The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abuja

  • Shippers’ Council for Trade Fair

    The Nigerian Shippers’ Council is participating at the on-going Eighth Abuja International Trade Fair at the J.T. Useni, International Trade Fair Complex, Abuja.

    This year’s fair, with the theme: Promoting the culture of production and innovation in SMEs to achieve competitiveness and national developments, will offer opportunities for business development and also serve as a platform for participants to showcase their goods and services.

    The Nigerian Shippers’ Council is at the fair to publicise its function and services as well as handle complaints from shippers while also expecting them to be enlightened on the Council’s Information Technology facilities.

    The Council in line with its statutory functions has been protecting the interest of shippers and had actively participated in all the Abuja International Trade Fair since inception.

    This year’s fair, which attracted international participants from Ghana, Senegal, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, multinational firms and investors in Nigeria, is expected to end tomorrow.

     

  • Abuja shooting victim dies

    Abuja shooting victim dies

    ALL was gloomy yesterday as the remains of a tricycle operator, Nasir Adamu, was moved to the Gudu Cemetery in Abuja for burial.

    Adamu, 33, who was a Keke Napep rider at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was shot in the stomach. He died at about 1 am.

    He was part of the victims who died following last Thursday’s Apo killings that drew a big outrage against security agents, who claimed that they were terrorists.

    He is survived by his wife, Mayya and a daughter.

    According to the late Adamu’s brother, Suleiman Adamu, he hailed from Moriki village in Zurumi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

    Speaking at the Asokoro General Hospital morgue yesterday, Suleiman said his brother bought Keke Napep two weeks before the incident after he had sold okro for a long time at the Garki modern market.

    Hon. Amiru Tukur Idris, representing Timbakwu Federal Constituency, Katsina State, described the situation as “undemocratic and illegal”.

    He said the House had petitioned Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Sa’ad Ola Ibrahim and human rights organisations.

    The lawmaker said he lost about four people in the attack, adding that the Army general, who claims to own the building where the incident occurred, visited the Asokoro General Hospital last Friday and was willing to foot the survivors’ hospital bills.

    “In fact, we are having a meeting today with four other House members and a Senator from Zamfara State to know the next line of action.

    “The chairman of Tricycle Association identified them as his own people. He said they are not hooligans. They have their own jobs too. They are hustlers,” Idris added.

    Hon. Biliaminu Shinkafi, representing Zurma Shinkafi Federal Constituency, spoke also of plans to present the case before the National Assembly.

    Human rights activist Shehu Sani described the killings as “arbitrary and extra-judicial”. He said there was need to call the consciousness of the public to the incident to forestall a reccurrence.

    “I am here to condole with the family and help to take the deceased home in solidarity with the victims of the dastardly act of the security agencies. What has happened is nothing but extra-judicial killings. It is one of the arbitrariness and brigandage by security agents. For the past three years, fighting insurgency has become an excuse for killings of innocent citizens,” Sani said.

    A survivor, Yusuf Abubakar, stated that there were over 200 persons sleeping in the uncompleted building. He said about 18 of them were killed when the security agents came in the night, surrounded the building and started shooting them.

    He said he narrowly escaped when a friend was shot and fell where he was lying down .

    According to him, there are about 13 people admitted into the Asokoro General Hospital. But Adamu died around 1am.

    He lamented that he suffered a fracture and the bullet in his hand was yet to be removed. He said the doctor had been taking good care of them.

    Abubakar recalled that the owner of the building threatened the squatters.

    “He spoke on Wednesday; on Thursday in the mid-night, soldiers surrounded the house and began to shoot. There were more than 200 people sleeping in the house. So, as they began to shoot, people started running. Those who ran were shot and killed. They killed about 18 people. One died around 1am (last night). There is another person admitted to Wuse General Hospital.”

    Speaking on how he escaped, Abubakar said: “Anyone who stood during the shooting fell and died, so as I was trying to escape, I fell and the bullet hit my hand. I was wearing a white shirt when it happened. So, I jumped into a water basin. The person who was running after me was shot and he fell on me; so the soldier did not see me.”

    Asked if he knew the number of soldiers, he said he could not but they were many.

    He urged the doctors to attend to him.

    A lawyer, Mr. Sanusi Musa, spoke of plans to begin a legal action before the end of the week. Musa accused the military of taking advantage of insecurity in the country to kill the victims unjustly.

    He said: “These people have briefed us and we are taking up there case. They are now our clients. We intend to institute an action on their behalf to seek redress for the injustice done to them by whoever it is.

  • Outrage over Abuja killings

    Outrage over Abuja killings

    •13 still on admission, soldiers withdrawn from suspected Boko Haram hideout

    •Nine corpses released for burial, says Keke NAPEP Riders Association’s scribe

    •Atiku, Tsav, others demand independent probe

     

    Barely 24 hours after the killing of nine artisans in Gudu District, there was still tension in Abuja yesterday.

    There were indications that the Senate and the House of Representatives might probe the killing of the Gudu 9 in an uncompleted building, which the State Security Service (SSS) marked as Boko Haram hideout.

    But 13 critically wounded menial workers were still on admission at Asokoro General Hospital in Abuja.

    According to findings, the killing of the Gudu 9 had provoked protest from all classes of the society with many still claiming that the victims were menial and migrant workers.

    It was learnt that there had been representations to members of the National Assembly to verify the killings.

    Some of the aggrieved had told the leadership of the National Assembly that they were prepared to testify if there was an open inquiry into the incident.

    A principal officer of the Senate said: “We have got conflicting reports; we will look into all requests without compromising the nation’s security. We will ensure justice for the dead and the living in the light of the unusual challenges facing our nation. We will consider the incident on merit.”

    The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Zakari, said: “Some people have raised issues about the incident; we will investigate these after returning from our one-week oversight function tour.”

    Also, a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday demanded an independent probe of the killings.

    Atiku made the call in a statement by his media office in Abuja, the statement said: “Only an independent investigation by Nigeria’s parliament, the judiciary or civil society will unravel the facts behind the killing of nine citizens with 16 others injured in the reported shooting incident in the neighbourhood of the Apo Legislative Quarters of Abuja, the Federal Capital.

    “Since the incident took place in the early morning hours of Friday, there have been conflicting reports concerning the shoot-out with the State Security Service (SSS) claiming that they had a confrontation with the insurgent group, Boko Haram, while independent sources are indicating that the victims were economic migrants squatting in the uncompleted building.”

    Atiku said he became disturbed following the accounts by the Reuters International news agency as well as the local media that the victims were squatters who came under attack at the instigation of the owner of the building.

    “For me, this issue borders on human rights, the rule of law and the sanctity of human life.” The former vice president advised security services to stick to their role under the constitution. He recalled that in 2006, it took riots by Igbo traders in the Federal Capital Territory to force the government at that time to investigate, arrest and charge police officers that allegedly killed six Igbo traders they branded as armed robbers. He called for an independent investigation into this incident to ensure human rights and the rule of law.

    As at press time, however, 13 injured artisans were still in Asokoro General Hospital.

    Although the artisans were initially asked by security agencies to foot their medical bills, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, has said the FCT administration will offset the bills.

    There were, however, unconfirmed report that the Nigeria Police yesterday released the corpses of the nine victims to some senators and members of the House of Representatives from Zamfara and Katsina states.

    Giving an update in an interview with our correspondents, the Secretary of Apo Keke NAPEP Riders Association, Augustine Apeh, said the association is handicapped now that those killed are now being tagged as suspected Boko Haram members.

    Apeh said: “Some Senators and members of the House of Representatives from Zamfara and Katsina States have taken the dead for burial. They are not back yet. But they promised that they will not allow the matter to be swept under the carpet. None of the 13 gunshot victims in Asokoro General Hospital has been discharged. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister through the Permanent Secretary has promised to foot the bills of the victims.We are not doing anything over the matter for now because it has turned a security issue.”

    Also reacting to the incident, former Police Commissioner Abubakar Tsav, appealed to the legislators and the judiciary to promptly investigate the killings with a view to establishing the true identity of the victims.

    Speaking to The Nation yesterday, Tsav said he is worried about the disparity in the statement of the SSS and the accounts of international news agencies as well as the local media on the incident.

    The former Lagos Police boss said only an independent investigation by appropriate agencies will reveal the truth about the shooting incident.

    “The situation now is that there is confusion over the entire incident. It has become very difficult to simply believe the account of the SSS. We all are aware that some of the survivors and even neighbours are saying those killed are not Boko Haram members. And this is an issue about the killing of human beings. While we should do nothing to prevent our security operatives from doing their job, it is also important for us to be sure that they do not resort to extra-judicial killings.”

    He said if truly those killed were Boko Haram members, weapons recovered during the raid should be shown to the world and those arrested should be paraded for us all to see.

    Human Rights Congress of Nigeria, (HURICON), a development focused and democracy inclined rights group, also condemned the confusion trailing the shooting incident and demanded an independent, dispassionate and definitive investigation to unravel the truth about the incident.

    The group also criticised the SSS for not giving enough insight into the incident 24 hours after nine people were killed and several others injured.

    HURICON, in a statement endorsed by its National Coordinator, Dr. Saheed Amitolu, also took a swipe at what it called the unprofessional approach of the SSS as far as the Abuja shooting incident is concerned.

    It said, “The SSS should know better than to expect Nigerians and the whole world to just believe their verbal submission that these men are Boko Haram members. There are ways to do this and one of such is the presentation of evidences to back the claim.”

  • Eagles to train in Abuja

    Eagles to train in Abuja

    • For four days

    Nigeria are expected to train for four days between October 7 and 11 in Abuja before leaving for Addis Ababa for the first leg of the 2014 World Cup qualifier playoff against Ethiopia.

    The African champions take on the Antelopes inside the National Stadium, Addis Ababa on Saturday, 12th October, 2013. Both teams will clash in the return match at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar on Saturday, 16th November.

    “The Nigeria Football Federation is making arrangements to have the full squad train for four days in Abuja before the departure to Addis Ababa on the eve of the game,” a statement from the Glass House said on Friday.

    Coach Stephen Keshi has named a 23 man squad for the game including Liverpool striker Victor Moses who scored two goals for Nigeria in the last meeting between both sides in January.

  • Abuja wins NBA football tournament

    Abuja wins NBA football tournament

    Abuja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) (Unity Bar Team) has won the annual NBA football tournament.

    The tournament is part of the activities marking the NBA Annual General Conference.

    Abuja defeated Port Harcourt in the tournament played in Calabar, the Cross Rivers State capital, during the just-concluded conference

    On how the branch qualified for the final, the Abuja branch Secretary, Afam Okeke, said: “We played semi-final with Onitsha branch and Abuja won. 1-1 regulation and 5-4 penalty.

    Okeke continued: “Abuja played the final against Port Harcourt branch and won by 2-1. All the goals in the match were scored in the second half of the game. It was a tension-soaked encounter because that was the third time Abuja and Port Harcourt would be meeting at the final of this tournament.

    “In 2011, Port Harcourt mauled Abuja in the final of the tournament which was played in Port Harcourt in 2012.Abuja defeated Port Harcout in the final in Abuja.”

    The captain of Abuja team is Odion Okpokuje while Chukwudi Igwe is the acting coach with Onyeka Obiajulu as the assistant coach/assistant social secretary, NBA Abuja branch.

    On the tourney, the Unity Bar Team got a lot of support from many lawyers. They include Chief Adegboyega S.Awomolo (SAN), former General Secretaries of the NBA Ibrahim Eddy Mark and Olumuyiwa Akinboro; and former Chairman of NBA Abuja branch Mazi Afam Osigwe;.

    Others were Chairman, NBA Abuja branch, U.M.Yamah; Secretary, NBA Abuja branch, Afam O. Okeke; Social Secretary, NBA Abuja branch, Comfort Enejo; Okey Ajunwa and Kola Omotinugbon.

     

     

     

  • Prison boss abducted in Edo

    Prison boss abducted in Edo

    A Deputy Comptroller of prisons identified as T. C Ashibuogwu has been abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers in Benin City, Edo state.

    Ashibuogwu was recently posted to Zone G from Abuja.

    He was snatched along Sapele road close to his residence while returning from work.

    Family sources said the abductors are demanding millions of naira as ransom payment for his release.

    State Police spokesman, DSP Moses Eguaveon confirmed the kidnapping and said efforts were on to track down the abductors.

    Several persons have been abducted in Edo State in recent times, despite crackdown on kidnappers in the state.

    Over 500 suspected kidnappers are awaiting trial in the state and the House of Assembly before going on recess passed a bill prescribing death sentence for kidnappers.

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole is yet to sign the bill.

    Human rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome and five other persons abducted last month are yet to regain freedom.

     

  • Abuja natives quit land-swap committee

    The indigenous people of the Federal Capital Territory under the umbrella body, Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja, (OIDA) have voluntarily withdrawn from the Ministerial Committee on the Implementation of FCT Land-swap Programme and Resettlement Matters set up by the Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed.

    In a press statement signed by its Media Adviser, Sumner Shagari Sambo, OIDA says its withdrawal from the Ministerial Committee is due to the non-acceptance of its recommendation of 30% for the host communities who own the land and are to be resettled by the government and companies involved in the land-swap programme.

    OIDA’s withdrawal decision is contained in a letter signed by its President, Pastor Danladi Jeji which the group said it had submitted to the Chairman of the Landswap Committee and Permanent Secretary, FCTA Engr. John Chukwu at the resumed sitting of the Committee last Thursday.

    The FCT group said its earlier acceptance of the membership and full participation of the Committee’s sittings was borne out of germane and bonafide motives.

    “Despite initial misgivings OIDA chose to give the Hon. Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed the benefit of doubt when he said; ‘…we will carry the affected people and communities along….’ He further said: ‘… its going to be a bottom-up and not top-to bottom approach’.  He equally said, ‘…we shall adhere to global best practices….’. But as things have turned out, particularly as the ‘draft report’ of this Committee now attests, with due deference to the persons and personalities of this Committee whom OIDA holds in high esteem, the talk about ‘carrying the people (original inhabitants) along and so forth…’ was all mere rhetoric and a gimmick to get the Land-swap policy endorsed and or in another word ‘rubberstamped’ by the said locals.”

    “In view of the fact that the Committee’s draft report and or resolutions/recommendations do not reflect OIDA’s most weighty position of redefining the percentage ratio of 60% to Private Companies and 40% to FCTA.  Indeed OIDA’S position that the said equation be reworked from a bipartite to tripartite arrangement or contract, i.e. by the inclusion of the PAP/Communities in the equation has not been reflected much less be so recommended. It has been the uncompromising position of OIDA as repeatedly told and submitted to this Committee that 30% of the ratio or equation must go back to the PAP/Communities to be held in Community Trust Fund.  This position was also the outcome of the FCT Enlarged Stakeholders’ sub-Committee’s consultations. OIDA believes that this demand is justified in view of the fact that the compensation due and payable for the creation (acquisition) of Abuja has not been paid for 37 years now.  On 30% We Stand!”

    The press statement further states that “the original inhabitants have unlawfully, unconstitutionally, immorally and indeed un-spiritually been deprived and divested of their God-given inherent ‘title hereditament rights to their ancestral lands’. Despite the provisions of Section 297 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 1 of the FCT Act, it remains immutably and unequivocally explicit that for as long as the compensation for Abuja lands remain UNPAID by the Federal Government, then it means that we the FCT Abuja indigenous people still possess the customary rights to our lands. On our Ancestral Lands We Stand!”

    OIDA also dispelled media reports of a division between the FCT natives with regards to the landswap policy.

    It states that “the volte-face done by the Ketti-Waru Youth Forum from demanding 30% to a position of demanding not even 0% is the handiwork of a well-scripted Machiavellian Script of forces outside of the Land-swap Ministerial Committee but OIDA is not perturbed or deterred in its legitimate agitation for the Abuja People. Ketti-Waru’s shifting of grounds does not in any way reflect the generality of position of the other remaining communities to be affected by Land-swap and as such same cannot be used as a yardstick for across board implementation. No amount of intimidation, division of our people or use of divide and rule tactics will make us give up our lands. ”

    The rights group noted that “it is not proper to continually sit in this Committee knowing very well that at the end of the day, we would not assent to its report.  That would be most unfair and a great disservice to the Committee.”

    OIDA also wondered why the Ministerial Committee set-up to deliver its mandate in 3-weeks is yet to deliver report 10-weeks after its inauguration.

    While thanking the Minister for his invitation to serve as a member of the Committee, OIDA said it was withdrawing from the ministerial committee “until such a time that the Land-swap programme and indeed the FCTA is willing and ready to accede to the demand of 30% to host communities through the setting up of a Community Trust Fund.”

    The group also advised the concerned private investors and FCTA personnel to stay clear of Abuja indigenous communities until the issues are properly resolved through genuine consultation and dialogue or stand the risk of litigation.

     

  • Actress imprisoned for stealing ipad

    An Abuja Senior Magistrates’ Court on Friday sentenced an actress, Nancy Ndukwe, 26, of Jikwoyi, Abuja, to two months imprisonment for stealing an Ipad, IPhone and Jewellery.

    The Police Prosecutor, Cpl. Paul Anigbo, told the court that the matter was reported at the Lugbe Police Station by one Faith Njoku of Kapuwa Village, Lugbe, Abuja on Sept. 2.

    Anigbo told the court that Ndukwe reported that her friend, Njoku visited her on the said date and stole her Ipad, IPhone and Jewellery, all valued at N190,000.

    Anigbo listed the price of each of the items as reported by the complainant as Ipad, (N100,000), IPhone (N50,000) and Jewellery (N40,000).

    He said that during police investigation, the items were found in the convict’s possession.

    The prosecutor said  that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 287 of the Penal Code.

    The convict pleaded guilty to the charge but begged the court for mercy.

    “I stole the items due to frustration. I have a one-year-old son to cater for. I am sorry and I promise not to do such again,” she said.

    The Magistrate, Mr Celestine Odo, however, gave the convict two months imprisonment or an option of six thousand naira fine. (NAN)

  • Man docked for attempting to rape nursing mother

    A 29-year-old man, Stanley Bestman, on Wednesday appeared before an Abuja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly attempting to rape a woman, Naomi Haruna, on her farm.

    The accused, who is of no fixed address, was charged for criminal assault and criminal force with intent to rape Haruna at Daki-Biyu village, Jabi, Abuja on Aug. 30.

    The police prosecutor, Cpl. Simon Emmanuel, alleged that Haruna was working on her farm with a baby strapped on her back when the accused suddenly emerged from the bush.

    He said that the accused then grabbed her and pushed her to the ground and forced his finger into her private part with the intention to rape her.

    Emmanuel further alleged that the accused ran way when the victim raised an alarm which attracted the attention of people who came to the scene of the alleged crime.

    The prosecutor said the accused was subsequently trailed and apprehended by neighbouring farmers who took him to the Life Camp Police Station.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty when Magistrate Idaiyat Akanni took his plea.

    Akanni admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two reliable sureties.

    She ordered that the sureties must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction and one of them must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 7.

    The Magistrate adjourned the case to Sept. 20 for hearing. (NAN)

  • Man arraigned for alleged theft

    The Police on Tuesday arraigned Linus Auyah, 32, of Mashafa, Mpapa, Abuja, in a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court for stealing Christmas nursery plants.

    The police prosecutor, Cpl. Emmanuel Adikwu, told the court that Ahmed Isa of Agwamada Kwata Suleja, Niger State, reported the matter at Maitama Police Station.

    Adikwu said the Christmas nursery plant was kept at a spot along IBB Boulevard , Maitama, Abuja.

    He said during investigations, eight pieces of the said plant were recovered from the accused.

    Auyah, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    His defence counsel, Mr Goodwill Chukwudi, prayed the court to grant his client bail on liberal term.

    Chukwudi said his client would not jump bail and would provide reasonable sureties that would take him on bail.

    He added that Section 36 of the Nigeria Constitution declares an accused innocent until proven otherwise, and urged the court to exercise its discretion in favour of his client.

    The magistrate, Mrs Chinyere Nwecheonwu, granted the accused bail in the sum of N20, 000 with a surety in like sum.

    Nwecheonwu said the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and submit a passport-sized photograph to the court’s registrar.

    She adjourned the case to Sept. 9 for hearing.