The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Breaking news today

  • Police foils suicide bomb attack in Maiduguri

    The Police in Borno said its men had successfully foiled a lone suicide bomb attack on Wednesday night in Maiduguri.

    The Police Commissioner, Mr Damian Chukwu, told the News Agency of Nigeria  on telephone that the incident occurred at about 8:30 pm in the outskirts of Maiduguri.

    Chukwu disclosed that a teenage female bomber attempted to infiltrate a security check point, before security men fired shot at her and the Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs) vest strapped to her body exploded.

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    He said the explosion blew the girl into pieces, noting that there were no other casualties in the attack.

    The commissioner added that men of the Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD) were deployed and sanitise the area.

  • FRSC warns market women against displaying goods on highway

    The Ifo Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC) has advised sellers in Ogun to desist from selling goods on highways in order to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.

    Mr Joshua Ibitomi, the Ifo Unit Commander of FRSC, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria  on Friday in Ota, Ogun.

    According to him, the advice is important so as to prevent vehicles running into those selling goods on the roads.

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    He said that such sellers, apart from obstructing flow of traffic, expose their lives to danger on the roads.

    ”There is the need for sellers to have consideration for other road users to prevent traffic congestion on the roads,” Ibitomi said.

    He said that traders who spread their wares on the roads made it difficult for commercial buses to drop passengers at some locations.

    The Unit Commander urged the state government to provide affordable shops for the sellers.

  • Money Laundering: Zamfara SUBEB boss jailed 41 years

    The Chairman of Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Murtala Adamu Jengebe has been sentenced to a 41-year jail term.

    This was disclosed in a tweet by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) via its official twitter handle: @officialEFCC on Thursday.

    EFCC disclosed that a five-man panel of the Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto and presided over by Justice Hannatu Sankey sentenced Jengebe to a cumulative jail term of 41 years.

    The tweets further reads: “Jengebe was convicted by the court after the appellate court found him guilty on the seven out of the 10 counts for which he was earlier acquitted at the Federal High Court, Gusau, Zamfara State.

    Read ALso: ‘Buhari will enhance democratic governance, if re-elected’

    “In the lead judgment of the Court read by Justice Habeeb Abiru, the earlier acquittal of the embattled Chairman by a Federal High Court in Gusau was set aside.

    “The appellate court held that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt seven out of the ten counts of the money laundering charge brought against him by the EFCC.

    “He was consequently sentenced to five years imprisonment on each of four of the counts and seven years each on three other counts respectively. However, the Court ordered that the sentences shall run concurrently.

    “It would be recalled that on the 12th day of May 2017, the Federal High Court sitting in Gusau presided over by Justice Z.B Abubakar discharged and acquitted the convict on the 10 counts charge of Money Laundering but convicted him for engaging in private business while he was still in public service. An offence he was never charged for by the Commission.

    “Dissatisfied with the judgement of the lower court, the prosecution approached the Court Of Appeal seeking it to set aside the judgement of the lower court.”

  • Bad breath: Physician warns against gum disease

    Dr Innocent Osazuwa, a medical practitioner, Benin in Edo, says persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth may be a warning sign of gum disease.

    Osazuwa, a dentist at the Calvary Estate Hospital, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Benin.

    Gum disease is caused by the buildup of plaque on teeth. Bacteria cause the formation of toxins to form, which irritate the gums. If gum disease continues untreated, it can damage the gums and jawbone.

    Osazuwa said that bad breath, also called halitosis, could be embarrassing and in some cases might even cause anxiety.

    “Bad breath is often caused by a buildup of bacteria in your mouth that causes inflammation and gives off noxious odors.

    “Cleaning between teeth daily once a day is very important.

    “Tooth decay-causing bacteria still linger between teeth where toothbrush bristles cannot reach”.

    Read Also:360,000 adolescents expected to die of AIDS by 2030 -UNICEF

    “This helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line too,” he said.

    He said that brushing of the teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled brush and replacing your toothbrush every three or four months helped to eliminate bad breath.

    The dentist said the symptoms of bad breath vary, depending on the source or the underlying cause.

    According to him, some people worry too much about their breath even though they have little or no mouth odor, while others have bad breath and do not know it.

    He said the causes of bad breath includes food, poor dental hygiene, tobacco products, lack of balanced diet, wrong medications, dry mouth and lack of drinking water.

    Innocent advised anyone with such problems to see a dentist for treatment.

  • 360,000 adolescents expected to die of AIDS by 2030 -UNICEF

    Some 360,000 adolescents are expected to die of AIDS by 2030 if investment in HIV prevention is not ramped up, according to a UNICEF report released on Thursday.

    The figures show the world is “off track’’ in its goal to end AIDS among children by 2030, UNICEF’s executive director, Henrietta Fore, said.

    Projections show there will be a decline in the number of children and young people infected with HIV and dying from AIDS-related causes.

    But the UN children’s fund warned progress is notably slower among adolescents – defined by the UN as those between ages 10 and 19.

    For example, AIDS-related deaths are projected to decrease by 57 per cent among children below the age of 14 by 2030, compared with 35 per cent among those aged 15 to 19 years.

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    “Programmes to prevent HIV transmission from mothers to babies are paying off but haven’t gone far enough.

    “Programmes to treat the virus and prevent it from spreading among older children are nowhere near where they should be,’’ Fore said.

    The report blames slow progress in preventing HIV among young children, along with a failure to address structural and behavioural drivers of the epidemic.

    For example, many young people do not know they have HIV, and those who do often fail to stick to their treatment plans.

    UNICEF is pushing for more family-centred testing and diagnostic technologies, as well as targeted outreach programmes and a greater use of digital platforms to improve knowledge of HIV among adolescents.

  • Don’t lobby for positions, ex-CJN urges women

    A former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Aloma Mukhtar, on Wednesday in Ibadan urged women not to lobby for positions but work hard to distinguish themselves.

    Mukhtar made the call at the 2018 National Women Summit of the Oyo State Officials’ Wives Association (OYSOWA).

    The former CJN, who spoke on the challenges facing women in Nigeria, also urged them not to compromise on their principles in the bid to achieve fame.

    Citing her rise to the peak of the judiciary, she said women could distinguish themselves without necessarily compromising and “ without necessarily trying to push yourself into a situation whereby you are not allowed to function the way you should function.’’

    “Just put your trust in God, your faith in Him, work hard, persevere and be patient, ” Mukhtar added.

    The wife of the Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, said OYSOWA was established in 2012 to help in solving problems encountered by women and youths in the state.

    Read Also: Buhari to military: End Boko Haram threats now

    “Against all odds, the challenges we face cannot demoralise us because we are resilient; they are only a test of our superior ability and strength, and we will overcome them as well as achieve our dreams and aspirations.

    “We should never give up on our aspirations and back out when all hope seems lost.

    “ Always learn that the only way you are going to get to anywhere in life is to work hard and be consistent,” Ajimobi said.

    In their goodwill messages, the wife of the Delta governor, Mrs Edith Okowa, the wife of the former Lagos State governor, Mrs Emmanuella Fashola and the guest of honour, Mrs Yemisi Jenkins, all urged women to support each other to achieve set goals.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference had as theme: “ Against All Odds.’’

     

  • NDLEA begins trial of 33-year-old suspected drug baron

    The trial of 33-year-old Vincent Amago, who is accused of cultivating Indian hemp in a large farm, commenced on Wednesday at a Jos Federal High Court.

    It was reported that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), at the arraignment of the defendant, told the court that he was caught with 1,351 Kgs of Canniva Sativa, popularly known as Indian hemp.

    The NDLEA prosecuting counsel, Mr Bundi Suleiman, had told the court that operatives of the agency arrested the defendant on Nov. 29, 2017, at his residence at Kumbul village in Richa District of Bokkos Local Government of Plateau.

    According to Suleiman, the offence contravenes Section 19 of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Law of the Federation 2004.

    The defendant had denied committing the offence and was granted bail by the court.

    At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Suleiman told the court that he had two witnesses ready to testify in the case.

    Led in evidence by Suleiman, Mr John Joshua, prosecution witness 1, told the court that he arrested the defendant on Nov. 29, 2017.

    Joshua told the court that he and his colleague, Mr Michael Yelleng, in the company of military officers of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), on information, arrested the defendant at Kumbul village in Richa District of Bokkos.

    “On that fateful day, we went to the residence of the accused; when we knocked on the door, he opened it for us and we told him of our mission.

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    “To our utmost surprise, his entire house was like a store; it was filled with substances suspected to be Indian hemp.

    “We arrested him and packed so much quantity into our vehicles, but we had to leave some behind because the vehicles were filled up with no space to carry more, ’’ Joshua claimed.

    The witness said that the quantity they packed weighed 768Kg, and when tested, it was certified to be Indian hemp.

    “We again went back to his residence and packed the remaining substances and they weighed 583Kg; we also tested the substances and found them to be Indian hemp.’’

    Yelleng, another witness, also testified and corroborated the claims by the first witness.

    The prosecution then sought for an adjournment to call more witnesses after the defence counsel, Mr A. Shaddrach, had cross-examined the two prosecution witnesses.

    Justice Dorcas Agishi thereafter adjourned the case to Dec. 21, for continuation of hearing.

  • PHOTOS: Buhari arrives Maiduguri for COAS conference

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday declared open the 2018 Chief Of Army Staff (COAS) Conference in Maiduguri, Borno State.

    The conference was originally scheduled to hold in Edo State, but was moved to Maiduguri.

    COAS Conference

    Photo credit:@HQNigerianArmy

  • ASUU strike : Parents, students call for quick FG intervention

    Some parents and students in Abuja on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to speedily intervene and resolve the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU).

    The parents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, expressed worry over the constant strikes embarked upon by the university lecturers’ union.

    NAN reports that on Monday, the Federal Government and ASUU had a meeting to resolve their agreement in order to suspend the lecturers’ strike.

    However, the meeting that reportedly started at about 5 p.m. at the Federal Ministry of Education ended in another deadlock.

    A parent, Mrs Eunice John, said: “it is a pity what our government and ASUU is doing to this to our children who have been forced once again out of school.
    ‎
    “‎We know that many of the leaders have their children either studying in private universities or in other schools overseas, that is why they can always keep our children out of school.

    “Many parents are struggling to pay school fees of their wards to keep them in school and out of the streets, yet these children are forced to come home and some now engage in various vices.

    “That is not the only problem, when their studies are disrupted, it affects them; imagine those who were in the middle of writing examinations having that flow disrupted.’’

    ‎John pleaded with the FG and ASUU to reach an agreement that would end the strike and ultimately help improve the education sector.

    Mr David Onilede, another parent said the strike was worrisome adding that it would affect the productivity of the students.

    “I am worried at the sustained strike by ASUU. As a parent, the capacity of our children for productive interaction with their studies is being jeopardised.

    “I do not trust the FG ‘ s negotiating team; it seems that it is fixated on commercialising education at the tertiary level; ASUU should resist this. ‎

    “ASUU too, should be more flexible in their obsession with earned allowances; it portrays their struggles as selfish,’’ he said.

    Mrs Jumoke Yusuf, a Public Servant, said that the constant and protracted lecturers’ strikes had marred the country’s university system, as continuous breaks in the learning process had negatively affected the students.

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    “This strike is affecting the students and even we the parents because unexpectedly these children are coming home which they did not plan for.

    “That is not the main issue because you cannot stop your children from coming home no matter what.

    “The issue is that these incessant strikes are actually causing a lot of problems for these children in the sense that they just stay too long in school.
    ‎
    Esther Ajayi, a student ‎at the Nasarawa State University, who a spoke to reporters, said the strike had reduced her morale.

    ‎”I paid my fees for admission for a master’s degree programme and was excited and ready to go to school, however, this strike has dampened my hope of finishing within the stipulated time.

    “We want the federal government to dialogue with ASUU to end this continuous strike.
    ‎
    “It is not only sad that children of the masses try to be beat all odds to be the best they can be, but more worrisome is that the government of the day plays politics with the education system.

    ‎”Nigeria prides herself as the giant of Africa, but finds it difficult to resolve issues that are beneficial to the populace, we want the strike called off soonest.”
    ‎
    Emmanuel Onuoha, another student who spoke to NAN, accused the FG of failing the Nigerian student. ‎

    He said that government needed to do everything within its power to address the challenges in the sector as he called for the strike to be called of soonest.

    “Our parents said in their time the education system was good, there was nothing like strike and education was basically free.

    “Now some of them are in government and they are allowing us to suffer what they never did, because they can afford to send their children to schools abroad to get the best. ‎

    “We are pleading with government to solve this problem so we can go back to school.

    “Our ‎mates in private universities are way ahead of us; we‎ are just sitting at home doing nothing. It is not fair,”‎ he said.

  • Plumber docked over alleged N170, 000 fraud

    A 35 -year-old plumber, Emeka Nwanga, on Tuesday appeared in a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State for allegedly obtaining N170,000 by false pretences.

    Nwanga, with no fixed address, is charged with two counts of stealing and obtaining by false pretences

    Police prosecutor, SP Thomas Nurudeen, told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 24 at 12 p.m. at Ogba area of Lagos.

    Nurudeen alleged that Nwanga, charged the complainant; Mr Segun Adeyemo, N170,000 to drill a borehole for him.

    He further said that the accused had then requested for additional N8,000 to complete the job.

    While transferring the money, the prosecutor said that the complainant mistakenly paid N800,000 into the accused’ bank account.

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    “My Lord, upon realising that he mistakenly paid N800,000 into the accused account, the complainant tried to inform the accused to return the money.

    “The accused disappeared with the money. It took us a few months to apprehend him and charge him to court,” Nurudeen said.

    The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 287 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

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

    Chief Magistrate K.B. Ayeye admitted granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Ayeye ordered that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction, show two years evidence of tax payment to Lagos Government and be gainfully employed.

    The case was adjourned until Jan 29 for further hearing.