A serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Toriseju Logbe, was reported killed by an unidentified gunman in Oghara, Ethiope West council area of Delta state over the Easter weekend.
The victim, who was serving in Imo state, had visited Oghara town, where he did his university study for the Easter holidays; he graduated from the Western Delta University, Oghara. According to sources, Logbe’s parents are based in Sapele town, but he decided to spend his holiday in Oghara with his friends.
According to a source, Logbe was outside his rented apartment at about 11:00pm, fiddling with his mobile phone, in the company of a younger friend, when a masked gunman appeared from nowhere and opened fire on him.
“Toritseju rented an apartment in Oghara but his parents stays in Sapele, So when he came for the Easter celebration he chose to stay there. He was outside that night, checking his phone when the gunman suddenly emerged and shot him thrice. He then took his mobile phone, removed the sim card and memory card before destroying the phone and disappearing into the night”, source said.
When reached for confirmation, the spokesman of the Delta state police command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, said ” from preliminary investigation, it does seem more like a cult related murder. He’s not serving in the state here, he’s serving in Imo state”.
A 35-year-old fashion designer, Cecelia Agu, is standing trial in a Karu Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly cheating a corps member to the tune of N90,000, but was granted N 200, 000.
The judge, Malam Hassan Ishaq, who granted the bail, also ordered Agu to produce a surety in like sum.
He adjourned the case till May 10 for hearing.
Agu had denied committing the offence that contravened Section 322 of the Penal Code.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Mahmud Ismail, had informed the court that one Grace Akinlabi, on April 13, reported the matter at the Maitama Police Station.
He said that the complainant alleged that towards the end of her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in October 2016, she approached the defendant to train her in sewing.
“ The complainant met the defendant whose shop is located at Wuse, Abuja, for a three-month apprenticeship course, and Agu charged her N135, 000.
“ After they both agreed to the amount, the complainant made a cash deposit of N 90, 000 into the Diamond Bank account of the defendant in December 2016,’’ Ismail said.
The prosecutor told the court that after receiving the N 90,000, the defendant called the complainant on phone to tell her to hold on for a while.
“ She told her that she has to wait until she gets new apprentices, then she can join them to learn.’’
The prosecutor told the court that after waiting for four months, Akinlabi approached the defendant to refund the money due to breach of agreement.
He said that the defendant admitted to committing the offence during police investigation.
Alhaji Ladan Baba, the Coordinator of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kano State, says 12 corps members will repeat the service year for absconding from their places of primary assignment for three months.
He made this known on Friday while presenting the 2016 State Honours Award to outstanding corps members in the state.
Baba, who said that many corps members absconded from their duties without taking permission from appropriate authorities, added that 28 others would perform different punishments for committing different offences during the period.
He added that five others got warning letters.
The coordinator said 15 corps members excelled during the year by discharging their responsibilities diligently at their places of primary assignment.
He explained that five of those who performed well were in the 2016 Stream I, while 10 were in the 2016 Stream II batch.
According to him, the honoured corps members demonstrated patriotism, selflessness, dedication and commitment during the service year in Kano.
Alhaji Ado Abba, the Chairman, NYSC Governing Board in Kano State, commended the efforts of coordinator “for bringing positive changes to the scheme within your short stay in the state.”
He urged corps members to be good ambassadors wherever they found themselves in future.
The Chairman also urged them to use the skills they acquired during the service year for the improvement of the country.
One of the honoured corps member, Miss Dorcas Awoluwa, expressed delight over the award and urged serving members to do their best at all times.
A total of 1,347 completed the mandatory one-year service in Kano State.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has assured corps members passing out from the one year national service that loan facilities would still be available to them to start their businesses.
Mr Abdulrazak Salawu, the NYSC FCT Coordinator, said this while addressing the 3,468 corps members of the 2016 Batch `A’ Stream I during their passing out in Abuja on Friday.
Salawu, who noted that there were no white-collar jobs lined up, said financial institutions were still ready to grant loans to corps members who were interested in starting up and running their own businesses even after the service year.
“Financial institutions are still ready to give you loans even after your service year.
“The Bank of Industry, Heritage bank, even the NYSC Foundation is still ready to give you loans to start up your businesses.
“Some of you do not know what it means to pass out from national service until next month when the alert will not sound again; that is when you will remember that certainly you are no longer corps members and there is no N19,800 again.
“Because of that, we have prepared you through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme (SAED); some of you, I am sure, are already making money.
“And if you need money to continue, the banks are still open to you.
“Try to be employers of labour, do not be job seekers; it is not easy to live in this present day Nigeria if you are not earning anything,” he said.
Salawu also urged the corps members to remain good citizens of Nigeria as the scheme had tried to imbue them with the spirit of selflessness, discipline, humility and self-reliance.
He said that out of the 3,468 corps members passing out, about 25 were given letters of commendation and awards.
Salawu said that the 25 corps members embarked on projects and participated fully in the community development service and programmes that impacted positively on the lives of people in their host communities.
He also said that the scheme did not hold its usual closing ceremony due to economic and security problems in the country.
“We did not hold a closing ceremony because we are looking at the security situation in the country; right now the economic situation is also not giving us the opportunity to go into serious ceremonies.
“These corps members are coming from different parts of the country and so we cannot give room for any unforeseen circumstances.
“That is why we gathered them here today so we can disperse them within the shortest possible time,” Salawu said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Mr Salawu Akanni, a graduate of the Federal University of Agriculture, Ogun, was one of the recipients of the award.
Akanni had, during his service year, constructed three water piping systems for the Aghayapho Community and provided a directional signpost for the LEA primary school in the community.
He also rehabilitated the community water borehole, donated 10 wooden chairs to the LEA primary school and trained 40 students in Government Secondary School (GSS) Jabi on Sustainable Development Goals, among other projects.
Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State, on Friday pledged to provide protection and welfare support to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in the state.
The governor made the pledge in Kaduna on Friday when the State NYSC Coordinator, Mr Bello Ballama visited the Government House.
El-Rufai, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Barnabas Bala, said that the state government had placed high premium on the protection of the lives and property of the corps members.
According to him, that the government will also support the NYSC in carrying out its mandate especially in providing vital skills to corps members to be self reliant.
He said that the government, which recently received the award of best state in the ease of doing business in the country, would continue to motivate its youths to acquire skills for their economic empowerment.
The governor stressed that providing skills to the youths would help reduce unemployment and facilitate opening up of new businesses.
Earlier, the NYSC state coordinator, Mr Bello Ballama appreciated the state government support to the welfare of corps members, and assured that the scheme would continue to contribute to the speedy development of the state.
According to him, that NYSC is a vital instrument of human capital development in the country.
He said that over 80 per cent of corps members serving in the state were deployed to the education sector.
Ballama added that the scheme had also provided critical manpower in the health sector, especially in rural areas.
The coordinator urged the government to support the state NYSC office with utility vehicles, ambulance and accommodation for its senior officials.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Bayelsa State, Wednesday, lamented death of corps members in the state through boat mishaps.
The two agencies raised the concern when the new state Commandant, NYSC, Mrs. Loto Bolade paid a courtesy visit to the state Commandant of the NSCDC, Desmond Agu, in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Corps members serving in some riverine communities in the state have been losing their lives following boat mishaps.
But Agu urged NYSC authorities to impress it upon youths participating in the scheme especially persons posted to the coastal areas to always make use of their life jackets when traveling.
He said: “Bayelsa State has a different terrain. It is 70 per cent water. So, always tell the corps members to carry their life jackets and wear them whenever they are traveling. Even if they can swim, they should not be over-confident.
“NYSC should also ensure that they are constantly in touch with youths posted to remote areas. Always keep in touch with the youths and ensure that their employers are treating them well”.
Agu said his command would always contribute to the success of NYSC programmes in the state by providing the needed security.
He advised that all federal agencies should work together to assist one another in the discharge of their duties adding that agencies should not work in acrimony.
In her response, Bolade said NYSC was working hard to ensure that members of the corps posted to rural areas in the state were given life jackets.
“We will continue to talk to the corps members posted to the riverine areas to always wear their life jackets. We will keep talking to them”, she said.
Bolade, who was redeployed from Niger State, thanked the NSCDC for its cooperation especially in the areas of security.
She appealed to the command for more support and demanded security presence at the Kaiama camp for the forthcoming orientation programme.
The Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Ibrahim Garba, on Monday reconfirmed that Senator Dino Melaye earned a degree in Geography from the Faculty of Arts in the year 2000.
On the investigation of the certificate forgery against Melaye, the Vice Chancellor, who also appeared before the Senate Ethics committee told the committee that Melaye graduated from the institution as Daniel Jonah Melaye with a 3rd class degree in Geography.
The VC noted that Melaye graduated and did his one year compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) between 2000 and 2001 in Kaduna State.
Vice-chancellor said: “From the records, I know Sen. Dino Melaye, who was formerly known as Jonah Daniel Melaye as a former student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and I know him to be the distinguished senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“From the records of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Distinguished Senator Dino Melaye who was at that time named Daniel Jonah Melaye graduate with a third class degree of the Bachelors of Art in Geography in the year 2000. And by this, he is a graduate of the university.
“In my honour, I reaffirm that Sen. Dino Melaye graduated as Daniel Jonah Melaye during the third semester of the 1998/1999 academic session with a 3rd Class Degree in Geography, that is Bachelors of Arts in Geography.”
Melaye had in his testimony said, “I thank you for the invitation and I want to state my unequivocal confidence in this committee to do justice to this matter.
“I have few documents I would also want to tender to the committee and before I do that I also want to state with every sense of responsibility that I am a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.
“I gained admission with an offer of admission on the 6th of September, 1994 and the admission is to study Bachelor of Arts Geography and a copy of that admission letter will be tendered.
“I also have a second document to tender, my acceptance offer by the university. I also have the third document to tender which is my result from the Ahmadu Bello University certifying me a graduate of the school.
“I also have here a document for my registration that I tendered where I have C5 in CRS, A3 in Agric, C6 in Economics, C6 in Geography, C6 in Biology and a credit in English.
“I will also tender that as evidence. I also want to tender that after my graduation from the Ahmadu Bello University, the school sent my name to the NYSC for the mandatory Service and I participated in the one year NYSC.
“I served in Police College Kaduna and by the grace of God, that year I won the National Prize of the DG and it is on record and verifiable and I beg to tender my discharge certificate from NYSC,’’ he said.
“My name as an undergraduate was Daniel Jonah Melaye. Jonah is actually my father’s name, so that is what I have on my university certificate.
“But because I am now popularly known as Dino I applied to the court and asked that I needed an affidavit for change of name before my admission and I submitted it to ABU.
“I will tender my Identity cards and I came here with a copy of my final year project duly signed by my head of the department in the Faculty of Arts as it was then called.”
Senator Muhammed Ali Ndume
When the committee proceedings began, Senator Ali Ndume, who raised the issue was not at the hearing room.
Clerk of the committee, Freedom Osolo, told the committee that Ndume could not be reached.
Osolo noted that phone calls made to Ndume’s phone were not answered.
When Ndume eventually came around he was questioned why he decided to raise the issue.
Ndume told the committee that he did not write any petition, but only raised a point of order to draw the attention of the Senate to a newspaper publication.
He said: “I did not petition. I only raised a point of order. That is Order 14 and 15. That is, when an issue about a lawmaker comes up, we have the right to bring it up. I made a request. The decision to bring this case before this committee is not my doing. It was the decision of the Senate. I did not expect that it will generate this kind of attention.
“I came here with my own certificate. I was here when the Vice Chancellor said that Melaye graduated from the school in 1999. I do not know how you can graduate in 2000 but went for your NYSC in 1999. I do not understand.”
Anyanwu corrected Ndume. He said the Vice Chancellor had already cleared the air on when Melaye graduated. He said contrary to Ndume’s claims, Melaye’s NYSC discharge certificate shows that he underwent the compulsory one-year national programme in 2000, after his graduation.
Anyanwu retorted on another point raised by Ndume and said: “You said you did not write any petition, but only raised a point of order. Did you as a Senator do any due diligence before you brought the case before the Senate?”
Ndume, again reacted: “That is not my job. That is the job of the committee. I only raised a point of order. I am not Punch Newspaper and I did not write this report.”
Senator Peter Nwaoboshi stepped in at this time and added his voice. He said: “When you make such a serious allegation, you must back it up. Let me read the discharge certificate of his NYSC to you. That is the certificate.”
Not ready to cave in, Ndume maintained: “I raised a point of order and it was referred to this committee. You have shown me the certificate and it has resolved the problem. It is not personal. If there is anything against the integrity of the Senate, it is our duty to clear it. What is the big deal?
Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Na’Allah, who doubles as vice chairman of the Ethics committee explained more: “It is not about the procedure or the contents of the complaints. You are aware that you are a former Leader of the Senate. You are aware that the public, having formed an opinion, based on what you presented, that we clear this whole thing? I am sure we have cleared your mind since you have seen the discharge certificate. What will be your conclusion when you leave here?
Ndume reacted: “Let me add that I called the attention of the Senate because I feel it is my responsibility to do that. I did not do it in isolation. It has happened before. It cannot be swept under the carpet. He has presented everything. What more do I have to say? What I did was to protect the integrity of the Senate.”
In Nigeria, no day or week passes without its uniqueness, controversy and news. Last week, many happenings around the various segments will still unfold this week majorly because there is continuous unending drama surrounding them.
One of such happening is the great revelation by an online media that Kogi west representative at the Senate, Mr. Dino Melaye did not graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
The bold, tall and huge senator fired back warning his ‘enemies’ to back off and that he has seven degrees including a degree from the renowned Harvard University.
Soon after his statement, Harvard University replied saying the Kogi born politician did not attend the institution. The senator even went on to post a picture of him observing the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1999 although his statement of result from Ahmadu Bello University shows he graduated in 2000.
Sen. Melaye said he has sued the online publication alongside the publisher to court but obviously the public will want a clearer explanation on the actual situation of things.
With the Vice-chancellor of the institution declaring on the floor of the Senate today that Melaye actually graduated with a third class in 2000, the last may not have been heard concerning this yet, and more revelations may burst up this week.
The Senate has been in the news in more recent weeks and the claim by Senator Shehu Sani last week that the Secretary to the Federal Government, Babachir David Lawal awarded contracts to ‘ghost firms’ has put the red chamber more on the headlines. Last Friday, a statement from the SGF urged the general public not to be misled into the belief that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has the authority or power to award contracts.
With Lawal to appear before the Senate soon, many Nigerians are hopeful to get a clearer understanding of the situation. To strengthen the Nigerian democracy, the opposition party must be a good watch-dog to the government.
However, the recent crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party has led to name-calling in the media. The two factions have been at each other’s neck and with a case already at the Supreme Court; one wonders how the dispute will be settled. This week may witness new twists and turns as per their crisis.
At the weekend, the number one in the Nigerian Professional Football League spot got a new face although it was not an unfamiliar face. Last week, star striker of MFM FC and current highest goal scorer in the league, Stephen Odey added two goals which lifted his club to the zenith but with a loss for the Olukoya boys away at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe and a win for Plateau United yesterday brought the former league leaders back to the pinnacle with 28 points. Last season’s champions, Rangers International is languishing at the bottom of the table with 12 points.
After Bassey’s eviction from the Big Brother Naija house yesterday, one wonders who will be next to leave this week. With just six housemates left, and Bisola being the new head of house, the show is gradually winding down and the fans are savoring all the excitement. Some housemates will be put up for eviction and the person with the least number of votes gets evicted on Sunday.
The Senate Thursday asked its committee on Youth and Sports to investigate the circumstances that led to the alleged brutalisation of a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Esi Uwakwe serving in Zamfara State.
The mandated followed the adoption of a motion by Senator Philip Aduda (FCT) which drew the attention of the upper chamber to the incident.
Aduda said that the way the alleged brutalisation of Uwakwe, serving in Kaura Namada, Zamfara State, was portrayed in the social media attracted his attention.
He said that the alleged brutalisation of Uwakwe had been trending in the social media for over two days.
Uwakwe was said to have been brutalised by the police purportedly at the instance of an influential indigene of the area he was carrying out his primary assignment.
Aduda prayed the Senate to look into the matter with a view to finding out the truth about the incident and why Uwakwe was redeployed from Zamfara to Anambra State.
He noted that it would be unbecoming of the police to brutalise a corps member on national assignment if established to be true.
The FCT senator said that he would not have bothered to raise the issue but for the negative implication of the report.
He insisted that NYSC members must be protected wherever they were deployed to serve the country.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided, said that the first step should be for the Senate to establish the fact of the report.
Ekweremadu said that would not jump into the matter without finding out the truth about what actually happened to Uwakwe.
Although he agreed that NYSC members on national service should be protected, Ekweremadu said that the Senate should first resolve to mandate its relevant committee to investigate the matter.
The lawmakers unanimously adopted the resolution that the Youth and Sports Committee should investigate the matter and report back to the Senate in plenary in one week.
Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, yesterday received the 2017 Batch “B” Stream II National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to the state.
Out of the total registered number of 2,220 corps members, 1,215 are males and 1,005 females.
He called on them to key into the change mantra of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, saying that the future holds much for them as the future leaders.
Represented by the state Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Comrade Gabriel Arume Adaji, he admonished them not to relent in contributing in the building of a strong and virile country that will be the envy of others.
He assured them of the hospitality of the people of the state, just as he enjoined them to feel free, as they go about in the discharge of their duties during the course of their mandatory one year national service.
The state NYSC coordinator, Mrs Dorothy Nwatarali said they have proven to be highly disciplined and hardworking.
She added: “I had the privilege of interacting with many of these corps members… they have begun to see for themselves at first hand, the hospitality of the people of Kogi State”.
