The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Jos

  • Man remanded in prison for raping minor

    Man remanded in prison for raping minor

    An 18-year-old man, Isyaku Isyaku, on Wednesday appeared before a Plateau State High Court in Jos over alleged raping of a three year-old neighbour’s daughter.

    The accused person, a resident of Naraguta village, Jos was charged with rape, an offence the prosecutor, Mrs. S. F. Dalyop, said contravened section 282(1), and punishable under section 283, of the Penal Code.

    Isyaku has, however, denied the charge.

    At the hearing of the case on Wednesday, Dalyop told the court that the accused committed the crime on Dec. 13, 2017, at Naraguta village.

    “The accused, in a confessional statement, told the Police that he lured the girl into an uncompleted building and raped her.

    “The accused also told investigators that the little girl was a neighbour’s daughter and was sitting in front of the family house when he lured her into following him into an uncompleted building.

    “He further said that he placed the girl on his lap and had carnal knowledge of her, but ran out of luck when his brother caught him in the act.”

    Dalyop further quoted the accused as saying that he was “just about to ejaculate” when his brother entered the building.

    “The accused confessed that he ran away on sighting his brother but was apprehended by people that heard the brother screaming,” the prosecutor said.

    The prosecutor told the court that a hospital examination had confirmed that the girl was actually defiled.

    Dalyop said that if found guilty, the accused is liable to up to 21 years imprisonment.

    The judge, Justice Nafisa Musa, adjourned the matter to March 2 for hearing and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.

    NAN

  • Eight killed in herdsmen-farmers clash in Jos

    Eight killed in herdsmen-farmers clash in Jos

    …Why killings persist in Plateau- OPSH

     

    At least eight persons have been confirmed killed in two separate incidents in Bassa local government and Bokkos local government since Monday this week.

    One of the incidences in Daho, Bokkos LGA involved dispute over a pieces of land between Fulani people and Ron people, while the second incidence in Bassa LGA involved Fulani herdsmen and Irigwe farmers.

    Both incidences led to the lost of 8 persons, burning of several houses and several other people injured.

    Confirming the incidences, Media Officer of the special military task force code named “Operation Safe Haven” (OPHS) Major Adam Umar said, “There is no denying the fact that these killings took place between the 22nd and 24th of this month. The first one that happened in Bassa was between Irigwe youths and some herdsmen, a head of cattle allegedly encroached into a farm belonging to Irigwe farmer, and that led to the killing of one of the cows, several other cows were injured.

    “When the report got to us, our men in sector seven mobilize to the area and effect some arrest and rescue some of the cows. In the night of that same day 3 dead bodies were found near a mining site and those bodies were identified as Irigwe boys, they were obviously killed by some unknown gunmen. Our men went and evacuated the bodies.

    “Related to that, security agencies in neighboring Kaduna State raised alarm that they saw some gunmen dresses in black uniforms in their area and asked for vigilant around the boundary areas, the next day, two bodies of Fulani boys were found and evacuated by the police.

    “So to restore calm in the areas, our men have been deployed to the general areas to forestall breakdown of law and order and calm has already been restored to the area”

    On the second incidence that happens in Bokkos, Major Umar said, “A Fulani young man was sighted molding building blocks in Daho village, some Ron boys contested the ownership of the land and in the fracas that ensued, the Fulani boy was killed. Eventually, the crisis escalated before we know of it and two more people were killed in the clash between the Fulani and Ron youths”

    According to Major Umar, “You see, these killings occurred because people often take laws into their hands, the normal thing is to report any grievances to security agencies, we keep preaching about this on daily bases, but people will not listen. We have often tell them to cooperate with security agencies and give us useful information at the right time, we have the capacity to use such information in a manner for peace to reign in the communities, that is why we are deployed here But the people, for reasons best known to them will want to handle the situation themselves and we frown at that”

    However, we are already maintain our heavy presence in the communities where these killings took place and everywhere is calm now, said Major Umar.

    However, youths in the state said the special military task force are so economical with the truth of the situation. They alleged that the communities are facing unprovoked attacked by armed Fulani who are contesting for grazing land with the natives.

    The Nation learnt that security meetings are ongoing in the state to prevent the issue from escalating into full blown war.

  • Former minister, two others arraigned for N450m fraud

    Former minister, two others arraigned for N450m fraud

    Former minister for water resources, Serah Ocheme and two other public office holders from Plateau state were arraigned before the federal high court Jos following a suit by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

    The anti- grant agency is accusing the suspects of receiving and laundering the sum of N450 million which they allegedly received from former minister of petroleum resource Alison Dieseni-Madueke in 2015.

    Alison Madueke was arraigned together with former acting chairman of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Plateau State Chapter Chief Raymond Dabo and Plateau state campaign coordinator of 2015 Goodluck Jonathan, Evangelist Leo-Sunday Jatau.

    The trio were charged for money laundering and conspiracy for receiving the sum of N450 million through a Nigerian based commercial bank which was eventually laundered.

    When the case was mentioned at the federal high court Jos yesterday, the three accused pleaded not guilty to charges.

    The Federal High Court sitting in Jos the Plateau State capital however granted them bail on condition of self recognition.

    After arguments by both the counsels of the parties, the counsel to the defendants,Barrister Sunday Odey said that all the three accused persons filed for the bail application and requested the court to grant his clients bail based on self recognition.

    The Prosecuting counsel, A.Y Manchata didn’t object the request for the court to grant the bail.

    The judge presiding the case, Justice Musa Kurya granted the defendants bail following their formal application before adjourning the case to 13th and 14th February, 2018 for hearing.

  • 725 candidates jostle for positions in Plateau LG polls – PLASIEC

    725 candidates jostle for positions in Plateau LG polls – PLASIEC

    Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission ( PLASIEC ) said it had cleared 725 candidates to contest for chairmanship and councillorship positions in the local government polls in the state scheduled for Feb. 17.

    Chairman of the commission, Mr Fabian Ntung, made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen on Tuesday in Jos.

    According to Ntung, 48 of the candidates are vying for chairmanship positions in the 17 Local Government Areas ( LGAs ) of the state, while the rest 677 are candidates for councillorship seats.

    “From our records, we have 48 candidates that are seeking election into chairmanship positions in the 17 LGAs of the state.

    “While 677 candidates have been cleared to contest for the position of councilors across the 325 electoral wards of the state,” he said.

    The chairman expressed optimism that the forthcoming polls would be free and fair, in view of the level of preparations by the electoral umpire.

    “Even though preparation is business in progress until the last day of the elections, we want to say emphatically that we are ready for the elections,” Ntung assured.

    He commended the support and cooperation rendered by the various political parties in the state, and urged them to do more till the end of the entire exercise.

    Ntung urged the parties to have confidence in the commission as it was poised toward conducting one of the most credible polls in the history of the state.

    NAN

  • Farmer jailed two years for raping minor

    Farmer jailed two years for raping minor

    An Upper Area Court in Kasuwan Nama, Jos on Monday sentenced a farmer, Auwal Audu, to two-years imprisonment for raping a minor.

    The 20-year-old farmer was sentenced by the Judge, Yahaya Mohammed, after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

    Mohammed in a ruling rejected the convict’s plea for mercy and slammed two years imprisonment on him without an option of fine.‎

    “The sentence will serve as a deterrent to others,” the judge ruled.

    Audu was convicted under Section 157 of the Criminal Code by the judge.

    Earlier, the prosecutor Insp. Ibrahim Gukat told the court that the incident was reported to Angwan Rogo Police Station by one Nasiru Mohammed of Naraguta village on Dec. 19, 2017.

    Gukat said that the convict, who also resides at Naraguta village, committed the offence on the same date at about 7. p.m.

    He said that the convict had carnal knowledge of his 4-year-old daughter, beside his house.‎

    Gukat said the ‎offence contravened Section 283 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria.

    NAN

  • Plateau United FC ready for 2017/2018 NPFL season

    Plateau United FC ready for 2017/2018 NPFL season

    Defending champions, Plateau United Football Club of Jos on Wednesday said they were fully prepared for the new 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League ( NPFL ) season which begins on Sunday.

    Albert Dakup, the club’s Media Officer, said in Jos that the management has put in place all necessities for a successful outing.

    He recalled that the club had shortly after the end of last season released 12 players whose service were no longer needed.

    “In their stead, the club has recruited 12 new players to strengthen the team for the new NPFL season, as well as its continental engagements.

    Read also: Ikoyi Club fetes ‘Elders’ for 2018

    “Experience was a key factor which was considered in the recruitment of new players, taking into cognisance the continental matches.

    “Based on that, some experienced players like Terna Suswam from Enyimba, Amos Gyang from Kano Pillars, Charles Henlong from Rangers of Enugu, Raphael Ayagwa of Lobi Stars, amongst others, were recruited,” Dakup said.

    The spokesman said also that Plateau United played two pre-season tournaments and some friendly matches as part of its preparations for the new season.

    “We played the NPFL invitational tournament and the Ahlan pre-season tournament.

    “The club began closed camping in Abuja on January 2 and played a friendly match with a Nationwide League One side, Water FC of Abuja.

    “Our first match of the season is away to Nasarawa United of Lafia on Sunday and we are confident that with our level of preparations, we will get a positive result,” he said.

    NAN

  • ATMs frustrate customers in Jos, fail to dispense cash

    ATMs frustrate customers in Jos, fail to dispense cash

    Residents of Jos on Saturday decried the poor services by banks as many automated teller machines (ATM) in the metropolis failed to dispense cash to frustrated customers on long queues.

    Some of the stranded customers, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos, expressed disappointment at the failure of many bank ATMs to dispense cash.

    NAN  observed that no fewer than 20 customers were seen clustering round various ATM points waiting to withdraw money.

    The bank customers  attributed the inability of many of the ATMs machines to dispense cash to network problem and accused bank managements of inadequate arrangements to avert the situation.

    Mr Alfred Ibrahim, a businessman, said he was on the ATM queue at Beach road in Jos North for more than four hours, lamenting that most of the ATMs were not working.

    He said that bank managements were aware of the usual bottlenecks at the ATM points during festive periods and ought to have made good provision for easy access to withdrawals.

    “I was expecting the banks to make adequate preparations for this season but out of five machines in a bank, none is even dispensing cash; that is why there are longer queues where they are operational,” he explained.

    Mr Chijioke Okpara, a civil servant, said he went to the ATM at Stefans Rayfield at about 5 a.m. and still met bdozens of people on the queue.

    “I went to the ATM around 5 a.m. and left around 8.45 a.m. I just wonder why banks would not ensure all their machines are working and have enough cash, “he said.

    Mrs Josephine Dawak, a civil servant, told NAN at an ATM at Secretariat Junction in Jos South that the banks were making deliberate efforts to reduce spending during the Yuletide season.

    “They tell us if you are not withdrawing above N100,000, do not come to the banking hall, yet they are hoarding money for the machines when they should all be operational, ” she said.

    Mr Ibrahim Isa, who was on transit to another local government, said he had visited several ATMs and was unable to withdraw money due to the long queues.

    ““I am stranded now for lack of funds to continue my journey, I am coming from Abuja going to Mangu Local Government Area, I have been on my feet without food for more than four hours.

    “I came to Terminus, thinking it would be easier but to my dismay, the crowd here is intimidating, you cannot be allowed to withdraw for emergency reasons because everyone is tired of standing, “he said.

    NAN  reports that many customers blamed bank managements for not adequately stuffing their ATMs with enough cash during the festive period.

    “Bank officials knew well that cash is always in high demand during this time and more so salaries have just been paid, so they should have made enough cash available at ATMs,” said a bank customer.

    All efforts by NAN to speak with officials of the various banks proved abortive as they all refused to comment.

  • Lalong presents N145.4 bn budget for 2018

    Lalong presents N145.4 bn budget for 2018

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has presented the 2018 Appropriation Bill of over N145.4 billion to the state House of Assembly for approval.

    The governor presented the bill tagged “Budget of Rescue and Consolidation” to the house on Thursday in Jos.

    According to him, “the budget seeks to consolidate on the gains and achievements of the administration since inception of the rescue mission in 2015’’.

    Lalong said the budget was made up of N69.6 billion capital and N75.8 billion recurrent expenditure.

    “The budget has a total size of N145. 4 billion; N75. 8 billion which represents 52.13 per cent of the budget is for recurrent expenditure while N69.6 billion, representing 48.87 per cent is for capital expenditure.

    “As part of our rescue mission, we shall continue to accord priority to the welfare of civil servants through timely promotions and payment of salaries and allowances, pension and gratuities of our retirees and the release of running cost for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    “Mr Speaker, with your timely scrutiny and passage of this budget, the confidence to consolidate on what we have started will be further strengthened,” he said,

    The Speaker, Mr Peter Azi, assured that the house would expeditiously process, scrutinise and pass the appropriation bill.

    Azi said that the 8th Assembly in the state had put in place stringent mechanism that would checkmate loopholes and mismanagement of budgets my MDAs.

    “It is our collective resolve as members of the house in line with the administration’s determination for effective service delivery to the people, to expeditiously pass this budget into law.”

    NAN

  • Plateau privatises, commercialises waste management

    Plateau privatises, commercialises waste management

    The Plateau Government has approved the privatisation and commercialisation of waste collection and management in Jos-Bukuru metropolis.

    Mr Abdullahi Abbas, Plateau’s Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Development, disclosed this on Tuesday in Jos.

    Abbas explained that the government’s decision was to allow citizens’ participation in environmental cleanliness and health promotion.

    “The programme will give citizens a voice in environmental cleanliness and health.‎

    “Government will be engaging reputable private waste collectors to collect refuse from all waste points in the Jos-Bukuru metropolis,” he said.

    Read also: FRSC takes safety campaigns to primary schools in Plateau

    The commissioner said that the refuse collectors would collect the refuse and discharge same at designated dumping points at a monthly fee to be paid by the residents.

    “The private waste collectors will commence the evacuation of waste in the metropolis from January, 2018,’’ he added.‎

    Abbas further disclosed that the metropolis would be carved into zones and ‎assigned to different private operators for efficient and effective operations.

    He said that the programme would be extended to the 17 Local Government Areas in no distant time.

    NAN

  • Court jailed 19-year-old for criminal intimidation

    Court jailed 19-year-old for criminal intimidation

    A Jos Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday sentenced a 19-year-old man, Shuaibu Abdullahi, to one imprisonment for criminal intimidation.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Jovita Binjin, convicted Abdullahi of Bauch Road, Jos, after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of criminal intimidation and criminal force on arraignment.

    On count one, Binjin sentenced Abdullahi to four months imprisonment but with an option of N2, 000 fine, and six months imprisonment on count two, with N3, 000 fine option.

    After the conviction, the magistrate said, “I hope this will serve as deterrent to others wanting to commit such crime.’’

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Cpl. Gushe Michanan, had told the court that the case was reported to Nassarawa Gwong Police Station by one Shuaibu Babale of Bauchi Road.

    Michanan said that the convict threatened to kill the complainant’s brother with a knife and in the process, picked a stick and hit him on the head.

    “During police investigation, damaged five Airtel, two MTN and one Glo sim cards were recovered from the convict, and he could not give any satisfactory account of the sim cards in his possession,” he said.

    He told the court that the offences contravened sections 263 and 390 of the Penal Code.

    NAN