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725 candidates jostle for positions in Plateau LG polls – PLASIEC

Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission ( PLASIEC ) said it had cleared 725 candidates to contest for chairmanship and councillorship positions in the local government polls in the state scheduled for Feb. 17.

Chairman of the commission, Mr Fabian Ntung, made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen on Tuesday in Jos.

According to Ntung, 48 of the candidates are vying for chairmanship positions in the 17 Local Government Areas ( LGAs ) of the state, while the rest 677 are candidates for councillorship seats.

“From our records, we have 48 candidates that are seeking election into chairmanship positions in the 17 LGAs of the state.

“While 677 candidates have been cleared to contest for the position of councilors across the 325 electoral wards of the state,” he said.

The chairman expressed optimism that the forthcoming polls would be free and fair, in view of the level of preparations by the electoral umpire.

“Even though preparation is business in progress until the last day of the elections, we want to say emphatically that we are ready for the elections,” Ntung assured.

He commended the support and cooperation rendered by the various political parties in the state, and urged them to do more till the end of the entire exercise.

Ntung urged the parties to have confidence in the commission as it was poised toward conducting one of the most credible polls in the history of the state.

NAN

January 16, 2018
Barca’s Dembele suffers another hamstring injury

Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele has suffered another hamstring injury and will be out of action for between three and four weeks, the La Liga leaders said on Monday.

The French winger, signed last year from Borussia Dortmund for a fee which could rise to 147 million euros, suffered a hamstring tear in September that kept him out until January.

Dembele featured in four games after returning, starting one, before suffering a new problem in the 4-2 win over Real Sociedad on Sunday.

“Tests have confirmed that the player has suffered a hamstring injury of the semitendinosus muscle that does not affect the area operated on earlier in the season,” Barcelona said in a statement.

Dembele will miss King’s Cup and La Liga matches, but should return before the Champions League last-16 clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Feb. 20.

Captain Andres Iniesta, who was on the bench against Real Sociedad, also has a problem in his right calf and is a doubt for the King’s Cup match at Espanyol on Wednesday.

NAN

January 16, 2018
Borno Govt. extends curfew in Maiduguri

The Borno Government has announced the extension of the 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew in Maiduguri fby another seven days.

A statement by Dr Muhammad Bulama, the Commissioner for Information, on Friday in Maiduguri said the curfew was extended to January 20.

“In other words, the prevailing curfew regime is to now to last until Friday, January 20,’’ he said.

Bulama explained that the action was to avail the Armed Forces sufficient time to complete the on-going special operation against Boko Haram terrorists and consolidate on the success so far recorded.

He noted that the state government deeply regretted the inconveniences and difficulties caused to the people by the action.

Bulama stressed that the decision was taken to safeguard the collective security and overall well- being of the people.

“Government therefore urges all indigenes and residents of Borno State to see this temporary measure as part of necessary sacrifices we all have to make in the interest of peace, stability, development and progress, of not only our dear state, but Nigeria as a whole.

“The understanding, support and cooperation of the general public is highly solicited in the observance of the curfew,” he said.

The government on January 2, rescheduled the curfew hitherto observed between 10 p.m. and 6 am, from January 6 to January 12

NAN

January 12, 2018
F-SARS seeks cooperation from media to fight crime

The Commander of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad ( F-SARS )in Cross River, Mr Victor Usang, has appealed for cooperation from journalists in the state in fighting crime.

Usang made the appeal on Friday in Calabar when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ ), Mr Victor Udu, at the council secretariat.

The F-SARS commander said he was in the NUJ secretariat in the belief that security was the responsibility of everybody, nothing that community policing was the best way of fighting crime.

“Since my assumption of office in the state, I have visited many organisations but I think NUJ is the most important partner in our efforts in fighting crime in Cross River.

“I belief that security is the responsibility of everybody rather than few. I therefore appeal to journalists in the state to work with us in our effort to reduce crimes,’’ he said.

According to him, there is increase in crime across the state and this calls for synergy among sister organisations and between the police and strategic professional groups like the NUJ.

“Incidentally, Cross River is right now faced with rising crime wave such as kidnapping, cultism and armed robbery.

“It is our duty to reduce the crime rate to the barest minimum. We need the cooperation of all, particularly the media,’’ he said.

Read Also: Fake F-SARS commander, officer arrested in Rivers

Responding, the NUJ chairman said that F-SARS owed it a duty to protect lives and property as well as ensure peace in the state.

Udu called on the commander to work within the confines of the law while discharging his duties in the state.

“Cross River needs peace and it is your duty to provide them with this peace.

“So, I encourage you to do that2 and assure you that journalists in the state will work with you when necessary, to achieve the desired result,” he said.

NAN

January 12, 2018
England’s friendly to decide Eagles team – Mutiu Adepoju

A former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, on Friday said the upcoming international friendly match between the Three Lions of England would be a good rehearsal before the World Cup.

Adepoju, who featured for the Super Eagles at the USA `94 and the France `98 World Cup, said in Lagos that the match would likely decide final team selection.

“Well it’s a Grade A match, and it will definitely give the team an insight into what to expect at the World Cup proper.

“It’s a very good test match, probably this will be the last match before the World Cup.

“And I think it’s a good one that will put the team in proper perspective for the main event,’’ the former Super Eagles midfielder said.

The Three Lions will lock horns with the Super Eagles on June 2, at the iconic Wembley Stadium.

Read Also: Keshi was a role model to us – Mutiu Adepoju

The friendly encounter will be the third time both teams will be engaging each other, their first encounter was a friendly match at Wembley Stadium which England won 1-0 shortly, after the 1994 World Cup.

While their second encounter was at Osaka, Japan in a Group F match at the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup which ended in a goalless draw.

NAN

January 12, 2018
Inmate emerges overall best Masters graduate of NOUN

An inmate of Enugu Maximum Security prison, Chukwununso Nomeh has emerged the overall best Post-graduate student of the National Open University of Nigeria ( NOUN ) prisons special study centres nationwide.

The spokesperson of the Nigeria Prison Service in Enugu State, Mr Chukwuemeka Monday made the disclosure in a statement issued in Enugu on Friday.

Nomeh, a convicted inmate, who was sentenced in 2010 gained admission to study Masters in Business Administration (MBA).

He graduated with a cumulative grade point of 3.80.

The Desk Officer of Enugu study centre, CSP Kelvin Iloafonsi said two other inmates also graduated from the NOUN post graduate school.

Iloafonsi said that one of the inmates had since been released.

The spokesperson recalled that one of the ex-convict of the same centre, Theophilus Adeniyi, emerged the overall best graduating student in 2014 while in incarceration.

Monday said that he was currently pursuing his PhD in one of the universities in Nigeria.

The Controller of prison in the state, Ndubuisi Ogbodo, encouraged more inmates to enroll into NOUN and embrace the transformation mantra of the Controller General of Prison, Ja’afaru Ahmed which focused on training and retraining of both staff and inmates.

Read Also: Buhari applauds NOUN for redefining ODL

The CP also called on the public to accept ex-convicts as reformed and responsible member of the society.

He said that their continuous rejection would only lead them back to crime.

NAN

January 12, 2018
‘Frustration made me impregnate another woman,’ man tells court

An Igando Customary Court in Lagos on Friday dissolved an 11-year-old marriage between Elizabeth Shofunde and her husband, Babatunde, who impregnated another woman.

The President of the court, Mr Akin Akinniyi, in his judgment, said it appeared that the estranged couple were tired of the marriage as all efforts to reconcile them had failed.

“Since both parties consented to the dissolution of their marriage, this court has no choice than to dissolve the marriage.

“The marriage between Elizabeth Shofunde and Babatunde Shofunde is hereby dissolved today, both parties henceforth cease to be husband and wife.

“Both parties are free to go their separate ways without any hindrance and molestation,” Akinniyi held.

The petitioner, Elizabeth, 36; a petty trader, had told the court that Babatunde was a flirt, and had abandoned her after impregnating another woman.

“My husband abandoned me and the children after he impregnated another woman.

“It is now three years he left us; he refused to give me money for the children’s school fees, feeding and house rent,’’ she said.

Elizabeth said that Babatunde battered her at any slight provocation, alleging that her husband was a drunkard.

The mother of three added that she was fed up with the 11-year-old union because of Babatunde’s behaviour.

The respondent, Babatunde, did not deny the allegations, but said that Elizabeth’s attitude pushed him to another woman.

Also Read: Atiku’s son escapes with son as court awards wife custody of kids

“My wife made life unbearable for me, and the frustration made me to impregnate another woman,” he said.

The 38-year-old furniture maker said that his wife always threatened his life with dangerous weapons.

“Whenever we are fighting, Elizabeth brings out a knife or bottle to stab me, but I always escape.

“I had a domestic accident and was admitted in a hospital. Elizabeth only called me on phone and did not visit me; because of that, I stopped giving her money,” he said.

The respondent said that his wife denied him sex for one year.

He consented to the dissolution of the marriage, saying he was also fed up with the union.

NAN

January 12, 2018
Indonesian islamists accuse Facebook of discrimination

Several hundred Indonesian Islamists held a protest outside Facebook ’s headquarters in Jakarta on Friday, accusing the social media giant of discrimination.

The protesters, many dressed in white and including members of the hardline Islamic Defenders Front ( FPI ), marched from a mosque to Facebook’s offices in the capital of the world’s biggest Muslim-majority country.

They also accused Facebook of blocking some pages operated by hardline groups for allegedly spreading hate.

“We want to remind Facebook to remain neutral and balanced,” Slamet Maarif, a spokesman for FPI, told reporters.

“There are many accounts that spread hate about Islam, ulamas, that are allowed to operate. There are accounts that talk about Islamic humanitarian aid, those are blocked,” said Maarif.

He said that the group still planned to use Facebook and intended to open new accounts.

Facebook said its policy was to delete content that violated its community standards.

“Our community standards are made to prevent organizations or individuals that urge hate speech or violence against those who hold different views,” said a company representative, who declined to be identified.

A spokesman for Indonesia’s communications ministry, Semuel Pangerapan, said, “We have never requested that FPI’s accounts be closed.”

Some Islamist groups in Indonesia use social media extensively and FPI usually has about 100 accounts on Facebook, as well as on other social media platforms such as Twitter.

The rally was peaceful, though more than 1,200 police officers were brought in to guard the offices, media said.

Indonesians are avid users of social media and Facebook had 115 million users in the second quarter of 2017, according to media citing its country manager, ranking the country fourth globally after the United States, India and Brazil.

Some of the protesters on Friday made live video streams of the rally to air via Facebook.

The vast majority of Indonesians practice a moderate form of Islam, though a reputation for religious tolerance has come under scrutiny as hardline groups muscle their way into public and political life in the young democracy.

President Joko Widodo has expressed concerns over hoax stories and hate speech spread online and has pledged to “clobber” any group threatening to destroy Indonesia’s tradition of pluralism and moderate Islam.

Also Read: Facebook to train 50,000 Nigerian SMEs in 2018

At a rally late 2017 in Jakarta by Muslims opposing President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a body of Muslim clerics urged a boycott of U.S. and Israel products if Trump did not revoke his action.

So far there has been no indication the measure will gain traction and Indonesia’s vice president said calls to stop using U.S. goods and technology were misguided.

(Reuters/NAN)

January 12, 2018
Man gets five strokes of cane for attempt to steal tyre cover

A Kubwa Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Friday ordered that five strokes of the cane be given to a 25-year-old man, Mustapha Abubakar, for attempting to steal a jeep tyre cover.‎

Abubakar of no fixed address had pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of criminal trespass and attempt to commit an offence.

The judge, Mr Mohammed Marafa, also warned Abubakar to desist from committing crime, adding that if brought back to court again, he would face the consequences.

The prosecutor, Babajide Olanipekun, had told the court that Abubakar criminally trespassed into a compound along pipeline, Kubwa, Abuja on November 18.

Read Also: FRSC: How to know a good tyre

He said that Abubakar was arrested while attempting to steal a jeep tyre cover, adding that the offence contravened Sections 346 and 95 of the Penal Code.

NAN

January 12, 2018
Police arrest ministry staff for stealing text books

The Police in Cross River have arrested a staff of Cross River Ministry of Education for allegedly conspiring with others to steal a trailer load of text books worth millions of naira.

Mr Hafiz Inuwa, the State Commissioner of Police, told newsmen in Calabar that the text books belong to the Ministry of Education.

Inuwa said the suspect was arrested on the Ikom-Ogoja highway while heading to Lagos with the items for disposal.

He also said the suspect was arrested along side the truck driver and a Lagos-based businessman.

“The items included cartons of French, Christian Religious Knowledge, Physical Education, Welding and Technical drawing text books belonging to the state government,’’ Inuwa said.

He said that upon investigation, the police discovered a shady deal between some staff of the Ministry of Education and their accomplices to dispose off the materials without the approval of the state government.

Also Read: Police seize N759,200 cash from four hawkers

The commissioner added that the suspect had confessed to the crime and would soon be arraigned in court.

NAN

January 12, 2018