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Tag: Abuja

  • ‘Animation important for job creation’

    The inclusion of Nigerian content in the animation film festival will create adequate employment and contribute to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy, Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture has said.

    Mohammed said this at the opening ceremony of the 4th French and Japanese Embassies Animated Film Festival at the Institut francais du Nigeria in Abuja.

    He said, “It is worthy to note that with the inclusion of Nigerian content in the animation film festival, it will create adequate employment and contribute to the growth and development of the nation economy.

    Mohammed, who was represented at the occasion by Deacon Grace Gekpe, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, said animation had the potential in promoting culture, creating jobs for youths and promote economic empowerment in the country.

    The minister described animation film as a platform to champion and support film makers to use animation in the production of unique cinematic visions and promote culture to younger generations.

    He added that economically, animation employed hundreds of thousands of artists, animators, producers and technicians to produce huge demand for diverse content in the world.

    “Artistically, the craft of animation has spurred amazing advancements in storytelling since its inception and it has proven to be one of the best forms of impacting knowledge and creative ideas to its audiences.

    “Animation industry has a great role to play in shaping the minds of our children and instilling in them our diverse cultural heritage.

    “It will be hard for us to imagine a childhood without all of the animated characters that fill our imagination.

    “The government, in its efforts to diversify the economy, has recognized the film industry as a sector of focus in its diversification agenda through the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan,’’ he said.

    Also speaking at the event, Yutaka Kikuta, the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria stressed the importance of culture to any society, adding that it remains the strength of a country.

    He said that Japan and French cultural collaboration had resulted in annual animation film festival aimed at promoting their cultures to Nigerian people and enhanced cultural exchange between them and Nigeria.

    Read Also: Minister: Fake news threatens poll

    “We strongly believe that creating a deep connection with the Nigerian people in the area of cultural exchange is no less important than the area of political and economic exchange.

    “This is why we have the line-up of Nigerian short films at this animated film festival for the promotion and betterment of this growing industry in Nigeria.

    He said two Japanese animated films: Pop in Q’’ and “Doraemon the Movie; Nobita’s Dinosaur, created in 2006, would be screened at the occasion mainly for the young audience.

    He said the theme of Pop in Q is “An adventure of teenage girls“ with full of fantasy, adding that the second film, “Doraemon’’ is about Doraemon and Nobita, showing young boys who were able to travel across time, using Time Machine.

    He further explained that Nobita found himself a baby dinosaur after bringing an egg to the modern world from an ancient era.

    The festival ends on Nov.9 and is expected to showcase short and long animated films, produced by Nigerian, French and Japan Embassies in Nigeria.

     

    NAN

  • Police nab ex-banker over N14m theft

    The FCT Police Command has arrested one Emmanuel Emeka Onuma, for allegedly stealing the sum of N14million from a bank ATM lobby.

    The 34 years old suspect who was a former staff of a new generation bank located in Garki, Abuja said he worked in the bank for about eleven years before his unjust dismissal in August.

    He said he stole the money because he was not paid a dime after his dismissal despite the number of years he worked for the bank.

    After stealing the money, the suspect according to the Police converted some of the money to foreign currency at Abuja and Kaduna for ease of movement.

    The suspect was arrested and paraded alongside 14 other suspects for armed robbery, murder, motorcycle snatching and other crimes.

    Giving details of his arrest, the FCT Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, ACP Valentine Olumese said: “On 1st November, 2018 in furtherance with an on-going investigation, Police Operatives attached to Garki Division arrested one Emmanuel Emeka Onuma m‘ 34 years old who broke into the ATM lobby of a bank Iocated in Garki on 19th October, 2018 at about 12 midnight and stole the sum of N14,000.000.00.

    “The suspect who was an employee of the bank before he was sacked in August this year for fraudulent activities, confessed that he acted alone.

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    “According to him, some of the money he stoIe from the bank were converted to foreign currency $33,000) at Abuja and Kaduna for ease of movement. Upon his arrest, the cash sum of $28,000, N1,650,120) and nine pieces of Ghana ceddis.

    Other exhibits recovered from him include one new SIM card and AZMAN flight tickets.

    On why he stole the money, the suspect said: “I worked with the bank for about eleven years and I was dismissed unjustly without pay and benefit.

    “There is no justification for doing what i did but i did it because they didn’t pay after eleven years of service.”

    The Police also paraded one suspect, Iliyasu Omika , 22yrs of Tungan Maje who disguises as a lady
    at a Brotel in Mpape and lures men.

    The Police said: “On 5th November, 2018 at about 0500hrs based on information, Police operatives from Mpape Division arrested one Iliyasu Omika ‘M’ 22yrs of Tungan Maje at a Brotel in Mpape.

    “The suspect who disguised as a lady to lure men at nightclubs for amorous relationships was arrested after his supposed client raised alarm upon discovery that he was actually a man and not a woman as he claimed.”

    The Police said the suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigation.

  • Space agency predicts more earth tremors

    The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has predicted more earth tremors in Nigeria.

    The agency said that the tremor that occured on the 1st November 2018 in Maitama Abuja was a weak event and not strong to cause any damage to structures.

    NASRDA also established that the tremor was likely an aftershock arising from magnitude 3.0 main shock that occurred in Abuja on 7th, October 2018 with epicenter located within Mpape area.

    Head, Media and Corporate Communications NASRDA, Dr. Felix Ale said this in a statement.

    He stated, “The National Space Research and Development Agency has established that the November 1, 2018 earth tremor in some parts of Abuja was a weak event and not strong to cause any damage to structures.

    “In a press statement, the Agency said after series of analysis of seismic data obtained from Toro and Kaduna stations by experts from its Centre for Geodesy and Geodynamics, it was also established that the earth tremor is likely another aftershock arising from magnitude 3.0 main shock that occurred in Abuja on 7th, October 2018 with epicenter located within Mpape area.

    “The Space Agency maintained that aftershocks from a main event may continue to occur in days, weeks and even in months depending on the nature of the fault.

    “The Director General, National Space Research and Development Agency, Professor Seidu Mohammed therefore advises residents of Abuja and environs to go about their normal businesses as there is no cause for alarm.

    “In the meantime, the space Agency revealed that findings from earlier investigations by its Centre for Geodesy and Geodynamics in Toro has shown that small magnitude earth tremors of less than or equal to 3.5 have high probability of occurrence in Nigeria in future. Hence the need for seismic and other relevant monitoring equipment in all areas where earth tremors have been witnessed for effective monitoring of seismic activities. “

  • Buhari promises improved remuneration for teachers

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said that a comprehensive policy of improved remuneration for the workers in the education sector and a genuine pension scheme are already being worked out for teachers and all public servants in the country.
    He made the remark at the 2018 Nigeria’s Annual Education Conference with the Theme: “Education for Self-Reliance: A System’s approach to Education for the achievement of Education 2030 Agenda” held on Tuesday at the Sheraton hotel, Abuja.
    The President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, said that the choice and timing of the theme is apt for the simple fact that Nigeria has dedicated itself to the implementation of the Education 2030 Agenda.
    He said “With the depression in the labour market, education should now be tailored towards the acquisition of skills and abilities that can make the individual a productive and self-reliant member of the society.”
    Through the Federal Ministry of Education, he said, that the Federal Government has promoted Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as well as developing the Science and Technology Education Policy for realization of TVET objectives and dreams.
    He said that government has commenced the development of a policy on product innovation, exhibition and commercialization that will create a window for advancing the outcomes of the national Annual student’s Skills Competition towards practical utilization and economic benefits.

    Read Also: Buhari, Ngige, Wabba meet in Aso Rock over minimum wage

    To reduce unemployment, poverty, hunger as well as violence, he said that people must pay less attention to education for white collar jobs and, instead, embrace education for self-reliance, job and wealth creation, which is the cardinal focus of his administration.
    Buhari also said that in 2017 the Federal Ministry of Education embarked on National Enrolment Drive Campaign to boost enrollment, improve retention and completion rates, and the exercise was flag-off in Bauchi state in January this year with the aim of addressing the issue of out-of-school children in the country.
    He used the occasion to inform Nigerians that the present administration has supported the implementations of various initiations aimed at improving the quality of basic education delivery such as the disbursement of N42.2 billion universal Basic Education (UBE) matching grant to 26 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), N851.5 million special Education grant disbursed to 23 states and private providers of special education and #2.2billion teachers’ professional development fund to 33 states and the FCT.
    The President while reiterating the importance of teacher education to his administration said the Federal Ministry of Education through the Universal Basic Education has allocated funds towards the Teacher Professional Development (TPD) programme to ensure that teachers and education managers are expose to current education policies, management systems and teaching methodologies; adding that “states are met irrespective of its peculiar nature, while paying attention to the judicious utilization of resources.”
    He said the Safe Schools Initiative, launched by the last administration has also received a boost from the present administration in addressing security challenges across the North East and in other flashpoints nationwide.
    In his welcome address, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu expressed his appreciation to President Mohammadu Buhari and all other participants.

  • Osinbajo to deliver keynote address at IoD conference

     Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has been slated to give the keynote address at the upcoming Institute of Directors (IoD) conference themed ‘Global Best Practice in Corporate Governance – Way Forward for Nigeria,’ which is set to take place in Abuja on Thursday November 7, 2018.
    The Chairman, IoD Abuja Zone, Mr. Victor Alonge, said this at a courtesy call paid by the group to The Nation office in Abuja on Tuesday.
    According to Alonge, the IoD is a not-for-profit institute which develops good corporate governance, promotes directors and enhances the economy for business development.
    “The institute delivers leadership training through various courses and training programs,” he explained.
    “IoD is for leaders in organizations, corporations  and directors. Before now the emphasis has been in private sector but in the last few years we have moved to the public sector as well.
    “What we are doing is a form of corporate social responsibility, not for our own benefit but for the interest of the nation and the people.”

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    The Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the conference, Mr. Shuaib Idris, during the interview affirmed that the attendance of many distinguished Nigerians will ensure the distribution of a wealth of experience and knowledge to all participants of the conference.
    The conference is also subthemed ‘Corporate Governance Practice and Organizational Performance in Nigeria- the Public and Private Sectors Perspectives’ and ‘ Impact of Good Corporate Governance Practice in an Emerging Economy- The Experience of Mauritius.’
    The conference will be graced by other key Nigerian personalities to handle discussions in sessions, including the President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation -Public Sector, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, and Mr. Emeka Onwuka, Former CEO Diamond Bank PLC.

  • Dino: Prosecution’s inability to provide witness statement stalls trial

    Failure of the prosecution to provide witness statement on Tuesday in Abuja in an FCT High Court stalled the trial of trial of Dino Melaye, who is charged with alleged false information.

    Maleye, representing Kogi West in the Senate, is being tried on two counts of alleged false information, an offence he has denied.

    At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Melaye’s counsel, Mr Olusegun Jolaawo, objected to a prosecution’s witness, Mr Edward Onoja, taking the stand to testify in the case.

    He accused the prosecutor, Ms Chika Nnanna, of refusing to serve him with the witness statement as required by law.

    Jolaawo told the court that the prosecution did not serve him with the witness statement and argued that the prosecution did not comply with the provisions of Section 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

    Read Also: Man gets strokes of cane for stealing packs of Coca-cola

    Jolaawo also argued that the section provides that the defence counsel should be provided with all necessary materials related to case on trial by the prosecuting counsel to enable him adequately prepare his defence.

    He said the court was not a court of record and that the proper procedure was for the prosecuting counsel to have filed an additional proof of evidence with proof of service on all parties, the court and the defendant.

    Nnanna however, regretted the omission and apologised to court..

    “It was not intentional to keep away relevant document from the defence” she apologised.

    She requested an adjournment to enable her properly file the necessary document.

    The Judge, Justice Olasumbo Goodluck, who ordered the prosecution to do the needful, adjourned the case until Dec. 5 and Dec. 13 for definite hearing.

    “In the interim, the prosecution is expected to do the needful;

    “The matter is adjourned until December 5 and December 13 for definite hearing in the expectation that the prosecution files their additional witness statement before the next adjourned date” he ruled.

  • Man gets strokes of cane for stealing packs of Coca-cola

    A Kubwa Grade 1 Area Court in the Federal Capital Teritory on Tuesday sentenced a 33-year-old man to 20 strokes of cane for stealing three packs of Coca-cola soft drinks, valued N4,400.

    The judge, Abdulwahab Mohammed, also counseled the convict, Mohammed Sani, to desist from committing crime and be of good behaviour.

    Read Also:Man in court over alleged stabbing of neigbour

    Sani was convicted for criminal trespass and theft.

    The Prosecutor, Babajide Olanipekun, had told the court that Sani stole three packs of Coca-cola drink from the complainant’s shop located at Byanzhin, Kubwa, Abuja, on November 2.

    He said Sani was chased and arrested with the drinks, adding that the offence contravened Sections 342 and 287 of the Penal Code.

    Sani pleaded guilty to the charges and begged the court for mercy, saying that he stole because he was hungry.

    Defence counsel, Moses Ugwummadu, prayed for the court to temper justice with mercy, adding that Sani would not do it again.

  • Man in court over alleged stabbing of neigbour

    A 27-year-old man, David Orih, on Tuesday faced charges of criminal force and causing grievous hurt in a Karshi Grade I Area Court, Abuja, after the police said he allegedly stabbed his neighbour with a knife.

    Arih, who resides in Kugbo, Karu, Abuja, is charged with four counts of joint act, criminal force, causing grievous hurt and disturbance of public peace.

    The prosecutor, Ayomide Adeyanju, told the court that one Sunday Ani, reported the matter on behalf of his junior brother at the Karu Police Station, Abuja, on October 10.

    He said that on October 6, the complainant’s junior brother, Michael was approached by the defendant to help him buy something from a store.

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    However, the prosecutor said after refused, the defendant, in company of his three brothers and one other now at large, beat Micheal up.

    The prosecutor said the defendant and his brothers used knives and inflicted serious injuries on Michael’s abdomen, hands and other parts of his body.

    “Michael is still receiving treatment in Garki Hospital.

    The offence, the prosecutor said, contravened the provisions of Sections 80, 265, 248 and 113 of the Penal Code.

    After the charges were read to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty.

    The judge, Aliyu Kagarko, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N80,000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case until Nov. 16, for hearing.

  • Suspended NHIS Boss drags Ministers, NHIS to court

    Professor Usman Yusuf, the embattled Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has dragged two ministers and NHIS to a Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging his suspension from office.

    In the suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1220/2018, Yusuf instituted legal action against the Honourable Minister of Health, and Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice as well as the NHIS.

    The six-page summons was filed by Chief Uchechukwu Obi (SAN) of Alliance Law Firm, Abuja, on behalf of the plaintiff.

    According to the document made available to the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, the respondents are expected to cause appearance within 21 days after the service of the summons on them, inclusive of the day of service.

    The summons read in part thus: “The plaintiff prayed whether the Governing Council of the NHIS has the powers under the provision of the NHIS Act, particularly Sections 6 and 7 of the Act, to suspend or remove from office the plaintiff who was appointed by the President.

    “Whether the Governing Council of NHIS has the powers under the provision of NHIS Act to discipline the plaintiff or to investigate allegations made against him as purported by their internal memorandum dated Oct.19, 2018.

    “Whether the Hon. Minister of Health under the NHIS Act Section 47 of the Act is equipped with the statutory powers to authorise the suspension from office of the ES of NHIS without the approval of the President.

    “Whether the decision of the Governing Council to suspend the ES of the NHIS taken by 4 out of 11 members of the Council can be said to be a decision of the council in accordance with the NHIS Act.

    Read Also: Buhari orders NHIS boss to proceed on administrative leave

    “Whether the Governing Council can appoint the General Manager, Legal Department, or any other employee of the scheme to oversee the affairs of the scheme in acting capacity without the approval of the President,’’ among others.

    Yusuf therefore prayed the court to determine all the aforementioned questions in his favour and consequently sought for the following reliefs:

    “A declaration that the Governing Council of NHIS lacks powers under the provisions of the NHIS Act to suspend or remove the plaintiff who was appointed by the President for a five year term.

    “A declaration that the members of the council lacks the powers under the provision of the NHIS Act to discipline, or set up the machinery to discipline the plaintiff or investigate allegations made against him as purported by the internal memorandum dated October 19.

    “A declaration that the internal memorandum dated October 19 which was purportedly issued by the council and signed on their behalf by its Chairman in which it purported to have suspended the plaintiff as the ES of NHIS is ultra Vires, null and void and of no effect.

    “An order of court setting aside and cancelling the purported suspension of the plaintiff from office as the ES of NHIS.

    “An order of court reinstating the plaintiff as the ES of the NHIS.

    “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their members, servants, employees, agents, officers or any person from disturbing, obstructing the plaintiff from carrying on his official duties as the ES of the NHIS,’’ among others.

    A copy of the summons was stamped received by the NHIS head office in Abuja on Oct. 30.

    The case is yet to be assigned for date for mention to be fixed.

    News Agency Of Nigeria recalls that Yusuf was first suspended by the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, on July 6, 2017, over alleged maladministration, but was recalled by the Presidency on Feb. 6, 2018.

    Again, the Governing Council of NHIS led by Mrs Ifenne Enyanatu, later slammed an indefinite suspension on Yusuf on Oct. 18 over similar allegations of fraud.

    The latest action prompted the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, to advise members of boards and governing councils at a retreat that they do not have powers to suspend or meet disciplinary actions on chief executives without recourse to due diligence.

    On Tuesday (Oct. 31), the Presidency asked Yusuf to proceed on administrative leave to allow unfettered investigations of the allegations leveled against him.

    It appointed Mr Ben Omogo, Director, Administration Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of Federation to oversee the affairs of the scheme.

    The government also instituted a 7-man panel led by Dr Hassan Bukar, and Mrs Jummai Idako from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation as Secretary, to probe and report their findings within two weeks for appropriate action.