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Driver jailed six months for absconding with friend’s N184,000

A Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court, Aso Pada, on Tuesday sentenced a 40- year- old driver, Lawal Dauda, to six months imprisonment for absconding with his friend’s money.

The Judge, Yusuf Yaqub, sentenced the convict, who lives in Ungwan Hausawa Karmo, FCT, after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating.

Yaqub, however, gave the convict an option to pay N5,000 fine.

He ordered that should the convict default, he would get additional one month imprisonment.

He further ordered the convict to pay N184,000, being the amount owed the complainant.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Agabi Auta, had told the court that Sadiq Ginja of Shopping Centre, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, reported the matter at

the Divisional Police Station, Mararaba, on January 4.

Auta said that sometime in December 2017, the complainant entrusted Dauda with bags of rice and beans valued at N184,000 to sell for him.

The prosecutor told the court that the complainant entered into an agreement with the convict that he would sell the grains and remit the money to the complainant.

“After the accused sold the grains, he did not remit the money to the complainant, rather he absconded to an unknown destination until he was seen and arrested on January 4.

Agabi said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 312 and 322 of the Penal.

NAN

January 9, 2018
Teachers’ strike will not stop education reform – Kaduna Govt.

Kaduna State Government on Tuesday said the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Union of Teachers ( NUT ) in the state would not stop its education reform.

In a statement issued in Kaduna by Samuel Aruwan, Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai, the state government said it would not allow unqualified teachers in its schools.

He said the state government was determined to protect the future of the students as more than two million pupils were enrolled in public primary schools.

Aruwan commended teachers who reported to work in spite of efforts by the NUT to unlawfully prevent them from working.

He said the government had begun collation of reports from education administrators on teachers and reiterated that teachers who absented themselves from work would be sanctioned according to the law.

“Appropriate reminder of the potency of these rules (laws) has been issued in previous government statements.

“Across the state, the illegality of the NUT’s strike action is being compounded by physical attempts to frustrate those teachers who wish to work.

“No law permits any worker to tamper with another’s right to work. The attention of the security agencies has been drawn to this dangerous pattern of conduct,” Aruwan said.

Read also: Court stops El-Rufai from sacking Kaduna teachers

He said the state government had concluded marking of scripts of 43,000 applicants who applied for teaching positions, disclosing that 25,000 qualified teachers would be employed.

NAN

January 9, 2018
Photojournalist kidnapped in Syria still alive

A South African charity says it has received proof that photojournalist Shiraaz Mahomed, who was kidnapped in Syria in 2017, is alive.

The disaster relief NGO Gift of the Givers said on its Facebook page on Tuesday that it had been contacted by an anonymous source in Syria who said he had access to Mahomed.

Mahomed’s family sent the source a list of questions for the South African freelance photojournalist to answer in order to prove his identity.

“Last night was the turning point as Shiraaz’s family confirmed that all ten questions were correctly answered and it could ONLY be from Shiraaz.

“The family were ecstatic,” Gift of the Givers said in its Facebook statement.

Read Also: Russia accuses U.S. of training ex IS fighters to destabilise Syria.

Mohamed was seized by gunmen in Darkouch in war-torn Syria in January 2017, while he was travelling with Gift of the Givers to document the charity’s work.

“Now comes the daunting challenge – why was Shiraaz captured and what do they want?” the organization said.

It is unclear who, or which group, took Mahomed, and no ransom has been demanded for his return.

NAN

January 9, 2018
NAFDAC warns women against Drug abuse

The National Food and Drugs Administration and Control ( NAFDAC ) has warned women against drug abuse.

Mrs Roseline Ajayi, the Deputy Director and Kwara State Coordinator of NAFDAC gave the warnings while speaking with newsmen on Tuesday in Ilorin.

According to her, the abuse of drugs is becoming prevalent among women.

“I have heard the story that drug abuse is quite prevalent among ladies and I think it is about the environment where they live.”

“In an environment where alcohol is consumed freely, where you have frustration, joblessness and pressure in the home-front, people tend to take solace in something and they go after doing something that will make them forget about their sorrow,’’ she said.

The coordinator said that the agency discovered that soft drinks were being laced with drugs such as tramadol and codeine cough syrup before being taken.

Also Read: Court to NAFDAC: Warn consumers against taking Fanta, Sprite with Vitamin C

“Because of the stigma that women might face if they come out openly that they take drugs, they do it clandestinely by lacing soft drinks with hard drugs to prevent people from suspecting them,’’ he said.

Ajayi said the agency had stepped up its awareness campaign against drug abuse and misuse through enlightenment on dangers and consequences of drugs abuse.

According to her, the agency is ready to partner with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to effectively combat drug-related offences.

She urged Nigerians to uphold family ties and values, adding that parents should watch and relate well with their children while giving them the needed support.

Ajayi also spoke on the need for government to step up effort to stem the rate of unemployment so that the rate of drug
abuse could reduce.

“When youths are gainfully engaged, they will be busy; their minds will not go into illicit drugs consumption,’’ she said.

NAN

January 9, 2018
Ebonyi plans to ban hawking to stem child abuse

The Ebonyi Government says it will stop street hawking to eradicate the abuse of school-aged children in the state.

Mr Godwin Igwe, the Head of Child Development, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, made this known on Tuesday in an interview in Abakaliki.

Igwe said, “The ban is aimed at curbing all forms of child abuse, child labour and neglect.’’

According to him, such abuses, as noticed in the state, include child abuse, child trafficking and other forms of violence against children.

He explained that through hawking, children could be subjected to rape, ritual killings and trafficking, among other related cases.

“Children hawking, whether after, during school hours or weekends, is not allowed.

“If caught, the person will be punished,’’ Igwe said.

He added that the ministry would work in partnership with the Ministry of Information and Education, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ) and Nigeria Peace Corp ( NPC ), among others to achieve its goals.

“Child abuses and violence against children have been seen as custom and normal ways of treating children in the society and such trend ought to be redressed.

“It is based on this that we want to sensitise the public against this negative practice.

Read also: Tension as police kill football fan in Ebonyi

“Some people do not know that it is wrong to maltreat a child, neglect or subject the child to torture or any form of inhuman treatment,’’ Igwe said.

He decried the increasing rate of child abuse and charged parents and guardians of victims to report such cases to the appropriate authority.

Igwe added that perpetrators of such acts would be treated accordingly, to serve as deterrent to others.

He also spoke against the attitude of some parents, whom he said, collected money from the perpetrators for settlement without minding the damage caused on the victims.

He advised parents to always monitor the activities of their children so as to prevent the future recurrence.

The ministry official said that Police should be encouraged to assist in ensuring the protection of children rights.

He emphasised the readiness of the ministry to work with the police so that the welfare, survival and development of a child would be protected.

Igwe added that the media would also be engaged in the dissemination of information.

“We implore the judiciary to given attention to cases of child abuse.

“Legal personnel, who have undergone training on child rights, should be given the chance to handle such case.

“We have plan to invite local government chairmen, social workers and stakeholders to sensitise them on the need to step-up measures against child abuse, especially in the rural areas, which seem to be worst hit.’’

Also, the Desk Officer, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in the ministry, Mrs Florence Onwa, confirmed the increasing rate of child abuse.

Onwa said that campaigns had been taken to market places and industrial sites, while the ministry was also making arrangement for advocacy visits to the traditional, community and opinion leaders in Ebonyi.

“Parents should stop sending their children to unknown persons; but if there is need to do so, they ought to be sure of whom the intending masters and mistresses are,’’ she said.

NAN

January 9, 2018
Chinese-produced HIV, Hepatitis vaccines receive WHO prequalification

Two Chinese-produced vaccines, a Bivalent Oral Poliomyelitis Vaccine ( BOPV ) and a Hepatitis “A” Vaccine ( HAV ), have received prequalification by the WHO.

The move indicates that the WHO has given the immunization its stamp of approval for the safety and efficacy, and UN procuring agencies may now source them.

Mr Fabio Scano, an officer in the WHO Representative Office in China, said: “prequalification of BOPV is very good news for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

Read also: ‘Why we can’t produce vaccines locally’

“Following the switch from trivalent OPV to BOPV in 2016, most countries are going to cure polio with the combination of inactivated polio immunization and BOPV and China will be a sufficient supplier of this essential vaccine.”

The country now has four immunizations prequalified by the WHO.

“We are very pleased to see China’s innovation and production capacity bring lifesaving vaccines to the world through the WHO prequalification program,” said Scano.

NAN

January 9, 2018
FRSC says accidents claimed 416 lives in Kaduna in 2017

No fewer than 416 people lost their lives in 593 accidents involving 882 vehicles and 4,688 people in Kaduna State from January to December 2017.

Umar Ibrahim, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ), in the state made this disclosure in an interview in Kaduna on Tuesday.

Ibrahim also said 2,080 people sustained various degrees of injury during the period under review, bringing the total number of casualties to 2,496 a reduction from 2,897 recorded in 2016.

He also said there was a slight drop in the number of accidents from 596 in 2016 to 593 in 2017.

“However, there was an increase in the number of deaths from 413 recorded in 2016 to 416 in 2017 and a decrease in the number of the injured from 2,448 in 2016 to 2,080 in 2017, ” he said.

Ibrahim said speeding remained the major cause of accidents on Nigerian highways, saying “speed thrills, but kills”

The sector commander urged motorists to install speed limit device so as to guard against untimely death.

Read also: Inform us on road accidents, others – FRSC

He noted, however, that quite a number of bus owners have installed the device, adding that accidents involving buses had drastically reduced in the period under review.

“I am appealing to private car owners to equally install the device to reduce avoidable deaths to accidents.

“We will continue to collaborate with other relevant stakeholders like the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Emergency Management Agency and the National Union of Road Transport Workers to reduce accidents in 2018.

“We will also continue to carry out series of rallies and road shows in all major motor parks as part of the corps’ public enlightenment programmes designed to keep the motoring public informed on the need to be safety conscious.

“FRSC remains committed to providing necessary human and material resources for effective management of traffic in identified black spots, and through awareness campaign on proper use of the roads, ” the commander said.

Ibrahim equally lauded the media and other relevant stakeholders for their support throughout the year.

“We have achieved a lot in 2017 but we can do more in 2018 with your continued support,” he added.

NAN

January 9, 2018
Wike proposes death sentence for cultists, others

Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers has declared that Government will amend the State Anti-kidnapping Law to prescribe death sentence for those involved in cultism, robbery and kidnapping.

Wike made this known during a broadcast in Port Harcourt following the killing of Johnson Igwedibia, popularly known as Don Waney by the security forces on Saturday.

He said the three arms of government would work together to amend the state Anti Kidnapping Law to proscribe death penalty to violent crimes.

“Rivers government has invested heavily on the security of the state and will continue to do everything within our powers to guarantee the security and safety of lives and properties.

“As a fact, we will spare no cost in ensuring that nobody will have peace if the lives and properties of our people make no meaning to them.

“We reiterate our zero tolerance for all forms of criminality and reassure residents of our determination to be though with those who undermine peace and security in the state.

“To underscore our seriousness to fight violent crime, we shall be amending the Anti Kidnapping Law to proscribe the maximum death sentence for engaging in cultism, robbery and kidnapping,” he said.

Wike said the decision of the state government to offer amnesty to all repentant cultists, militants and criminals was done in good faith and in the best interest of the state.

Read also: Rivers PDP chair hails security agencies, Wike for ending killings

He said the full weight of the law shall be discharged on anyone who failed to genuinely renounce all forms of criminality as stated in the terms of the amnesty deal.

The governor said the state government would pay N20 million each to any individual who volunteers useful information that would lead to arrest and prosecution of 32 wanted criminals in the state.

“The aftermath of crime and insecurity affect society as a whole, and not only the direct victims that are affected.

“The duty to fight crime remains collective and no right thinking person should ever indulge in politicizing security issues under any circumstances,” he warned.

Wike directed security agencies to immediately arrest and prosecute 32 alleged criminals (names withheld) who he said had either reneged on the terms of the amnesty or refused to embrace it.

He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for sending a delegation led by Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazzau, to Rivers to assess the security situation in the state and to commiserate with the government and people over the killings

Wike also commended the Nigerian Army and Department of State Security for bringing the alleged killer Don Waney and his gang to book.

NAN

January 9, 2018
Sen. Abe condemns recent killings in Rivers

Sen. Magnus Abe, representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, on Tuesday condemned the killing of 20 persons in some communities in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers.

Abe made the condemnation in a statement issued by his Spokesman, Mr Parry Benson, in Port Harcourt.

According to him, no fewer than 20 people were killed on January 5; several houses were burnt in the past few days following coordinated attacks by suspected cultists in Asarama, Unyeada and Ajakajak communities.

Read also: Rivers PDP chair hails security agencies, Wike for ending killings

Abe expressed his condolence to the families of those who lost their lives, property and those injured during the attacks.

The Lawmaker called on the security agencies to work round the clock and ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime were brought to book.

“Every life is precious and no one has the right to take the life of another, because all lives belong to God, the Creator.

“I pray that God will give strength to all families directly affected by this tragedy,” he said.

Abe appealed to all Rivers communities to be good neighbours, provide security and comfort to any displaced persons that fled to their communities for safety.

“We must find strength to stand together and defeat this evil,” he said.

NAN

January 9, 2018
Gridlock on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway as schools resume

Some road users on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway on Monday raised alarm over the gridlock caused by road construction projects as schools resumed from the Yuletide break.

The road users appealed to the Lagos State Government to adopt measures to reduce hardship on the expressway.

A NAN correspondent, who took a trip on the highway, reports that several commuters were stranded at various bus-stops on the highway as commercial vehicles were trapped in gridlock.

An engineer and resident of Shasha, Mr Dayo Ogunware, said the inner roads were blocked due to the pressure on the highway caused by ongoing construction of the Abule-Egba flyover project in Agege.

Ogunware explained that the Agege axis serves as alternative routes to vehicles from Sango Ota and its environs.

He appealed to the Lagos State Government to ensure the project was speedily executed to reduce the hardship faced by road users.

“It was difficult to get vehicle this morning.

“Traffic diversion from Agege Pen Cinema inward Agege Motor Road toward Abeokuta Expressway as a result of the Abule Egba Flyover project is the cause of this problem.

“The state government ought to have completed the ongoing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane construction project on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway before embarking on the construction of the Abule Egba flyover.

Read also: Gridlock on ports’ access roads will reduce in January

“The completion of the BRT lane would have contained the traffic diversion from Pen Cinema,” he said.

A civil servant, Mrs Tade Olukoya, said she spent hours on the road because of the gridlock and blamed the state government for poor planning.

“We know government is working for our good but they should consider the stress we go through and plan better.

“They should create alternatives for us, the whole of this area is locked down because government wants to construct many roads at the same time,” she said.

However, Mr Tomi Olarenwaju, a businessman said the hardship was the price to pay for development.

“The BRT lane when completed would eliminate traffic on this expressway, same for the flyover in Agege, I think we need to be a bit patient,” he said.

A school teacher, Mrs Herrieta Uzorigwe, blamed the gridlock on resumption of workers from the holiday and first day of resumption for schools.

Uzorigwe, however, called for urgent measures to tackle the gridlock to reduce hardship on the highway.

Mallam Abubakar Tukur, a tea vendor, appealed for speedy completion of both the Abule Egba flyover and BRT lane construction to ease the gridlock.

NAN

January 8, 2018