The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • KSA’s guitarist gets three-year sentence for drug trafficking

    KSA’s guitarist gets three-year sentence for drug trafficking

    Justice S. Seidu of the Federal High Court, Lagos,on Tuesday sentenced a veteran guitarist Fatoke Abiodun to three years imprisonment for drug trafficking.

    The convict pleaded guilty to one count charge of unlawful exportation of 1.575kg of cocaine on February 26 while ruling was reserved till this month.

    The defence counsel, Mr. Bayo Onifade, had pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy since the convict is 62 years old, a husband of three wives with 12 children.

    In his ruling, Justice Seidu sentenced the convict to three years imprisonment with effect from the date of arrest.

    He noted that the appeal of the defence counsel and the fact that the convict pleaded guilty as charged without wasting the time of the court was carefully considered.

    Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade has reiterated his call for stiffer penalty for drug offenders.

    According to Giade, “punishment must be commensurate to serve as a deterrent to others. The drug is worth several millions of naira and the damage to humanity cannot be quantified.”

    Abiodun was apprehended by NDLEA operatives on January 1 at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

     

  • NUPENG tasks FG on pipeline vandalism

    NUPENG tasks FG on pipeline vandalism

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has called on the Federal government to fast-track the fight against pipeline vandalism and oil theft.

    The charge is contained in a document signed by NUPENG National President, Mr. Achese Igwe.

    It urged the Federal government to change tactics and strategies in the fight against the menace, and called for the introduction of new technology to secure the pipelines.

    “Government has to change tactics and strategies in the fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

    “The union wants the Federal Government to introduce new technologies like monitoring sensors and alarm systems that will be trigger off whenever any pipeline is being tampered with,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted NUPENG s as saying in the statement.

    The union decried the drop in crude oil production since the first quarter of the year due to oil theft and activities of vandals.

     

  • Nigerians in UK prisons ‘reduced by 40%’

    Nigerians in UK prisons ‘reduced by 40%’

    Figure drooped from 900 t0 540

    The number of Nigerians serving various jail terms in the United Kingdom has significantly dropped from some 900 to 540, the Nigerian High Commissioner to that country, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida, has said.

    Tafida, who spoke against the backdrop of the Nigeria-UK Prisoners Transfer Agreement, stated this in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in London.

    The High Commissioner said the figure had reduced from 900 in 2008 to 540 currently, as some of the prisoners had completed their sentences and were released by the authorities.

    He said that both countries were working on modalities for Prisoner’s transfer following the review of the 2005 Memorandum of Understanding on Migration Return Partnership.

    NAN reports that under the agreement, prisoners do not have an option of where they want to serve their terms of imprisonment, because the transfer is mandatory by law.

    When the transfer process begins, some 200 Nigerian prisoners in the UK would be in the first batch of those that would sent home to complete their jail terms.

    Tafida also said that a similar scheme under the auspices of the Nigeria-Commonwealth Prisoners Transfer agreement has seen the return of only one prisoner since it came into force.

    NAN reports that the Commonwealth scheme allows for voluntary transfer based on the prisoner’s wish.

    However, many prisoners prefer to serve out their terms in the UK, where the prison conditions in their opinion are better.

    Meanwhile the number of Nigerians repatriated from the UK on a monthly basis remains between 40 to 50 persons.

     

  • Court adjourns Ogbulafor’s trial to June 6

    Court adjourns Ogbulafor’s trial to June 6

     

    An Abuja High Court on Tuesday adjourned to June 6 hearing in the trial of former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Vincent Ogbulafor, over alleged N107 million fraud.

    The ICPC is prosecuting Ogbulafor, who was Minister of Special Duties along with Emeka Ebilah and Jude Nwokoro on a 17-count charge of conspiracy and award of fictitious contracts amounting to N107 million.

    The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000.

    At the resumed hearing, the first accused was put on the stand by his counsel and during interrogation, admitted knowing the second accused.

    Ogbulafor told the court that the second accused, Ebilah, who hails from his state, wrote a letter to him to appoint him into one of his boards when he (Ogbulafor) was made minister in 1999.

    He also told the court he commented on the letter and gave it to his Personal Assistant at the time.

    “I was not able to help Ebilah get appointed to one of my boards as he requested.

    “So, when an opening came at the National Economic Intelligence Committee (NEIC) I was able to get him appointed as the Secretary to the committee,’’ Ogbulafor said.

    He also claimed not to have met the third accused (Nwokoro) prior to their meeting in court.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that “a no case submission’’ filed by Ogbulafor was dismissed.

    Ogbulafor, in his no case submission, argued that the prosecution’s evidence was not sufficient to warrant the trial.

    However, Justice Ishaq Bello, in his ruling, held that the prosecution established a prima facie case against the accused to warrant the trial.

  • $14b required to save Lake Chad – Senate

    $14b required to save Lake Chad – Senate

    The Senate on Tuesday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to take steps to raise $14 billion to save the Lake Chad from drying up.

    This followed a motion entitled: “urgent action to save the Lake Chad” sponsored by Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North) and 40 others.

    Though the lawmakers commended the Federal Government for its financial and moral support to the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), they underscored the need to raise the fund to undertake Inter Basin Water Transfer (IBWT) from the Ubangi River.

    The upper chamber also resolved that the National Assembly should continue to provide legislative support to the Federal Government to continue with its leadership role in the LCBC and quest for sustainable resuscitation of the lake, the promotion of peace, stability and security in the region as foundation for durable and sustainable development.

    It urged Jonathan, in consultation with the LCBC summit chairman and other leaders, to champion the donor conference and accordingly constitute a robust team of eminent citizens drawn from the member states to embark on sensitization programme of potential donors.

    It asked Jonathan to provide financial and logistic support to embark on the sensitization programme and to organize the donor conference.

    Lawan in his lead debate noted that Lake Chad is the fourth largest lake in Africa, with a surface area of about 25,000 square km in 1960.

    He recalled that heads of government of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad came together in 1964 and established via Fort Lamy Convention, the LCBC with general objective of harmonizing the activities of member countries for the sustainable management of the basin resources.

    The lake, he said, is a repository of bio-diversity, playing an important socio, economic, political and cultural role to over 30 million people in the four countries sharing border and provides habitat to a variety of wildlife, including migratory birds.

    He noted that due to a combination of natural and human factors, the lake has been drying up over the last 50 years leading to the reduction of the lake surface area from 25,000 square km in 1960 to about 2,500 square km.

     

  • Pastor in court for abducting General Overseer’s daughter

    An Assistant Pastor of a Benin based Pentecostal church identified as Fidelis Ejoke has been remanded in prison custody for allegedly abducting and defiling a 13- year old daughter of the General Overseer of his church.

    Pastor Fidelis, who pleaded not guilty to the two count charge of abduction and indecent assault, was arraigned before an Oredo Magistrate Court sitting in Benin City on Tuesday.

    The offence, according to the charge sheet contravenes Section 360, and 362 of the Criminal Code.

    The victim told the court that Pastor Fidelis started sleeping with her in November 2012 and also took her to Obiaruku in Delta State.

    She said the pastor asked her to bring money from her mother’s safe which was later confirmed to be N145, 000.

    Presiding Magistrate, Peter Edo-Asemota, remanded the accused in prison custody and adjourned the case to June 23.

     

  • Pirates release seized ship crew

    Pirates have released five Polish and Russian crew members they kidnapped from a cargo ship off the coast of Nigeria last month, the vessel’s management company said.

    Piracy is increasing in the West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, an important exporting region for oil, cocoa and metals, and insecurity is driving up shipping costs, Reuters says.

    The hostages were taken when the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged MV City of Xiamen container ship was attacked late on April 25 about 100 miles off Nigeria’s coast.

    “Despite difficult conditions while in captivity, they are in good health. They already returned to their own countries and reunited with their families,” Sunship Schiffahrtskontor KG, the ship’s German operator, said in a statement.

    The firm did not say if a ransom was paid but this has been the case in the past.

    The International Maritime Bureau had said 14 heavily armed pirates attacked the container ship, breaching its citadel – a strong room designed to protect the crew from attack.

    Naval patrols and the presence of armed guards aboard merchant vessels have helped reduce piracy off Somalia on Africa’s eastern coast but international navies are not engaged in counter-piracy missions off Nigeria.

     

  • CJN warns lawyers against frivolous petitions

    CJN warns lawyers against frivolous petitions

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Aloma-Mukthar, has warned legal practitioners against the practice of writing frivolous petitions to challenge unfavourable judgments.

    Mukthar gave the warning on Monday in Lagos while speaking at the opening of a two-day workshop, organised by the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) Action Group on Rule of Law.

    She said that writing unsubstantiated petitions rather than exploring the legal process of appeal was becoming a norm among some lawyers.

    According to the CJN, the practice is becoming an albatross on the justice system.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the theme of the workshop was “The Rule of Law: Bedrock for Sustainable Democracy and Development.

    “I need to point out the negative habit of lawyers and litigants using petitions as an alternative to appeals. This has led to a lot of frivolous petitions before the National Judicial Council.

    “On my assumption of office, I inherited 139 petitions out of which 33 were worthy of defence.

    “Shortly after assumption, 198 fresh petitions were received, out of which 150 were frivolous; 15 are awaiting responses from the judges while only 21 were slated for considerations.

    “We believe those who are aggrieved in whatever way have the right to write petitions for NJC`s action, they must also ensure those petitions are serious enough for consideration,’’ she said.

    The CJN urged legal practitioners to uphold the code of conduct of their profession and advised them to shun acts that could undermine the rule of law.

    She implored them to be vigilant and report any misconduct of judicial officers to the appropriate quarters for disciplinary actions.

     

  • WCQ: Kenya FA needs $120,000 for Nigeria tie

    WCQ: Kenya FA needs $120,000 for Nigeria tie

    The Kenya Football Federation (KFF) said it needs $120,000 to prepare the Harambee Stars for the 2014 World Cup qualifier on June 5 against African champions Nigeria.

    KFF president Sam Nyamweya told MTNFootball.com that they are struggling financially and are calling upon all stakeholders for help.

    Nyamweya said according to their breakdown, the body needs $2,400,000 for the country’s World Cup dream to become a reality. “Most of this money will go in preparing the team and also having top friendly games,” Nyamweya explained.

    The KFF President said they are optimistic many private companies will come in to help because this campaign means a lot to Kenya.

    “We are sending the team to the 2013 COSAFA tournament in Zambia, hosting Ghana in a friendly game on June 1 and also hosting the CESAFA Senior Challenge Cup later this year and all this needs money,” Nyamweya said.

    The money is also expected to cover travel and camping logistics, including players and officials allowances plus accommodation for visiting teams.

    The Kenyans are currently bottom of Group F in the World Cup qualifier on two points behind third placed Namibia on three points while Malawi and Nigeria are tied on five points in second and first respectively.

    But victory against Nigeria next month could place Kenya back in contention for a place in the next round of the qualifiers.

     

  • Angelina Jolie has double mastectomy

    Angelina Jolie has double mastectomy

    Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie has undergone a double mastectomy to reduce her chances of getting breast cancer.

    The 37-year-old mother of six has explained her reasons for having the surgery in the New York Times.

    She said her doctors estimated she had an 87 per cent risk of breast cancer and a 50 per cent risk of ovarian cancer. “I decided to be proactive and to minimise the risk as much I could,” she wrote.

    She said the process began in February and was completed by the end of April.

    BBC reports that in an article entitled “My Medical Choice,” Ms Jolie explained that her mother fought cancer for nearly a decade and died at the age of 56.

    She said she had sought to reassure her children that the same illness would not take her away from them, “but the truth is I carry a ‘faulty’ gene, BRCA1, which sharply increases my risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.”

    She said that once she “knew that this was my reality”, she had taken the decision to undergo the nine weeks of complex surgery required to have a double mastectomy.

    Her chances of developing breast cancer have now dropped from 87 per cent to under five per cent, she said.