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Tag: Nigeria News

  • Court jails driver 12 years for defiling housekeeper

    Court jails driver 12 years for defiling housekeeper

    A 37-year-old driver, Femi Tonade, was on Tuesday sentenced to 12 years in prison in an Ikeja High Court for defiling a 14-year-old housekeeper of his employer.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Kudirat Jose reduced the jail term from life imprisonment to 12 years, after hearing the plea for mercy by the defence counsel.

    She said: “It is easy to plead for people but it is easier for people to offend. You just don’t see a child and decide to have forceful carnal knowledge of her.

    “Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos recommends a term of life in prison for the offence of defilement.

    “However, after listening to your allocutus, the court is going to be lenient with the defendant and sentence him to 12 years in prison.

    “The sentence will commence from the first day he was incarcerated.”

    Jose also noted that the evidence of the minor against the defendant was cogent and believable and that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

    The prosecution led by Mrs A.B. Awosika, had told the court that Tonade committed the offence on Dec. 1, 2015 at Iju-Ishaga, Lagos.

    Awosika said that the convict and his employer were outside an apartment while the complainant was in the building cleaning the upstairs.

    “The convict crept upstairs without his employer’s knowledge, physically restrained the housekeeper and had forceful carnal knowledge of her,” she said.

    She said that the complainant confided in her employer about the defilement the following day, and it was promptly reported to the authorities.

    The prosecutor added that subsequent medical examinations confirmed that the housekeeper was defiled.

    She said the offence violated Section 137 of the Criminal Code of Lagos State.

    Counsel to the convict, Mrs Olabimpe Bamboye, asked the court to temper justice with mercy.

    “My Lord, please temper justice with mercy. The defendant is a driver; he has a family and an aged father whom he takes care of.

    “Ever since he has been in custody, the defendant has not been able to take care of his family,” she pleaded.

  • Dubai airport records sharp rise in passenger traffic

    Dubai airport records sharp rise in passenger traffic

    Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest civil aviation hub, said on Tuesday that it recorded its busiest month in August, United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) State News Agency, WAM, reported.

    Monthly statistics showed that passenger numbers in August totalled 8.23 million compared to 7.23 million passengers in 2016, this represents a 6.6 per cent year-on-year increase.

    South America was the fastest expanding market with traffic surging 27.4 per cent, followed by Asia at 21.9 per cent and Eastern Europe at 18.8 per cent.

    Moreover, the Dubai International Airport welcomed 59.35 million passengers during the eight and seventh months of the year, a 6.3 per cent increase compared to 55.85 million passengers of 2016.

    In terms of passenger volumes, India remained the top destination country with 1,044,730 passengers in August, followed by Britain (611,254 passengers) and Saudi Arabia (610,434 passengers).

    London was the top destination city with 377,130 passengers, followed closely by Kuwait City (284,151 passengers) and Mumbai (211,564 passengers).

    Meanwhile, freight volumes surged to 221,508 tons in August, up 10.1 per cent from 201,100 tons in 2016.

    “We are very pleased with the way things are shaping up this year, not only in terms of growth, which has been robust with passenger numbers exceeding the 8-million mark three times: in January, July and August,’’ said Paul Griffiths, chief executive officer of Dubai Airports.

    DXB has also succeeded in enhancing the airport experience with initiatives such as the launch of the “world’s fastest free airport Wi-Fi’’ and the implementation of the streaming entertainment service ICFlix, he added.

  • Fashola seeks support to decongest Lagos traffic

    Fashola seeks support to decongest Lagos traffic

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has called on importers to utilize Warri and Calabar sea ports to decongest the current traffic challenge in Lagos.

    Fashola, who made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while addressing newsmen, blamed the traffic challenge on the ongoing rehabilitation work on Apapa-Wharf road on congestion.

    He said the reduction of cargo movement through Lagos sea port would reduce traffic on the ever busy Apapa-Wharf road, being rehabilitated.

    “What we can do also is to perhaps, for now, move our cargo to other ports if the content is not to be delivered to Lagos.

    “If the content is to be delivered to the east, the Warri and Calabar ports are there, so, we have all of this access, let us also be very flexible about using them.

    “Our appeal to importers is to also bear in mind that we are constructing a built up area, therefore, their flexibility will help us improve service delivery,” he said.

    Fashola said the ministry was aware of the challenges faced by motorists as a result of the ongoing project but called for patience.

    “Recently, we heard the licensed custom agents complaining about the same road, we hear you loud and clear, we have started work, so bear with us.

    “The construction will cause some discomfort but at the end of the day, if we succeed with what we are doing now and what we plan to do, you will have a better experience this time next year,” he added.

    The minister said the Federal Government was making plans to raise N100 billion from Sukuk fund to finance some road project in Nigeria.

    He said 25 road projects across the six geopolitical zone of the country would be executed with the fund.

    According to him, this is the first ever Sukuk that the Federal Government is issuing, so all we are targeting to raise N100 billion.

    He said the targeted fund would not cover all the roads in the country but noted the 25 roads to be executed with the fund were integral parts of A1 to A4 projects.

    “A1 is the Lagos to Sokoto highway, A2 is Warri to Katsina, A3 is Port Harcourt to Portiskum in Yobe while A4 is Calabar to Maiduguri.

    “One thing is that all these roads are in common, they originate from a point and end at the boundary, so the 25 roads are part of the main four highways,” Fashola said.

  • Court dismisses Fani-Kayode’s bid to transfer money laundering trial

    Court dismisses Fani-Kayode’s bid to transfer money laundering trial

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday, dismissed an application by a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-kayode, seeking transfer of a money laundering case against him.

    Fani-Kayode, who was also the Chairman of Media and Publicity Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Organisation during the 2015 general election, is standing trial alongside a former Minister of State for Finance, Nenadi Usman.

    Also joined as defenfants are – former National Chairman of the Association of Local Government in Nigeria ( ALGON ), Yusuf Danjuma, and a company, Jointrust Dimensions Limited.

    The accused were arraigned by The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) on a 17- count  charge of money laundering.

     Fani-Kayode and others allegedly laundered N4.6billion, according to the EFCC.

    The Commission alleged they committed the offences between January and March 2015.

    In counts one to seven, they were alleged to have unlawfully retained over N3.8 billion which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of corruption.

    In counts eight to 14, the accused allegedly used over N970 million which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of an unlawful act of corruption.

    Meanwhile, in counts 15 to 17 Fani-Kayode and one Olubode Oke, who is said to be at large, allegedly made cash payments of about N30 million, in excess of the amount allowed by law, without going through a financial institution.

    Besides, Fani-Kayode allegedly made payments to one Paste Poster Co (PPC) of No 125 Lewis Street, Lagos, in excess of amounts allowed by law.

    EFCC alleged the offences contravened the provisions of sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b), and 16 (5) of the Money laundering (prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under same.

    The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The accused were first arraigned on June 28, 2016 before Justice Muslim Hassan of the same court, but the judge withdrew from the suit on March 16, this year following an application by Fani-Kayode, citing likely bias by the judge.

    The case was thereafter, re-assigned to Justice Mohammed Aikawa and the accused were re-arraigned on the same charges.

    At the last adjourned date on June 21, defence counsel, Mr Norrisson Quakers, SAN, had prayed the court to transfer the case to its Abuja division, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter.

    Quakers argued that the facts of the case showed that all the transactions carried out by the accused as Director of Media and Publicity of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, took place in Abuja.

    Besides, he had argued that the accused resides in Abuja and had another ongoing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
    But EFCC’s lawyer, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, opposed the application and urged the court to refuse it on the grounds that the transactions as well as cheques and receipts in furtherance of same, were done in Lagos.

    Oyedepo thereafter urged the court to dismiss the application for transfer and described it as a mere waste of the court’s time.

    At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Justice Aikawa, in his ruling, held that some of the authorities cited by defence counsel, were delivered before the enactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which he noted had provided exceptions to the issues of venue of court.

    “In the case before me, the prosecution avers in its counter affidavit that “the sum of N30 million was paid to PW1 (Olusegun Idowu) of Paste Posters Company Ltd, who has his office in Lagos”.

    “This, in my view shows that all facts leading to the transaction was done in Lagos, and only evidence will prove otherwise.

    “In the light of all these, it is clear that the facts and circumstances of this case falls into the exceptions of the law regarding criminal trials.

    “There is no justification to warrant a transfer of this case to Abuja; the interest of justice requires that the trial of this case continues in this court.

    “This application hereby fails and is accordingly dismissed,” he ruled.
    The court also ruled on an application for objection raised by defence counsel on the last adjourned date, challenging the tendering of photocopies of payment receipts by PW1, who began giving testminony on June 7.

    Aikawa held that it was not the business of the court to concern itself with whether or not a document is original, so long as the document sought to be tendered, is duly certified.

    The court accordingly, dismissed the objections, admitted the receipts in evidence and marked same as exhibits 3 and 3A respectively.

    The court then called on prosecution to continue with the examination of his first witness.

    Meanwhile, defence counsel, Quakers, sought for an adjournment to enable him study the exhibits and prepare his cross examination.

    The court granted the request and adjourned the case to Sept 27 for cross examination and continuation of trial.

  • Nigeria’s unity not negotiable – Senate

    Nigeria’s unity not negotiable – Senate

    The Senate on Tuesday declared that the unity of the country is not negotiable.

    The upper chamber also asked groups with reasons agitation to do so within constitutional means.

    It said all possible measures would be explored to ensure that peace is restored to all parts of the country.

    This was part of the resolutions of the lawmakers after a lengthy closed session.

    The Senate resumed plenary on Tuesday after two months recess and dissolved into executive session to address national issues.

    Insiders said the closed session was an opportunity for the Senate to deliberate on burning national issues including the agitation for restructuring of the country, the economy and the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), its proscription by South East governors and classification as a terrorist organization by the Federal Government.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who announced the resolutions, said: “the Senate resolved that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable and we are all committed to the territorial integrity of our country.”

    “The Senate will use all possible measures to make sure that peace is restored to all parts of Nigeria.

    “The Senate hereby advised that all groups who seem to be pursuing any agitation should do so within constitutional means.”

    The Chairman of Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, underscored what Saraki said.

    Although not specifically mentioned, the resolution appeared to have been informed by the activities of IPOB and other groups who are agitating against alleged marginalization in the country.

    Abdullahi noted that at the closed session they unanimously agreed to defend, protect and respect the country’s constitution.

    On the proscription and classification of IPOB as a terrorist organization, Abdullahi said  as long as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and President Muhammadu Buhari followed due process, the Senate agreed with them on the matter.

     

     

  • NLC suspends strike in Zamfara

    NLC suspends strike in Zamfara

    The Nigeria Labor Congress ( NLC ), Zamfara chapter, on Monday announced a conditional suspension of the indefinite strike it embarked upon a fortnight ago.

    The announcement was made by the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Bashir Mafara, after a meeting of the State Executive Council (SEC) at its secretariat in Gusau.

    He said the conditional suspension followed the intervention of various stakeholders, including members of the state house of assembly, religious and traditional leaders as well as the state’s Elders Forum.

    Mafara said the conditional suspension of the strike would be for four weeks, during which the workers’ seven demands were expected to be met by the state government.

    “We are not doing this out of fear or intimidation but for the respect we have for the different categories of people that intervened in the matter,” the labour leader said.

    He directed all workers in the state to immediately resume work and await further instructions from the union’s leadership.

    The chairman commended the resilience of the workers, goodwill and support of the people of the state, as well as journalists and assured that the NLC would continue to do its best in meeting the expectations of the people.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the strike followed the failure of the government to pay arrears of entitlements including promotion, gratuity of pensioners and full implementation of the N18, 000 minimum wage.

  • Apostle Suleiman, Iginla, others for Nollywood awards

    Apostle Suleiman, Iginla, others for Nollywood awards

    Apostle Johnson Suleiman and Pastor Joshua Iginla have been nominated for the maiden edition of the Nollywood Ambassadors Awards (NAA) slated to hold in Abuja on Sept. 29.

    Mr Sunny-Ken Awoji, President of Nollywood Ambassadors International Initiative, organisers of the event, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

    According to him, “Suleiman, the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, will be honoured as ‘Nollywood Most Friendly Clergyman’ for his `passionate’ care and support for the movie industry, particularly for actors.

    He added that Iginla of the Champions Royal Assembly, based in the Federal Capital Territory, will be awarded as the ’Most Supportive Clergyman of the Year.’

    “In spite of their huge spiritual responsibilities, these men have committed their resources to the wellbeing of Nollywood over the years.

    “They are among our unsung heroes and worthy ambassadors that should be honoured, in a way of saying thank you to them.

    “They have severally paid the medical bills of some of our own when they were having health challenges, and in some cases sponsored others for medical trips abroad.

    “Pastor Iginla has made it a tradition to motivate our actors whenever he is celebrating his birthday by giving them cars and other material items of value to the industry.

    “Having shown uncommon patriotism to Nollywood, they need to be celebrated for them to be inspired and do more for humanity,” Awoji said.

    He added that there were individuals and organisations, within and outside the Nigerian motion picture industry, that have contributed toward its astronomical growth that were also listed on the honour roll.

    He noted that anyone, across every sector, who has shown uncommon patriotism and contributed to the growth of the film making industry in Nigeria, was a worthy ambassador of Nollywood.

    “Nollywood has evolved to become a global brand, and it is time to celebrate our brand ambassadors for their immense contributions to the growth of a brand that has created jobs for many Nigerians.”

    Awoji explained that since the award was geared towards recognising both practitioners and supporters of the industry alike, the award has been classified into internal and external awards respectively.

    He identified others listed for the award to include a clergy, Jide Ogunsakin, Admiral Festus Porbeni and Dr. Chief Andy Bassey to be honoured as “Youngest Entrepreneur of the Year, among others.

    He added that Nollywood has also listed some of its best to be honoured as Best Guild President of the year, Most Creative Director of the year, Best Producer and the Best Director.

    The Best Actors, Male and Female, ‘Kannywood Best Actor, and the Most Promising Actor, male and female respectively, would also be honoured among others.

    Awoji explained that the Actors Guild of Nigeria ( AGN ), Association of Movie Producers ( AMP ), Directors Guild of Nigeria ( DGN ) and other guilds within Nollywood were in support of the initiative.

    He said that the choice of the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT ) as venue for the awards was to represent unity and oneness of Nollywood.

  • Increasing trends of cultism among young people

    Increasing trends of cultism among young people

    Generally, humans are referred to as ‘social animals’; please don’t feel offended already…it is only a notion to explain our dear and perpetual need for interaction and formation of identity.

    From time immemorial, our species have always longed to be part of a group or movement that not only matter in the scheme of things, but that has enough influence to navigate and ensure our individual survival and long or short term aspirations.

    However, the ideas of ‘collectivism’ and ‘group identity’ have been froth with a lot of vices, immoral and unethical excesses by those who belong to some of the groups.

    The emerging trend of cult groups amongst young people, especially within the four walls of an educational institution is alarming.

    Although, it is rampant in higher institutions across the world and has become a permanent feature in Nigerian campuses, however, tertiary institutions are not alone in the ‘unholy’ association; the rate at which secondary school students are getting involved in cultism is increasing at an alarm rate.

    It is a truism that young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow but of now, however, the troubling question is – How did these leaders get involved in this unholy unison?

    Paul Omo obadan reports that if something is not done promptly to check the trend, the society stands the risk of being saddled with the burden of a substantial dysfunctional youth population.

    In schools noted for cultism, teachers come under frequent threats. This leads to a decline in the school general academic calendar.

    A good number of cultists have been accused of robbery, rape, harassment and intimidation of teachers (to mention but a few). Some have also been used by politicians to cause crisis in a bid to achieve their selfish game.

    Come to think of it, how do teenagers between the ages 13-17 even have the courage to join or form cult group?

    It’s Simple, they have seen people around them do it and are influenced, probably because they have a huge physique or out of sheer desire to feel among and impress their peers.

    One can only wonder what a student who threatens to kill his or her teacher in secondary school will do when he or she eventually gets into institutions of higher learning.

    Recently, social media was agog with the viral video of an 11-year-old cultist notoriously known as ‘SHANAWOLE’.

    Check out this video:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKgQRmHxP5Q

    If not for the timely intervention of popular pastor – Tony Rapu, Shanawole was a tsunami waiting to happen. His nuisance value to the society had literally overshot the boundaries of international billboards and charts.

    He was a member of the eiye confranternity and a drug addict, especially to marijuana, skunk and other related street drugs. According to him, if anyone offends him or his group, his primary responsibility is to kill the person. So shocking right??? That is an 11 year-old-boy!

    From Ijora Badia, Apapa Iganmu to railway line in bariga, Kadin in Fadeyi to Shipeolu in Shomolu, all in Lagos, residents live in fear as these gangs walk freely in broad day light with different weapons like knives, machete and gun as being used by the now dreaded badoo cult that is terrorising ikorodu in Lagos.

    Who can then be blamed for these?

    Well, this is not the time to engage in the luxury of cooling off, or to take the tranquilising drug of gradualism. This is the time for all stakeholders – Parents, Teachers/Schools, Religious Institutions, Non-Governmental Organisations ( NGOs ) and our honourable legislators in the hallowed chamber to collaborate to end the embarrassing menace of cultism in our society.

    Everyone has a role to play in making the future better; if something is not done soon to check cultism in schools and on the streets, then we all would be condemned to an insecurity society.

  • Mourinho won’t be charged over sending-off

    Mourinho won’t be charged over sending-off

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will face no punishment from the English Football Association  ( FA ) after being sent off during his side’s 1-0 Premier League victory over Southampton on Saturday.

    Deep into stoppage-time, referee Craig Pawson sent Mourinho to the stands after he appeared to step on to the pitch and accidentally collide with fourth official Mike Jones.

    The FA received Pawson’s report on Monday, however, and has decided no further action is necessary.

    United maintained their unbeaten start in the league and are second in the standings, behind Manchester City on goals difference.