The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Illegal

  • Strike: JOHESU is illegal, say doctors

    Doctors say they will not join a proposed strike by other workers in the health sector.

    The doctors through the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) also described the union of the other health workers, JOHESU, as illegal.

    JOHESU, which includes all health workers except doctors and dentists, announced on Monday it will commence an indefinite strike later tonight.

    At a press briefing on Tuesday, the NMA president, Mike Ogirima, warned the government against acceding to JOHESU’s demands.

    He said doctors will not join the strike and that the strike is targeted at medical doctors.

  • INEC uncovers illegal registration centre in Kwara

    INEC Administrative Secretary Secretary in Kwara, Mr Paul Atser, made this known in a statement in Ilorin on Friday.

    “It has come to the notice of Independent National Electoral Commission, Kwara State that some unscrupulous persons are carrying out illegal registration of voters in Offa Local Government area,” Atser said.

    According to him, the perpetrators of the illegal registration were using Corel Draw application to change the particulars in a scanned INEC PVC.

    The INEC official said one suspect was arrested and undergoing interrogation by the police.

    “The general public is advised to be watchful and ensure that they go to only INEC designated registration centers to be captured for the PVC,” Atser added.

    He said a list of all designated centers were available at the INEC State office as well as INEC offices in the 16 local government councils in Kwara.

  • Police set up task force on illegal firearms

    Police set up task force on illegal firearms

    Enugu State Police Command has set up a task force to mop-up illegal fire arms and ammunition.

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, recently directed commissioners to recover prohibited firearms.

    Police Commissioner Mr. Mohammed Danmallam spoke yesterday while briefing reporters on the directive.

    He said the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, Mr. Frank Idu, had been appointed to head the task force.

    Danmallam said the task force comprised personnel from State and Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department and mobile police units.

    “The task force will ensure the mop-up of illegal fire arms and ammunition as well as stop militia groups.

    “The task force will ensure that everybody holding illegal fire arms and ammunition will be prosecuted,” he said.

    The commissioner urged persons with firearms and ammunition to re-verify and revalidate them in the command within 14 days.

    He said anyone caught with illegal firearms and ammunition would be prosecuted.

    “If you have firearms and ammunition with expired licence or not duly registered, you must re-verify and revalidate at the command now,” Danmallam said.

    He said the enforcement would be total and urged the public to give information on people holding such illegal firearms and ammunition to the police.

    “Everybody should assist the police on this issue; the public, especially reporters will do well to give us intelligence information,” the police boss said.

    He said the state had no militia group and had remained peaceful for over two years.

  • Court: daytime Oro is illegal in Ogun

    Court: daytime Oro is illegal in Ogun

    An Ogun State High Court, sitting in Ipokia Local Government Area, has declared the daytime parade of Oro festival and its restriction of people’s movement as illegal.

    The court ordered that Oro festival or ritual can only be celebrated between midnight and 4 a.m, subject to the approval and an undertaking to maintain peace.

    Justice Sikiru Owodunni, who delivered the judgment, also ordered that Oro worshippers have no constitutional power to impose curfew on the people.

    The suit was filed by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Muslim Ummah in Ipokia against the town’s Oro worshippers.

    Counsel to the applicants, Kayode Samson and David Folalu, told court that the respondents performed their Oro festival in the bush and in the middle of the night.

    Samson averred that the respondents (Oro worshippers) claimed that women and men who do not belong to the cult are not permitted to see the Oro.

    The lawyer said the respondents allegedly extended the celebration into the main part of the communities and imposed daytime curfew for the celebration.

    He added: “When the Oro festival is on, women and men who do not belong to the cult are compelled to stay indoor. Businesses, churches, mosques, government corporations, schools and other public places are also compelled to be closed down, thereby depriving the applicants of their freedom of movements and lawful assembly.”

    The court ordered a “perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, their privies, agents and cohorts from declaring or imposing a daytime curfew or in any manner interfering with the fundamental rights of the applicants to freedom of movements”.

    It added: “It is hereby declared that Oro festival or ritual can only be celebrated in Ipokia, Idi-Iroko, Ihunbo, Ifonyintedo, Ogosa, Koko, Ilashe, Ibatefin, Ago Sasa, Oniru, Mede, Ajegunle and other villages thereunder between the hours of 12 a.m and 4 a.m in the night, subject to government approval and an undertaking to maintain peace.”

  • Abia CJ’s suspension illegal, say NBA chief, activists

    Abia CJ’s suspension illegal, say NBA chief, activists

    Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Second Vice President Onyekachi Ubani and a human rights group, the Access to Justice (A2Justice), yesterday condemned the suspension of Chief Judge of Abia State by the House of Assembly, saying it was illegal.

    According to them, only the National Judicial Council (NJC) is constitutionally empowered to discipline or suspend a judge.

    A2Justice, in a statement by its Director Joseph Otteh, said the CJ’s suspension amounted to a grievous assault on the Judiciary’s independence.

    The Abia House of Assembly purportedly suspended Justice Uzokwe for alleged acts of tyranny and gross misconduct and, by a resolution, asked the Governor to appoint an acting Chief Judge.

    A2Justice said the suspension was “a brutal violation of the Constitution, and a deliberate affront to the independence of the Judiciary guaranteed by the Constitution.”

    It said the Abia State legislature has no powers to suspend the Chief Judge or any Judge, adding that the lawmakers overreached their powers.

    The group said neither the legislature nor the Governor can appoint an acting Chief Judge without NJC’s recommendation.

    The group urged the NJC demand the immediate restoration of Justice Uzokwe’s rights and duties as CJ.

    “Additionally, the NJC should investigate the state of affairs of the Judiciary in Abia State and clarify that the Chief Judge is providing the sort of leadership that is conducive to the proper administration of justice in the State and take any necessary actions from its findings.

    “We urge the NJC to set up a fact-finding Committee to investigate the state of affairs of the Judiciary in Abia State for this purpose,” A2Justice said.

    Ubani said the 1999 Constitution does not allow a state House of Assembly to suspend or discipline an erring judge.

    “Disciplinary measures against any judge resides with the NJC. It is after the disciplinary measures are taken by the NJC that the Executive and the Legislature can come in to complete the process,” he said.

    Ubani said he does not think the Abia House received quality legal advice before it took the decision.

    “We desire peace in  Abia State including the judiciary; we advice that due process must be employed,” he said.

  • Oyo goes tough on illegal sticker, toll collectors

    Oyo goes tough on illegal sticker, toll collectors

    The Oyo State Signage and Advertising Agency (OYSAA) has warned private individuals producing fake mobile advert stickers and selling them to end users at ridiculous prices to desist from such practice or face the music.

    Its Director-General, Pastor Yinka Adepoju also warned local government officials and their agents to stop blocking roads and forcing branded vehicle owners to procure their locally-made mobile stickers.

    This, he said, is contrary to the extant laws establishing the agency.

    The agency issued the warning yesterday while unveiling the 2018 mobile advert stickers and certificates at the Film Theatre, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    According to him, the mobile advert stickers were for branded vehicles for private individuals, corporate organisations, religious organisations, non-governmental agencies, among others.

    He gave the rate at N3,000 for cars, buses, motorcycles, tricycles and N5,000 for lorries, trailers and other articulated vehicles.

    Adepoju said the launching was in line with practices globally to generate revenue for government.

    He said the agency would not allow any individual import fake stickers.

    Any private or corporate organisation caught with such, he said, would be dealt with.

    He said: “We will ensure all leakages in revenue generation is blocked.  We will not relent in our effort at stopping indiscriminate posting of posters and erection of billboards in the state because we aware of some private individuals who are in the habit of producing fake Oyo State Mobile Advert Stickers and selling them to end users at ridiculous prices. Such individuals or corporate organisations should desist from such activities as anyone caught indulging in such act will not be sparred but immediately handed over to the law enforcement agents for prosecution.”

  • Court declares change to ‘State of Osun’ illegal

    Court declares change to ‘State of Osun’ illegal

    An Osun State High Court sitting at Ilesa has declared that the change of name to “State of Osun” by Governor Rauf Aregbesola is illegal, null and void.

    Ruling yesterday, Justice Yinka Afolabi ruled that the law and its makers are unknown to the 1999 Constitution.

    Delivering the judgment, which lasted over one hour, the judge said Aregbesola renamed the state contrary to known norms and the nation’s constitution.

    The judge declared that the makers of the law, who are serving in the House of Assembly, were not sworn in as members of the “State of Osun House of Assembly” but as members of Osun State House of Assembly, going by the seventh schedule of the constitution.

    He held that since the creation of the state in 1991, previous governments used the  name, Osun State.

    All 35 states, he added, have not deviated from their constitutional names.

    Justice Afolabi said: “The executive governor of the state changed the name in 2011. The renaming of a state goes further and deeper for anyone to singlehandedly do.

    “To re-order the name of Osun State as “State of Osun” is hereby declared as illegal, null and void.

    “On the oath of allegiance, I want to state that the Seventh Schedule is part of the law.

    “It is not a mere draft or mere oath. It does not give room for any alteration. After deposing to an oath of office, you cannot turn around to do otherwise.”

    The judge threw out all arguments by the Attorney-General, Dr Basiru Ajibola, who stood in as counsel for the governor and the state.

    But he granted all seven prayers of the plaintiff.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the case was instituted by a rights’ activist, Mr Kanmi Ajibola, who challenged the legality of the “State of Osun Land Use Charge Law”.

    Ajibola went to court in 2016, asking for certain reliefs, after being served a notice by a private company, “Interspatial Limited”.

    The notice was christened “State of Osun Land Use Charge Annual Demand Notice,” and signed by Mrs. A. Ogunlumade, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Finance.

    According to him, the notice was addressed to him as the property owner of 42, Onigbogi Street, off Ibala, Ilesa West, and served on August 15, 2016.

    Some of the reliefs he sought include a declaration that the “State of Osun Land Use Charge Law 2016, “having been enacted by a legislative body not known to the constitution and a state not known to the 1999 constitution, be declared illegal and unconstitutional.

    Ajibola also asked the court to set aside the “State of Osun Land Use Charge Law, 2016” having been  enacted by a  legislative body not known to the constitution and a state not known to the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    The attorney-general said the judgment would be appealed.

  • FG pledges support for FCWC

    FG pledges support for FCWC

    The Federal Government has pledged to support the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea ( FCWC ) to achieve its goals for the benefit of the member states.

    Dr Bukar Ibrahim, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, conveyed the assurance at the 10th Annual Ministerial Conference on FCWC in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Ibrahim, who was represented by Mr Azeez Muyiwa, a Director in the ministry, said that the Federal Government would support the efforts of the committee to ensure that the fishery resources of the sub-region were sustainably exploited and managed.

    “Today’s annual conference is unique because the organisation is celebrating its 10th anniversary of existence.

    “The organisation’s excellent performance in fisheries management, promotion of fish trade, fight against Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported ( IUU ) fishing and regional cooperation among the member countries cannot be overemphasised.

    “The conference could not have come at a more auspicious time than now that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has redirected the focus of the Nigerian economy towards agriculture.

    “Efforts at harnessing the huge potential of fisheries and aquaculture will no doubt give an added impetus to the realisation of our shared objectives in wealth creation, food and nutritional sector in the Gulf of Guinea,’’ he said.

    Ibrahim, however, urged the participants to come up with a workable document that could be used to implement fishery development programmes that would be beneficial to the sub-region.

    Read also: ‘Mechanised Farming, key to Nigeria’s food security’

    Mr Seraphin Dedi, the Secretary General of FCWC, said that if the public and private sectors and all partners in the fishery sector invested appreciable resources in fishery development projects, the sector would record significant improvement.

    “If we are able to invest enough resources in the fishery sector, we may improve the contribution of fisheries to the food security, nutrition and the development of the sub-region.

    “The fishery sector is one sector that is helping a lot in terms redistributing the value addition of the sector to the population. So, if we invest in fisheries, you are sure that it will affect the people of the region.

    “If we look at the value chain of the fishery sector, we will discover that different people are involved in the system; by investing in the sector, you can touch all these people and facilitate the development of the region,’’ he said.

    Dedi said that FCWC was the regional fisheries body that managed the fishery resources of the region which comprised six countries — Nigeria, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic.

    “We are having this meeting in Nigeria, which is the conference of ministers.

    “We use to meet once a year and move from one country to the other. Part of the focus of the current meeting is the celebration of the 10th anniversary of our existence.

    “It means for the past 10 years, we have been working together as a body, sharing our experiences and implementing measures to combat illegal fishery in the region and manage our fishery resources.

    “So after 10 years, we need to sit down and reflect on what we have done so far and how far we can go again.

    “We have noted in our past discussions that investment in fisheries is not sufficient enough.

    “So, in efforts to support our region’s development, we decided to choose `Investment for Growth and Sustainability in Fisheries in West Africa’ as the theme of this year’s conference,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Most illegal refineries shut down, says naval chief

    Most illegal refineries shut down, says naval chief

    The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, has said most illegal refineries within the maritime domain have been destroyed.

    He said piracy had also reduced in the last one year.

    Also, the Navy has concluded plans to establish safe corridors on the waterways where protection would be provided for merchant vessels.

    Ibas spoke yesterday at the NNS Quorra Apapa yard in Lagos after his biannual inspection of facilities and command in Lagos area.

    The naval chief noted that the volume of trade through Nigeria’s waters had increased, attributing this to enhanced security.

    He said: “In the last one year, the navy has been performing. We have been out at sea, training and providing infrastructure, welfare and administrative supports. So far, I think the results are there to speak for themselves.

    “We have been able to considerably bring down cases of piracy on our waters. This is well noticed in the volume of trade that is taking place out there. The exports and imports of goods in Nigeria have increased. We are also rated a secure fishing environment and we are having more fishing activities taking place. So, this and all others are the positive impacts our operations have done for the nation’s economy.

    “The navy has shut down most illegal refineries and we have been able to bottle up activities of criminals and prevent them from going to sea.

    “We have also got most of the boats they used out there, that is boats with 200 horsepower engines and above through the support of our regulatory bodies. So, the navy is still on their trail to ensure they do not go out.”

    On what the navy was doing to curtail sea robbery, Ibas said choke points had been provided for the over 5,000 backwater channels, saying the service had also enhanced its surveillance technology.

    said criminals, whose source of funds had been blocked were the ones venturing into sea robbery.

    “Occasionally, you have robbery incidents that occur on land and when you pursue these guys, they find the sea especially the backwaters available for their illegal operations.

    “Besides, the navy does not have access to most of these backwaters because they are not navigable. That is why we adopted the choke point system.”

    On the purpose for the tour, Ibas said: “Usually, at the end of the year, we schedule to go round and appraise the state of readiness of our navy. That is what we have done in the past few days in Lagos area.

    “We will continue the same exercise in other commands across the country. Our mandate is to ensure that we provide maritime security and an enabling environment for seafarers. It is also important that we keep the men abreast of what is happening in respect to security of the nation…”

  • Illegal refiners, others for training, integration

    Illegal refiners, others for training, integration

    • Govt targets 100% local content by 2027

    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has directed some institutions to develop training plans that will give requisite skills to illegal refiners, pipeline vandals and others to make them productive.

    The institutions are the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI).

    He gave the directive at the just-concluded Nigerian Content Workshop, organised by New Planets Projects with the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources Upstream, in Owerri, Imo State.

    Kachikwu said NCDMB, PTDF and PTI should develop a plan for training youths, that are involved in pipeline vandalism, illegal refining and other illicit activities in the oil and gas industry.

    The training will focus on improving their skillsets and getting them to embrace productive activities to further boost oil and gas industry’s capacity building initiatives.

    He said: “We need to find a middle-level specialised system of training people in the oil industry, a system that is not necessarily tied to degrees. We need to capture a lot of those in the hinterlands who have finished WAEC or their first diploma and don’t know where to go to, but have some unique skillsets. We need to bring them to finishing schools.”

    Kachikwu also directed the institutions to use existing facilities in Port Harcourt and Kaduna to carry out the planned training and other capacity building programmes for industry stakeholders.

    “We have to provide local competency trainings, relying on support from oil companies in terms of investment and overseas faculty.”

    The Minister also directed the NCDMB to ensure that the oil and gas industry is able to produce its needs by year 2027. He said the Federal Government expected that over the next 10 years, the oil and gas industry, in collaboration with foreign investors, would have developed in-country capacities and capabilities to produce all its offshore platforms locally.

    “I would like to see the Japanese coming; I would like to see the Koreans come here; I would like to see collaborative efforts that will make our oil industry produce everything that we need,” he said.

    Kachikwu acknowledged the strides made by the Board in seven years, commending the excellent achievements of the Executive Secretary, Simbi Wabote, whom he credited for working with energy and passion and meeting several targets set for the Board in the past one year.

    Kachikwu noted that Nigerian Content achievement in engineering services had hit 80 per cent, but said performance in offshore aspects of the industry was still substantially low, and charged international and local oil companies to collaborate with the NCDMB to achieve the new target.

    “It doesn’t matter how much money we make, how much gas we produce or alternative fossils we produce; if we do not ensure that a lot of that is captured locally in terms of benefits, we have no stake,” the minister added.