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Libya returnees appeal to Obaseki to fulfill pledge of N100m

Some returnees from Libya have appealed to Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo to fulfill his pledge and release the grant of N100 million for 150 hectares of land to them.

They appealed to the governor to give the land he promised to the 150 trained returnees.

Some of the trained returnees made this appeal when they spoke with journalists in Benin on Thursday.

The state government in November 2017 organised two weeks training programme on various aspects of agriculture to some of the returnees.

The returnees, who are indigenes of the state, were trained on poultry, fishery, food processing and crop planting.

Obaseki had at the closing ceremony of the two weeks programme, announced the approval of N100 million seed grant as well as 150 hectares of land as seed grant for the trained returnees.

The governor said that the State Agricultural Development Programme ( ADP ), would work with the returnees for the implementation of the project.

However, some of the returnees who pleaded anonymity said they were in the dark on the implementation of the programme almost two months after the approval was made.

“January is almost gone and we are totally at loss as to what is happening to the project that is meant to cushion the effect of what some of us who returned from Libya.

“It is our belief that when implemented, we will be gainfully and meaningfully engaged and thus stopping us from being involved in social vices.

“We also believe that with timely release or implementation of the programme, those who are yet to be trained will be encouraged as well as prevented from going back to Libya.

“Whether we like it or not, some of those that have returned are still planning to go back to that country because of the hardship in the country,” he said.

Meanwhile, the government had pleaded for patience from the returnees as modalities for the implementation of the programme was being drawn out.

Mr Solomon Okoduwa, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Anti-Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration, made the appeal while reacting to the call by the returnees.

He said the governor remained committed to the course and had been working assiduously to ensure timely release of the fund.

“I can tell you that he (Obaseki) has not relented on ensuring better life for the returnees, especially to encourage the returned once to stay back home and discouraged those planning to leave.

“It is for this reason he graciously approved the training programme and the subsequent the approval of the seed grant and 150 hectares of land.

“It will also interest you to know that about 600 others have returned and they have started receiving a monthly stipend of N20, 000, which will last for three months pending their scheduled training programme.

“So, I am also appealing to them to be patient as they have not been forgotten by the governor who has been working very hard toward this course,” he said.

NAN

January 18, 2018
‘Take care of NYSC members’, Gov. Ajimobi tells residents

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Thursday urged traditional rulers, local council chairmen and other residents to ensure that National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ) members posted to the state are well taken care of.

Ajimobi made the appeal at the swearing-in of the 2017 Batch B, Stream II corps members in Iseyin, Oyo State.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Abayomi Oke, said that corps members posted to ministries, departments and agencies should not be rejected.

He said that the corps members should be assigned to challenging responsibilities in their places of primary assignment, to make them nation builders and assets to national development.

Ajimobi said the scheme is a beacon of hope and reference point, with regard to productive channelling of youthful intelligence, energy and skills for national development.

He said that the orientation course was primarily aimed at inculcating discipline, hard work and integrity in the Nigerian graduate youths.

The governor, therefore, advised the members to use the opportunity provided by the orientation to develop positive attitudes that would help them to surpass their predecessors’ achievements.

Earlier, the NYSC Coordinator in the state, Mrs Ifeoma Anidobi, said the orientation course was unique, being the first time the state would host more than one state at its permanent orientation camp.

Anidobi urged the 2,294 corps members to see their deployment as the basis for national unity, which the scheme had championed since inception 45 years ago.

She told them to contribute their quota to the unity and advancement of Nigeria in the course of their service year.

“The government of the day, in her drive to engine the wheel of development, embarked on massive rural transformation.

“As agents of change, your services will be required in most semi-urban communities, to make this mission a reality.

“Work assiduously for the development of the country, and assist government to empower rural dwellers with your acquired knowledge and training, by raising the standard of living of the populace,” she said.

The coordinator advised the corps members to make optimal use of the opportunities provided by the orientation course, such as skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development programme.

“Remember that the era of white collar jobs has given way to self-development and empowerment programmes.

“So, key into the system and strive to be job creators and not job seekers,” she said.

Anidobi commended the Oyo State Government and the indigenes for their unflinching support to the NYSC scheme, and for being good hosts to the corps members.

NAN

January 18, 2018
FMC Keffi records three suspected cases of Lassa fever

Dr Giyan Joshua-Ndom, the Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Keffi, Nasarawa State, says the hospital is currently handling three cases of suspected Lassa fever.

Joshua-Ndom told our reporter in Keffi on Thursday that the hospital had taken the patients’ blood samples for test to ascertain whether or not they had the disease.

“The patients have been separated from other patients.

“There are three suspected cases and we have taken adequate measures in order to tackle the situation because the health of the people is our concern.

“I want to use this medium to appeal to patients and members of the public not to panic, but to remain calm.

“Necessary steps have been taken to avert the spread of the virus in case there is any,” he said.

The medical director also restated the commitment of the centre to good policies and projects that had direct bearing on the lives of Nigerians.

Lassa fever is transmitted to human through contamination of broken skin via direct or indirect contact with the excreta or urine of infected rat.

One can also contract it through the consumption of contaminated rat.

NAN

January 18, 2018
PHOTO: Abike Dabiri receives man who returned N150m wrongfully paid into his account in Qatar

Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa , SSA Foreign Affairs and Diaspora received Mr Michael Jonathan Asemota, a Nigerian based in Qatar who returned N150 million wrongfully paid into his account in Qatar.

Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa , SSA Foreign Affairs and Diaspora receiving Mr Michael Jonathan Asemota

January 18, 2018
Court orders NSCDC, others to pay man N10m damages for assault, battery

The Federal High Court sitting in Calabar has directed the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ) and six others to pay the sum of N10 million to one Mr Frank Eko over the case of illegal arrest, detention, assault, battery, humiliation and brutalization.

Oko had dragged the NSCDC; the State Commandant, NSCDC; Mr Ayuk Assam John, the divisional officer in charge of Ogoja Division of the corps; Mr Michael Akwo, Mr Sunday Anoh; Mr Daniel Ebor, and Mr Wilfred Odey to court in May 2016 seeking enforcement of his fundamental rights which he claimed were violated in a case with suit number FHC/CA/FHR/47/2016.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Inyang Ewko declared that the actions of the respondents, particularly third and seventh respondents, Mr Ayuk Assam John and Mr Wildred Odey, respectively, in arresting, detaining and brutalizing, intimidating and traumatizing the applicant; extorting and seizing/confiscating monies from him without any lawful cause, all amounts to abuse of office, ultra vires their statutory responsibilities and powers as provided for in the NSCDC Act No 6 of 2007; Cap N146, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010, thus illegal, unconstitutional and tantamount to a violation of the applicant’s fundamental human rights to his dignity of human person, personal liberty and freedom movement as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Judge ordered that all the respondents jointly and severally pay the sum of N10 million as damages in exemplary and aggravated nature for the embarrassment, harassments, humiliation, torture, pains psychological and mental the applicant was exposed to and suffered as a result of inhuman, malicious and degrading treatment of the applicant’s fundamental human rights.

The Court also ordered the respondents to jointly and severally pay the applicant the sum of N200, 000 for his medical bills at Police Clinic, Ogoja occasioned by the assault and battery.

It also ordered the respondents to jointly and severally pay the applicant the sum of N200, 000 per day and for 25 days they detained the applicant’s truck with Reg No UMA && YW on the false and erroneous allegation that the applicant was diverting automotive gas oil (AGO), popularly known as diesel in the tanker, amounting to a total sum of N5 million.

It also ordered the respondents, particularly Mr Ayuk Assam John and Mr Wilfred Odey to pay the applicant N100, 000 extorted from him before the applicant and the other three persons in the vehicle were released on January 7, 2016 and the sum of N860, 000 seized, confiscated or stolen by John and Odey from the applicant’s Toyota Camry Saloon car with Reg No ABJ 903 HY driven into the respondents’ premises, amounting to N960, 000.

Ekwo also directed the respondents to tender a written unreserved apology to the applicant within 30 days of the judgment.

The case of the applicant from the affidavit he deposed indicated he was a businessman, an Independent Petroleum Marketer, and Manager of Tonimas Petrol Service Station along Igoli Road, Okuku, Yala local government area, and Managing Director of Ultimate Frank Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.

According to the affidavit on January 7, 2016 at about 9am the third and seventh respondents intercepted and arrested the applicant’s petrol tanker with registration no UMA 77 YW laden with AGO from the company’s depot at Onne, Rivers State for delivery at their Okuku Service Station.

It read in part, “There was a delivery note No 018645 dated 5^th January, 2016 (Exhibit MEU-1) from Onne depot. The vehicle was taken from Ogoja local government council gate into the Council headquarters where the respondents have an office on an unfounded allegation that the product was being diverted. The AGO was to be delivered at Tonimas Petrol Service Station along Igoli Road in Okuku Yala, which is a distance of 5 to 8 kilometres from Yala. The third and seventh respondents refused to listen to any explanation concerning the tanker and AGO but subjected the applicant to beatings using their belts, sticks, butts of their guns, the result of which caused swellings and lacerations all over his body. He was further taken to the office of the respondents where he was further humiliated by being asked to frog-jump and detained with three others in their cell for onwards of seven hours.”

Eko had gone to court demanding N100, 000 damages but got granted N10 million.

January 18, 2018
Djokovic survives Melbourne furnace to beat Monfils

Six-times champion Novak Djokovic survived the Rod Laver Arena furnace to reach the third round of the Australian Open, with a 4-6 6-3 6-1 6-3 victory over Gael Monfils on Thursday.

With temperatures peaking at 39.9 degrees Celsius and reports of 69 degrees being measured on the court surface, Djokovic recovered from a woeful start to take his record over the unseeded Frenchman to 15-0.

Djokovic, playing his first tournament for six months because of an elbow problem, dropped his opening two service games.

Although he battled back to break Monfils twice he wavered again as scrappy opener went his opponents’ way.

After a 24-stroke rally in the sixth game of the second set it was clear Monfils was struggling to cope with the heat.

He repeatedly asked the umpire for more than the allowed 25 seconds recovery time between points.

Both players hung iced towels around their necks at changeovers and Monfils, who leaned on his racket at times, seemingly to remain standing, needed the doctor, telling the umpire that he was dizzy and feeling sick.

“I was dying on the court for 40 minutes,” Monfils told reporters later after having cooled down in a cold tub.

Djokovic rattled through the third set and it looked as though Monfils would quit, but to his credit he recovered his senses to offer some stern resistance in the fourth.

Fourteenth seed Djokovic broke in the eighth game though, but failed to convert his first match point and then faced a break point after losing a rally that left him gasping for air.

Monfils saved two more match points, the second with a superb cross court forehand, but Djokovic converted at the fourth attempt with a simple volley.

“It was brutal, Djokovic, who again played with a compression sleeve and employed a truncated service action, said on court.

“I thought, it is going to be a big challenge for both of us. Gael is one of the best athletes in our sport.

“It was about just hanging in there and try to use every opportunity.”

The 30-year-old Serb will play Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the third round.

Reuters/NAN

January 18, 2018
Army busts up cannabis dealers operation in Ondo

Men of the 32 Artillery Brigade in Ondo State yesterday reportedly crushed a ‘notorious’ Indian Hemp ( cannabis ) syndicate inside a forest in Owo, Ondo State.

The operation followed a tip off on the activities of the gangsters in a hideout in the remote forest in the community.

It was learnt that during the operation, there was exchange of fire between the troops and the suspects who later fled due to superior fire power of the soldiers against them.

Army intercepts Cannabis dealers

Army intercepts Cannabis dealers

The drug dealers were said to have been operating in the farm with impunity.

The troops reportedly recovered 63 bags of Indian Hemp, 23 expended cartridges and nine unexpended cartridges.

Criminal activities of the syndicate are rampant especially in Owo, Ogbese and Ose axis of the Sunshine state.

Read also: NDLEA arrests 240 suspected drug traffickers

Late last year,officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies ( NDLEA ) across the six geo-political zone were in Ala forest near Ogbese, Akure North local government overnight where they destroyed several acres of ‘cannabis’ plantation.

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Owena Barracks, Akure, Major Ojo Adelegan urged the public to always avail the security agencies useful information on criminal acts in the State.

He also warned criminals to stay away from the state, stressing that there is no room for any illegality and undesirable elements in the State.

January 18, 2018
Court dissolves man’s marriage for denying wife of sex for three years

An Idi-Ogungun Customary Court at Agodi in Ibadan, on Thursday dissolved a 12-year-old marriage due to irreconcilable differences between the couple.

The case was instituted by 36-year-old Raliat Ajila, who accused her husband, Sola Ajila of denying her sex for three years.

Raliat had told the court that her husband with whom she had two kids, had abandoned her in a rented apartment and relocated to his newly completed house with another woman.

According to her, trouble started seven years ago when she noticed that the defendant was having extra marital affairs.

“I caught him with three women on different occasions and this made us quarrel always.

“There was a time he was infected with STDs and urinated blood but I stood with him and healed him of the disease.

“He had refused to sleep with me since 2015 and all efforts to make him perform his conjugal role failed.

“Instead he married another woman and relocated with his new wife to his newly completed house,” Raliat stated.

In his defence, Ajila, said he deliberately denied her sex because of her bad attitude, stressing that Raliat was in always cursing him and that he lost his job because of the curses.

The defendant, who confirmed marrying another wife and relocating to his new house, asked the court to uphold the request of his wife and dissolve the marriage because he was not ready to continue with the union.

The President of the court, Chief Mukaila Balogun, held that both parties had consented to the dissolution of their union.

“Evidence of the estranged couple has proven that both were tired of the marriage and the court has no option than to do what they requested.

“The marriage is therefore dissolved and parties are free to go their separate ways without any molestation,” Balogun ruled.

He further directed the defendant to pay N7, 000 as monthly upkeep allowance for the children.

He also ordered Ajila to be responsible for the children education and other needs.

NAN

January 18, 2018
Gunmen abduct 14-year-old girl in Katsina

Unknown gunmen have abducted a 14-year-old girl in Kankia Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Father of the victim, Alhaji Salisu Mai-Tiles, said that the gunmen invaded his residence at Sabuwar-Abuja quarters in Kankia at about 1:30 a.m on Thursday.

He said that three well armed persons broke into his residence and demanded for money, while the remaining gang members stayed outside.

“They asked me to give them money, which I did; whatever they asked we never objected to their demand to save our lives, but unfortunately, they went with my 14-year-old daughter,” he said.

Read Also: Gunmen abduct ex-commissioner, soldier in Bayelsa

It was gathered that the gang members also blocked Katsina-Kano road in Kankia and robbed motorists at gunpoint.

In a related development, suspected armed robbers have shot dead a policeman attached to WAPA Shopping Mall in Katsina on Thursday night and carted away undisclosed amount of money.

Efforts to get the reaction of the state police command was not successful as its spokesman, Isa Gambo did not respond to phone calls and SMS text message sent to him.

NAN

January 18, 2018
Divorce-seeking man tells court: ‘My wife is an adulteress, drunkard and dishonest’

A husband, Mr Lamidi Adebayo on Thursday asked an Ado-Ekiti Customary Court to dissolve his 28-year-old marriage with his wife, Bose.

The petitioner is accusing Bose of adultery, drunkenness and dishonesty.

Adebayo, 48, a commercial driver and resident of No. 89, Isato Street, Ado-Ekiti, told the court that the couple had not conducted any marital rite, but they have four children.

He further told the court that his neighbours had informed him several times that his wife and one of her friends were “touring the houses of men”, but never believed the information.

The petitioner said the nature of his job as a driver made it difficult for him to be at home always.

“I was shocked on Nov. 7, 2017 when my childhood friend, named Lateef, a herbalist, invited me to his house, and told me that I should forgive him that ‎he has been having secret affairs with my wife.

“He told me that the respondent informed him that her husband had died long time ago, whereas am still very much alive,” he said.

The petitioner also alleged that the respondent ‎was a drunkard who takes gin, assorted wines and palm wine to stupor every morning.

Lamidi said he had tried every possible means ‎to stop his wife’s adulterous act and drunkenness but to no avail.

The petitioner, therefore, urged the court to dissolve the marriage because of her behaviour and dishonesty.

The plea of the woman was not immediately taken, but the ‎President of the Court, Mrs Olayinka Akomolede, after hearing the petitioner’s testimony adjourned the case to Feb.15, for further hearing.

NAN

January 18, 2018