The Nation Newspaper

Category: News Update

  • Nigerian gets U.S court appointment

    Nigerian gets U.S court appointment

    A Nigerian woman, Bunmi Awoniyi, has been appointed to the Sacramento County Superior Court in California, United States, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    According to local media reports monitored on Sunday by the North America Correspondent of NAN, Awoniyi, 48, and Steven Gevercer’s appointments were announced by Governor Edmund Brown Jr. of California.

    Awoniyi has served as a principal attorney with a family law firm since 1994 as well as an adjunct professor at the University of Northern California, Lorenzo Patino School of Law from 1997 to 1998.

    She is an associate attorney at the Law Office of Steven L. Wessels from 1993 to 1994 and an associate attorney at the Law Office of Brady and Kent from 1992 to 1993.

    Also, Awoniyi was a law clerk at the Law Office of D. Kapp Nees in 1991 and a crown prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service in London from 1989 to 1990.

    She earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the Inns of Court School of Law, a Masters of Law degree from the Leicester University School of Law, and a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Essex.

    Awoniyi is a certified family law specialist. She fills the vacancy created by the conversion of a court commissioner position on December 3, 2011.

    “I could not be more delighted or excited. It has been a whirlwind 24 hours the fruit of a yearlong arduous interview and screening process and an application that took me the better part of a year to complete.

    “Through all of the many lost hours on the weekends and evenings devoted to this process, to see it come to manifestation is truly marvelous.

    “ I am humbled and God is so good! It is a new season,’’ Awoniyi a Democrat said on her appointment.

     

  • Singapore deports Chinese bus drivers after protest

    Singapore has deported 29 Chinese bus drivers and criminally charged five others for staging the country’s first strike in 26 years.

    Last week, 171 drivers recruited from China participated in a walkout over pay and living conditions, BBC reports.

    The incident has thrown scrutiny on the city-state’s policies on foreign, low-skilled labour.

    Beijing has said it is concerned about the arrest of its nationals.

    On Monday, one of the men will face criminal charges under laws that prohibit against workers from initiating, continuing or participating in illegal strikes. Four men were charged last week.

    Strikes are illegal in Singapore for workers in essential services, unless the employer is given 14 days notice.

    Authorities said in a statement on Saturday that the work permits of 29 other drivers would be revoked, followed by their deportation. None of the men were identified.

    No more charges or deportations are expected, the statement said.

    The strike, which involved drivers for state-controlled SMRT, was the first major labour action in the city state since 1986.

     

     

  • FUTO graduate emerges CAMPUSLIFE 2012 Reporter-of-the-year

    FUTO graduate emerges CAMPUSLIFE 2012 Reporter-of-the-year

    A corps member, Gerald Nwokocha, has emerged  the 2012 Reporter-of-the-Year in the 4th CAMPUSLIFE writers awards sponsored by  Coca –Cola/Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC).

    The event, held on Friday, November 31 in Lagos attracted the who-is-who in the academic and media profession.

    Nwokocha’s entry on the killing of a Batch C Corps member, Stephen Enyinnaya Nwosu, titled: “Outrage over the death of Corps member mistaken for Boko Haram member”, was commended for its depth and accuracy.

    Nwokocha, a corps member in Abuja, is a graduate of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, also won the Best Political Reporter of the year.

    An elated Nwokocha dedicated his award to the late founding editor of the CAMPUSLIFE, Mrs Ngozi Agbo, whom, according to him commended his works before her death.

    Other winners at the award were: Ngozi Emmanuel and Emeka Attah, joint winners of the Culture category; Uche Anichebe, Investigative Reporting category; Habeeb Whyte, Personality Profile Category; Gilbert Alasa, Commentary and Opinion Writing category; Chisom Ojukwu, Sports Category; and Esther Mark, Entertainment category.

  • Newcastle manager regrets Ameobi’s injury

    Newcastle manager regrets Ameobi’s injury

    Newcastle boss, Alan Pardew has said he would have wished for the return of Shola Ameobi for Monday’s clash against Wigan.

    Nigeria international striker Ameobi has been out of action for more than a week due to groin injury.

    Pardew said he expects some of his injured players back for the Wigan home game but was unsure about Ameobi, Gabby Obertan and Ben Arfa.

    “One or two are due back. But I don’t know if they will make the next game, it is a bit tight.

    “We can take plenty of heart into the game. I feel sorry for the players. In fact all three should be fit for our game at Craven Cottage, where we will try to get the win against Fulham,” MTNFootball.com quoted the Newcastle manager as saying on Sunday.

    All three though are close to full recovery, while Shola’s younger brother, Sammy, is in line to replace Shane Ferguson on the left wing.

     

  • Delta closes flood victims’ camp

    Delta closes flood victims’ camp

    The Delta State Government has closed all camps opened to cater for the recent flood-ravaged victims in the state, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Tony Nwaka, has said.

    Nwaka told the News Agency of Nigeria in Asaba that the closure which started on October 30 was concluded on Friday, with the ones at Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri South West.

    NAN recalls that 22 camps were set up by the state government for the internally displaced persons in the 14 Local Government Areas affected by flooding.

    The government had announced the provision of N174 million as allowance, comprising N5, 000 to every adult and N3, 000 to every child, willing to leave the camp.

    The measure was informed by the fact the many of the victims had started leaving to participate in the farming season.

    “The remaining camp, out of the two in Ogbe-Ijoh, was closed on Friday, and that was the last camp to be closed in the state. With that, we have officially closed all camps of all persons displaced by flood in the state”, Nwaka said.

    He, however, said that relief materials donated for the victims would soon be distributed to them.

     

  • Protest delays Egypt court’s ruling

    Protest delays Egypt court’s ruling

    Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court has said it is halting all work indefinitely in protest at the “psychological pressure” it has faced.

    BBC says Islamist protesters earlier prevented the judges from meeting in Cairo to rule on a draft constitution.

    The supporters of the president wanted to block any ruling that would question the document’s legality.

    President Mohammed Morsi has said a referendum on the constitution will be held on December 15.

    His opponents say the draft constitution undermines basic freedoms.

    Sunday’s developments are the latest in an unfolding confrontation between Mr. Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood supporters on one side, and his mainly secular political opponents and the judiciary on the other.

    Mr. Morsi adopted sweeping new powers in a decree on November 22 that stripped the judiciary of any power to challenge his decisions, so it is unclear what effect any Supreme Constitutional Court ruling would have.

    However, analysts say any ruling opposing his decisions would be a direct challenge and would bolster the opposition campaign to have his decree annulled.

    The court issued a statement after demonstrations outside the building prevented judges from getting inside.

     

  • N’Assembly to provide special funds for military barracks

    N’Assembly to provide special funds for military barracks

    The National Assembly would appropriate special funds in the 2013 budget to enable the Federal Government address the nation’s current security challenges,

    The Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Defence, Alhaji Bashir Adamu, said funds would also be provided in the interim to tackle the immediate challenges facing military barracks across the country.

    Adamu made the disclosure, shortly after he led members of the committee on sympathy visit to Jaji Military Cantonment in Kaduna State.

    “We are here to register our condolences to families of victims and commiserate with them over their losses and wish the injured persons quick recovery.

    “The committee will consider a special package in the interim to address the current situation in the Jaji cantonment and other military accommodations with similar situations.

    “This will be done in the interim while we consider making adequate vote for funds to address the general situation and secure military barracks across the country,“ he said.

    Adamu added that the committee had identified some of the challenges of the cantonment and pledged that adequate funds would be provided in the 2013 budget to address them on short and long term basis.

    The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that 15 persons were killed and 30 others injured, when bombs recently exploded at the cantonment.

    NAN reports that the Senate Committee on Defence and Army during a similar visit, advised the state government to relocate the more than 3,000 civilians living in six settlements within the barrack, in order to secure it.

     

  • Nigerian Legion canvasses support for widows

    The National Chairman of Nigerian Legion, Col. Micah Gaya (rtd), has called on Nigerians to support the widows and their children by employing them in their various capacities.

    Gaya made the plea on Saturday at the Nigerian Legion’s Humanitarian Day in Abuja.

    He said the challenge which the legion faced was the inability to source for fund to meet up with the widow’s demands.

    “As required by our constitution, we help and support widows of our fallen heroes from time to time and also pay hardship allowances to our aged colleagues.

    “What we are doing today is only symbolic of the more we will do to the widows since it is not possible to assemble all of them from all the local councils in the FCT,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that as part of its humanitarian functions, the legion distributed gifts to 12 widows to show them love and care.

    The Minister of State for Defence, Mrs. Olusola Obada, at the occasion said the ministry would continue to support the legion within its capacity.

    Represented by the Director of Veteran Affairs, Brig.-Gen. Salihu Uba, she commended Nigerians for supporting the legions and the widows of the dead.

    “The essence of this event is on humanitarian vision; it is a great achievement for the ministry and the nation at large,’’ she said.

     

  • Kidnappers kill two policemen, abduct businessman

    Two policemen were on Friday evening killed by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers along Mission Road in Benin City.

    The two policemen were orderly to a business tycoon, Mr. Uyi Oloton popularly known as “Uyi Technical.”

    Another policeman was said to have been injured in the attack.

    Witnesses said the gunmen abducted “Uyi Technical’ after killing the policemen at his office along Mission Road.

    Uyi Technical is a major distributor of electronics, generator and Dana motors.

    An Estate Valuer, Dan Odiete was on Wednesday abducted along Akpakpava road by kidnappers operating in two jeeps.

    A police orderly attached to Odiete and a four- year old girl were killed by the kidnappers.

    State Police spokesman, DSP Anthony Airhuoyo, said he was yet to get details of the incident.

     

  • Lawal predicts Nigeria, Ghana AFCON final

    Lawal predicts Nigeria, Ghana AFCON final

    Super Eagles midfielder, Raheem Lawal has predicted the Super Eagles will clash with perennial rivals Ghana in the final of next year’s African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    The former Atletico Beleares of Spain midfielder said Ghana has a team good enough to reach the final, so too Nigeria, who he will tip to go on and win the continental trophy.

    “I see Nigeria and Ghana playing in the final of the Nations Cup in South Africa. Not that the other teams who will feature in the competition are not good, but both Ghana and Nigeria have an edge with us best to win it,” Lawal told MTNFootball.com

    “I am also looking forward to play at the Nations Cup for the first time.

    “I was so happy when we qualified and I will do my best to be in South Africa with the Eagles and contribute to the team’s success.”

    Raheem Lawal said defending champions Zambia will be Nigeria’s biggest threat in the first round of the tournament.

    “Zambia as the defending champions will be our main threat. The last year’s squad is still very much intact,” he said.

    “We therefore have to beware of them and take them seriously even though we cannot afford to look down on Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.”

    The former Olympic international also told MTNFootball.com he was shocked Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi did not make the top five players to battle for the Africa Footballer of the Year Award.

    “I was surprised when I saw the list. I don’t understand how CAF reached that conclusion because Mikel won the English FA Cup as well as the UEFA Champions League not as a bench warmer, but as a super regular. I think CAF need to tell us how they picked the final nominees,” he argued.