The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Man defiles his 12 years old daughter in Ogun

    By Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

    A driver, Solomon Ogundetu, has been arrested by the Police in Ogun State for defiling his 12 years old daughter.

    Ogundetu, 30, who has been separated from his wife, was said to have been having routine sexual intercourse with the only daughter from the union since last year.

    The child, a primary school pupil who could no longer bear her father’s sexual exploits, reported it to her teacher who in turn, confided in a community leader, Alhaji Obamuyiwa Semiu.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who made this known in a release, stated that Alhaji Semiu subsequently reported the alleged crime to the Imeko Divisional Police headquarters.

    “The victim, a primary school pupil confided in one of her teachers that her father has been having carnal knowledge of her since last year with threat to kill her if she dare tell anybody. But when she can no longer bear it, she has to inform her teacher who in-turn informed the Alhaji.

    Read Also: Man arrested for ‘defiling’ nine-year-old in Imo

    “The DPO Imeko Division, Monday Unuigbe detailed his detectives to the suspect’s house where he was promptly arrested. The suspect who is a driver confessed to the commission of the crime when interrogated.

    “Investigation revealed that he has separated from the mother of the girl for years now and the girl is the only product of the union. The victim has been taken to general hospital for medical care and report,” he stated.

    According to Abimbola, the suspect would be transferred to the Anti -Human Trafficking and Child Labour unit of the State criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation and prosecution.

  • NAF wings first female fighter pilot, 12 others

    By Okodili Ndidi, Abuja

    The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday winged the first female fighter pilot, Flying Officer Kafayat Sanni and twelve others in a colourful ceremony at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja.

    Also decorated at the event was the first female Air Warrant Officer (AWO), Grace Garuba.

    The winging serves as the formal induction of the officers as Pilots into the Nigerian Air Force.

    The NAF Chief of Training and Operations, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao said: “These new pilots would no doubt boost the pilot manning needs of the Service as their deployment to the various NAF platforms would enhance the fulfillment of the constitutional roles of the Nigerian Air Force especially in the ongoing operations in the North East and North West”.

    He continued: “The 13 pilots to be winged today comprise 12 helicopter and one fixed wing Pilots. The first ever female fighter Pilot in the Nigerian Air Force was trained at the United States Air Force under the prestigious Aviation Leadership Programme from 31 Jan 18 to 16 Aug 19.

    “Similarly, the officers that attended Westline Aviation Limited, South Africa commenced their flying training on 20 Aug 18 and completed the course on 10 Sep 19, while, flying training for the Nigerian Air Force Student Pilots at Starlite International Training Academy in South Africa was conducted from 9 Aug 18 to 12 Oct 19.

    “Notwithstanding this achievement, the Nigerian Air Force will continue to collaborate with allied countries to train personnel to meet her operational needs.

    “As we speak, there are 12 student pilots undergoing training in the United States of America comprising; two at the United States Air Force for the Undergraduate Pilot Training and 10 student pilots at Civic Helicopters undergoing Basic Helicopter training while two student pilots are currently undergoing basic flying training at the Indian Air Force.

    “Also, four student pilots are being processed for Combat helicopter pilots training at the United States Army Aviation, Fort Rucker.

    “Furthermore, 10 student pilots have been processed for Military-Style Rotary Wing Pilot Training at Cobham Aviation Services in the United Kingdom. Most of the trainings are tailored towards ensuring that the pilots on graduation are mission ready”.

    He disclosed that a total number of 22,841 personnel have been trained in different specialties home and abroad in the last four years.

    Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, described the two female pilots Flying Officers Kafayat Sanni and Tolulope Arotile as outstanding aviators.

    Read Also: Air Force to deploy technology for Nigeria’s security, says NAF chief

    He said the NAF was winging the first female fighter pilot since its formation 55 years ago.

    According to him: “It is common knowledge that of all resources available to a leader or manager, the human resource is the most important.

    “This is because the human resource drives all other resources pursuant to the attainment of organisational objectives. It is predicated on this consideration that the NAF spares nothing at developing its human resource capital.

    “I am convinced that the pilots being winged today will put in their best and contribute their quota towards consolidating the success attained in eliminating current security challenges in the North East and North West as well as communal clashes, kidnapping and armed banditry”.

  • Robbery attacks forcing our youths to join cultism

    By Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

    Isiagu community in Awka South local Government of Anambra State has raised the alarm over incessant robbery invasion and attacks in the community.

    They said the ugly trend has led to increase in number of youths involvement in cult activities in order to combat the crime rate.

    Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, some elders in the area alleged that the robbers were being sponsored by prominent men in the community in the name of leadership tussle.

    In their separate speeches, Messers Ifeatu Ezeugo, Nnebedum Samuel and Ifeanyi Okeke called on law enforcement agencies, State and Federal Governments to come to their rescue to save them from untold torment and agony of sleepless nights occasioned by incessant criminal activities.

    According to them, some of the robbery cases include invasion, vandalization of transformers, stealing of lister plant in a secondary school in the area and breaking of locked houses and shops by the robbers on gun point.

    Ezeugo said, “The ugly trend which has continued unabated in the community have forced some of our children to join cultism so as to defend the robbery.

    Read Also: Four feared dead in Rivers cult clash

    “The people robbing the community are mainly from here but are being sponsored by prominent men in Isiagu in the name of leadership tussle.

    “Isiagu community has being in this menace for over six years now. No development, our children in diaspora no longer comes home due to fear of being attacked by cultists or armed robbers.”

    Okeke said many locked shops were burgled by the suspected robbers in possession of sophisticated weapons which they easily broke padlock gates of buildings and shops.

    “The recent incident took place in Ebe Isiagu involving stealing of 16-pillar rods of building materials with its base and snatching of phones and other personal belongings by the hoodlums,” he said.

    The Nation gathered that the invasion of houses where cash and other valuable items carted away huge in a daylight robbery have sent jitters to residents of the area.

  • Suspected herdsmen amputate Benue farmer’s hand

    By Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

    Suspected armed herdsmen have amputated the hand of Mrs. Grace Zeku during her attack in her farm.

    The attack took place at Gboogyo village, Guma local government area, which is a border community with Nasarawa state last Friday.

    Zeku said the herdsmen ordered her to place her hand on a log of wood from where they chopped it off.

    Read Also: Six policemen killed in Benue, Kano by herdmen

    She stated they took off the chopped hand and ran off after telling them to go home.

    Mrs. Zeku, who also sustained machete cuts on the head, is receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre Apir, Makurdi, Benue state.

  • Kogi 2019: Tuface, nine other artistes headline peace concert

    By James, Azania Lokoja

    Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Kogi State, popular Nigerian musician, Innocent (Tuface) Idibia, alongside nine other artistes, Tuesday, staged the “Kogi Peace Concert,” in Lokoja, the capital, in advocacy of a peaceful and violence-free poll.

    The outing attracted an estimated 5,000 crowd, mainly youths from across higher institutions in the state.

    The musician urged youths in the state to conduct themselves in peaceful manner and avoid being used by politicians as agents of violence, during the forthcoming election

    The peace concert under the “Vote Not Fight, Election No Be War” campaign mantra was organised by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in partnership with Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development (PIBCID), USAID, UKAID and the 2Baba Foundation.

    Read Also: Kogi 2019: Only Yahaya Bello can defeat GYB – APC

    The Acting Country Director of NDI, Raymond Esebagbon advised the youths to shun all acts of violence, avoid hate speech and fake news, before, during and after the election.

    The Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kogi, Prof. James Apam who noted that the youths will be actively involved in the election, called on them to do all the right things that will make the electoral process peaceful.

    The Acting Executive Director of PIBCID, Halima Sadiq, urged the youths to promote peaceful and non-violent election, rather than offering themselves as tool for perpetrating violence.

    The Executive Director, Challenged Parenthood Initiative, Eunice Agbogun urged them to avoid acts of violence against women in election, in order to encourage increased women participation in politics.

  • ‘Nigeria imports over $8bn worth of furniture yearly’

    By Juliana Agbo, Abuja

    Nigerian Furniture Makers Tuesday said that the country spends over $8 billion annually on importation of furniture.

    Chairman, Kugbo International Market Traders Association (KIMTA) Abuja, Prince Emeka Egwuekwe, who spoke during a press briefing in Abuja said that the country loses millions daily from wood due to lack of attention.

    Egwuekwe, while noting that furniture making has grown beyond local production, called on government to partner with the association especially in aspect of machineries and infrastructure.

    He also said that with government partnership in furniture, it would generate revenue and create employment for Nigerians.

    He said: “If the government provides machineries and power, we have the skills to produce whatever the country is importing yearly.

    “The association’s wish is to attract developmental projects including getting the support of Federal Capital Territory Administration to have access to good roads, improve security network, provision of water and light.

    He further called for the expansion of the market to accommodate all traders and those under apprenticeship so as to create an enabling environment for all.

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    Egwuekwe who specifically called for financial support from government under the present Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises entrepreneurship programme, added that the association would liaise with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council to see how it can be of assistance in encouraging the export of furniture and woods from the country.

    The Chairman noted that negotiation is ongoing with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to have a nationwide furniture association in order to enhance the market value of their products.

    On other areas, he said the association wish is to attract developmental projects including getting the support of Federal Capital Territory Administration to tar the roads, improving the security network, provision of water and light.

  • Nasarawa govt declares free education for physically challenged

    By Donatus Nadi, Lafia

    Nasarawa state governor, Abdullahi Sule has declared free education for all physically challenged students studying in higher institutions of learning owned by the state government.

    This was disclosed on Tuesday in Akwanga by provost of the state College of Education, Akwanga, Dr. Rebecca Isaac Umaru, when she received a team from the office of the Directorate of Strategic Communication and Press Affairs, Office of the Governor, who were on Disability Advocacy Tour to the institution.

    According to the provost, “school fees of disabled students in tertiary institutions owned by the state government have been declared free by Governor Sule. That was why I was asking you to tender receipts of any fees you (disabled) might have paid to enable management of the institution refund it back in compliance with the governor’s directive.”

    She continued that the institution in its support to the benevolence of the state governor had declared that all excursion exercises embarked by the disabled students in the institution be free.

    Dr. Umaru however appealed to the state government to assist the college with 11 permanent staff that will be scheduled for taking care of the disabled students in the institution.

    Read Also: About 10m Almajiris are beggars, not religious scholars – Gov Sule

    This was even as she assured the disabled students of the college of institution’s management efforts at providing them with enough accommodation, mobility and writing materials to ease the difficulties been faced by them in the campus.

    Also speaking, the leader of the disability advocacy tour and Personal Assistant to Governor Sule on disabilities/social media, Hamza Mammam Awe, assured the disabled students of the governor’s attention to their plights.

    He said: “I want to assure you that the Sule’s administration is giving us a sense of belonging, hence our reason to embark on this advocacy visit to all tertiary institutions in the state, to meet and rub minds with you in order to lessen the hardship you face during your studies.”

  • Delta sacks Agbor Central Medical director

    By Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

    Delta State Government has relieved the Zonal Medical Director, Agbor Central Hospital, Dr Philemon Okolie, of his appointment.

    A new head, Dr Roy Maduka, has been appointed.

    Delta Health Commissioner, Dr Ononye Mordi, made this known on Tuesday in Asaba, the State Capital.

    Okolie’s sack may not be unconnected with practice pay for services despite the fact that such services are subsidised by state government.

    Ononye warned that the days of impunity were over, stressing that any hospital head found wanting will be shown the way out.

    Read Also: ‘Integrate mental health into all levels of healthcare service’

    He condemned the situation where patients are made to pay for subsidised services.

    According to him, Govenor Ifeanyi Okowa has promised Deltans affordable and accessible medicare, adding that it is being implemented through contributory healthcare scheme, revamping of primary healthcare centres and provision of medical equipment.

    He urged zonal medical directors to manage their hospitals efficiently by ploughing back internally generated revenue to address gaps they can deal with.

  • PenCom’s priority is to pay retirees their benefits

    By Moses Emorinken, Abuja

    The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has reiterated that its priority is the payment of retirement benefits as and when due, and would not be distracted by the upsurge of clamour for deployment of pension funds to support several new initiatives in both the public and private sectors.

    The Acting Director-General of the PenCom, Aisha Dahir-Umar, who made this known Tuesday in Abuja, at the capacity development conference for Directors of Pension Fund Operators, said that such requests for ‘clearance’ of several business proposals to enable Pension Fund Administrators finance the initiatives with pension fund, is at best a derailment from the main objectives of the pension reform.

    According to her, “It is no longer news that the pension industry in Nigeria is leading the initiative for the attainment of one of our critical national imperative for socio-economic development, which is the formation of long term domestic capital.

    “The industry has accumulated assets worth over N9.4 trillion as at August 2019. These pension assets are overwhelmingly invested in the national economy, with positive impact in all major sectors and a significant contribution to the GDP.

    “What is news, however, is the recent upsurge of clamour for deployment of pension funds to support several new initiatives in both the public and private sectors. Often times, such clamours are inappropriately pursued by its proponents. For instance, our enabling law, the Pension Reform Act 2014, only empowers the regulator to issue Regulations on Investment of Pension Funds and Assets to guide the investment activities of the licensed operators.

    “The law does not allow the regulator to ‘approve’ any specific instrument for mandatory investment by operators. Regrettably, the Commission is increasingly being inundated with requests for ‘clearance’ of several business proposals to enable Pension Fund Administrators finance the initiatives with pension fund.

    “While these developments may be indicative of the high level of acceptability and robustness of the Pension Reform, they also call for increased vigilance by both the regulator and operators against derailment from the main objectives of the Reform, which is the payment of retirement benefits as and when due”.

    She further added: “The pension industry players have a joint responsibility, not only to consolidate on the successes of the reform recorded this far, but also to build a sustainable pension industry that can effectively deliver on its primary social mandate of retirement benefits payment”.

    Read Also: N3.4 billion pension funds ‘unremitted’

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, Senator Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, in his address also said: “The Directors conference is a platform to promote excellence in corporate governance and exhibit the resolve of the national pension industry towards sustaining the aims of the pension reform in Nigeria.

    “The theme demonstrates the resolve of the pension industry to not only guarantee the safety of the pension assets but also to ensure that the pension contributions are invested responsibly to provide long-term financing needed to estimate growth and development as a global best practice.

    “The National Assembly will continue to support the reforms in the pension sector by ensuring the timely consideration of all actions aimed at strengthening the pension legislation for the ultimate benefit of Nigerian citizens.

    “We shall ensure that adequate budgetary provisions are made to ensure the timely payment of retirement benefits of workers in the federal public sector.”

    Chairman, House Committee on pensions, Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, also commended the efforts of the PenCom to secure pension funds and the continued sustenance of the appreciating level of pension asset.

  • Agba Jalingo’s trial resumes Wednesday

    By Nsa Gill, Calabar

    The trial of journalist and civil right activist, Agba Jalingo, who was charged with treasonable felony, terrorism and attempt to topple the Cross River State government, is expected to resume Wednesday

    Mr. Jalingo was arrested in his Lagos residence on August 22, 2019 and was driven to Calabar by road where he was detained by the police command in Cross River State.

    Reports of his ill health had sparked outrage and he was eventually arraigned at the Federal High Court 2 in Calabar after 34 days in custody on September 25, 2019 for the pretrial hearing of his bail application.

    The presiding Judge, Justice Simon Amobeda after two more Court dates on September 26th and October 2nd, rejected the motion to admit him to bail on October 4, 2019.

    In his ruling, Justice Amobeda had said that Jalingo’s lawyers had failed to provide sufficient evidence about his failing health.

    He was moved from police detention and remanded in Prison custody where he has been since September 25th.

    Justice Amobeda had in his ruling, dismissed the preliminary objection filed by the prosecution to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to hear Mr. Jalingo’s bail application and ordered accelerated hearing for October 16th and 17th.

    Mixed reactions have continued to greet Mr. Jalingo’s arrest and incarceration with many pressure groups accusing the Cross River State government for his travails, an allegation, the State has continued to deny.

    He had in an article published in July questioned the whereabouts of the 500 million Naira approved and released for the floating off the Cross River Microfinance Bank.

    The Police command in Cross River State had in a letter dated August 14, 2019 titled; “Conspiracy To Cause Breach Of Public Peace” and signed by Mrs. Tami Peterside, a Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department invited Jalingo to report to her on August 19, 2019 at 2:00PM for an interview.

    The letter was delivered by the Investigating Police Officer, Mr. Benjamin Ajala, a Deputy Superintendent of Police.

    The Nigeria Union of Journalists in Cross River State has reportedly not risen to align with the mounting pressure that what Agba Jalingo is passing through is suppression of media practitioners and journalism practice in the state.

    The National leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ in a letter dated September 26th, 2019 with reference number NUJ/NS/10/P/1/VOL .1 wrote directly to Governor Ben Ayade with the heading, “Drop charges against Agba Jalingo”.

    The letter signed by the national secretary of NUJ Comrade Shu’aibu Usman Leman read in parts; “Agba Jalingo who is the publisher of Cross River Watch is facing charges of treasonable felony, terrorism and attempt to topple the Cross River State government. These allegations are not only incongruous but portray Nigeria in bad light before the international community.”

    Read Also: Dalung condoles Cross River State Govt.

    “Sir, while we agree with the desire for responsible journalism, yet we disagree with the way and manner your government reacted to the said publication by Agba Jalingo….We are worried that a harmless publication will attract such harsh action”.

    “We are afraid that this new security situation increases risks of Journalists’ safety at work. It also means that journalists, their organizations and employers are at risk of being muzzled and restricted. It is instructive to note that Journalism is not a Crime”.

    Governor Ayade in a veil reference to Agba Jalingo before his arrest; while delivering his address at the opening of the Green Carnival event on the 30th of July, 2019 said, “In Cross River, a man who is begging and does not get what he wants becomes a journalist and starts blackmailing the State. That is not journalism. Unfortunately, the period of blackmail is over. The period of writing nonsense and earning a living is over. Because no matter what you write, you don’t change the truth.”

    But, the Spokesman to Governor Ayade, Mr, Christian Ita maintains that Jalingo’s arrest was in connection with his participation in the #RevolutionNow demonstrations and argues that people point fingers at his principal because it is the easiest thing to do.