The Nation Newspaper

Category: Uncategorized

  • Court orders public defender to take over Evans’ kidnap case

    Court orders public defender to take over Evans’ kidnap case

    Adebisi Onanuga

    Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court has ordered the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender (OPD) to take over the defence of alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike  alias, Evans.

    The trial judge issued the order following Evans’  inability to pay his legal fees.

    During resumed  proceedings yesterday,  the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) informed the court that  his team placed a phone call to the law chambers of Ladi Williams (SAN) and Co who represented Evans’ on the last court hearing to know the whereabouts of Evans’ counsel.

    Onigbanjo said he was informed by the law chambers that Evans had not “perfected their brief”.

    Evans, who was arraigned alongside five others on two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping, has changed lawyers about five times during the course of his trial which commenced August 30, 2017.

    In his reaction, Justice Oshodi noted that Evans had developed a habit of engaging the services of lawyers who, according to the judge, “disappeared halfway through trial” and this has caused delays in the case.

    Justice Oshodi, thereafter, ordered the OPD lawyer, who was in court, Ms E. E Okonkwo, to take over Evans’ defence.

    Following the judges ruling, Evans’ co-defendants -Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba- filed no-case submissions asking the court to dismiss the charges against them.

    READ ALSO: Kidnap case: Court orders OPD to defend Evans

    The second defendant, Uche Amadi,  however did not file a no-case submission.

    The defence counsel, Messrs Roger Adewole, Olanrewaju Ajanaku,  M.C Izokwu and Emmanuel Ochai, told the court that no prima facie case had been made against the defendants by the state.

    The lawyers urged the court to dismiss the case against the defendants.

    Responding, the Attorney General asked the court to dismiss the no-case submissions of the four co-defendants.

    Justice Oshodi adjourned the case until August14 for ruling and possible continuation of trial.

     

     

     

  • Chief of Staff to Lalong tests positive to COVID-19

    Chief of Staff to Lalong tests positive to COVID-19

    Kolade Adeyemi, Jos

    The Plateau State Government on Friday confirmed that Mr. Noel Donjur, the Chief of Staff to Governor Simon Lalong, had tested positive for Covid-19.

    He is the only member of the state cabinet to fail the Coronavirus test ordered by Lalong on Wednesday.

    Information and Communication Commissioner Dan Manjang said Donjor was “asymptomatic and in good condition.”

    He is currently undergoing treatment in one of the isolation centres in the state, and he is said to be in high spirits.

    The commissioner urged the people of the state to pray for him.

    Members of his family and other contacts are being traced, tested and quarantined.

    READ ALSO: Lalong mourns Plateau council chairman

    Other personal aides of the governor, permanent secretaries, heads of parastatals as well as other senior civil servants were tested on Thursday and are currently awaiting the results.

    Governor Lalong also urged the citizens to continue to adhere strictly to the guidelines issued to stop the spread of the virus.

    Commerce and Industry Commissioner Abe Aku had earlier tested positive for the virus.

    The Nation had earlier reported that Governor Lalong and his family were confirmed negative after undergoing tests.

  • Agent From Abuja: In pursuit of social change

    Agent From Abuja: In pursuit of social change

     

    By Esther Adeyanju

    ….Movie Review

    There is an uncommon passion at the base of struggles for a new order that benefits everyone, young and old and from all walks of life.

    A lot goes into these efforts – sacrifices and convincing viewpoints that spur action. When these efforts yield desired outcomes – changing the status quo, they bring benefits to the doorsteps of the entire nation.

    This is the promise the recently released feature film, Agent From Abuja holds.

    An undaunted love for Motherland

    Written and directed by versatile British-Nigerian filmmaker, Ade Adepegba for Kuramo Bay Filmworks, the arrangement of scenes and performances communicates the import of patriotism to the primary target group – Nigerians. It is this sense of responsibility that gives the film a fitting opening, the interrogation of a former state governor by a group of young Nigerian students seeking improved conditions of living for fellow countrymen.

    Set in London, United Kingdom, dialogues in Agent From Abuja raise hope and optimism, and encourage Nigerians to contribute to the good of the country from anywhere. The film also succeeds in highlighting challenges – by narrating occasional conflicts resulting from opposing viewpoints among the young Nigerians portrayed.

    Official trailer video:

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r68_pZBj8o

    Out for change

    Moved by the selfless urge to change the state of affairs back home, the four young Nigerians in Agent From Abuja create a point of duty by fighting the African political class which the corrupt ex-governor represents. In contrast, they (the young Nigerians) represent a group of concerned citizens among the Diaspora making concerted efforts for the country’s progress.

    We are drawn by the film into understanding their motives and inspiration and the multiple setbacks they face as they encounter threat and danger in this crucial mission.

    Without reservation, this political thriller is a thorough exposé on the ills affecting Africa’s progress and the contributions uncommon patriotism and responsibility bring to crushing the continent’s interconnected challenges. And the audience will enjoy this from the get-go to the very end.

    Agent From Abuja is now available at https://gum.co/AgentFromAbuja

  • When In Need Foundation sets to feed 4million people in Nigeria

    When In Need Foundation sets to feed 4million people in Nigeria

    Adeniyi Adewoyin 

    As the hunger situation in Africa gets compounded by the imposed lockdowns resulting from the ravaging COVID-19, Dr. Chetachi Ecton, a global humanitarian philanthropist and president of the When In Need Foundation is on a mission to rewrite the hunger narrative by engaging millions of people in food security programs.

    In Abuja, Kaduna, Imo State and several other communities in Nigeria, Dr. Ecton and When In Need Foundation have engaged 4 million people in a sustainable food security program.

    Using her own resources and the agricultural seeds inputs from organizations and people of goodwill in the United States, Dr. Ecton has donated seeds that will grow stable food to feed millions that are spread across different communities in the nation.

    Speaking on how she has taken this step and risk in the wake of COVID-19, Dr. Ecton argues that while she respects the global awareness that the developed world and the international community at large have given to the people affected by the deadly virus, little attention is paid to millions of people that die of hunger every day in Africa, and Nigeria is no exception, “While the entire world is paying attention to COVID-19, I am strongly appealing to the local government here in Nigeria, and governments from the developed world and the international community at large for them to pay undiluted attention to hunger as a pandemic that has never been declared as a global state of emergency,” she said.

    The When In Need Foundation partners in the US are willing to provide more agricultural inputs and feed more people through this sustainable food security initiative. As this sustainable food security program changes the lives of the vulnerable in Nigeria, the When In Need Foundation is appealing to all levels of governments across the country to be receptive to these tireless efforts by Dr. Ecton and the When In Need Foundation, “The kind of humanitarian aid I am advocating for at this time is not a conflict-driven food donation like the one that the UN gave to Nigeria. For example, in 2018, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) gave a significant contribution of nearly US$100 million from the United States.

    According to the report, that guaranteed continued life-saving food assistance in northeast Nigeria through early 2018.

    READ ALSO: Foundation sets up COVID-19 intervention initiative 

    The UN World Food Program did well to guarantee nearly US $ 100 million to the northeast of our beautiful country that was laden with conflict.

    She also said she is appealing to the World Food Program and the When In Need partners in the US and around the world, in the wake of COVID-19, including in the post COVID-19 world, communities in this highly populated country are going to be hardly hit because the factors of production have been crippled by the coronavirus. The same way that the UN donated $100 million worth of food to the people who were living in conflict infested zone.

    “I appeal to the UN and the rest of the international community and the developed world to double their efforts in working with the When In Need Foundation as we engage the Nigerian government to help in providing logistical as we engage 4 million people from vulnerable communities into a sustainable food security program.

    It has not been an easy road to secure farm inputs to feed 4 million people in Nigeria. That’s just a small percentage of the overall population, the partnership from the developed world, private foundations, the international community and the Nigerian government will triple our food input donation per capita and together, we shall cover the rest of the country.

  • Some kitchen remedies for itchy palms and feet

    Some kitchen remedies for itchy palms and feet

    It has been quite a while since any-one asked me about itchy palms and feet. One gentleman did last week. He said in  a cell phone text message:

    “I went through a terrible experience of itching palm and feet till 10pm yesterday night. Damatol, an hair cream,is what I continued to rub since it started. As I applied the severity reduced but I could not sleep at all. I had a similar experience four years ago but it was limited to my feet.I drank honey and so many other harbal preparations but I slept from about 3am to about 6am. Then,I panicked. When it started,I took a broom and used the bottom to scratch. And when it became unbearable,I  raised an alarm.

    “I never experienced anything near it till this time. I am not diabetic”..

    Comments

    A lucky man, he is. For  diabetes is often one of the major players in this condition. If he was diabetic, the itch  may suggest peripripheral nerve damage  due to blood circulation impairment and glycation, a process through which glucose molecules become poisonous to  protein and fat molecles and damage them.

    There are some other underlying conditions to supect.  This may include liver and kidney insufficiencies. In sweaty palms and feet, for example, it is often assumed that the organs of elimination are suboptimal in their work and have  shelved some work- load on the skin and the extremeties. An Organic coffee enema may open up the liver to eliminate some toxins through the intestine and relieve the skin,and there by the palms and feet,of extra work load which may cause irritation and itchy. Chanka Piedra is a good herb for supporting liver and kidney functions.

    Danieli helps the liver even when there have been some alchol-related damage.Carqueja Clears out the liver.

    Milkthistle and Jerusalem Artichoke are great protectors of the liver against toxin damaged.Bitters are great liver stimulators as well. That reminds me that my household must start the day today,last day of June 2020,with Aloe vera barbadensis juice drink.

    Other possible causes of itchy palms and feet may be atopic eczema, which may respond to Chickweed, nerve disorders, which nervines or  nerve herbs   may check, and allergies of all sorts.Stinging nettle, like dead nettle, are good for allergies. We cannot rule out the dehydration of these parts of these body. Thus, moisturizers should help. I do not think we can rule out fungal infections. When I notice scales on any foot,   I massage the foot  with onion juice and leave it on overnight. Calamine is good for this condition. And guess what?what make calamine to work on the bodies of children with measles is Zinc. So, why not take 15 to 60mg of Zinc in devided doses two or  three times a day on empty stomach for about one week? Why not also dissolve Zinc in water or a carrier  essential oil such as Olive oil or coconut oil and rub into the affected part. Coconut oil is bless with lauric acid which clear nappy rashes and kills intestinal germs apart from it well reported support in HIV and  Cancer therapies.Sometimes, though, I do essential oil massage, using anti microbials such as clove oil, Golden seal oil , oregano oil e.t.c.  Some people go for Cider Vinegar. Others use Baking soda to paste foot and palm. I have no comments on traditional beliefs that itchy palms suggest the sufferer would soon come by some money or fortune.

  • Firm delivers home learning kits to 1,800 pupils

    Firm delivers home learning kits to 1,800 pupils

    Our Reporter

    Some 1,800 school children in Kaduna and Ogun states became the first in Nigeria to receive their “My Story of Water” worksheets on June10, courtesy of the Five Cowries Initiative (FCI).

    Across Nigeria, school children have been forced away from their classrooms as a result of coronavirus prevention measures. Five Cowries Initiative stepped in to address this educational limbo by developing ‘Home Learning Kits”, a creative way to keep school-age children motivated, occupied, and positive during the nationwide school closure.

    The worksheets, which require no access to electricity or data, are part of a fuller alternative education plan, keen on exploring the use of arts in nurturing creativity in education. They will be used in conjunction with other supporting activities such as a weekly 30-minute radio show incorporating lessons, storytelling, current affairs, and call-ins led teachers.

    Read Also: FirstBank’s e-learning for 1m students

    In facilitating the journey of learning, the 1,800 children who receive initial worksheets will continue to receive subsequent worksheets–in line with the learning schedule, every two weeks over four months. While distribution is yet to begin in Lagos State, FCI has been developing creative programmes with the Ministry of Education and the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo is an active supporter of the “My Story of Water” project.

    With the distribution of 1500 worksheets set to begin across SOS villages this week, Five Cowries Initiative aims to replicate its current successes nationwide. To achieve this, it is working closely with technical and implementing partners including, Teach For Nigeria and SOS Children in developing the educational content and DHL in delivering the sheets across the nation.

    Committed to fostering the preservation of indigenous languages, the worksheets are currently available in Yoruba, Igbo and French will soon be translated into Hausa and Kanuri.

  • Don gets on Malaysian journal board

    Don gets on Malaysian journal board

    By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

    The Head of the Department of Islamic Law, University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdul-Razzaq Abdul-Majeed Alaro, has been appointed into the Advisory Board of the Online Journal of Islamic Management and Finance (OJIMF) of the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,

    The appointment, which was conveyed via a letter, UM.I/JSP/376, of March 12,2020 and signed by the Head of Syariah and Management, Academy of Islamic Studies, University of Malaya, Dr. Fadillah Binti Mansor, is for two years effective from March 1, 2020.

    Read Also: Firm donates five robots to UNILAG

    According to the letter Alaro “will be attached with Editor in Chief Associate Professor Dr. Ilhaamie Binti Abdul Ghani Azmi for all required advice concerning the article review, publication and direction of this journal”.

    The letter expressed the hope that with the appointment of Prof. Alaro, “the journal will soar”.

  • How critical is July in flattening the COVID-19 curve?

    How critical is July in flattening the COVID-19 curve?

    By Ezekiel O. Kayode

    SIR: Now, more than ever, the government must get its decisions spot on. Nigeria is now the third African country with the highest number of coronavirus cases, behind South Africa and Egypt —20,000 and counting, and many are beginning to question if the government can effectively manage the scourge.

    If March and April were months when establishment of testing centres were to be scaled up, May and June should have been the months when tests are massively scaled up. As a matter of fact, Nigeria is a far cry from the two million tests that Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, assured by the end of June. That figure currently stands at little over 125,000 samples. The problem is that four months into the virus, there are still not enough tests to better control the virus despite promises from the taskforce to do so. The reason this is a problem is that our response to the virus is better informed by data from comprehensive testing.

    One other thing we have learnt of ourselves is the increasing negligence of this virus. As days run into weeks and weeks into months, speculations that coronavirus is a sham in Nigeria is growing like wildfire. Since we can no longer trust the government to considerably ramp up testing to the promised figures in the next weeks, neither do we expect the speculation to wear off anytime soon, what can we expect of the virus in July?

    Recent data now suggest a wee bit of consistency in the Covid-19 plot. The daily increase percentage dropped from 28.8% to 26.6% from June 15 to 18, then increased to 29.3% on 19 before dropping to 26.2% on June 21. Talks of flattening the curve is beginning to frequent in the taskforce daily briefing. But even if we are beginning to do so, it would be of great wisdom to vote against moving to the next phase of easing of the lockdown. It was a mistake to transition from phase one to phase two so quick despite the surge in cases, which was communicated as a consequence of increased testing. And Nigerians now expect a transition to phase three since phase one and two spanned a month each.

    Let’s not forget that a lot of people now firmly believe that there is no coronavirus in Nigeria. But can we trust each other, as Nigerians, to be responsible with our activities should restrictions be relaxed further? Think about it, we now realise that we do not have the testing capacity, despite whatever assurance is given, to keep up with any spike in new cases. It is also questionable why the Southwest was actively involved in the easing-of-lockdown plan even after collected data suggested that the region is most ravaged by the virus with about 53% back on May 1 — that is 32% more than the Northwest, which was second with 20%.

    I had thought that Director General of Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu’s word that he had rather be “slow and get it right” than “fast and be sorry” would ring well within the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19. If our hopes and prayers for July is a significant level of stability, then we can do better than to worsen community transmission through menacing relaxations.

    • Ezekiel O. Kayode, zekekayode@gmail.com
  • Corona College holds virtual matriculation

    Corona College holds virtual matriculation

    Our Reporter

    Corona College of Education, Ilupeju held its first virtual matriculation on  June 13, for the first cohort of the Advanced Diploma in Early Childhood Care Education for 2019/2020 academic session.

    Forty new students have been admitted for the programme.

    The Provost, Dr. Martin Obinyan, in his welcome address, congratulated the students for being the first set in the history of the college to hold a virtual orientation and matriculation.

    He said due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the college had moved its lectures online using virtual learning platforms and other online resources.

    Read Also: Teachers get training on virtual teaching

    He said: “I sincerely salute the commitment and passion of the Corona Schools Trust Council and the Management for the growth of this great College. I must confess that this multi-dimensional support from all stakeholders has been responsible for our continued determination to making the College one of the best performing Colleges of Education.

    “We recognise that in our bid to achieve world-class status, the quality of our students is an intrinsic point of the equation which accounts for the high diligence and premium we place in teaching and learning.”

    Obinyan assured the students that the college would do well to provide them the best learning experiences through the use of educational technologies and therefore, expects all students to make the best of the unique learning opportunities now available to them while also respecting the rules and regulations of the College as they remain focused in their studies.

  • Maltina to honour resourceful teachers

    Maltina to honour resourceful teachers

    By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

    This year, resourcefulness in teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic will be a strong point for teachers applying for the sixth edition of the Maltina Teacher of the Year award.

    Announcing the opening of entries for the competition on Tuesday in Lagos, Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mrs. Sade Morgan said the award this year would be special despite the pandemic.

    She added that it was the firm’s way of recognising teachers’ hard work.

    “The global coronavirus pandemic has impacted all aspects of our existence including education. Nevertheless, it has also showcased the resilient spirit of our teachers who have been unrelenting in finding new ways to continue to teach students virtually despite technological challenges and limitations. This demonstrates the important role teachers play in the development of our society and the education of our future leaders.

    “Maltina teacher of the year is an initiative that is cherished and keenly supported by our management team who are deeply passionate about education. This is why we are committed and very happy to commence our annual search for the best secondary school teacher in Nigeria with the Call for Entry commencing on June 30 and closes on August 14, 2020. The winning and other qualifying teachers would be revealed in by October in commemoration of the 2020 World Teacher’s Day.”

    Read Also: N4m blogging contest to boost teachers’ digital skills

    With the pandemic and new regulations to check its spread making people to adopt new ways of doing things, Mrs. Morgan also said the screening for the teachers would follow government’s safety protocols – with the panels of the judges and teachers observing laid down protocols for events.  She added that the awards may hold remotely this year.

    However, the pandemic will not affect the prizes to be presented as the firm, through its Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund has budgeted N60 million to expend on prizes for the state champions and top three winners.

    The Maltina Teacher of the Year would go home with N6.5 million prize (paid on yearly basis) and a trophy.  The winner will also get sponsorship for a self-development course; while his/her school gets a block of classrooms or a computer laboratory. The first runner up will get N1 million; while the second runner up receives N750,000 and trophies.  All state winners will get N500,000 each.

    consistent investment on the part of Nigerian Breweries Plc is the hallmark of a good corporate organization that has remained true to its ideals and commitment of improving the education,” he said.

    Also speaking, Registrar, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, described the award as a Nigerian project and a great investment in teachers.

    All eligible teachers can register online or download and email completed forms to the organisers.