The Nation Newspaper

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  • NBC threatens to suspend licences of two stations

    The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) yesterday asked ADABA FM, Akure and Ondo State Radiovision Corporation to desist from unwholesome programming or face sanctions.

    In a statement in Abuja, NBC noted with grave concern, the unprofessional conduct of the Continental Broadcasting Services Ltd, operators of ADABA FM, Akure and Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC) in the ongoing campaigns.

    According to the statement signed by NBC’s Director- General, Mr. Yomi Bolarinwa, the two stations have breached the provisions of the National Broadcasting Commission Act and the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

    The code stipulates: “In adherence to the principles of pluralism, equal airtime shall be provided to all political parties or views, with particular regard to the amount of time and belt during political campaign periods.”

    NBC said despite several warnings, one of the stations continued to exhibit bias in political coverage and broadcast of jingles in favour of a political party.

     

  • Gunmen attack Benue Majority Leader

    Gunmen, suspected to be assassins, have attacked the Majority Leader of the Benue State House of Assembly, Paul Biam.

    The gunmen reportedly ambushed the lawmaker on the Zaki Biam-Katsina-Ala Road. They shut at his Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

    Biam represents Ukum Constituency in the Assembly.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Makurdi, the state capital, the lawmaker said his assailants were about 30.

    He said hoodlums had earlier disrupted a meeting of the Ukum Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in the home of the chairman of Ukum Local Government Area, Terfa Bosua.

    According to him, the thugs damaged some vehicles and injured those at the meeting.

    Biam said he was heading to Makurdi from Zaki Biam when the gunmen, who were on two motorcycles, trailed him to Ankya village, a suburb of Zaki Biam, and opened fire at his vehicle.

    He said: “As my vehicle approached Ankya village on the Zaki Biam-Katsina-Ala Road, four gunmen on two motorcycles, appeared from the bush and shot sporadically at my SUV, with the intention to assassinate me.”

    The lawmaker explained that he wanted a particular candidate to become the Caretaker Chairman of Ukum Local Government Area.

    He said this did not go down well with those he described as his enemies.

    Biam said he might have been attacked for backing the candidate.

    As at yesterday afternoon, the lawmaker said he was yet to report the matter to the police.

  • Voter’s cards: Court remands LP chieftains in prison

    Voter’s cards: Court remands LP chieftains in prison

    A chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State, Olaolu Oladapo, and a middle-aged woman, Omolade Raphael, have been remanded in prison.

    They were arraigned by the police before an Akure Magistrate’s Court on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony to wit unlawful possession of voter’s cards and unlawful possession of 1,123 voter’s cards, contrary to Section 23(1)(a)(b) and (c) of the Electoral Act 2010.

    They were alleged to have committed the offence on October 5 about 4.30pm at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    The offence was said to have been committed by the LP chief and his accomplice at Ondo town.

    They pleaded not guilty and were remanded in prison by Magistrate J. O. Adelegan till today.

    An Akure lawyer and human rights activist, who also coordinates the Action Congress of Nigeria’s (ACN’s) legal team in the state, Titiloye Charles, hailed the police for the arrest of the suspects.

    He urged INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega to take over the prosecution pursuant to Section 150 (2) of the Electoral Act 2012, which gives the commission power to prosecute electoral offenders.

    Charles said the era of open electoral fraud was over, adding that every voter is entitled to one voter’s card and one vote.

    He said the suspects must be prosecuted to guard against rigging.

  • The state, youth and crime

    Yours sincerely saw first hand why it is necessary that state governments should establish rehabilitation centers as part of our criminal punishment system, following an experience on Friday, September 28, 2012 at a Magistrate Court sitting at Tinubu square, Lagos. There, Mr. Martin Owumi, the presiding Senior Magistrate, grappled with the choices open to him, in a criminal charge against six young persons brought before his court. Sitting at the bar where a number of senior Lawyers, including this writer, waiting for other matters before the Court. That experience showed the need for such centers in metropolitan cities, bursting with youth, energy and delinquency.

    The six young men on trial, where charged on a two count charge, under section 5(b) of the Robbery and Fire Arms (Special Provision) Cap 389, Vol. XXII, Laws of Federation, 2011; and section 43 (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos state, 2011. The alleged criminal conduct was relayed in the open court, by the Police Officer in charge of the investigation at the request of His Honour, Mr. Owumi, as many of us privately wandered what could the young men have done, to be charged with what is clearly an omnibus section in the Robbery and Fire Arms Act, aforementioned.

    The story was roughly that one of them owned a gun which he gave his friend to keep, and which that friend put in a bag and handed over to yet another friend for safe keeping. The last two accused borrowed the gun from the temporal custodians, which according to them upon questioning by the Magistrate, they intended to us to harass some people, albeit at an ungodly hour of the day, when some vigilant police men caught them. What struck me was how one gun, which thankfully has not been used to maim or kill somebody in the narrated circumstance, has ensnared six young men into a criminal charge, which upon conviction, may reward all of them with life imprisonment.

    The second charge was that they belonged to an unlawful society, which I found out from the charge sheet, was one of the dreaded confraternities joined by many deluded Nigerian youths, especially in the higher institutions. Apart from one of them who claimed to be a graduate of a road side computer school, and another who says he is an actor, the rest have no work, and stopped schooling after their secondary education, and have not learned any meaningful skill or enrolled to learn any. Watching them standing in the dock, they were not looking like the red eyed robbery suspects that are paraded once in a while by the police. In fact they could pass for well heeled graduates or young businessmen, who tried to confuse impunity for exuberance.

    His Honour, Mr. Owumi apparently relying on section 15 (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos state 2011, conferred with the prosecution and the defense lawyers whether the young men can be giving an opportunity for redemption, without a full trial, under one of the disposition measures listed in that section. After his commendable interactions and adjournment of that case, a few of us turned amicus curiae of the court, and encouraged the Magistrate to exercise the option of community service, as punishment for the accused young men. I have taken liberty to relay this matter which is clearly sub judice to highlight a life case that underpins the urgent need for the society to begin to articulate measure to contain and contend with the un-channeled energy of our youths who have lost focus and direction.

    While the accused persons standing trial in the case in question are adults, I was worried that many people who are convicted and are sent to prison, or even remanded in prison awaiting a formal trial, turn out as worst scourges to the society, when they come out. No doubt our prisons are punishment centers, and have little chance for rehabilitation of convicts. So when a judge is faced with first offenders that have not gone round the bend in a manner of speaking, there may be the need to rely on the commendable provisions of section 15 (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos state, 2011. The section lists a number of disposition measures that a court can order as alternative to death, imprisonment, fine and forfeiture. Indeed community service order coupled with a binding-over order to be of good behavior I believe are commendable ways to deal with a clear act of delinquency or even putative criminality that has not mutated to hardened criminality.

    There is also the need to remove prisons from the exclusive legislative list of the 1999 constitution, and put it in the concurrent legislative list. Most of the present prisons inherited from the colonial government are dilapidated and insufficient, resulting in overcrowding and dehumanizing conditions, as the camp of the criminals and suspected criminals increase. If our federal system is properly reordered, those convicted of state offences will head to state controlled prisons, while convicts of federal offences will head to federal prisons. Under the current system, the federal government does not make enough budgetary allocation for the prisoners and the welfare of warders.

    In a way the inefficiencies at the states and federal level are willy-nilly transferred to each other. This is the case as most of the prison inmates infringed state laws and are in most cases awaiting the advice of the state Director of Public Prosecution; who in most cases may also be hamstrung by the inefficient investigation of the offences against the state laws, by the federal police. In the circumstance while the person who gets sent to jail, looses; the society is the ultimate looser with an increasing share of deviants.

  • Ozodinobi, Muhammed, Ekpo win Uwais Public Service Award

    Ozodinobi, Muhammed, Ekpo win Uwais Public Service Award

    MESSRS Anthony Zikora Ozodinobi, M.B.W Dogo-Muhammed and Imo Ekpo have won the maiden edition of Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais Public Service Award.

    The awards were presented to them at a lecture organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

    In his welcome address, Chairman of the Award screening committee, Chief Solomon Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) said: “I welcome everyone here to this very first lecture and award presentation of the Mohammed Lawal Uwais Public Service Award”

    “The award was designed to recognise and honour the outstanding contributions of Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais, former CJN, for his years of selfless service to Nigeria culminating in the 11 years as Chief Justice of Nigeria (1995-2006).

    “The public service award was designed to recognise individuals who have, in the course of their careers, made considerable impact in their areas of service, whether locally or internationally, demonstrated faithfulness, loyalty, and integrity in their areas of service to the nation, have unblemished records of service, made positive and useful contributions to the advancement, progress and wellbeing of the nation, demonstrated in the course of their service, a high level of discipline, dignity of labour, religious tolerance, self reliance and patriotism as enshrined as part of the national ethics in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended; demonstrateda high level of ingenuity and performance outside the call of their duty for the discharge of their duties, and showed exceptional qualities which the committee may reasonably find to positively contribute to national development.”

    Awomolo said: “Considering the personality of Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais and knowing the magnitude of his individual and intellectual contributions to this nation, looking at how fast the work attitude of public and civil servants has depreciated, I couldn’t decline the opportunity given to me to serve as the chairman of the screening committee. It wasn’t an easy task; our mandate in the committee was to ensure an honest and transparent exercise.

    He went on: “I immensely appreciate the professional and humble contributions of all the committee members throughout the screening process. Advertisements were made in both the print and electronic media, calling for nominations across the country, which got a massive response. The committee screened thoroughly from among the responses and selected the best. The first three are as follows:

    •First position: Engr Anthony Zikora Ozodinobi

    •Second position: Mr M. B. W Dogo Muhammed

    •Third position: Engr. Imo E. Ekpo

    Ozodinobi, Anthony Zikora is an electrical/electronic engineer and a public servant. He was born on March 6, 1953. He hails from Nimo, Njikola Local Government Area , Anambra State, Nigeria. He attended Holy Ghost Primary School, Enugu from 1959 to 1963, he then went to Municipal Council School, Port Harcourt from 1964 to 1965.

    He later attended Trinity High School, Oguta, Imo State from 1966 to 1972, College of Immaculate Conception Enugu from January 1973 to September 1973. He graduated with B.Sc. Electrical/Electronic from the University of Nigeria Nsukka in 1978.

    He also got a PgD in Computer Science & Engineering from Enugu State University of Science & Technology in 1991 and also a PgD in Banking and Finance from University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus in 1992.

    Ozodinobi has an uncompromising style of leadership with officers irrespective of their ethnic nationality or religious inclination. He believes strongly in the principle of delegation of duties with requisite authority to perform any task.

    Early training that is punctually the sole of every business guided him through his service life from his very first national assignment as National Youth Service Corps member.

    He maintains an open friendly attitude to colleagues and works cordially with people from both Christian and Muslim faith.

    Muhammad Bello Waziri Dogo was born on June 24, 1954 in Azare, Katagum LGA, Bauchi State. He is married with children. He is presently the Executive Secretary/CEO, National Health Insurance Scheme, Shehu Yar Adua Street, Utako District, Abuja.

    Mohammed got an M.B.B.S from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in June 1978. And also got other additional qualification in the field of medicine.

    Mr Dogo-Muhammad was appointed Executive Director of NHIS on 1st of March, 2007 for a period of 5 years in the first instance. He was determined to reorganize and re-position the agency to meet every international standard and be rated among the best practices. He scanned the organisation using SWOT and PEST analyses after which he made a presentation to President, Olusegun Obasanjo in which he highlighted 10 areas that required urgent attention.

    He was instrumental to the change of NHIS Departments from six departmental structures to seven departmental structures. ICT was approved by government under hios watch because he envisaged the positive impact ICT will have on the operations of the scheme and programmes.

    Engineer Imo Effiong Ekpo was born on January 16, 1952 in Uyo. He hails from Ibesikpo Asutan LGA of Akwa Ibom State. He is married with four children. He started his education at Lutheran High School Uyo and finished in 1970 at the University of Ibadan in 1978, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, England in 1981 and the University of Ibadan, Ibadan in 1987. He got a B. Sc (Hon) Degree in Geology, Post Graduate Diploma (Civil) Geological Engineering and a M.Sc Degree in Engineering/Hydrogeology respectively. He specialised in Civil – Geotechnical/Water Engineering and Hydropower.

    They have demonstrated high level of ingenuity and performance outside the call of their duty for the discharge of their duties

  • ‘Ekiti Governor has laid enduring foundations’

    ‘Ekiti Governor has laid enduring foundations’

    Foremost poet and literary critic Mr. Odia Ofeimun has said Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has laid foundations for enduring development in the state.

    Applauding the government’s Urban Renewal Programme, Ofeimun said the traditional building pattern in most Nigerian cities, “which many governments have accepted, is wrong for genuine planning”.

    He said for meaningful planning to take place, “the amount of destruction you have to do is enormous”.

    The poet spoke with The Nation in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, during a tour of the capital in preparation for his stage play, entitled Nigeria: The Beautiful, which is part of activities slated for the second anniversary celebration of the Fayemi administration.

    Ofeimun said: “Kayode did something interesting. He slowed down the process of action in order to amass enough, so that when he launched, he did it in a more rapid pattern. What I have seen points in that direction.”

    He said the building of roads by the administration would boost commercial activities.

    Ofeimun said: “A road makes it easier for people to commute and hastens development. If there is always traffic gridlock in your state, it means people would not able to do as much business as they can daily.”

    The poet said he moved round the capital to ascertain whether Fayemi deserved the award he recently got as the “Leadership Governor of The Year”.

    He said: “It is really exciting to see the roads being built in Ekiti. It is like turning the whole place into a large building site. I want to be honest, I needed to see things for myself to be convinced he deserves the award he got recently and I am seeing reasons for the award.

    “If a poor state like Ekiti is evidently doing this, what is happening in more blessed states, which have refused to commence the journey, despite having enough.”

    Justifying his absence from the public domain lately, the writer said it is useless to speak all the time, if your comments would not bring useful changes to governance.

    Ofeimun opposed the common opinion that Nigeria has enough resources to grow. He said the resources were trapped in a few pockets.

    Ofeimun condemned the Federal Government’s policy, which allows the existence of alternative examination bodies such as the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN).

    Decrying the fallen standard of education, he said the alternative public examination bodies were created by the political class to make things easy for their children.

    Ofeimun said: “It is very embarrassing to see someone who will want an exam done for him or her. I never knew until recently that someone can pass an exam he/she did not sit for. The first thing they discover when such person enters an institution is that the person did not actually attend any school.

    “This all started when the Federal Government started changing the standards by which you enter an institution. Consider Nigeria moving away from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) because the standard was too rigorous and creating NECO.

    “It is an embarrassment to realise that those who attended public institutions of the highest standards were the ones who set the basis for the growth of the existing decay. They now do for their children what their fathers would never have done for them.”

  • ‘Use funds well’

    The House of Representatives Committee on Communications has called for appropriate use of budgetary allocations to government agencies, ministries and departments.

    The Chairman, Oyetunde Ojo spoke yesterday at the Lagos Campus of Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), Oshodi, during the inspection of ongoing projects of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

    “The National Assembly appropriates the funds. We must see what the appropriated funds have been used for because at the end of the day, Nigerians will hold us accountable.

    “Apart from being a knowledge-based institution, it is also going to take care of job creation. You can imagine how many people will be employed when completed,” the chairman said.

    NCC’s Director of Public Affairs Tony Ojobo said the project will be completed on schedule and assured that new students will be admitted in the next academic session.

     

  • Reprieve for deported pilgrims

    •Saudi rescinds decision•Airlift deadline extension likely

    The Saudi authorities have agreed to accept the deported pilgrims that have valid visas.

    House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, who led the Presidential committee to Saudi Arabia broke the news yesterday at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport.

    According to the Speaker, the Saudi authorities is also considering Nigeria’s request for extension of the airlifting deadline.

    Tambuwal, who expressed happiness at the outcome of the meeting, also said the issue of male companion for female pilgrim was also settled as the Nigerian delegation made it known that the vexed issue is open to different interpretations from the four jurisprudences in Islam.

    He said: “Our interface with the Saudi authorities has been very successful because we had serious and deep engagement. The first good news is that all of those pilgrims who have secured valid visas are being taken back.

    Those in the delegation include the Emir of Zuru, Alhaji Sani Sami, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Prof. Shehu Galadanchi, Chairman of Nigerian Hajj Commission (NAHCON), Alhaji Mohammed Bello and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Governor inaugurates 13-man panel

    Kano State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso has inaugurated a 13-member advisory committee on constitution review to articulate issues on the constitution and advise the government on the position to take.

    Members of the committee are: Alhaji Magaji Dambatta, the chairman; A.B. Mahmud, Secretary; Prof. Hafizu Abubakar, Prof. Dahiru Yahaya, Mallam Aminu Daurawa, Sheikh Karibullah Nasiru Kabara, Prof. Auwalu Yadudu.

    Others are: Alhaji Tanlo Yakassai, Prof. Isa Hashim, Lamido Ado-Bayero, Ahmed Rabiu, Hajia Naja’atu Mohammed and Mallam Maliki Kuliya.

    Kwankwaso said his administration has been attentive to national issues, adding that Kano State’s position should be articulated in them.

    The governor said Kano and its people would rely on the experience of the committee members, who he described as “wise people”.

    He urged them to be patriotic in discharging their duties.

    Kwankwaso reminded the committee members that they need to work hard because the position of the state must be properly articulated in the constitution.

    The governor urged the committee to incorporate the experiences of other stakeholders into their assignment.

    He said: “You should take a deep look at where we are now and chart a way forward for our state and our great country. We rely on your advice. Work together with members of the state and National Assembly and other stakeholders to ensure that Kano is well prepared for the exercise.”

    The committee Chairman, Alhaji Magaji Dambatta, hailed the governor for his foresight and ensuring that Kano is prepared for the exercise.

    He promised not to fail the governor and the people of Kano, even though the time for the assignment is limited.

    Dambatta said: “We thank you for selecting us out of the millions of people in Kano to examine the issues and advice accordingly. We are all aware that constitutional review has always generated controversy and tension. This is to be expected. What is not to be expected is the self-serving way many of our compatriots approach the matter.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • LP members defect to ACN

    LP members defect to ACN

    Some members of the Labour Party (LP) at the weekend defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    The leaders of the three groups that defected at Ipesi-Akoko in Akoko South East Local Government are Kunle Olowo, Rotimi Olanrewaju and Aminu Isiaka.

    Isiaka led the Ebira group. He said the Mimiko administration is a failure.

    He urged people to support ACN for good governance.

    The defectors were received by an ACN chieftain and a former commissioner, Solagbade Amodeni.

    They assured the new members of equal opportunities. About 1,000 LP members defected from the party to ACN in Ifira community with leaders such as Chief Festus Idowu and Mrs. Emily Ominowa Sanni.

    The new ACN members slammed an LP leader in the area who they said was appointed as the chairman of the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) but could not influence the appointment of one person.

    Amodeni and Kunle Oyegoke received the defectors in Ifira.