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  • IMF sees Uganda 2017/18 growth at 5 per cent

    IMF sees Uganda 2017/18 growth at 5 per cent

    Uganda’s economy is seen expanding by five per cent in the 2017/18 fiscal year, up from four per cent in the previous period, lifted by favourable weather, the International Monetary Fund said.

    The East African economy is Africa’s biggest coffee exporter followed by Ethiopia and also cultivates a range of other agricultural commodities including tea, cocoa and tobacco.

    “Growth is projected to reach five per cent in 2017/18 (July-June) from four per cent in 2016/17, supported by
    better weather conditions,” the IMF said in a statement released late on Friday.

    Private sector credit growth remained slow, and the IMF praised the central bank for extending its ongoing policy easing cycle.

    Last month Bank of Ugandan, the central bank, cut its benchmark policy rate by 50 basis points to 9.5 per cent.

    It was the first time the bank had lowered the rate to below the psychologically important level of 10 per cent since the country introduced an inflation targeting monetary policy in 2011.

    The IMF said core inflation was projected to remain around the medium term target of 5 per cent.

    NAN

  • I’m under pressure to perform-Rangers coach

    I’m under pressure to perform-Rangers coach

    Gbenga Ogunbote, coach of Rangers International FC of Enugu has said that he was under pressure to transform Rangers International of Enugu, considering the peoples attachment to the team

    Ogunbote said this while speaking with newsmen in Enugu on Friday, adding that he was also under pressure to perform.

    He noted the pressure was due to Rangers’ nightmares in 2016/2017 season in which they finished on 13th position with 53 points.

    This he said the development  led him to take up the mantle of coaching of the team from Coach Silvanus Okpala.

    “There is pressure already in Rangers, considering peoples’ attachment to the club.

    “Rangers did not finish in a respectable position last season and the supporters want the club to always feature in Confederation of African Football competition.

    “There is pressure already but it is normal, I will not allow it to throw me off-balance.

    “I have been in this system and pressure is part of the game, so this one is not different.

    “Last season, Rangers did not get it right and the supporters are patient enough, but this season they may not be that patient.

    He said that the technical staff needed to be up and doing to ensure that the club starts well and finishes well.

    According to him, the club cannot run away from its responsibility, which is doing well in the league,” he said.

    “With the support of everybody, Rangers will surpass all odds to the zenith of Nigeria professional Football league in 2017/2018 season.

  • S/African prosecutors: Pistorius sentence shockingly lenient

    South Africa’s state prosecutors on Friday describes as `shockingly lenient’, the six-years sentence for murder given to paralympic gold medalist, Oscar Pistorius.

    The prosecutors are asking the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) for right to launch an appeal against the judgment.

    Pistorius was imprisoned in July last year after being found guilty on appeal of murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine’s Day in 2013. The case has attracted worldwide interest.

    He was not in court for Friday’s hearing.

    Women’s rights groups in the country, beset by high levels of violent crime against women, say Pistorius has received preferential treatment compared to non-whites and those without his wealth or international celebrity status.

    The athlete was originally convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in jail.

    That conviction was increased to murder by the SCA in December 2015, and his sentence increased to six years by trial judge, Thokozile Masipa.

    The state prosecutors, led by advocate Andrea Johnson, said that the sentence by Masipa was too lenient as the jail term was less than half the minimum 15-year sentence prescribed for murder in South Africa.

    Johnson said that the high court did not list substantial and compelling factors for deviating from the 15-year sentence, and that Pistorius had not shown remorse for the murder.

    “There is no true, gut-wrenching remorse,” Johnson said.

    “It is shockingly lenient and has accordingly resulted in injustice,” she said.

    However, counsel to Pistorius, known as the “Blade Runner” for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, said that he did not deliberately kill model and law graduate Steenkamp.

    Barry Roux, lead defence lawyer for Pistorius, said that the athlete was suffering from severe and worsening post-traumatic stress disorder over the case.

    Roux said that Masipa had addressed the misperception that Pistorius deliberately killed Steenkamp.

    “Leave to appeal should really not be granted,” he said.

    The court did not set a date for when it will rule on whether the appeal can be heard or not.

  • Boko Haram: Gujba returnees record bumper harvests

    Boko Haram: Gujba returnees record bumper harvests

    The Chairman, Gujba Local Government Council in Yobe, Alhaji Kyari Batarama, said displaced persons who returned to their communities in the area had recorded bumper harvest this cropping season.

    They had earlier fled the area in the wake of the Boko Haram insurgency.

    Batarama disclosed this on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of  Nigeria (NAN) in Buni Yadi.

    “The communities had after their return re-engaged in agricultural production, and the harvests are very good.

    ”They cultivated sorghum, groundnuts, sesame seeds and millet, among other crops,” he said.

    He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law the North-East Development Commission bill.

    “This will facilitate the resettlement, reconstruction and rehabilitation of people and communities affected by the insurgency,” the chairman said.

  • Father sets son ablaze over quarrel with brother

    Father sets son ablaze over quarrel with brother

    A 43-year-old father, Malam Musa Mohammed, has been arrested by the Rights Protection Agency in Niger for setting his 15-year-old son, Bello Musa, ablaze.

    Mrs Mairam Kolo, the Director-General of the agency, disclosed this in an interview on Tuesday in Minna.

    She said that the incident occurred around Polytechnic Road, Bida, in Bida Local Government Area of the state.
    Kolo explained that Musa tied the victim up and siphoned petrol from his motorcycle, poured it on the victim and set him on fire because of his alleged frequent quarrels with his elder brother.

    According to her, the quick intervention of neighbours helped save the victim from being burnt to death.

    “During questioning, the father confessed that his action was as a result of the behaviour of the boy, that he is always quarrelling with his elder brother and rude to him.

    “He said that he was tired of the boy’s bad behaviour and had warned him several times to stop fighting his elder brother, but he refused to adhere to the warning,” she said.

    The director-general said that the accused would be charge to court under Section 25 of the Child Rights Law and sections 299 and 348 of the Panel Code Law.

    She said that the victim is receiving treatment at Umaru Ndayako General Hospital, Bida.
    Earlier, the father admitted to have poured petrol on his son and set him ablaze.

    However, he pleaded with the agency for leniency, saying he committed the offence out of anger.

    NAN

  • Court rules on Dasuki’s application to stay Metuh’s trial Nov. 1

    Court rules on Dasuki’s application to stay Metuh’s trial Nov. 1

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, will on Nov. 1 rule on whether or not to stay proceedings in a matter between the Federal Government and Olisah Metuh, pending the outcome of an appeal on the matter.

    Former National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Sambo Dasuki, a party in the matter, asked the court to stay further proceedings pending the determination of his appeal.

    The court would also rule on whether or not to stay execution on a subpoena order issued against Dasuki to compel him to appear in court to testify in the matter.

    Counsel to Dasuki, Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN), told the court on Tuesday that his client, on Oct. 30. filed a motion on notice, praying the court to adjourn further proceedings relating to the subpoena order issued on Dasuki.

    According to Raji, further proceedings should be adjourned pending the determination of an application filed in the Court of Appeal, seeking a stay of execution of the subpoena.

    Raji also informed the court that his client also filed a motion asking for accelerated hearing of the appeal and asked the Court of Appeal to give a date to hear the appeal.

    Similarly, counsel to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN) informed the court that his client had filed an application asking the court to set aside an order of subpoena issued on him.

    Ozekhome said that the subpoena issued on his client on Oct. 23 was to compel his client to appear in court and give evidence in the ongoing trial of Metuh.

    Ozekhome, however, said that in the alternative, the court should direct Metuh to deposit N1 billion to cover his client’s traveling expenses from his home town, Otueke to Abuja to attend court.

    “Metuh, should in line with Section 241(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) deposit the sum of N1 billion with the court to cover the traveling expenses of my client.

    “This is to take care of him and his security operatives and other logistics involved in ensuring that my client appears before the court as President of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015.”

    He further urged the court to rule on his application before entertaining further processes in the matter as stipulated by relevant authorities.

    Counsel to Metuh, Mr Emeka Etiaba had in his submission, prayed the court to discountenance the submission of the prosecuting counsel, Mr Sylvanus Tahir that Dasuki had refused to appear in court.

    Etiaba noted that the submission of the prosecution should have been accompanied by an affidavit and not a mere oral submission.

    Tahir had earlier told the court that the Department of State Services (DSS) had made concerted efforts to bring Dasuki to court, but the former NSA had refused to appear in court.

    “I am in touch with the Legal Director of the DSS and he just sent me a text message saying, subject is still adamant and blatantly refuses to be brought to court except by force.

    “But after much exchange, he agreed to appear in court on the subsequent adjourned date, so you may wish to take a date sometime this week.”

    Justice Okon Abang in his ruling, said that all the applications filed by the parties would be entertained on Nov. 1.

    According to Abang, “from what is before me, I cannot conclude that the DSS flaunted the orders of the court, the issue of Dasuki will be handled administratively.’’

    He said the court would first rule on the application of Dasuki on whether or not to stay proceedings on the matter.

    He said that should Dasuki’s application succeed, further proceedings in the matter would be adjourned.

    He, however, said that if the application failed, the court would deliver ruling on the application filed by the former president.

    Metuh who is standing trial for receiving N400 million from Dasuki had asked the court to issue a subpoena on Dasuki and Jonathan, compelling them to appear in court to give evidence.

    NAN

  • Accord Party deregisters Ladoja

    Accord Party deregisters Ladoja

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Accord Party, has directed its Oyo state chapter to deregister Sen. Rashidi Ladoja, from the party.

    Mr Innocent Igbokwe, the chairman, National Working Committee, South East, gave the order on Tuesday during an official visit of the NWC members to the state secretariat of the party at Aremo in Ibadan.

    Igbokwe who described the ex-governor’s exit from the party as a blessing, said it would also pave way for progress and true internal democracy in the party.

    ”Accord party was established in 2006 while Ladoja joined the party in 2010 to contest the state governorship election in 2011.

    ”Accord is a party, no single person can be powerful than the party.

    ”Accord was not funded or owned by Ladoja, so, his defection to another party is his constitutional right and has no significant effect on the party in Oyo or nationwide

    ”The national body of the party did not enjoy his stay since he joined.

    ”The NWC of the party has therefore, directed the state party secretariat to deregister Sen. Rasheed Ladoja’s name from the register of the party.

    ”Also all wards and local councils’ executive members that were sacked by Ladoja are hereby reinstated pending the conduct of another congress,” he said.

    He said that the NWC has also given approval to the list of state executive members submitted by Mrs Adebukola Ajaja, the new leader of Accord Party in the state.

    Igbokwe assured members in the state that internal democracy would be the hallmark of the party.

    He implored all members to support the new leadership and let the progress of the party be paramount in their dealings.

    NAN

  • Yobe urges FG to develop proposed 5,000-hectare grazing reserve

    Yobe urges FG to develop proposed 5,000-hectare grazing reserve

    The Yobe Government on Tuesday appealed to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to develop 5,000 hectares of land it received from the state to establish the proposed grazing reserve.

    Dr Mustapha Gaidam, the Manager of Yobe Pilot Development Programme, made the call in an interview in Damaturu.

    He said that Yobe Government donated 5,000 hectares of land to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to enhance the implementation of its cattle ranch programme.

    “The Yobe Government provided Federal Ministry of Agriculture with 2,500 hectares of land at Jakusko/Nazari in Jakusko Local Government Area and another 2,500 hectares at Gumsa in Nguru for the development of the grazing reserve.

    “Yobe State has 28 grazing reserves, out of which 16 have been gazetted,” he said.

    Besides, Gaidam said that the state government had demarcated 1,560 kilometres of cattle routes from 2007 to date.

    “The state government has also constructed water facilities along the cattle routes to curb cattle encroachment into farmlands in search of water.

    “Government has, within the same period of time, vaccinated over six million herds of cattle, goats, sheep and dogs against trans-boundary animal diseases and rabies.

    “It has become a deliberate policy of this administration to maintain healthy animals for public consumption.

    “When a country, state or society has healthy animals; the animals produce healthy meat and milk and this, in turn, translates into healthy human population,” he said.

    NAN

  • Court dissolves 14-year-old marriage for lack of care

    Court dissolves 14-year-old marriage for lack of care

    An Ado-Ekiti Customary Court on Tuesday dissolved the 14-year-old marriage between Funke and her husband, Samson Darmola of lack of care.

    The President of the Court, Mr Joseph Ogunsemi, dissolved the marriage following the petitioner’s testimony‎ and the refusal of the respondent to appear in court to defend himself.

    He awarded the custody of the three children, namely, Ayomide,14, Lekan, 8, and Timi Daramola,4, to the petitioner, while Adesola Daramola,11, was awarded to the respondent‎.

    Ogunsemi said that the respondent shall be paying N2,500 as monthly upkeep allowance for each of the three children awarded to the petitioner.

    He further ordered that payment of the money shall commence from Oct. 31 through the registry of the court.

    The court president also granted unrestricted access to both parties to visit the children in their custody.

    Funke Daramola, 39, a foodstuff trader and a resident of No. 23, Dalimore St. Ado-Ekiti, had earlier prayed the court to dissolve the marriage on grounds of desertion, lack of  love and care for her and the children.

    The petitioner testified that she deliberately left  the respondent’s house in April 2017 because she was suffering.

    She said that whenever the respondent had money, he would abandon her and her ‎four children for six months and at times one year without considering their welfare.

    Funke explained that ‎she has been the only one responsible for the education and feeding of the children.

    The mother of four children said the ‎respondent did not give her peace of mind  and often maltreated  her.

    The petitioner prayed the court to dissolve his marriage with the respondent ‎because she no longer love him.

    She further prayed the court to award the custody of his four children to her for proper care.

    Funke requested that the petitioner should be paying N2,500 as monthly feeding allowance for  each of the children.

    The mother of four children agreed that she and the respondent would be responsible for the education of the children.

    The respondent, Mr Samson Daramola, ‎a carpenter, refused to honour the court’s  summons thrice to defend himself .

    NAN

  • Obaseki to meet Edo pensioners over unpaid pensions

    Obaseki to meet Edo pensioners over unpaid pensions

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo will meet members of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Edo Chapter, with a view to amicably resolving all pension payments-related issues, an official has said.

    Mr Osagiator Ojo, the Head of Administration, Oredo Local Government Council, made the disclosure when he briefed newsmen on the outcome of the Joint Account and Allocation Committee meeting.

    The meeting was chaired by Obaseki at Government House in Benin on Tuesday.

    Ojo said  the meeting, which would be attended by representatives of  local government and state government pensioners, was necessary to correct the misinformation about pension payments by the present administration.

    “Government has observed with dismay the gross misinformation that has characterised the payment of pensions in the state.

    “The governor, therefore, would wish to engage the union leadership or the pensioners both at the local and state levels to ensure that this gross misinformation is dispelled and all issues arising to the controversies bothering on pension payments are amicably resolved,” he said.

    Ojo said that the 18 local governments in the state jointly contributed N212. 88 million in August for the payment of pensions and contributed N244. 09 million in September for the same purpose.

    He said that total allocation accrued to the 18 local governments in September and shared in  October was N2.55 billion out of which N1. 46 billion was mandatory expenditure.

    Ojo said that there was significant increase in internal generated revenue by the local governments from N85. 03 million in September to N115.54 million in October.

    He said the governor had directed that a seven-man committee be set up to keep the state government abreast of the crime situation in the different parts of the state.

    NAN