The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria newspaper

  • Four-yr-old dead, two injured as building collapses on Lagos Island

    Four year-old twin, Kehinde Ogundairo, died on Monday night in a building collapse at Agarawu Street on Lagos Island. Two-year-old Basit Raji and her grandmother, Silifatu Raji were injured.

    The incident happened after a three-story building on 3, Hassan Lane, off Agarawu Street, Lagos Island collapsed around 10 pm on Monday night on another building, a five-room bungalow located behind it on number four.

    The Nation learnt that the building which collapsed is said to be among those marked for demolition by the Lagos State government. It was gathered that the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABCA) officials condoned off the collapsed building and some other buildings around it Monday morning.

    The Nation learnt that the late Kehinde’s twin brother died about three years ago. Basit is receiving treatment at Massey Children’s Hospital on Lagos Island. She is said to have been injured in her eyes and chest as a result of dust, sand and loud sound from the collapse. Her mother is said to be late. Her grandmother, Raji was also said to have had a shock from the sound of the collapse. She was rushed to the hospital too but was discharged on Tuesday.

    Mother of the late Kehinde, Iyabo Adeosun, said though they have been instructed to leave the house, they could not because they did not have money to get another accommodation.

    Read Also: Onitsha building collapse: Govt sets up probe panel

    “I am always scared of that house that collapsed and we (tenants) have struggled with the house owners but they will always renovate it rather than get the house demolished.”

    She said her child was ok and nothing was wrong with him before he died from the building that collapsed on him. “He was sleeping when the house collapsed on him. I have nowhere to sleep, all our belongings are now outside, I have nowhere to go, I beg government to help us,” she said.

    Raji said she was outside cooking on Monday night and went inside to eat when she heard a sound.

    “I heard a sound like it wanted to rain and I saw the building coming down; I was carrying Basit on my hand, she was like finding it uncomfortable, breathing hard and shaking; fear gripped me and it was like something struck me, I did not know what to do; we were rushed to the hospital. I was discharged shortly (Tuesday afternoon), I went to see Basit, she is in the Ward and she is undergoing treatment.”
    Continue on Page 2

  • Ganduje appoints 11 female Permanent Secretaries

    The Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje has approved the appointment of 11 women as Permanent Secretaries into the state civil service.

    A statement by the commissioner for Information, Youth and Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba, in Kano on Tuesday said the appointment was in compliance with the National Policy on Women that reserves 30 per cent for women under the affirmative action guidelines.

    According to the commissioner, the gesture is also in pursuit of his policy to empower and promote the cause of women in the state.

    He said that since inception, the administration had favoured women in the state in terms of appointment and economic empowerment.

    Garba reaffirmed the commitment of Ganduje to continue to implement policies and programmes aimed at promoting the cause for women development.

    Read Also: Tambuwal dissovles cabinet, seeks forgiveness

    ‘’Women will be given their rightful position in the scheme of things as we get set for second term in office in terms of appointment into key positions.

    “They will also be given special consideration in empowerment, initiation policies and programmes aimed at improving their livelihood through the strengthening of women related programmes,’’ Garba said.

    He further reaffirmed commitment of the government to the cause of women development by ensuring effective collaboration with relevant stakeholders on women development.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of 36 permanent secretaries were appointed and sworn in by the governor on Sunday, May 26.

  • Tambuwal dissovles cabinet, seeks forgiveness

    GOVERNOR Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state on Tuesday announced the dissolution of members of his cabinet, Special Advisers and all political appointees whose tenure have expired as he seeks forgiveness of all.

    The dissolution is coming hours to the inauguration of the incumbent governor for another term of four years.

    Tambuwal who made the announcement at the state valedictory Executive Council session held Government House council chamber with all commissioners present thanked all appointees for serving the state in their different capacities.

    ” You have done exceedingly well in the course of your assignments and I am proud of you.

    ” I enjoyed working with all of you and will continue to have regards and respect for you as we have been together under the bond of trust as one family “, he told them.

    Tambuwal while clearing the air on issues bordering on his relationship with other exco members and his defection to PDP, said” my defection was personal and I did not at any juncture, pressed nor compel anyone to follow me to PDP.

    “It is my personal decision and I respected other cabinet members views who remained in APC. I never questioned anyone for not joining me.

    ” Cabinet members who choose to remain in APC after I dissolved the council in 2018 did that freely”, he said.

    Similarly, Tambuwal insisted that his administration in the last four years was fundamentally driven by transparency and accountability in all dealings, stressing that” We never ran a cult government because we were given the mandate and had taken oath to always remain transparent as we are accountable to people who voted us into office.

    ” Nothing will stop me from giving account of my stewardship because I am not afraid as it is all about service to the people”, he explained.

    According to the Governor who is hours to another feat to be sworn in, explained why his government could not sustain the bi-weekly council meeting, saying that” No law mandating holding such meetings. Its a matter of convenience and that is why I allow commissioners to oversee the activities of their ministries with attention. Only when there are policy issues and pressing matters of state importance that we hold council meetings for fruitful deliberations and possible implementation.”

    Read Also: Banditry: We’ll not concede any community to attackers, says Tambuwal

    Tambuwal hitherto while stating that he had no regrets on decisions of state importance that were taken by his government in the last four years also believed that they were in the best interest of the people of the state.

    The governor, however, sought forgiveness of all cabinet members and the entire people of Sokoto state on where he might have erred in the course of his four years service, thus” Its all about service to the state and must take responsibility in the course of our assignments. I might have erred or wronged you on personal and individual note. I am seeking your forgiveness and people of Sokoto state. Thank you”, he concluded.

    Earlier, comments and remarks keep pouring from members of his cabinet with Secretary to the State Government, Professor Bashir Garba expressing appreciation for unequalled opportunity given him and others to serve while describing Tambuwal as a leader who ran a responsive and participatory government with all sense of humility, truly humble and accommodative.

    In his brief remarks, the state HoS, Dr Buhari Bello Kware described Tambuwal as a rare demonstration of a democrat with team spirit” I have no regrets serving under him. He abhors sentiment of any kind. No disappointment. Above all, he is a leader with a large heart, treats people fairly and equally without legacy of disappointment”, he concluded.

    Also, the Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Aisha Madawaki said she acquired unique and unprecedented experience serving in Tambuwal’s cabinet even as she recalled serving in different capacities both state and federal, Madawaki added” I was in Bafarawa’s government, worked with former presidents Obasanjo, Yar Adua and Jonathan as well under Shonekan at FMBN. I must say that you possess distinct leadership qualities that stand out true leader with resilience for running an open door policy government. You are never found wanting as a father, husband and leader. We thank you and pray for you .”

  • Speaker race: Plaintiff withdraws suit to stop Gbajabiamila from contesting

    Barely 14 days to the election of new Speaker of the House of Representatives, a plaintiff, Phillip Undie, has offered to withdraw a suit to stop the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila from contesting for the office.

    Undie has sent a letter of authorization to his counsel, Ayodele Temitope Justice to file a withdrawal notice in court.

    The counsel, who confirmed on the telephone that he got the notice of withdrawal from his client, was however silent on the next step.

    In a May 27, 2019 letter, “Authorization to file my withdrawal as plaintiff from suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/539/2019, the plaintiff said he has got fresh facts confirming that Gbajabiamila was cleared of no criminal conviction by the Office of the General Counsel of the State of Georgia Bar.

    His letter to the counsel reads: “I am writing to notify you of my intention to withdraw from the above referenced legal suit wherein I sought for the disqualification of the 1st Defendant from contesting the officer of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    “It is important that I honorably discontinue the suit following the emergence of more facts indicating that the 1st Defendant, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila was cleared of no criminal conviction in the state of Georgia or any other part of the United States of America in a letter dated August 30, 2010.

    “I am also possession of an order of the Federal High Court, Abuja dated May 22, 2018, delivered by Justice Abdu-Kafarati in favour of Femi Gbajabiamila. Kindly avail me details of my legal fees in accordance with our earlier agreement. Accept my warm regards.”

    In a follow-up statement, Undie said the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Adamu Abdu-Kafarati had decided a similar case in favour of Gbajabiamila on May 22, 2018.

    Read Also: SDP Rep member-elect drums up support for Gbajabiamila

    The statement said: “I, Philip Undie, a Nigerian Tax payer who filed a legal suit against Femi Gbajabiamila in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/539/2019 at the Federal High Court, Abuja on the let day of May 2019.
    “The suit was filed in my innocent belief that the first defendant, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila ought not to be allowed to contest for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives based on information then at my disposal that he had been criminally convicted by the Supreme Court of the State of Georgia, United States of America.
    “Since the matter was filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, I have come into possession of more facts on the alleged criminal conviction which shows beyond all doubt that the basis of the suit is found on misinformation and misrepresentation of facts.
    Continue on Page 2

  • Ogiadomhe to Wabara: I didn’t stop you from seeing Jonathan

    A former Chief of Staff to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, has denied preventing former Senate President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Senator Adolphus Wabara, from seeing Jonathan.

    Chief Oghiadomhe described the allegations by Wabara as face-saving.

    Wabara had in an interview said he visited Jonathan in 2011 and warned him about the impending loss of power by the PDP if he contests the 2015 presidential poll.

    He claimed that Jonathan ignored his advice as the PDP lost power but his advice to Jonathan caused Oghiadomhe then his Chief of Staff to deny him further access to the President.

    But Oghiadomhe said the submission of the former Senate President was lamentation of a failed politician.

    He said, “Ordinarily, as it is customary of my person. I would have ignored the lamentation of the former Senate President as I hate to join issues publicly, but since he cowardly ignored my calls thrice in an attempt to privately seek clarification from him on the unguarded, unsubstantiated and baseless accusations, it is therefore imperative for me to reply him on the same medium.

    Read Also: Jonathan advocates electronic voting to boost confidence

    “I found his submission ridiculous and wondered if he was misquoted. In the first place, he said that he visited the former President Goodluck Jonathan and warned him not to contest election in 2015. The questions I want Senator Wabara to answer are, “Was I present at his meeting with the former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan?

    “What makes him feel that I was privy to the detail of the discussion and resolution of that private meeting? Did he raise the issues with me at any time? If then I was not part of such private meeting between him and the former President, how could the decision of such meeting which l was not part of influence me to take action against him?

    “It is important to state that Senator Adolphus Wabara, by virtue of his position as former Senate President, is expected to rise above petty helplessness and political despair.

    “The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) collectively took the decision to field President Jonathan as her presidential candidate in 2015. If the decision led to an unfavorable consequence, stakeholders like Senator Wabara should accept collective responsibility and not diabolically fish for fall guys.

    “Let it be known to the former Senate President that I remain a patriotic Nigerian committed to the wellbeing, unity and progress of the nation that is my priority.”

  • OPC members kill Amir’s son over alleged theft

    A son of a popular Ede-based Islamic cleric, Ibraheem Olaiya, was killed by hoodlums for allegedly stealing rods belonging to the Redeemer’s University, Ede.

    Ibraheem, a welder and son of the Amir of Zumuratu Mumini in Ede, was said to have been lynched by a group suspected to be members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) after he was accused of stealing the iron rods.

    His accomplice, an unidentified driver of a commercial bus, who conveyed him to cart away the products, was beaten black and blue.

    Ibraheem, who reportedly had been put under surveillance, was allegedly caught in the act early Sunday morning.

    He was said to have been rushed to Oke-Iresi Police Division before the policemen asked that he should be taken to the hospital.

    But before Ibraheem could get to State Hospital in Ede, he had allegedly given up the ghost.

    Read Also: Appoint Ijaw man to head Amnesty programme, group tells Buhari

    Head, Directorate of Public Affairs, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, denied any link of the OPC members with the institution.

    He confirmed the death of Ibraheem and said he did not die within the university premises.

    Adeleye, who spoke with journalists in his office, said the report he received was that Ibraheem was killed by unknown people.

    Adeleye further disclosed thieves came in a bus to rob houses in community adjoining the university.

    Insisting that the institution had no link with the death of Ibraheem, he said the Redeemer’s University, Ede operates a non- violence policy.

  • Neymar loses Brazil captaincy to Alves

    Brazilian star Neymar has lost his national team’s captaincy for this summer’s Copa America to veteran Dani Alves.

    Brazil’s football confederation, CBF, said in a statement Monday that the 36-year-old defender — also a teammate of Neymar’s with Paris Saint-Germain — will start wearing the armband in the friendly against Qatar on June 5 in Brasilia.

    The 27-year-old Neymar has been Brazil’s captain since its elimination in the World Cup quarterfinals against Belgium in 2018. Marcelo was the captain for that tournament, during which Dani Alves was injured.

    The CBF said Brazil coach Tite informed Neymar of his decision on Saturday, the day the PSG striker arrived at the national team’s training ground outside Rio de Janeiro.

    Tite’s decision comes after Neymar’s altercation with a fan at the French Cup final on April 27 and a Champions League suspension for insulting a match official after PSG’s defeat to Manchester United.

    Read Also: Kanu gives condition for Super Eagles triumph in Egypt

    Tite said last week that he planned to speak to Neymar about his behavior.

    “Neymar made a mistake, which was his fault,” Tite said. “I will speak with Neymar about it. I will speak with him about manners. I will speak with Neymar as the Brazil coach, but also as a human being. It will be about manners and principles.

    “The most important thing is to have an exchange with Neymar, as I did with Douglas Costa (when the Juventus player was involved in a spitting incident). Any problems regarding a player’s behavior will be treated as a matter of education.”

    The Copa America will be played in Brazil between June 14 and July 7.

    Brazil are in Group A with Bolivia, Venezuela and Peru.

  • ‘Nigeria lacks will to address devastation in Niger Delta’

    Chairman of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission (BSOEC) and Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, has decried lack of political will by the Nigerian government to address environmental devastation in the Niger Delta region.

    Senatamu, who spoke in Yenagoa on Tuesday when 60 communities approached his commission to present oral and documentary evidence of environmental pollution caused by oil companies operating in their areas, said it was time for total cleaning and remediation of the affected communities.

    The 10-man commission inaugurated by Governor Seriake Dickson in March held a roundtable with non-governmental organisations, environmental and health experts.

    The panel comprising international environmental and legal experts visited six ravaged communities in Southern Ijaw, Brass and Yenagoa local government areas of the state.

    The commission held public evidence session and gave impacted communities an opportunity to give oral evidence of devastation and neglect by oil companies operating in their areas.

    The Traditional Ruler of Agudama community, MC Kipasa, told the commission that they recorded many oil spill incidences from the operations of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

    He said: “We don’t have fish in our river anymore. Even our land for farming is gone. Nothing is left for us due to these oil spills”.

    He, however, thanked Dickson for giving them hope by setting up the commission.

    An Agbura community leader, Chief Igwe Napoleon, while giving evidence said the farmland and river in his community had been polluted because of oil exploration and accused Shell of reneging on terms of agreement signed with communities in the area.

    Stephen Moses from Egbema-Angalabiri also spoke on the devastating effects of environmental pollution on his community, lamenting that oil production had become a curse to his community instead of a blessing.

    The Representative of communities where the Obama oil field with about 12 wells are located, L. A. Eminah also complained about the effects of gas flaring in the area, saying the heat from the flares had resulted in blurred vision among the locals.

    Read Also: Open Defecation: Four arrested in Ekiti

    Other speakers were Donatus Gbame from Bakiri community in Ekeremor Local Government Area; Hitler Joseph from Okoroba community; Ken Again who represented the Amananaowei of Peretorugbene Federated Communities among others.

    But Sentamu said: “Change must happen even though the laws have not been effective and the issue of compensation have not been addressed. In some communities we visited, it looked like a bomb had been dropped but it was oil spillage.

    “The rest of the international community cannot just turn a blind eye. The pollution that has gone on in this particular state has affected the global village,” he said.

    He however urged the community leaders to be resilient in the midst of their challenges, adding that the commission under his leadership would make the right recommendations to the Bayelsa State government.

  • Alleged $8.4m, N4bn fraud: NFF President Pinnick, others shun court

    The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick and four other senior officials of the group were absent at the Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday at the first mention of the charge brought against them over their alleged complicity in the misappropriation of $8,400, 000 and N4billon belonging to the football body.

    The Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP) had, earlier this month, filed the 17-count charge, marked, FHC/ABJ/CR/93/2019 against Pinnick and others, claiming among others that the money formed part of what was paid by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to the NFF as appearance fees in the group stage of the Russia 2018 World Cup.

    Named with Pinnick, in the charge, are NFF Secretary, Sunusi Mohammed; the 1st Vice-President, Seyi Akinwumi; the 2nd Vice-President, Shehu Dikko, and an Executive member, Yusuff Fresh.

    When the case was called on Tuesday, the defendants were not in court.

    Lawyer to SPIP, Celcius Ukpong said the prosecution was unable to effect personal service on the defendants and applied for leave to served through substituted means.

    Ukpong said: “We have not been able to serve the defendants with the copies of the charges.

    “As a consequence, we have filed an ex parte motion for substituted service. The defendants are evading service. We have been to their offices. They are on what we call administrative bail.

    “But have been calling them to come to pick up the copies to their charges and we have been to their offices to serve them, all to no avail.

    “We want to serve them through their offices by virtue of section 125 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.”

    Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu granted Ukpong’s application for substituted service and adjourned till July 1 this year for arraignment.

    In the charge, the defendants are accused of “moving dishonestly and intentionally the sum of about N4bn” belonging to the NFF without the consent of the NFF.

    The five defendants are equally accused of failing and neglecting to declare their assets.

    Read Also: $8.4m FIFA fund: Arewa Youth faults SPIP report on Pinnick

    Some counts in the charge read:

    *That you , Amaju Melvin Pinnick (M), Sunusi Mohammed (M), Seyi Akinwumi ‘M’, Shehu Dikko ‘M’ and Yusuf Ahmed ‘M’ on or about 12th day of December 2018 being public officers, with Nigeria Football Federation, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court committed an offence to wit: refusal to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon notice to declare your assets before the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja contrary to and punishable under S. 3 (3)(a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision5)Act 2004 .

    *That you , Amaju Melvin Pinnick ‘M’, Sunusi Mohammed ‘M’, Seyi Akinwumi ‘M’, Shehu Dikko ‘M’ and Yusuf Ahmed ‘M’ on or about 12th day of December 2018 being public officers with Nigeria Football Federation Abuja within the jurisdiction of this court committed an offence to wit: neglect to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon notice to declare your assets before the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property ,Abuja Contrary to and punishable under S. 3 (3)(a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions)Act 2004.

    *That you , Amaju Melvin Pinnick ‘M’, on or about 23th day of November 2014 being the president and public officer with Nigeria Football Federation Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court committed an offence to wit: appoint a company you have an interest , Financial Derivatives Ltd as a financial consultant to the Nigeria Football Federation contrary to and punishable under S. 5 of the code of Conduct Bureau And Tribunal Act and punishable under section 1(2) and 10 (1) (a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions ) Act 2004.

    *That you , Shehu Dikko ‘M’, on or about 23rd day of November 2014 being a member of executive committee and public officer with Nigeria Football Federation, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence to wit: allow a company you have an interest , Mediterranean Sports Ltd appointed as a marketing agent to the Nigeria Football Federation contrary to and punishable under S. 5 of the Code Of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and punishable under sections 1(2) and 10 (1) (a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions ) Act 2004.
    Continue on page 2

  • 11-yr-old girl dies in well in Kano

    The Kano State Fire Service on Tuesday confirmed the death of an 11-year-old girl, Fatima Abdullahi, in a well in Zaura Ganduje, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of the state.

    The Spokesman of the service, Alhaji Saidu Mohammed, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano that the accident happened on Tuesday morning.

    Mohammed told NAN that the service received a distress call from Dawanawu Fire Station that a girl had fallen into a well and responded immediately.

    He said that firemen could only retrieve the body of the girl from the well as she had died before they got to the scene.

    “We received a distress call from our Dawanau fire station at 10:54 a.m. that a girl had fallen into a well.

    Read Also: Thunderstorm kills herbalist in Ekiti

    “On receiving the information, we quickly sent our rescue team to the scene at 11:10 a.m.

    “She was found dead and her corpse was handed over to the ward head of Zaura, Alhaji Idris Shua’ibu, ’’ the spokesman said.

    The official said that the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death was being investigated.