The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria newspaper

  • Court strikes out murder case against ex-policeman

    Justice Sunday Aladetoyinbo of the FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, on Wednesday struck out a case of murder filed against a former police officer, Gabriel Achimi, for lack of diligent prosecution.

    Achimi, 37, was charged with the murder of Ishaku Musa, a commercial motorcycle rider, at Gishiri junction, Abuja.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Aladetoyinbo, frowned at the inability of the Ministry of Justice to retrieve the case diary from the Police.

    ” I do not believe that the Ministry of Justice cannot retrieve the case diary from the police.

    ” This case is struck out and the defendant discharged and if the case file is finally retrieved, the defendant can be re- arraigned,” he held.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge said that the case had recorded eight adjournments already without the defendant taking his plea.

    Aladetoyinbo said that he was forced to grant bail to the defendant as a result of the shoddy prosecution of the case.

    Earlier, Mr. Abubakar Musa, the prosecuting counsel, told the court that the prosecution had not been able to collect the case diary of this case from the police as directed by the court.

    Musa told the court that several contacts were made to retrieve the document, but the police refused to release the case file up to date.

    Responding, the defence lawyer, Mr. Akin Akintan told the court that the case had suffered many adjournments due to the nonchalant attitude of the prosecution.

    ” The Registrar of this court on my lord’s instruction had to write to the Ministry of Justice more than two times.

    ” On Feb. 19, this court made a definite pronouncement by giving the prosecution one more adjournment to put its house in order,” he said.

    Akintan, therefore, urged the court to discharge the defendant and allow him to go pending when the prosecution was ready to prosecute him.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police on Feb. 27, 2018 alleged at the arraignment of the defendant said that on May 10, 2017, at 8 p.m., near Gishiri Junction in Abuja, Achimi shot Musa; allegedly causing the latter’s death.

    The police in the charge said that the action contravened section 224 of the Penal.

  • Niger APC suspends Women Affairs Commissioner

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Niger state has suspended the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Barrister Amina Musa Gua’ar for alleged anti-party activities.

    The Paikoro local government APC local working committee accused the Commissioner of engaging in anti party activities during the general elections in the council and flaunting the orders of the party.

    The Party accused her of engaging in some anti party activities of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr Ishaya Azalolo who claimed to have acted based on Barrister Amina Gua’ar opinion, directive and support.

    The Party also accused her of mudslinging the party as she was said to have referred to the executive organ of the party as “bunch of thieves”.

    The local working committee stated that it invited the Commissioner for interaction but she refused to appear before the committee which resulted in her suspension.

    The suspended letter dated Friday 22nd March, 2019 and signed by the local government APC chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Kwanaread, “In reference to a letter dated 18th March, 2019, the local government executive working committee of the APC in Paikoro has resolved to utilize Article 21, Section A, Subsection 111 of the Constitution as amended “disobedience or negligence in carrying out lawful directive of the party.

    “Continuing, this is due to your refusal/disobedient to abide by the party’s directive within the stipulated time frame. Sequel to this, I hereby notify you of your suspension from the party until further notice”

    However, the State APC claimed it had not received any correspondence regarding the suspension.

    The letter was however copied to the APC stakeholders, Zonal chairman, APC State Secretary and Chairman as well as the Political Adviser to the Governor and Secretary to the State Government.

  • Alleged N13b fraud: EFCC declares ex-NIA boss, wife wanted

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) has declared a former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ayodele Oke and his wife, Folasade, wanted in connection with alleged N13billion fraud.

    The cash had to do with $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23,218,000 recovered by the EFCC from an apartment at Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, in April 2017.

    But a family source said Oke, who has been away abroad got medical treatment, had not been served the charges against him.

    He said Oke is not on the run but attending to his fragile health.

    A statement by the Acting Head of Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr. Tony Orilade said the couple were declared wanted after they failed to answer fraud charges filed against them.

    The statement said: “Justice Chukwujeku Aneke of a Federal High Court Lagos, had on February 7, 2019 issued an arrest warrant on them, consequent upon an oral application by counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo.

    “Oke and his wife are wanted in connection with the $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23,218,000 cash recovered by the EFCC from an apartment at Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, in April 2017.

    “They are facing a four-count charge bordering on money laundering offence to the tune of N13 billion.

    “One of the counts reads: “That you, Amb. Ayodele Oke and Mrs. Folasade Ayodele Oke between 25th day of August 2015 and 2nd day of September 2015 in Lagos, with in the jurisdiction of this court directly converted $160,777,136.85 property of the Federal Government of Nigeria to your own use which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act”.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “Twice, we have been to court but he refused to appear to answer the charges against him. We trailed him to NIA quarters but we avoided barging into the premises.

    “But later the trail signal disappeared which indicated that he had gone underground.

    “We explained our dilemma to the court and it gave us the go-ahead to look for him.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “What we have done now is to watch-list him. Wherever he is, whoever sees him airport, seaport and land borders should report to any security agency.

    ” At this stage, what we need to do is to serve him charges.”

    A family source however said: “As at today, Oke and his wife have not been served any charges. They only arraigned him after he has gone abroad for treatment. Before he left the country, there was no communication from the anti-graft agency.

    “How can the EFCC declare the ex-NIA boss wanted after he had appeared before them for questioning? Once he is through with his medical care, Oke and his wife will report to the EFCC accordingly.”

  • El-Rufai debunks accident rumour, says I’m alive

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has declared he was never involved in any accident as widely reported a few days ago.

    The governor also disclosed he was hunting for the peddlers of the news that he was involved in a fatal accident.

    According to him, criminal charges would be brought against those behind the fake news.

    He spoke with State House correspondents shortly after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said: “I came to see Mr. President after my re-election as governor because immediately after the election I took a break.

    “I came back to report to him that I was not involved in an accident. I’m alive, I am not in coma and also to discuss other issues related to my state.”

    On his alleged involvement in an accident, he said: “My advice to everyone in Nigeria is to avoid forwarding stories that have not been verified.

    “Social media provides platform for disseminating information but it is also a platform for dissemination of lies and hatred.

    “We should be very careful that we don’t use this platform to advance the cause of the enemies of this country.

    “I was never involved in any accident. I was not near any accident. In fact at a time I was supposed to be involved in an accident, I was in an aircraft going to another country.

    “But somebody sat and concocted this story and we are trying to trace who started it. This is because criminal proceedings can be initiated against the person.

    “Sometimes it is very difficult to know who started it but we are on it. My advice is that we should rely on reliable news medium, not just any platform or any blog.

    “Unless we hear something from a very reliable news medium, we should be reluctant to begin sharing it as if it is true,” he stated

  • Tribunal ruling already on appeal, says Governor Oyetola

    Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola says the judgment of Election Petition Tribunal that declared the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) governorship candidate as winner has been put on appeal.

    Oyetola, in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Wole Oyebamiji, on Friday in Osogbo said justice will prevail.

    The state government charged the residents of the state to remain calm and go about their lawful activities following the tribunal judgment in the governorship election petition.

    It reassured the people of their safety and security of properties because “the Government of the State is still the only legitimate Government having the authority to govern the State.”

    The statement reads: “The Government of the State of Osun wishes to appreciate the teeming support of the majority of the people in all things essential for mutual progress.

    Read Also: Osun: Judiciary defender of our democracy -Atiku

    “As it is, the administration of His Excellency, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, Governor, State of Osun, wishes to assure the people that the judgment of the Election Tribunal has been put on appeal.

    “This is to further assure all the residents of the State of adequate security of lives and properties, as the Government of the State is still the only legitimate Government having the authority to govern the State.

    “We assure all our people that justice will prevail at last, and the law enforcement agencies have been instructed to maintain law and order across the State. We therefore urge all the residents of the State to go about their lawful duties without any hindrance.”

  • Edo cult killings: Our fight is generational, says cultist

    A suspected member of Eiye confraternity, Leviticus Okon, who was arrested while on his way to kill a rival cult member, has said that the ongoing cult war between Eiye and Aye confraternity in the state is a generational war.

    Leviticus was paraded alongside 81 suspected cultists arrested in connection with the ongoing cult war.

    Police described Leviticus as a dangerous killer cultist.

    Leviticus told newsmen only one of his victims died while the other escaped with bullet wound.

    He was arrested along Second East Circular road while he and other cultists were on their way to kill a rival cult member

    His words, “the first person I shot did not die. The other one died. We were on our way to kill another person when we were arrested.

    Read Also: Edo production centre opens for business

    “The one we killed is a bus conductor. He is a member of Aye. The fight is generational fight. The fight does not end.”

    Meanwhile, in Uromi, the police arrested one Micheal Ebhodaghe and Henry Ighalo for selling arms and cartridges to cultists in the locality.

    An army deserter, Private Mbawa Lucky was paraded for belonging to one of the cult groups.

    The Edo Police Commissioner, Mr. Muhammed Dan Mallam, said the suspects would soon be charged to court.

  • National Assembly election tribunal gets three petitions in FCT

    The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in the FCT has received three petitions from aggrieved candidates who were not satisfied with the conduct of the Feb. 23 National Assembly election in the territory.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the petitioners, are candidates from National Conscience party (NCP), Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) and the All Progressives Congress, are challenging the results of two senatorial and one House of Representatives seats as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC).

    Read Also: Prosecution closes case in Onnoghen’s trial after three witnesses

    NAN reports that out of the three petitions, one was filed by the NCP candidate, Mr Fisayo Makanjuola against Sen. Philip Aduda, Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and INEC as respondents.
    The second petition was filed by a candidate of the PDM, Ekechi Chinyere against INEC, Sen. Aduda and the PDP.

    Mr Amanda Pam and APC filed a petition against Hon. Micah Giba, PDP, INEC and REC.

    NAN reports that the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, constituted the FCT National Assembly election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja.

    The constitution was pursuant to paragraph 133(3) a and b of the Electoral Act as amended.

    The tribunal is located at the FCT High Court, Apo, Abuja

  • Fayemi hands over abandoned Ado-Iyin road to contractor

    Ekit State Government has formally handed over the new Ado- Iyin road construction project to China Civil Engineering Corporation Nigeria Ltd to commence work on the road, which was originally awarded in 1978 but was abandoned.

    While handing the project over to the contractor Governor Kayode Fayemi said he is incurably committed to fulfilling all his electioneering promises in all sectors, especially in the area of infrastructure which is a catalyst for development.

    The brief ceremony signified the commencement of work on the road project billed for completion within 24 months.

    Fayemi, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, said the 7.25km road project is the first phase of the construction work which will stop at the State’s boundry with Osun State.

    He noted the dualisation project will be completed within 24 months.

    He said the first phase of the project is the construction of the road from Ado to Iyin, the second phase from Iyin to Aramoko while the third phase would be from Aramoko to Itawure.

    The governor expressed worry the old Ado – Iyin road had become a death trap for motorists because of its unsafe, winding and undulating alignments which had caused series of fatal accidents.

    He stressed that his government cannot fold arms and watch citizens’ lives and properties lost to the road.

    “As a government, we understand and appreciate the importance of good road network to our economic development. Good road network will not only ease the stress of commuters but will also enhance the marketability of our farm produce which is the mainstay of most of our people.

    “Ekiti people should take it that our government would fulfill all our promises to the people, and infrastructure development is just a part of it.

    “All we need is that the people should cooperate with us. We will try our best to serve our people.

    “The workers will continue to receive their salaries as and when due. The governor knows the people’s problem. Some weeks ago, some vehicles fell inside Akonasan ditch.

    “When this road is completed, it will bring an end to such unfortunate incidents,” he said.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Road/Transport and Infrastructure Hon. Sunday Adunmo, said proper illumination will be accommodated in the N8.9billion road so that commuters can travel any time without fears of the unknown.

    Adunmo disclosed that the Fayemi-led government will soon commence construction of some ring roads to reduce traffic in the State capital. He listed such roads to include Iworoko-Eyio-Igede road and Ago Aduloju (Ado Ekiti) – Afao road among others.

    The Southwest Regional Manager of company handling the project Sewell Zhao, said the company has commenced the recruitment of workers for the project; stating that the company will accommodate local content by employing at least 500 Ekiti people for the construction work.

    Zhao assured that the company will deliver quality job as the company has brought new equipment that will make the projected to be delivered in time for immediate usage.

  • Buhari mourns Etsu Patigi, District Head of Kafur

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the family, government and people of Kwara State on the passing of the Etsu Patigi, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar.

    The President, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, commended the monarch’s commitment to the peace, stability and development of not only his domain, but also the entire state.

    He urged for his worthy legacy to be sustained.

    President Buhari has also commiserated with the family, the government and people of Katsina State on the transition of the District Head of Kafur, Alhaji Rabe Abubakar, Dan Galadiman Katsina.

    The President described the late traditional ruler as a deeply religious, peaceful and kind-hearted man who was committed to the welfare and progress of the people in his domain.

    President Buhari prayed that God Almighty would comfort the bereaved families, friends and associates of the departed royal fathers and grant peace to their souls.

  • TraderMoni loans not for election purpose, Presidency insists

    The Presidency on Thursday said that the TraderMoni scheme and other GEEP micro-credit products (MarketMoni and FarmerMoni), which are components of the Buhari administration’s Social Investment Programme, are still very much in operation.

    A statement by Mr Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President (Office of the Vice President), said that the loans are not for the purpose of election.

    According to a progress report on the GEEP micro-credit products (TraderMoni, MarketMoni, and FarmerMoni), he disclosed that over 30,000 beneficiaries per state have been captured under the programme.

    He said “So far, a target of 30,000 minimum beneficiaries per state has been achieved in majority of the 36 states and FCT since after the national and state polls.”

    “What the implementing agency has been doing since the last phase of disbursements is generating the balance of program funding while ramping up on the states with shortages.”

    “Consequently, disbursements have continued to happen in the states; for instance, we have had over 28,000 disbursements across 10 states since after the elections. Our priority is ramping up these numbers in the balance of states before we move to phase two of the program after detailed reviews and structural enhancements for larger scale. Under the Next Level agenda, Trader Moni loans will target ten million petty traders, a significant ramp up from the initial target of two million beneficiaries.”

    On the role of the Ministry for Industry, Trade and Investment in the implementation of the scheme, he said, “it is actively involved in the project.”

    Mr Akande said, “that ministry is, in fact the oversighting Ministry of Bank of Industry, which is the deploying agency. The office of the Minister executes the GEEP program via the Bank of Industry.

    “The governance structure of GEEP includes the office of the Vice President (National Social Investment Office), The Ministry of Trade and Investment, and the Bank of Industry.”

    Speaking on measures adopted to enhance repayments, the Presidential Media Aide said GEEP has pioneered innovative solutions to drive repayment compliance.

    “Working with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), we successfully piloted the concept of the BVN as digital collateral; and we saw repayment go up significantly on the MarketMoni and FarmerMoni loans.

    “For TraderMoni, beneficiaries can pay back at any commercial bank in the country just like a NEPA or WAEC bill; all they need to provide the bank teller with is their phone number. We also developed and successfully piloted scratch cards as a repayment option for beneficiaries who stay kilometres away from the nearest banks in their community. The cards are loaded the same way Telco recharge cards are loaded, thus requiring no new learning curve.

    “This improved repayment received compliance to the extent that in January, the Bank of Industry began second level disbursements – disbursements of N15,000 – to beneficiaries in Lagos, Borno, Ogun and Oyo states for trader who had successfully paid back their first N10,000 loans,” Mr Akande disclosed.

    According to him, “GEEP’s vision (in the long term) remains to empower the over 30 million MSMEs in Nigeria with interest-free, collateral-free loans.”

    The GEEP programme, a component of the Buhari administration’s Social Investment Programme (SIP) has since inception about two years ago, impacted many lives, improved living conditions and expanded opportunities for ordinary Nigerians to do petty trading as well as small and medium scale businesses.

    Under the Trader Moni scheme, an initial N10,000 loan is given to petty traders and once they repay within six months, they can receive a new N15,000 loan and when they repay that they can get another N20,000 loan until they get as much as N100,000