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  • Ambode inaugurates DNA centre to reduce crime

    Ambode inaugurates DNA centre to reduce crime

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos on Wednesday inaugurated the state’s Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) and Forensic Centre to accelerate collection of evidence and improve its quality to quicken justice dispensation.

    The centre is located at CMS on Lagos Island. The centre is the first government-owned in Nigeria.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that DNA is a molecule that reveals the chromosomes in the centre of cells of living things.

    Ambode said: “Before now, most of, if not all DNA analysis and testing, were performed outside Nigeria, a situation that caused longer turn-around time and an overall higher cost of bringing closure to a case.

    “I am, therefore, convinced that the establishment of the centre will assist our courts in quick dispensation of justice.

    “This centre is a definite boost for our administration’s justice sector reform programme, and it will further transform the system of administration of justice in Lagos in particular and Nigeria as a whole.’’

    The governor said that the centre had the capacity to provide the police, prosecutors, defence attorneys and private citizens with crime scene processing and serological screening for blood and semen.

    He said that it would also provide services such as DNA analysis of bone, teeth and hair; maternal and paternal relationship DNA analysis, expert witness and case handling services.

    “Besides, it will help in paternal and maternal ancestry DNA analysis; cold case file review and mass disaster human identification.

    “With the successful completion of this stage of the facility, our administration plans to include additional capacity in the areas of toxicology, trace evidence and controlled substance analysis, fingerprint and latent prints, firearms, ballistics and tool marks, digital forensics and questioned documents examination.

    “The development of these other forensic sections at the facility will complement the DNA and forensic section and enhance the level of services offered today.

    “This will be helpful when dealing with organised crimes, as scientific methods can now help prosecutors to exonerate or convict a suspect, thereby reducing incidence of crime in the state,” Ambode said.

    He said that his administration established the centre in the realisation that security was vital for good governance and sustainability of investment.

    Mr John Bray, the U.S. Consul-General in Nigeria, said that the centre would better equip Lagos and Nigeria to deal with social challenges in an effective and scientific manner.

    He said that the centre was set up in partnership with an American company – IPSI Bio-Science Company – adding that U.S. would continue to collaborate with Nigeria to bring about growth and progress.

    Dr Richard Somiari, Managing Consultant of the centre said that the project was initiated in 2016 for consultation on old and new cases, crime scene processing and evidence collection.

    Somiari said that the centre could carry out serological screening for blood, semen, saliva and mass disaster victims’ identification and cold case files’ review.

    The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, lauded Lagos State Government for establishing the centre, saying that it would also help to fight insurgency.

    Mr Imohimi Edgal, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, said that the centre would make police investigations and prosecution easier.

    “It will help in solving crime cases; even our old and pending cases will now have closure with this centre,’’ he said.

    Mr Adeniji Kazeem, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, said that efforts at transforming the judiciary and fighting crime would be incomplete without a modern crime laboratory centre.

    Kazeem said that lack of proven scientific evidence had made trial of many cases difficult.

    “We can now move away from relying on confessional statements,” he said

  • Police parade three armed robbers in jigawa

    Police parade three armed robbers in jigawa

    The Police Command in Jigawa has arrested three suspected armed robbers who had been terrorizing the residents of Kazaure Local Government Area of the state.

    The command’s Spokesman, SP. Abdu Jinjiri, who paraded the suspects before newsmen in Dutse on Wednesday said the suspects were arrested along Kazaure-Daura road.

    Jinjiri said that they were apprehended after they had blocked the road and robbed motorists of their money and other valuables.

    He explained that the suspects, hailed from Kusada, Kankiya and Malumfashi Local Government Areas of Katsina State.

    “On September 22, our officers in Kazaure local government area received a distress call that there were some armed robbers who blocked the Kazaure-Daura road and were robbing motorists.

    “We swiftly moved to the scene and luckily enough we arrested three of them. They were arrested in collaboration with the residents of the area.

    “During their arrest, cutlasses, sacks of rice, sticks and some amount of money they allegedly collected from the motorists were recovered from them,” Jinjiri said.

    The spokesman added that investigation into the case was on and that they would be charged to court afterward.

    It will be recalled that the command had on Sept. 20 arrested three other suspects in Dutse after they allegedly robbed a widow of N80,000

  • Court docks man for defiling minor

    Court docks man for defiling minor

    A 24-year-old man, Oribamise Jimoh, on Wednesday appeared in an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly defiling an 8-year-old daughter of his neighbour.

    Jimoh who resides at No 9, Owonikoko Street, Ayobo, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of defilement and breach of peace.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Clifford Ogu, said that the offence was committed on Sept. 16 in the apartment of the accused.

    Ogu told the court that the accused lured the minor into his room on the pretext of sending her on an errand and defiled her.

    “The accused defiled the girl in his room, gave her N30 and told her not to tell anyone and that if she did, she would die.

    “The girl walked strangely and her mother’s sister who noticed it called the mother’s attention to it.

    “The girl narrated everything that the accused did to her to them,” the prosecutor said.

    He said the offence contravened Section 137 and 166 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section prescribes life imprisonment for offenders.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The Chief Magistrate, Taiwo Akanni, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum each and adjourned the case until Oct. 10 for mention.

  • Few private schools have complied with teachers’ registration – TRCN

    Few private schools have complied with teachers’ registration – TRCN

    The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria ( TRCN ), said on Wednesday that only 50 per cent of private schools in the country have complied with its directive to deploy only professional teachers to classrooms.

    Malam Adamu Bello, the Deputy Director, Professional Operation of the council made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Wednesday.

    Adamu said the council would continue to enforce the directive until all teachers get the mandatory certification to teach in schools across the country.

    He stressed that the 2017 deadline for all categories of teachers in the country to obtain the required professional qualification remain sacrosanct.

    The official disclosed that TRCN would prosecute unqualified and incompetent teachers nationwide as from 2018.

    “Very soon, those people that think it is a joke for the 17 years we have been drumming it for them to professionalize, will be arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned.

    “The council will go after them with the full weight of the law even as we seek state governments’ cooperation to rid the country of quack and unqualified teachers,’’ he said.

    Adamu emphasised that the certification programme of the council was necessary for all teachers, irrespective of the type of certificate they possess after their graduation.

    “It is meant to strengthen and upgrade the standard of education as all professionalized teachers will attend periodic re-certification lecture and examination to keep them abreast of modern best practices,’’ he said.

  • Costa’s return to Atletico Madrid finalised

    Costa’s return to Atletico Madrid finalised

    Diego Costa’s return to Spanish La Liga side Atletico Madrid from Jan. 1 has been finialised, English Premier League champions Chelsea said in a statement on Tuesday.

    The two clubs agreed the transfer last week and on Monday the 28-year-old Spain forward passed a medical to return to the Spanish capital.

    “Diego Costa has today agreed terms for his transfer to Atletico Madrid, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2018,” Chelsea said in a statement.

    “We thank Diego for his efforts and wish him well in his future career.”

    The controversial Spaniard’s departure from Stamford Bridge signalled the end of a messy transfer saga.

    During this, Costa claimed Chelsea manager Antonio Conte had told him via text that he was no longer required at the club.

    His last game for Chelsea came at Wembley in May when he scored in the 2-1 FA Cup final defeat against Arsenal.

    Costa leaves Chelsea having won two Premier League titles, one League Cup and scored 59 goals in 120 appearances.

    He finished as Chelsea’s top scorer in each of his three seasons in west London.

    “I‘m very happy to return home,” Costa said in a statement on Atletico’s official website.

    “I’ve always said it, Atletico is my home. I‘m very, very happy. I‘m looking forward to start contributing. I‘m going to give my all for the team, as I always try to do.

    “Thank you to the whole club for making this move forward, I‘m very grateful to everyone.”

    Costa will have to wait before pulling on the red and white striped shirt of Atletico as the European transfer window is closed.

    Also, Atletico are banned from registering new players until 2018 after breaching FIFA rules.

    Diego Costa’s return, means he will wear the number 18 shirt, and will join the team’s training from Wednesday.

    He will be eligible for selection from Jan. 2 when the Spanish transfer window opens and Atletico’s ban ends.

    Costa first joined Atletico in 2006 and, following a string of loan spells, established himself as a key part of Diego Simeone’s title winning side in 2013-2014.

    He then joined Chelsea in a deal worth 32 million pounds ($43.21 million).

    Atletico are in the same Champions League group as Chelsea but their two clashes will both be before Costa is eligible to continue his career with the Spanish club.

  • ‘Nigeria needs $142bn to meet NDC’s target’

    ‘Nigeria needs $142bn to meet NDC’s target’

    The Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions’ ( NDC ) ambition under Climate Change Accord will cost estimated 142 billion dollars,  to meet the 2030 target.

    Minister of State for Environment Ibrahim Jibril disclosed this at the UN while presenting Nigeria’s progress report on climate change goal under the Sustainable Development Goals.

    The NDC is a binding agreement, which spelt out the actions a country intends to take to address climate change – both in terms of adaptation and mitigation – when it ratifies the Paris Agreement.

    The Minister said: “The delivery of our NDC will require a fundamental re-orientation of financial flows within the economy.

    “It is estimated that Nigeria will require around 142 billion dollars , translating to about 10 billion dollars per annum to meet her NDC target by 2030,” he said.

    He said Nigeria had recognised that climate change presented one of the greatest challenges of the world today.

    “In the midst of this vulnerability, an opportunity resides for Nigerian economy to grow in a manner that is climate resilient and empowers people whilst meeting its energy deficiency.

    “One of the innovative means of exploring this opportunity is through the issuance of green bonds, which has gained recognition as means of raising finance for climate friendly purposes.

    “Accordingly, the Federal Government has advance plans to issue a program of N150 billion in green bonds over the next few months.

    “This is with a pilot issue of N12.384 billion in the third quarter of 2017 and the balance over the course of the budget year.

    “Collaboration between Ministry of Environment and Finance continues to pull together the institutional partners necessary to achieve what would be Nigeria and Africa’s first sovereign green bond and the worlds third.”

    Jibril said Nigeria was partnering with the Lake Chad basin countries to address the challenges of drying up of the lake which will have adverse consequences on  the people and the ecosystem.

    “Equally, actions to fast track the environmental clean-up of the Niger Delta beginning with Ogoniland are undoubtedly one of the most significant decisions taken by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration.

    “The President’s action has now breathed new life into a four-year report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), which hitherto had experienced a series of false starts since it was published on Aug. 4, 2011.”

    The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said Nigeria’s progress towards localising the SDGs was with an emphasis on ensuring implementation across all levels of government.

    “Specifically, the Ministry incorporated and ensured policy linkages between the SDGs and the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, a four-year medium term development plan launched on April 5, 2017.

    “The plan is aimed at ensuring sustained and inclusive growth; building a globally competitive and diversified Nigerian economy, investing in our people and building strong governance institutions to drive change.”

    Additionally, specific programmes and projects aimed at achieving the SDGS have been integrated into the 2017 National Budget, and will be included in future budgeting frameworks, she said.

  • 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.

  • 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.