The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Trial of Mali-based suspected terrorist stalled

    The absence of Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court on Wednesday in Abuja stalled the trial of Mukhtar Ibrahim, an alleged Mali-based Boko Haram member.

    The News Agency of Nigeria learnt from court officials that the judge had travelled out of Abuja on an official duty.

    However, another court official told those who came for the case that the matter had been adjourned till June 10 for more prosecution witnesses to be invited to give evidence.

    Kolawole had earlier fixed May 8 and May 9 for the prosecution to bring in three of its star witnesses to give evidence.

    NAN recalls that a witness, Mr. Isaac Yahaya, of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), had said the accused person was arrested at the Mali-Niger Republic border on December 2, 2011.

    He said that Ibrahim was later handed over to the Nigerian authorities in Konne-Illela, Sokoto State, on December 7, 2011.

    NAN also recalls that the 23-year-old accused person is standing trial on terrorism charges.

    The prosecution had submitted that the accused person was an active member of the Boko Haram sect.

    It had further alleged that Ibrahim specialised in training other Boko Haram members in places outside the country.

    According to the prosecution, Ibrahim who operates between Nigeria and Niger Republic also deals in the importation of explosive materials and other related arms.

    NAN reports that the accused person is liable to a life sentence if found guilty as charged.

     

  • FG installs 906 CCTV cameras in Lagos

    FG installs 906 CCTV cameras in Lagos

    The Federal Government has installed no fewer than 906 Close Circuit TV cameras in strategic parts of Lagos State to enhance security surveillance, the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Adebiyi Mabadeje, said on Wednesday.

    Mabadeje announced this at a news conference in Ikeja organised to mark Governor Babatunde Fashola’s sixth year in office.

    He said the cameras were deployed from the 1,000 earmarked for the state, saying the devices were already assisting security agencies to track the activities of criminals.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deployment of CCTV cameras nationwide to enhance surveillance, is a core component of the FG`s National Public Security Communication System Programme.

    “Yes the project is on and it is real. 906 of the 1,000 cameras earmarked for the state have already been delivered and they have already being installed at secret locations across the metropolis.

    “Though they have not been officially commissioned, they are already being put into use by the security agencies to track the activities of criminals,’’ he said.

    The commissioner noted that the installed cameras were sophisticated devices as they had the capacity to generate video, voice and data simultaneously, to ensure effective surveillance.

    He denied the report that the installation of the equipment had initially caused a rift between the state and the Federal Government.

    According to him, the parties actually had an understanding on the deployment of the devices.

     

  • Entitlement: Army ordered to obey court judgment

    The National Industrial Court on Wednesday ordered the Nigerian Army to obey the Court of Appeal’s judgment and pay the entitlement of its retired officer, Lt. Col. Michael Erhabor.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Presiding Judge, Justice Maureen Esowe, gave the order in Abuja while delivering judgment in a case of non-payment of entitlements filed by Erhabor.

    Erhabor, who joined the Nigerian Army in 1970, told the court that he was dismissed in November 1983 after he was court marshalled by his superior officers.

    He said that he challenged the dismissal at the Lagos High Court until 1985 when the case was finally determined in his favour at the Court of Appeal.

    Erhabor explained that the appellate court declared his dismissal illegal and ordered the Army to reinstate him, but the defendant did not obey.

    He added that instead of being reinstated, the defendant served him a letter of compulsory retirement in March 2001 and refused to pay him his entitlements.

    The claimant prayed the court to declare that the refusal of the defendant to pay him all his entitlements and emolument was illegal, null and void.

    Erhabor also prayed the court to order the army to pay him his entitlements and emolument from November 1983 when he was dismissed to July 2001 when he was retired.

    When the matter came up for mention in March 2012, the defendant raised an objection, challenging the jurisdiction of the court over the case.

    The presiding judge dismissed the preliminary objection on the ground that the Public Officers Protection Act could not apply to cases that have continuous injury.

    In arguing the case, counsel to the claimant, Miss. Benedicta Obanye, urged the court to grant all the relieves of the claimant, explaining that the defendant could not defend the case.

    “Where the evidence of the claimant was neither challenged nor contradicted by the defendant, it therefore means that the defendant had admitted the claims,” she argued.

  • FG approves domestication of maritime convention

    The Federal Government has approved the domestication of the 2006 Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).

    The convention is expected to come into force by August 1, 2013.

    Already, 39 states representing 68 per cent of global shipping in Geneva, Switzerland have ratified the convention more than half a decade ago.

    The approval was part of the decisions reached at Wednesday’s weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

    Sambo presided over the meeting in the absence of President Goodluck Jonathan who is away in South Africa on official visit.

    The MLC is an ancillary of the International Labour Organization (ILO) convention established as the fourth pillar of the international maritime law.

    It incorporates various extant International Maritime Labour Conventions and Recommendations, as well as the fundamental principles to be found in other international Labour Conventions.

    The code of the convention contains five titles: minimum requirements for seafarers to work on a ship, conditions of employment, accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering, health protection, medical care, welfare and social security protection as well as compliance and enforcement.

     

     

  • Africa requires $100b to fix infrastructure – Jonathan

    Africa requires $100b to fix infrastructure – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan has said for Africa to effectively tackle the various challenges bedeviling the continent, it must build the necessary infrastructure across transport, communication and energy sectors.

    Already, it is estimated that the continent requires about $ 100 billion annually for the next decade.

    Jonathan, who spoke on Wednesday at the Infrastructure Summit of the World Economic Forum in South Africa, described infrastructure as a major challenge facing the African continent.

    Consequently, Jonathan said the situation has led to structural and high level of unemployment.

    Besides, he said poor infrastructure serves as additional burden and cost to businesses, thereby making it difficult for them to compete.

    The president said, “In the last decade, Africa has come a long way from being mainly associated with economic stagnation, high inflation, high external debts, and civil strife. Today, the situation has changed due to significant macroeconomic, structural, and political reforms. Economic growth on the continent averaged five per cent annually in the last 10 years.

    ” However, despite this recent economic growth success story of the continent, infrastructure deficit on the continent across transport, energy, and communication remain binding constraints to further growth acceleration, our ability to compete, and the reduction in poverty.

    “Inadequate and poor infrastructure in Africa remains a major constraint to the continent’s realisation of its full economic potential. Due to the relatively poor infrastructure and low connectivity on the continent, we have the lowest level of inter-regional trade. While we account for about 12 per cent of the world’s population, our share of global trade is just about two per cent. This is also a reflection of the fact that our economies are less diversified compared to other global regions.

    “Most importantly, poor infrastructure serves as additional burden and cost to our businesses, making it difficult for them to compete, and accompanied by structural and high level of unemployment. To effectively tackle these challenges, diversify our economies, reduce poverty and provide employment opportunities for our bulging youth population, we must build necessary infrastructure in Africa across transport, communication and energy sectors.”

    “Over the course of this past decade, African stakeholders have recognised the need to plug the gaps in infrastructure on the continent. From studies and reports on the subject, it is estimated that Africa requires about 100 billion United States dollars annually for the next decade, whereas only a quarter is being spent today.”

  • 2011 poll gulped N122.9b – INEC

    2011 poll gulped N122.9b – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday said it spent N122.9 billion on the general elections in 2011.

    It also said that it saved the nation about N9 billion from the N131.4 billion appropriated for the poll.

    It, however, claimed that it has no plan to conduct a fresh voters’ registration exercise.

    INEC, which made the clarifications in a document made available by its Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to be issued to Nigerians would last 10 years.

    The commission said after 10 years, the National Identity Card will now be used by eligible voters.

    It said that it had decided to sell-off 78, 000 units of the laptop component of DDC machines since it would no longer conduct voters’ registration.

    The document was released against the backdrop of insinuations that about N566.2 billion was spent on the elections.

    The document said: “However, contrary to lingering speculations, the actual cost of the 2011 elections, including all costs involved in the voters’ registration exercise, was N66.3 billion for Recurrent Expenditure and N56.6 billion for Capital Expenditure – making a total of N122.9 billion or, if you like, $800.6 million at an exchange rate of N153.5 to $1 which prevailed at the time.

    “This represented a savings of some N9 billion on a total of N131.4 billion that was appropriated, and a far cry from N566.2 billion speculated.

    The commission also clarified why the Federal Executive Council approved N2.1 billion budget for INEC to produce 33.5 million Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

    The document added: “The approved fund is for the second batch of PVCs being produced for the 73.5million eligible voters registered by the commission during the exercise conducted in January-February 2011.

    “The government had last year (2012) approved N2.6 billion for production of the first batch of 40 million cards, while the latest approval is for the second phase of the same project.

    “The PVCs will replace the old-laminated Temporary Voter Cards that were issued during the registration exercise in 2011.

    “Experience has shown that these temporary cards are not only fragile, but also susceptible to abuse by unscrupulous persons, who were in the past reported to have illicitly massed up the cards and put them in the hands of cronies to use in manipulating elections.

    “Procedures put in place by INEC since the 2011 General Election had considerably lessened the susceptibility of these cards to such abuse. But the PVCs the commission will in due course issue to registered voters are far much more fraud-proof. They are chip-based, with the chip on each card containing all the biometric data of a legitimate holder.”

     

  • Ekiti new deputy governor sworn in

    Ekiti new deputy governor sworn in

    The new Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, was on Wednesday sworn -in following her confirmation by the State House of Assembly earlier on Tuesday.

    A statement released by Governor Kayode Fayemi’s media aide, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, said the 63-year old professor of Education was sworn in by the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, at a colourful event held at the Lady Jibowu Hall, Government House, Ado- Ekiti.

    Speaking at the ceremony which was well attended by dignitaries from different parts of the country, Dr. Fayemi said the appointment of Prof. Adelabu was received with “overwhelming approval” from the people of the state because she is “a round peg in a round hole.”

    The governor, who expressed confidence that the new deputy governor would perform well, urged her to  to endear herself to the hearts of the people as she steps into the large shoe left behind by her predecessor, late Mrs. Funmi Olayinka.

    In her acceptance speech, the new deputy governor praised the late Olayinka; saying that she really served the people tirelessly and would continue to be remembered for her selfless service to the people of Ekiti State.

    She promised to continue with the good works started by the former deputy governor and see them to completion.

     

  • RCCG lost over 46 branches to crises in north – Adeboye

    RCCG lost over 46 branches to crises in north – Adeboye

    The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Wednesday said the church lost over 46 branches to crises in the northern part of the country, especially during the 2011 post-elections violence.

    Adeboye spoke in Jos, Plateau, while inaugurating the headquarters of Maranatha Covenant Churches International and the consecration of the senior pastor of the church, Bishop Jonas Katung.

    He is currently on a pastoral visit to RCCG branches in the state.

    He said Christians in the northern part of the country are under fire especially the clergy and advised them to be closer to God at all times.

    While taking his Bible Reading from the Book of Romans chapter 8 verse 31, the RCCG general overseer charged Christians to depend on God as their saviour.

    He called on all Christian faithful to seek the face of God first in all they do as God has always kept his covenant with those that seek Him.

     

  • Jonathan nominates Nnamani, Okiro for board appointments

    Jonathan nominates Nnamani, Okiro for board appointments

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday forwarded the names of the former Senate President, Ken Nnamani and ex-Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro for board appointments.

    Jonathan also nominated Hon. Justice K.M.O. Kekere-Ekun for confirmation as a Justice of the Supreme Court.

    While Senator Nnamani was to be confirmed to chair the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Okiro is to chair the Police Service Commission.

    Jonathan also listed Barrister Aminu Dikko from Kaduna in the North West Zone as the Director -General of the ICRC.

    Other proposed members of the ICRC are – Mrs. Comfort Saro Wiwa from Rivers State (South South), Engr. Janet Febisola Adeyemi (Ondo-South West), Mrs. Yabawa Wabi (Bornu-North East), Hon. Musa Elayo (Nasarawa-North Central) and Barr. A.U. Kanu (Abia-South East).

    Members of the Police Service Commission are – the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Yakubu Mohammed (rtd) (North West), Hon. Justice Olufunke Adekeye, JSC (rtd), Osun, Aisha Larai Tukur (Taraba), Mrs. Comfort Obi (Imo), Chief Torngee Gem Toranyiin (Benue) and Dr. Otive Ogbuzor (Delta).

    Jonathan also wrote to withdraw the nomination of Mr. Adesoji Olaoba Efuntayo as the Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Efuntayo was replaced with Mr. Emmanuel Adegboyega Aremo (South West).

    The President also urged the Senate to confirm the nomination of Mr. Adulphus Joe Ekpe as the Director General of the National Lottery Commission.

     

  • Navy impounds vessel with ‘stolen’ crude oil

    A vessel suspected to be carrying stolen crude oil of about 1,300 metric tones has been impounded by the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Bonny, Rivers State.
    The Navy was on patrol with the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder when it intercepted the vessel.
    The Commander of the FOB, Captain Chukwuemeka Okafor, who spoke to reporters on Wednesday, on the incident, said the impounded vessel, “Empty V-Land with 10 crew members was intercepted on the high sea of Bonny in Rivers State while on its routine patrol.”
    Okafor said that on preliminary investigation, it was gathered that the product in the vessel was crude and that it would be handed over to the appropriate authority for further investigation and possible prosecution as required by law.
    “What you are seeing is a vessel that was arrested on Friday May 3, 2013. It was arrested by Nigerian Navy Ship Burutu while on patrol around Bonny Farewell Boy. The Navy personnel intercepted the vessel and then accosted it. Those on board the vessel could not give any explanation as to the product it was carrying and so we had to bring it down here and then handed it over to FOB Bonny,” the naval officer explained.