values had left the youths with no role models to emulate, either at home or at the national level.

    Represented by the Emir of Birnin Gwari, Alhaji Zubairu Jibril, the Sultan also noted that the marriage institution had completely collapsed as parents continue to produce children they could not fend for or even give advice.

    “Things are extremely bad and in shambles, parents have failed, the leaders whether political, religious or in the academics are not showing good examples,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Sultan as saying during the lecture.

    The situation, according to him, has led to the evolution of youths who are showing greater disrespect for their parents, political and religious leaders as well as the society at large.

    Abubakar recalled the mayhem unleashed by such youths after the 2011 general elections, saying that most of those who participated in the violence were drug addicts.

     

  • Police to army: You lied on robbery syndicate

    The Nigerian Police Force Saturday derided the Nigerian Army following the latter’s claim that it arrested and paraded a police Inspector, Mr. Nanagha Aduomeni over allegations bordering on armed robbery.

    The 4th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Benin City, had on Thursday paraded the inspector attached to the “A” Division of the Bayelsa State Police Command.

    The army had alleged that the policeman was involved in dispossessing travelers of their cash and other valuables at a roadblock located in Bomadi local government area of Delta State.

    But the Bayelsa Police Commissioner, Mr. Tonye Ebitibituwa, said the army lied.

    He said the army treated the policeman unfairly despite privilege information it earlier received on the mental status of the policeman.

    The aggrieved police boss in a statement signed by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, said the attitude of the military had betrayed the relationship between the sister forces.

    He said the action of the army was malicious and provocative especially as the victim walked to a checkpoint mounted by soldiers and declared himself an armed robber.

    He said: “The said inspector was never arrested by the military but rather he walked to their checkpoint and told them he was an armed robber.

    “The Inspector is a psychiatric patient who was posted to Police Medical Unit by the retired Commissioner of Police, Kingsley Omire to enable him have proper attention.

    “He walked to the military checkpoint without arms and no one was seen with him.”

    He said the purported arrest of the policeman was reported to the police by the victim’s family members.

    He, however, said the police immediately made efforts to inform the army about the mental state of the victim.

     

  • Better work/ life balance

    Better work/ life balance

    Better work/life balance is being achieved most successfully by business owners and by the younger generations in Nigeria and Africa according to the RegusWork:life Balance Index research.

    However, the Index has slipped four points across East and North Africa and six points in South Africa since last year, showing that people in business are struggling with a mounting pressure of work.

     

    The study, published for the second year running by global workplace provider Regus, is based on the views of 26,000 professionals in more than 90 countries with direct representation in 16 African nations. The international study includes East, North and South Africa.

     

    A study conducted in Anambra State in Nigeria found that employees would want their employers to introduce some policy intervention that would positively impact on their work-life balance dilemma. Studies have suggested that employees want jobs that give them flexibility in their work schedules so that they can better manage work-life conflicts.

     

    In the past in the contemporary Nigerian environment, a typical employee in a public sector organization would work conscientiously all the week days from Monday through Friday. This situation has since changed as employees in many public sector organizations are increasingly complaining that the line between work and non-work time has become blurred, creating personal conflicts and stress.

     

    The global findings should be seen in the context of the specific score for East Africa (121) and South Africa (129) which beats the global average (120) and the score for North Africa (113), which lags behind the global average by 7 points. However, positive feelings abound in the workplace, with 78% of East Africans and 79% of North and South African respondents enjoying work more than they did a year ago.

     

    Perhaps contrary to common assumptions, globally the Baby Boomer generation appears less adept at juggling work and home life. Across the world, younger workers enjoy work more than Baby Boomers (76% compared with 64%) and are more satisfied with their productivity levels (81% compared to 69%.)

     

    Responding to the outcome of the research, Joanne Bushell, Vice President at Regus, said  “Staff who are happy at work are both more productive and less likely to leave the company”.

     

    “ As the jobs market improves, businesses are realising that to hire or retain talent, they must focus on extending their flexible working policies, such as offering a choice of work locations.  This is already happening – we see our network of local centres used every day by people working flexibly”.

     

    Regus is the world’s largest provider of workplace solutions, with products and services ranging from fully equipped offices to professional meeting rooms, business lounges and the world’s largest network of video communication studios.

     

     

     

  • Appeal Court frees Al-Mustapha

    Appeal Court frees Al-Mustapha

    The Court of Appeal, sitting in Lagos, on Friday discharged and acquitted Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, who was sentenced to death over the conspiracy and murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola on June 4, 1996.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Mojisola Dada of a Lagos High Court had on January 30, 2012, sentenced Al-Mustapha and Lateef Shofolahan to death by hanging over the murder.

    Al-Mustapha was the former Chief Security Officer to the late Gen. Sani Abacha, while Shofolahan was an aide to the late Kudirat.

    Justice Rita Pemu, who read the lead judgment, said that the prosecution totally failed to establish the charge of conspiracy and murder against the appellants, including Shofolahan.

    She said that it was foolhardy and unreasonable for the lower court to have so swiftly convicted the appellants, when it was very evident that the prosecution had a bad case.

    Pemu held that there existed huge shadows of doubt in the case of the prosecution, which ought to be resolved in favour of the appellants.

    “In a criminal trial, the burden of proof is beyond reasonable doubt and this is a chain that cannot be broken.

    “The prosecution listed four witnesses PW 9, 10, 11 and 12 as witnesses, which it intended to call in the trial, but never called any of them.

    “PW 1 (Dr. Ore Falomo) testified before the lower court that the bullet extracted from the forehead of the deceased, was white and of a special kind, but the prosecution failed to tender the bullet as an exhibit and this is fatal to their case.

    “The prosecution also called PW 4 (Investigating Police officer) who investigated the death of the deceased, but this witness was never produced for cross-examination by the defence, as he never showed up in court.

    “This renders the evidence of the police officer inconclusive as it denied the defendants their right to a fair hearing, and no reasonable court can safely make a conviction on such inconclusive testimony.

    “PW 2 (Sgt. Rogers) and PW 3(Mohammedd Abdul) in their confessional statements to the police said they were enjoined by the first appellant, to murder kudirat, but this statement was later retracted by them in court.

    “PW 2 and PW 3, in retracting their earlier statement to the police, told the court that they were cajoled by the prosecution to indict the appellant, with a promise to give them monetary compensation.

    “This is a contradiction in the testimonies of the witnesses, it raises doubt in the case of the prosecution, and it is unimaginable that the lower court did not expunge this evidence.

    “For an offence like murder, I wonder why the Nigerian police did not do a proper investigation.

    “Jabila, who was initially arrested as a co-defendant, was later called a prosecution witness; witnesses who ought to be called were never called, the bullet extracted was never tendered before the court.

    “Once there is doubt in the case of the prosecution, as in the instant case, it must be resolved in favour of the accused, and this doubt is accordingly resolved in favour of the appellants,’’ Pemu said.

    According to her, it is clear that Kudirat was shot, but the question is: who pulled the trigger?

     

  • Rivers PDP crises regrettable- Jonathan

    Rivers PDP crises regrettable- Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday expressed worries about the recent political developments in Rivers State as he called on all those involved in regrettable acts of political violence to show greater respect for the constitution and the rule of law.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President urged members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and all other political gladiators in the state to put the interests of the state and the nation above their personal egos and ambitions that “seem to have gotten in the way of their expected commitment to uphold the principles of democracy and good governance.”

    He called on all those who were remotely or directly involved in heightening political tension in Rivers State to put an immediate end to their actions, which he said, are capable of plunging the state into public disorder.

    To this end, he urged them to strive to settle their political differences without further recourse to barbaric acts of violence.

    The statement reads: “President Jonathan expects all members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, irrespective of their current affiliations or loyalties, to comport themselves with greater restraint while efforts continue to resolve existing differences and restore internal harmony to the state branch of the party.

    “The Presidency has also noted with regret the continuing attempts by some individuals and groups to place responsibility for the unpleasant developments in Rivers State on President Jonathan.

    “We are constrained to state once again that there is absolutely no factual basis for suggestions that some of the politicians involved in the current dispute are acting at the behest of the President.”

    “President Jonathan certainly did not instigate the crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly and as President of the nation, he will never support any actions that negate his avowed commitment to the rule of law. The President will also never violate his oath of office to always defend the Nigerian Constitution.”

  • ARFH calls for legislation against child marriage

    The Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) has called for legislation against Child marriage in the country to end teenage pregnancy.

    In a statement to mark this year’s World Population Day, ARFH President, Professor Oladapo Ladipo noted that teenage pregnancy is associated with high maternal mortality and morbidity – anemia, induced abortion, pregnancy induced hypertension and obstructed labour resulting in Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF).

    The theme for this year’s celebration is Adolescent pregnancy.

    The non-governmental organization said adolescents and youths in the country must be provided with age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education to help them develop the knowledge and skills they need to protect their health.

    Apart from education and information, ARFH stated that good quality reproductive health services must also be readily available for adolescents to make informed choices and be healthy.

    “Adolescent pregnancy is not just a health issue, it is a development issue.  It is deeply rooted in poverty, gender inequality, violence, child and forced marriage, power imbalances between adolescent girls and their male partners, lack of education, and the failure of systems and institutions to protect their right.”

    Through, The Universal Access to Reproductive Health (Y-ACCESS Project) funded by DFID, ARFH said it has engaged in capacity strengthening and reproductive health improvement intervention including access to reproductive health information and services by adolescents and young people (aged 10 – 24 years) in four northern states (BENUE, JIGAWA, KATSINA and NIGER) of Nigeria

    As a principal recipient of Global Fund, the organization added that it has provided oversight functions to the Federal Ministry of Education to enhance the capacity of teachers to be able to deliver factual Family Life and Reproductive Health and HIV Education information to in-school adolescents using the curricular based approach.

    ARFH maintained that young people including adolescents in Nigeria constitute a significant proportion of the population and face unique challenges which should be addressed if their health and developmental potentials are not to be compromised.

  • 18 die in Edo road accident

    Eighteen persons on Thursday died  in a multiple road accident that occurred along the Benin-Lagos bye-pass.

    Vehicles involved in the accident included a truck carrying drinks, a tipper lorry and a fully loaded eighteen seater bus.

    Eyewitnesses said the truck veered off the road and had a head-on collision with the tipper before the bus hit the tipper from behind.

    The eyewitness said three persons in the tipper were killed and 15 in the bus were killed while three other sustained injuries.

    Men of Operation Thunderstorm were said to have been involved in the rescue operation.

    Public Relation Officer of Federal Road Safety Corps, John Aniedi who confirmed the accident said six persons were confirmed dead at the point of rescue.

    He said his men were yet to fully brief him and that the injured were taken to Our Clinic at Oregbeni quarters, Ikpoba Hill.