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Tag: Nigeria News

  • Senators to banks: release Jonathan’s wife’s cash

    Senators to banks: release Jonathan’s wife’s cash

    Senators yesterday directed two commercial banks to unfreeze some accounts belonging to companies linked to former President Jonathan’s wife, Patience.

    The accounts, domiciled with Zenith Bank, Stanbic IBTC and others, were said to have been frozen on the orders of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The senators, at a hearing by the committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, declared that the accounts in question were not encumbered by any legal processes and as such be unfrozen without delay.

    Chairman of the committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, observed that some of the accounts were frozen based on certain administrative lapses.

    The lawmakers described the methods used in freezing the accounts as arbitrary, insisting that the EFCC failed to comply with due process in closing the accounts.

    Officials of the banks who appeared before the Senate panel however said the court order vacating the freezing of the said accounts had not been received by them.

    They however promised to reopen the accounts, based on the information made available by the senators.

    The committee members expressed worry that the banks could freeze accounts based on letters received from the EFCC without valid court orders.

    Also yesterday, the Federal High Court in Lagos was told how a former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Gooluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs Dr Waripamo-Owei Dudafa allegedly laundered about N5.1billion for the former president’s wife.

    The EFCC arraigned Dudafa and Iwejuo Joseph Nna (alias Taiwo A. Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah) before Justice Mohammed Idris on 23-counts of conspiracy and concealment of crime proceeds.

    They are on trial for alleged conspiracy to conceal proceeds of crime amounting to over N1.6billion on June 11, 2013, among others.

    Justice Idris adjourned till October 24 for hearing of the application to travel.

    Trial will continue on November 14 and 15.

  • We won’t breed irresponsible students – OAU VC

    We won’t breed irresponsible students – OAU VC

    The Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University ( OAU ) Ile Ife Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede, has said the institution would not condone any indiscipline from any student.

    According to him, the university is for learning and moral but not a platform for thuggery where students fight themselves with broken bottles and exchange of blows.

    “The school management suspended some students who went ahead in destroying and vandalising buses belonging to the National Union Of Road Transport Workers and also destroying valuable items at the police station. Before then we suspended two student Union Leaders, Jacob Tosin and Adedayo Emmanuel who broke bottles on themselves and this made her to be hospitalised at the Seventh Days Adventist Hospital Ile Ife for about three weeks when she received an headbutt from Emmanuel and this led to their indefinite suspension”.

    “It was that same Jacob Tosin aka Emerald that spearheaded the protest embarked upon by some Union guys which led to destruction of Valuables. This led to the suspension of some students in the likes of Omole Ibukun who has been suspended before but wrote a promissory note to the University to be of good behavior, Oluwalade Babatunde was also suspended and Osungbade Akeem”.

    “Some of those that were suspended are not even a student of our school, student like Osungbade Akeem the Chairman of Angola Hall but has been rusticated from school a semester ago due to a bad GP. We should know we are not dealing with students but with the enemies of the school”.

    “I was once in the Student Representative Council for 3 years and I don’t want anything that will cause the proscription of the student Union, all what we need do is to correct all those who needs corrections. Any student that is expelled from this school would not be admitted back into this campus again. If the suspended students are remorseful then they will be reinstated back” he said.

    ” As regards the issue of the poor welfare of the school we are trying our best to put things in order.  We believe the Ife Modakek war is over,so students can all stay in town so with there we make sure that in all our halls of residence we have only 4 occupants in a room instead of 12 occupants in a room” he added.

  • There’s light at end of the tunnel – Catholic Archbishop

    The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, says despite the hardship many are facing in the nation, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

    Martins spoke on Wednesday at a news conference on the Marian Year celebration at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos.

    The  celebration is to mark the centenary of Mary’s apparition to the Three Shepherd children of Fatima in Portugal 1917.

    Pope Francis, in view of this, had declared a Centenary Celebration running from Nov. 27 2016 to Nov. 26 2017.

    In Nigeria, the Marian Year is dedicated to the blessed virgin Mary as the Queen and patroness of Nigeria.

    Martins said Nigeria was in need of healing in several areas, and assured the faithful that their prayers were not in vain.

    ”I have good news for all my fellow countrymen, there is light at the end of the tunnel. The prayers of God’s children in this last one year will not be in vain.

    ”He will surely restore the glory of the nation and bring to shame all those who have consistently worked to hold us in perpetual bandage.

    ”Our assurance that God will restore the glory of the nation requires that we also rededicate ourselves to living lives of righteousness, shun sin and embrace the truth,” he said.

    The archbishop regretted that innocent lives were being lost to Boko Haram and  herdsmen attacks, among others, praying that God would help the nation to overcome the problems.

    Martins said that the Marian Year celebration was to give all Christians in the country the opportunity to give special honour to the blessed virgin Mary.

    He said it was also to seek her maternal intercession with her son, Jesus Christ, for the needs of families, individuals in the nation, and the nation as a whole.

    According to him, this is to pray God to save the nation from the moral, economic and political problems facing her.

  • ‘NAFDAC will continue to safeguard public health’

    ‘NAFDAC will continue to safeguard public health’

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control ( NAFDAC ) said on Tuesday in Osogbo that it would continue to safeguard public health in the country.

    The South-West Coordinator of the agency, Mrs Ayeduni Adenuga, made the pledge when he received operational vehicle donated to the agency by the Osun Chapter of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (AIPN).

    Adenuga said that the agency would continue to ensure that only safe and quality food, drugs and other regulated products were certified and made available for public consumption.

    She added that only genuine manufacturers of regulated products would be allowed to operate in the south-west region and the country at large.

    She commended members of AIPN for their gesture, saying it would help the agency to improve its monitoring and surveillance activities .

    “This is a corporate social responsibility from your society and it is highly laudable.

    “This vehicle will help to improve our monitoring and surveillance activities to fight against drug counterfeiters and other unscrupulous element who engage in producing unwholesome regulated products.

    “We want to use this opportunity to encourage other stakeholders to emulate this group by supporting and collaborating with government agencies to achieve a better society as government cannot do it alone,” she stated.

    In his remarks, the Acting Chairman of the association, Mr Samuel Olawoye said the bus was donated to the agency as part of the association’s corporate responsibility.

    Olawoye said the association would continue to partner NAFDAC in its critical role and operations in safe guarding the health of the citizenry.

    NAN

  • Kwara Govt denies rumours of soldiers injecting students in Omu Aran

    Kwara Govt denies rumours of soldiers injecting students in Omu Aran

    The Kwara Government has denied rumours that soldiers are injecting school pupils in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of the state with killer vaccines.

    The Special Adviser ( SA ) on Security to the Governor, Alhaji Amusa Bello, made the denial in a statement on Wednesday in Ilorin.

    The  parents and guardians had on hearing the rumour rushed to schools to withdraw their wards.

    They besieged both private and public schools in the area as early 9 a.m. on hearing the rumour of the presence of vaccine injection team allegedly accompanied by soldiers in the town.

    Some of the parents, mostly traders and commercial motorcyclists, abandoned their businesses to withdraw their wards from schools to prevent them from being injected with the alleged vaccine.

    Some schools had to lock their gates to prevent the parents from gaining entrance to remove the students.

    The SA, therefore, advised members of the public to ignore the rumour as neither the Nigerian Army nor any other security agency was currently undertaking a vaccination exercise or any other health campaign in any part of the State.

    “The State Government calls on parents and guardians not to panic and to refrain from withdrawing their wards from schools based on this unfounded rumour,” he said.

    NAN

  • Eight division, Nigerian Army takes off in Sokoto

    Eight division, Nigerian Army takes off in Sokoto

    The newly-established 8 Division of Nigerian Army, Sokoto, has taken off with the assumption of duty of its pioneer General Officer Commanding (GOC), Brig.-Gen. Olabanji Samuel,

    Gen. Samuel disclosed this when he paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal at the Government House in Sokoto  on Wednesday.

    He said necessary arrangements had been put in place to ensure the smooth take off of the new division.

    He said the bulk of the men and officers of the division  had  now been mobilised to ensure its proper take off .

    “As you may recall, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Yusuf Burutai, announced the establishment of this division when he visited Sokoto earlier this year.

    “I am to inform you that we have taken off and we solicit the support and cooperation of the people and State Governments under our jurisdiction,” the new GOC said.

    Gov.Tambuwal assured the Army authorities of  his government’s total support so as to enable the new division to achieve its set  objectives.

    “We welcome you with open hearts; to us, the military are our friends and we will give you all the necessary support to achieve success.

    “We owe you that much having given everything you have to protect us at all times and we will do everything we can to make your stay comfortable.

    “As for the new GOC, we assure you that Sokoto is your home, as we cherish our position of being the most peaceful state in the federation, and your arrival will make us strengthen that position,” the governor said.

    NAN

  • Court docks man for stealing properties

    Court docks man for stealing properties

    A 35-year-old man, Moses Pam, was on Wednesday arraigned at the Asaba Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing property worth N109, 000.

    Pam was said to have stolen two generator batteries, valued at N60, 000, two gallons of generator oil, valued at N40, 000 and two gallons of diesel valued at N9, 000, all belonging to one Ekenechukwu Okorie.

    The Police Prosecutor, Mrs Ndidi Ahamefuna, told court that the accused committed the offence on Sept. 3, this year at Awka Road, Asaba.

    She said that the offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C21 Vol. 1 Laws of Delta state of Nigeria, 2006.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Akanume Okonkwo, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N120, 000 with a surety in like sum.

    She ordered that the surety should provide evidence of employment and must own a landed property.

    Okonkwo also ordered that the surety must provide two passport photographs and must also reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

    She adjourned the case until Oct. 25 for hearing.

    NAN

  • NEMA hands over relief materials to flood victims in Enugu

    NEMA hands over relief materials to flood victims in Enugu

    The National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA ) on Wednesday handed over relief materials to the Enugu State Government for flood disaster victims in eight affected local government areas of the state.

    Handing over the items in Enugu, the Director-General of NEMA, Mr Mustapha Maihaja, said the materials were presented following on-the-spot assessment carried out in the affected communities.

    Maihaja said that the materials were approved as humanitarian relief assistance by the Federal Government to the affected persons.

    Mrs Nkechi Eneh, the Executive Secretary of Enugu State Emergency Management Agency, represented by her special assistant, Mr Austin Ajuluchukwu, thanked the federal government for seeing to the welfare of the flood victims in the state.

    Eneh promised that the agency would ensure that the materials got to the victims of the disaster.

    She listed the affected councils to include Uzo-Uwani, Igboeze North and South, Igboetiti, Enugu East and North, Udi and Eziagu.

    The relief materials donated are: 1000 pieces of blanket; 180 pieces of ceiling board; 120 pieces of mattresses; 1000 pieces of mosquito nets and 200 gallons each of vegetable and palm oil.

    Other items are: 161 cartons of bathing soap; 500 bags of garri and 300 pieces of  women and children’s wears  each.

    Others are: 100 bags of sugar; 200 pieces of men’s wears; 1000 pieces of Guinea Brocade materials and 50 bags of three-inch nails.

    NAN

  • Monkey Pox cases increase to 74 in 11 states – FG

    Monkey Pox cases increase to 74 in 11 states – FG

    The Monkey pox virus outbreak has spread to 11 states with 74 suspected cases recorded, Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole has said.

    Adewole made the disclosure in Abuja on Wednesday when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    President Muhammadu Buhari chaired the meeting held at the State House Council Chamber, Abuja.

    The Federal Government, on Oct. 11 confirmed that 33 suspected cases of the virus were recorded in seven states.

    Monkeypox is a rare viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) with symptoms in humans similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although less severe.

    Smallpox was eradicated in 1980. However, monkeypox still occurs sporadically in some parts of Africa.

    The minister, who updated the Council on developments in respect of the outbreak, listed the affected States as Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, Nasarawa and Rivers as well as the FCT.

    “The Council also received an update on the state of the public health of the nation. We informed the council about the latest development in respect of the Monkey Pox virus outbreak. So far as of today, there are 74 suspected cases in 11 states of the country.

    “We have confirmed three from Bayelsa and 12 of the suspected cases from Bayelsa tested negative; four suspected cases from Lagos tested negative. We are still expecting the results of the other ones.

    “We are also doing test at the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Edeh, to really understand the genomics of this virus.

    “Even when they are negative, the laboratory attendant should be able to tell us what exactly they are,’’ he said.

    The minister dismissed the assertion that the military was spreading Monkey Pox virus through vaccination.

    He said that the military was never involved in any vaccination in the country, adding that any vaccination must involve state governments and the Federal Ministry of Health.

    “It is also important to dispel the rumour circulating in the country that the military is vaccinating people and trying to spread Monkey Pox across the country.

    “The military is not involved in any vaccination exercise.

    “And I must educate Nigerians about how vaccination campaigns are done. The Federal Government will take the lead but we do not conduct campaign without working with states.

    “So, there is no way we will do campaign without working with the states,’’ he said.

    The minister announced that his ministry was conducting vaccination in only three states of the federation, namely Borno, Kwara and Kogi.

    He stated that the cholera vaccination was being conducted in Borno while that of Yellow Fever vaccination was being carried out in Kwara and Kogi.

    He stated that the ministry would soon start vaccination against measles while a nationwide vaccination against Yellow Fever would commence before the end of the year.

    Also addressing the correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, the Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, revealed that the Council approved N236 million for the completion of Sabke Irrigation Dam in Katsina State.

    He said the contract for the dam was initially awarded in 1997, re-awarded in 2009 after it was abandoned, but would now be completed by the current administration.

    NAN

  • French Senate to vote on security law as Macron addresses Police

    French Senate to vote on security law as Macron addresses Police

    The French Senate will on Wednesday vote on a controversial security bill proposed by the government to help deal with the threat of terrorism.

    The bill enshrines modified versions of emergency powers into ordinary law.

    It has been criticised by UN human rights experts and France’s rights ombudsman Jacques Toubon.

    President Emmanuel Macron’s government said that the law was needed for a state of emergency to be was imposed in Paris.

    The government said that the state of emergency was as a result of the 2015 attacks that claimed 130 lives, which could be allowed to lapse at the end of the month.

    The draft law incorporates into ordinary law, with some restrictions, emergency powers that allowed the authority to restrict the movements of people suspected of terrorist links and to search properties.

    It also allows authorities to close places of worship where extremist ideas are propagated.

    Security forces are empowered to stop any person and check their identity within 10 km of major international ports and airports.

    UN human rights experts Fionnuala Ni Aolain and Michel Frost in September warned of “vague wording’’ in the draft law and “grave consequences for the integrity of human rights’’.

    Toubon said that the proposed powers would allow the freedom of individuals to be restricted on the basis of suspicions or attitudes rather than as punishment for offences.

    Macron himself would also give a speech to police and military officers on the government’s security policy.

    More than 230 people have been killed since early 2015 in France in a succession of attacks by Islamist extremists.

    NAN