The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Demotion

  • Abia govt: Stop illegal demotion of Mrs. Ezichi

    The Young Leaders Association of Nigeria, also known as Nigerian Youths Forum, Abia State Chapter, condemns the continuous victimisation of the Headmistress of Amaetiti Primary School, Asaga Ohafia.

    Her only offence was her plea for over five months unpaid salaries to be paid by the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu-led administration. She was allegedly whisked away from her place of work to Umuahia and thereafter handed a transfer letter to another primary school in Ukwa-East Local Government Area to resume as a classroom teacher.

    She was accused of “embarrassing” Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu, the wife of the governor, who was in the school to kick-off her one free meal programme for primary school pupils. The ‘embarrassment’ was that Mrs. Ezichi, a mother, pleaded with Mrs. Ikpeazu, a fellow mother, to intercede on behalf of the teachers to the state government for their over five months unpaid salaries to enable them buy food for their children, pay house rents, take care of their medical needs, pay debts, and other needs. But instead of taking pity on these starving teachers who are putting in their best to groom the primary school pupils for a greater society, the government demoted her and transferred her to a remote area. This is the height of injustice and inhumanity. No other type of humiliation can be worse than this.

    We are bewildered that the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Abia State chapters have not said anything about this woman’s fate.

    The Young Leaders Association of Nigeria therefore condemns this undue maltreatment of this worthy Abia citizen by the government. We demand that the governor should not only reinstate Mrs. Ezichi but also pay all the teachers’ their entitlements.

     

    • By Duke Imandu

    Press Secretary, Young Leaders Association of Nigeria, Abia State Chapter

  • Unlawful Assault: Soldier gets demotion, three years imprisonment

    Unlawful Assault: Soldier gets demotion, three years imprisonment

    The military Court Martial seating in Maiduguri has sentenced one Staff Sergeant Umar Sule to three years in prison over unlawful assault on a ten year old in Maiduguri.

     

    The convicted soldier was also demoted from the rank of a staff sergeant to a private soldier.

     

    The Nation recalls that the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu on Wednesday August 10, 2016,   set up a General Court Martial to try four officers and 16 soldiers for various offences ranging from criminal sales of arms to non-military persons as well as abuse of human rights in the ongoing war against Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria.

     

    Brigadier General Ezugwu at the inauguration  said he has to issue   a convening order for a  General Court Martial “following the directives from Army Headquarters that a standing GCM be set up for Operation Lafiya to try offences committed by personnel within the Theatre of Operation”.

     

    “This GCM is therefore convened to try a total of 4 officers and 16 other ranks of the Nigeria Army who have committed various offences within the Theatre of Operation Lafiya Dole”, said the GOC.

     

    Delivering judgment, the President of the Court Martial Brig. Gen. Gabriel Adeniyi pronounced his judgment quoting relevant military laws and laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria sentenced the convict on two count charges which include unlawful assault of a minor and disobedience to standing military orders.

     

    The verdict reads:    “Staff Sergeants Umar Sule, having found you guilty of the charges against you and having listen to the presentation of the prosecution urging this court to treat you as a first offender and the counsel’s touching plea to litigation, we have also look at the various punishment provided by both section 104 of sub section 2d of armed forces act cap A 20 laws of the federation 2004 as well as section 119 of armed forces act cap A 20 laws of the federation 2004.

     

    “This court also considers the need to ensure discipline in the system. This court hereby sentences you as follows: “On count one; three years imprisonment. On count two- reduced to private. This sentence is however subject to confirmation by the confirming authority as provided by section 141 sub-sections 2 and section 152 sub-section 1A of the armed forces act cap A20 law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004”.

     

    Speaking after the judgment, representative of the Human Right Commission, Barr. Jumai Usman Mshelia said she is satisfied with the judgment.

     

    According to her, “I believe that all the parties in this case have gotten justice. This judgment demonstrates the discipline and transparency of the army that anybody can get justice no matter who you are, poor or rich,” Barr. Mshelia said.

     

    The father of the boy Usman Mohammed also said he is satisfied with the judgment. He however called on the government to assist in the upbringing of the boy whose two hands have now been severed due to the torture by the convict.

     

    Ten years old Mohammed Saleh, the victim was said to have been arrested by the soldier for allegedly stealing his N2000. The demoted soldier according to the father of the boy tied his hands for more than eight hours which caused serious injuries to the hand leading to the amputation of one of the hand while the remaining hand still remains non-Functional.

     

    The court has been adjourned to 20th October, 2016 where two Captains and one Major would be put on trial.

  • Misconduct: Police dismisses ASP, demotes two others

    Misconduct: Police dismisses ASP, demotes two others

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the dismissal of one Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and the demotion of two other officers over various established cases of misconduct.

    The officers who had their ranks reduced were a Superintendent of Police (SP) and an Assistant Superintendent (ASP).

    This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations of the commission, and issued to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

    It said the commission rejected 23 appeals from some dismissed Policemen for reinstatement and restoration of ranks.

    The statement said the decisions were taken at the 15th Plenary Meeting of the commission presided by its Chairman, Mr Mike Okiro.

    However, it said the commission had approved the reinstatement of 10 other Police Officers, exonerated three and committed the dismissal of three others to retirement.

    The statement said one serving DSP and ASP received the punishments of severe reprimand, while an Assistant Commissioner, two DSPs and an ASP are to be issued letters of reprimand.

    Besides, it said an SP will receive letter of warning while an ASP was exonerated.

    Based on Court judgments, the statement said appeals from ex-Police Officers for reinstatement was approved by the commission which also endorsed the retirement of eight and rejected the appeals of 15 others.

    It said the commission’s decisions have since been communicated to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, for implementation.

     

  • Falana rejects demotion of Maj. Gen. Ransome-Kuti

    Counsel to Ransome-Kuti, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) said Wednesday night ‎that the demotion of his client from the rank of a Major General to that of a Colonel is “totally unacceptable”.

    Falana, maintained that there was no justification whatsoever ‎to warrant the demotion of the former Army General.

    “That is my first reaction. But I am holding a meeting with my client Thursday for further direction on the matter,” he said.

     

  • Illegal duty: Police demote three officers

    Illegal duty: Police demote three officers

    Three police officers attached to the Lagos Command have been demoted for alleged illegal duty.

    The officers identified as Inspector Columbus Anizor, Sergent Bayo  and Corporal Bawa  were demoted to Sergent, Corporal and Constable, respectively.

    It was gathered that the officers were arrested on December 5, last year and taken to Abuja following a petition against them by a suspected drug baron.

    The officers were said to have arrested the drug trafficking kingpin and confiscated cocaine worth about N15million from him, without the consent of their superiors.

    As if that was not enough, they were alleged to have released the man, sold the drugs and shared the money among themselves.

    The suspect, it was gathered, petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase, two weeks after his release, intimating him of the actions of the officers.

    “The officers were arrested and flown to Abuja and they confessed during investigation. They could not provide the drugs nor the money and so, the IGP ordered that they should be tried.

    “At the end of the trial, the three of them were demoted by a rank each,” said a police source in Abuja.
    It was further gathered that the drug baron was handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    The Police spokesperson in Abuja, Bisi Kolawole could not be reached for official statement at the time of filing this report.