The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NAN

  • ‘Okah fit for terrorism trial’

    ‘Okah fit for terrorism trial’

    An Abuja Federal High Court yesterday declared that Charles Okah, suspected mastermind of the October 1, 2010, twin bomb blasts at the Eagle Square in Abuja, was fit to stand trial.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Okah and Obi Nwabueze were arrested and charged with terrorism following the bombings.

    Mr John Ainetor, Okah’s counsel, however, brought an application that the accused was not mentally fit to stand trial.

    The lawyer urged the court to allow a private medical doctor to examine him.

    The court had ordered that a medical test be conducted on Okah at the National Hospital, Abuja. But Ainetor insisted on having a private doctor’s report besides it.

    Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), prosecution counsel, had urged the court to dismiss the application, describing it as an abuse of court process.

    He argued that it was a ploy to delay the matter, which had yet to make any progress since 2010 when the suit was instituted.

    Ruling on the matter, Justice Gabriel Kolawole held that Ainetor’s application was an abuse of court process and dismissed it.

    “The request for a private medical evaluation of the accused person is an abuse of court process. Its aim is to ensure that the trial does not proceed.

    “There is no merit in the applicant’s motion on notice and it is hereby dismissed,” he said.

    Justice Kolawole ordered that the accused be remanded in Kuje Prisons, Abuja, and be produced in court for accelerated trial.

    The judge adjourned the matter till July 8 and 9 and October 7, 8 and 15 for the trial.

     

  • LASU students want portal shut

    LASU students want portal shut

    The Lagos State University Students Union (LASUSU) yesterday took their hard-line stance against hike in their tuition fee to another level, urging the state governor, Babatunde Fashola, to shut down the institution’s payment and registration portal.

    Its president, Mr Nurudeen Yusuf, the union’s President, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the closure of the portal was necessary until the government reduced the tuition fees.

    “We hereby appeal that the payment and registration portal be closed till the government makes pronouncement on LASU fees as proposed by the students’ union. This is to ward off unforeseen eventualities that may arise in the nearest future,” he said.

    Yusuf said the deadline by the management for students to pay their fees and register courses for the 2013/2014 academic session before May 30 had elapsed.

    He said students were bent on their “no reduction, no resumption” policy and that discussions on how much the students would pay were still ongoing.

    According to NAN, Fashola had, at a meeting with LASUSU on March 31, directed the students to come up with a proposal on how much they could afford.

    The students decided that the fee should be reduced to N46, 500 for returning students and N65, 500 for fresh students.

    The students’ proposal was submitted on April 24, while several reminders were later sent to the governor on the issue.

    Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, at a media briefing on May 8, said the government would soon make a pronouncement on fees.

    Yusuf said the students were not satisfied with the government’s statement since the word “soon does not indicate a definite time.” “If a 50-year old can die and we say gone too soon, hence, anytime can be soon,” he said.

    The students’ leader said that sequel to several peaceful protests by the students, the Exco Ad-hoc Committee set up by the state met with the union on the review of the tuition on May 27.

    The Committee, chaired by Mr Kayode Opeifa, Commissioner for Transport, he said, had decided that quality education could not be achieved based on the students’ proposal.

    Opeifa said the tuition of N46, 500 would make LASU a university for the poor and all comers.

    “The committee said the state government is subsidising education in LASU by 90 per cent and government is only responsible for free education up to secondary level,” he said.

  • Assess Eagles after encounter with U.S., says Dosu

    Assess Eagles after encounter with U.S., says Dosu

    Former Super Eagles goalkeeper,Joseph Dosu, has asked asked Nigerians to assess the strength of the Super Eagles when they play the U.S. in an international friendly match.

    Dosu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Badagry that the Eagles would put up a better performance against U.S. compared to their 2-2 encounter with Scotland on Wednesday.

    “The whole of Nigeria expects the Super Eagles to do well in the World Cup because we are the reigning African champions

    “The friendly against Scotland was not 100 per cent but we still have two more games ahead and we should assess them with the encounter against the Americans.

    “By the time we play U.S., the team would have blended well and this would help them to play and understand themselves better.

    “At the forthcoming World Cup, I see Nigeria getting to the semi-finals,” he said.

    The 1996 Atlanta Olympic gold medalist, who is into football management, said that he now runs a football academy in Belgium.

    “We have produced a lot of players not just in Nigeria alone but also in Europe.

    “We have people from our academy that play in Norway, Ukraine, Portugal and Belgium. The academy is doing well and I’m sure we will spot talents in Badagry soon,” Dosu said.

    The former goalkeeper urged youths in the country to always put in their best in everything they do.

     

  • Bamidele: I’m still contesting

    Bamidele: I’m still contesting

    FOR those doubting his participation in the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, Labour Party flag bearer Opeyemi Bamidele as emphasised that he was still contesting.

    Bamidele told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti that he was not considering stepping down for any other contender in the poll.

    He said no amount of intimidation and attack would make him succumb to the wishes of those who he claimed saw him as a threat.

    According to him, those spreading the information that he was no longer in the race were only jittery over his rising political profile.

    Bamidele, who also said he had no working arrangement with any candidate, added: “Contrary to insinuations in some quarters, I never held meetings with any individual or group where it was agreed that I would team up with a particular candidate.

    “I have never regretted my actions or inactions and this governorship race will not be an exception.

    “Before I venture into any project, I usually seek the face and direction of God and God has not told me to make a U-turn.”

    He called on his supporters across the state to disregard such speculations, saying they were false and diversionary.

    “What is paramount in my mind at the moment is to concentrate on my statewide campaign so as to sell the manifesto of our party to the electorate.

    “I have the conviction that the Ekiti people who know my antecedents, will make the right choice come June 21,” he said.

  • Hardwork gave us victory – Ranchers coach

    Hardwork gave us victory – Ranchers coach

    Coach Hassan Abubakar of Ranchers Bees FC of Kaduna on Monday attributed his team’s 3-2 victory over city rivals Kaduna United at the state final of 2014 Federation Cup to hard work.

    Abubakar told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that the club not only targeted the 2014 Federation Cup but was also determined to gain promotion to the premiership.

    “I am happy we played and won the state Federation Cup final because my team is determined to win the competition and to face other clubs at the national level.

    “It has been a good season for us and we hope to end it that way.

    “Last season, we lost promotion on the last day, by the grace of God we will hold on till the end of this season to gain promotion to the premiership.

    “The team is full of talented players, a reflection of what Kaduna State is made up of; we just need our fans to continue to pray for us.

    “This year’s Federation Cup is keenly contested and of a high standard, if you look at the standard of play of some of the teams there is a great improvement.

    “We motivated our players to play good football and win matches so as to represent the state at the national level,’’ Abubakar said.

    On the 2013/2014 Nigeria National League, the coach said the team had good prospect of gaining promotion to the premiership at the end of the season. We have a good prospect of gaining promotion this season.

    “We are currently seventh on the table. The second to the fourth teams on the table are just a point ahead of us, while we are on the same point with the fifth and sixth placed teams. We are going to Ilorin to face Kwara United on Wednesday with a depleted team. Our top striker with 12 goals Ahmed Musa will not be playing because of card issue,” he lamented.

    “Two of our experienced midfielders are also out to injury and other minor knocks, but we believe we will come out of Kwara with at least a point. We are training hard to win our matches in order to make it among the top four and be promoted to play in the professional league next season. We will be happy if we are promoted this season to play in higher competitions at which we can also be picked to represent our country.’’

    The coach expressed satisfaction with the players’ performance and urged them to work hard and maintain top fitness to make the club proud in the league.

  • Rescue school girls, says CAN

    The Northeast Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged the Federal Government and security agents to intensify efforts to rescue the remaining abducted pupils in Borno.

    The Zonal CAN Chairman, Rev. Shuaibu Byal, made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe yesterday.

    Byal said CAN had in its records that 83 pupils were still with their captors.

    He said the Federal Government and security agents should urgently reinforce and re-double efforts to rescue the girls.

    “We don’t know what is happening to our girls up there in Chibok.

    ‘It is very unfortunate. But we are still aware that there are about 83 of them out there. We were told yesterday morning that two of them escaped from their captors.

    “How they made it, we don’t know. Even, we don’t know what they are eating and how their situation is.

    “These people (insurgents) have burnt our seminaries in those areas. They have burnt our churches in Borno South and in the northern part of Adamawa, around Mubi, Michika, Madagali and other areas,” Byal said.

    He said all Christians and the parents of the abducted girls had been praying for their freedom.

    “We pray about these girls. Their parents have been praying, and we have prayed along with them.

    “I know that security agents are capable enough to see this work done, except if we want to politicise it. We should get these children released immediately,” Byal said.

    The cleric, who attended Easter prayers rally at the CAN Centre in Gombe, called on Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of love, peace and care, which Jesus Christ exemplified.

     

  • ‘Police ready for Osun, Ekiti elections’

    ‘Police ready for Osun, Ekiti elections’

    Minister of Police Affairs Jelili Adesiyan has said the police are ready for the governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti states.

    Adesiyan gave the assurance during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

    He said the police were ready for all elections, including the 2015 polls.

    Adesiyan said as long as all political parties and other stakeholders in the electoral process play the game according to the rules, there would be no need for interference in the polls.

    He said: “The police are to maintain peace, law and order and we are going to stand by that in all elections. As Police Affairs Minister, my allegiance is not to any party. The police owe Nigerians a duty to protect and maintain peace and my appeal is to parties participating in the Ekiti and Osun elections not to foment trouble.”

     

  • Osun seals Oduduwa varsity over unpaid tax

    The Osun State Internal Revenue Service (OSSIRS) has sealed the Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, for the non-remittance of N173 million Income Tax.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Revenue Femi Balogun led the IRS team to the university yesterday.

    Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, is a private tertiary institution located in Ife North.

    In a statement, Balogun said: “The tax liabilities covered back duty liability from 2006-2011 and the enforcement is the last stage of any tax process. It is in line with Section 104 Sub section (1) and (2) of the Personnel Income Tax Act as amended.

    “Tax payment is a law and a civic responsibility of all. It is through this effort that the government provides infrastructure, security and other amenities. The Revenue Department will stop at nothing to ensure that every individual performs his civic obligations.

    “I urge the university to by pay its tax liability to avoid prosecution in court. We have commenced enforcement on corporate tax defaulters and, within the next few days, the enforcement team will visit all of them.

    “We have on our radar corporate institutions like banks owing back duty of withholding tax on bank interest and some other companies that are recalcitrant in fulfilling tax obligations.

    “I urge all tax payers and companies with outstanding tax liabilities to resolve their tax issues to avoid embarrassment.”

     

     

  • Nigeria wins bronze

    Nigeria wins bronze

    The national junior tennis team which represented Nigeria at the just-concluded Africa Junior Tennis Championship in Kenya, returned on Monday, with a bronze medal.

    Coach of the team, Ubale Mohammed, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the medal was won in the male U-16 doubles competition.

    He said Sylvester Emmanuel and Michael Michael placed third after losing to Egypt in the semi-final, adding that the competition was the first for the two players.

    Mohammed disclosed that he and the team had put the Kenyan tournament behind and was focusing on the All Africa Youth Games scheduled to begin in Botswana in May.

    He said that the players would continue training until camping would begin.

    Mohammed expressed optimism that with the experience garnered at the Kenyan championship, the players would put up fantastic performance at the Botswana games.

    “I am so delighted and happy that the team had a bronze in the championship; this is the first time ever we are getting to this stage and I appreciate the efforts of the players because they put in their best.

    “We have just arrived in the country and we are looking forward to the Africa Youth Games coming up in May and I know that with this experience, the team will do better there”, he said.

    “We hope to intensify training and start camping early enough but before then, I have told the players to keep training in their respective stations’’, he added.

  • Fire at Ekiti PDP secretariat

    Fire at Ekiti PDP secretariat

    There was a fire yesterday at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the fire affected a section of the secretariat’s first floor.

    This is coming barely five days after the governorship primary that produced former Governor Ayo Fayose as the party’s flag bearer in the June 21 election.

    The cause of the fire is still unknown. Police spokesman Victor Babayemi said it would be probed.

    PDP Publicity Director Kola Kolawole said people with “evil minds” might be responsible for the incident.

    An eye witness, who pleaded for anonymity, the incident would have been more devastating, if not for the early intervention of men of the State Fire Service.