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  • ICPC tasks professional bodies on enforcement of codes

    ICPC tasks professional bodies on enforcement of codes

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has urged Business Management Organisations (BMOs) and Professional Associations (PAs) to ensure effective enforcement of their codes of ethics.

    The Acting Chairman of the commission, Mr Abdullahi Bako, made the call at a one-day colloquium organised by the anti-graft agency for BMOs and PAs in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Bako said business management organisations and professional bodies had a critical role to play in the fight against corruption, especially in the area of prevention.

    “The essence of this colloquium is to identify areas in which ICPC can collaborate with BMOs and PAs towards ensuring that their activities are conducted with utmost sense of integrity and high ethical standards tailored at preventing corruption in the system.

    “Once that is done, corruption practices such as bribery and gratification, cutting corners, quackery and other infractions in the operations of professional associations will reduce drastically,” he said.

    Bako said the commission had embarked on similar interventions in critical sectors such as education, health, transport and water resources.

    He said the exercise paid off with the closure of 63 illegal degree-awarding institutions and a fake NYSC orientation camp whose proprietors were currently being prosecuted.

    The Secretary of ICPC, represented by a commissioner, Mr Gad Bako, said the forum was in continuation of the commission’s efforts at securing public commitment to the fight against corruption.

    Read also: ICPC arrests former SMEDAN DG for alleged corruption in contract awards

    “Our partnership with BMOs and PAs like yours is borne out of our belief not only in your contributions to the development of this nation but also as being vital in the pursuit of professional excellence.

    “You are in a position to regulate the activities of your members and ensure that their conducts are in consonance with the ethics and values of their professional and in a manner that is devoid of corruption in all ramifications.

    “With the increase in the population and the rapid expansion in the membership strength you have witnessed over the years, quacks have infiltrated your ranks and adherence to these codes has become seriously compromised for obvious reasons.

    “Working in close collaboration with BMOs and PAS, we will not only block corruption-prone areas in the conduct of professional transactions but also highlight those punishable under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000,” he said.

    The ICPC secretary said the commission began its engagement with professional bodies in 2014 resulting in the infusion of integrity standards into their codes of professional practice.

    He listed the bodies to include the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, and the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria.

    According to him, the commission has also engaged 18 other BMOs and PAs since then in addition to organising a validation and adoption exercise of the integrity infusions made by ICPC into their codes of the practice.

    Bako said the colloquium was a follow-up on the validation done and its positive impact on their activities so far.

    He said that the commission would continue to support the BMOs and PAs toward strengthening their codes of professional practice.

    NAN

  • 29 bag 1st Class at August 2017 law exams – DG

    29 bag 1st Class at August 2017 law exams – DG

    The Nigerian Law School on Tuesday said 29 out of the 4,294 candidates called to the Nigerian Bar bagged First Class after the August 2017 bar examinations.

    The Director-General of the school, Mr Olanrewaju Onadeku (SAN) disclosed this at the Call-to-Bar ceremony in Abuja.

    Onadeku said the students were those successful at the August 2017 Bar final examinations and others from previous examinations as conducted by the school under the supervision of the Council of Legal Education.

    He said the 29 students were produced by the University of Lagos, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Uyo, Obafemi Awolowo University, Babcock University, University of Ibadan and Osun State University.

    According to him, others are from University of Ilorin, Lagos State University, Ambrose Alli University, Afe Babalola University, Adekunle Ajasin University and Igbinedion University.

    “I particularly commend the 29 students; theirs is the highest number ever attained.

    “They have worked hard to merit their grades after a very thorough assessment and have done the Nigerian Law school and their families proud.”

    Onadeku disclosed that 72 per cent success was achieved after the August examination as 211 obtained the second class upper grade, 1,046 made second class lower division and 3, 000 got the pass grade.

    He said that there had been a sustained level of focus and diligence among the students whom he noted had demonstrated a commendable sense of maturity and drive,  adding that some were involved in various forms of examination malpractices.

    The Director-General, while congratulating the newly called to lawyers, also urged them to make the best of the legal profession.

    “Since it is your freewill to belong to the noble profession of law, you must ensure strict adherence to its norms and ethics.

    “As you are aware, globalisation has impacted on the legal profession with the challenge of bench marking on minimum international best practices.

    “You must ensure you exceed the minimum in all that you do. ”

    Onadeku also noted that the successful students had completed the vocational training at the school as prescribed by the Legal Education Act.

    According to him, they have also met all other conditions set by the Council, while also exhibiting good manners and decorum during their training.

    “They have also been groomed in the best ethics and ethos of our noble profession.

    Read also: Law school gets luxury hostel

    “The screening committee of your distinguished body has carefully perused the records of each of the aspirants and have found them worthy to be presented for Call to the Nigerian Bar.

    “I attest that they are fit and proper persons for Call and admissions to the Nigerian Bar,” he said.

    In his address, the Chairman of the Body of Benchers and also Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, charged the candidates to practice the profession with diligence and sense of responsibility.

    He charged them to promote the course of justice and rule of law, adding that their level of proficiency was of immense significance to the efficiency of the justice system of the country.

    “I urge you to acquaint yourselves with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and all other relevant laws as far as administering justice is concerned.

    “You must not handle a matter without adequate preparation, neither should you handle a matter, which you know or ought to know that you not competent enough to handle.

    “It is advisable to consult your seniors or colleagues in areas you know you are not well groomed, ” he said.

    Onnoghen said that the Body of Benchers, whose role also includes disciplinary committee, would not hesitate to bring to order any erring practitioner whose conduct might negate the standards of the profession.

     The Nigerian Law School has to date graduated 117, 385 lawyers including all the judges of the superior courts of the country and almost all the legal practitioners.

    The event was attended by past and present Body of Benchers, Attorney-General of the Federation, past Directors-General of the school.

    Others are members of the National Assembly, some ministers, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the Judiciary sector.

    NAN

  • Federal varsity Kebbi starts relocation to new site

    Federal varsity Kebbi starts relocation to new site

    The Federal University in Birnin Kebbi has commenced movement of Administrative and Academics Departments from the temporary to the permanent site to enhance service delivery.

    The temporary site was located at Kilometre Eight along Birnin Kebbi to Kalgo road, while the new site is located along Kalgo to Bunza road.

    A statement by Mr Jamilu Magaji, the Acting Head of Information and Public Relations unit of the institution indicated that the Administrative Block comprising the Vice-Chancellor’s office, Registry and Bursary have relocated to the new site.

    The new library has also been commissioned at the new site in addition to the library located at the old site.

    Other departments at the new site included the Department of Physical Planning and Development and Security Division, Health Services Department; Faculty of Science; Entrepreneurship Centre; Faculty of Arts, Social and Management Sciences; the Students’ Centre and the ICT Centre.

    Read also:

    “In line with the captivating mission, a well-equipped ICT Data Centre is put in place linking all faculties, departments and units with fibre optic cables for speedy and effective local and internet connectivity.

    “A dedicated and secured network connectivity is also made available in the university library for better accessibility to global teaching and learning resources aimed at producing ICT-trained graduates as well as maintaining ICT-equipped workforce,” Magaji said.

    The departments still located at the temporary site included Faculty of Environmental Sciences, School of Basic and General Studies, College of Health Sciences, Students’ Affairs Division and Admissions Office.

    NAN

  • UNICEF spends N200m to tackle HIV in Kaduna

    UNICEF spends N200m to tackle HIV in Kaduna

    The officer in-charge of UNICEF Field Office, Kaduna, Dr Idris Baba on Tuesday said the organisation has scaled up support to tackle high HIV prevalence among adolescents in seven local government areas of Kaduna State.

    Baba, who made the disclosure in Zaria at a forum with media executives in the state, said: “HIV in adolescents remains a big concern; the seven LGAs have higher prevalence of HIV among adolescents in the state.”

    According to him, only seven per cent of the adolescents surveyed at the beginning of the intervention programme in March had tested and received their HIV result.

    He explained that the support being offered by UNICEF was on HIV prevention, treatment and care in the seven local areas.

    The official disclosed that UNICEF had budgeted about N200 million to run the Adolescent and Young Persons (AYP) programme in Chikun, Igabi, Lere, Kagarko, Birnin Gwari, Jaba and Jema’a local government areas.

    Read also: 160,000 died of AIDS-related illness, says UNICEF

    He noted that in spite of the decrease in new HIV infections in the areas due to improved access to information, the rate of death among infected adolescents remained high.

    The official stressed that the main objective was to raise AYP access to HIV testing from 20 to 40 per cent by the end of the intervention programme in May 2018, and increase condom usage among adolescents from 30 to 50 percent in the seven local areas.

    He said the programme was also aimed at raising the use of anti retro viral therapy from one to 21 per cent among HIV positive persons and increase the number of schools providing Family Life Health Education from the present 25 per cent to 45 per cent.

    Baba noted that UNICEF had trained no fewer than 1, 300 persons to facilitate the success of the programme in all the local government areas.

    According to him, the programme has helped to achieve 52 per cent awareness on HIV due to improved access to information among adolescents in the seven local areas, while the number of those who had tested had gone up to 46.6 per cent.

    NAN

  • 18-year-old docked for stealing Tiger Generator

    18-year-old docked for stealing Tiger Generator

    The police on Tuesday arraigned 18-year-old man, Badmus Quadri in an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun over housebreaking and theft of Tiger generator valued at N10,000.
    Quadri, who lives at No. 18 Ademola Street, Iyana-Ilogbo, Ota, is facing two-count charge of stealing and burglary.
    The Prosecutor, Cpl. Abdulkareem Mustapha, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on December 4 at about 8 a.m. At Ouse Village, Ota.
    Mustapha said that the defendant unlawfully broke into the house of Joshua Babalola and stole a Tiger generator valued at N10,000.
    He said that the offences contravened sections 390(9) and 411(1)(2) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.
    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and the Chief Magistrate, Mrs B. B. Adebowale, granted him bail in  the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
    She said the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and must swear to an affidavit of means.
    Adebowale also ordered that the sureties should show evidence of  tax payment to Ogun Government and submit four recent passport photographs to the court and adjourned the case until January 11, 2018 for hearing.
  • Youths not copying right leadership model – Amaechi

    Youths not copying right leadership model – Amaechi

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, says Nigeria youths are copying the wrong model of leadership, an act, he notes, may jeopardise their future.

    Amaechi made the assertion on the sidelines of the Future Awards Africa held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos last Saturday.

    He said the youth were not ready yet to embrace a corrupt-free society because they were wrongly orientated by those who were using them for their interest.

    “The problem with Nigerian youths is that they just want to take over from the elite but they are not ready to embrace change, they don’t want reform.

    “They say that the roles being played by the elite are not satisfactory, but they must be ready to upset the leaders of this country through their ingenuity.

    “For example, during our days of activism, we engage government over unfavourable policies and we get headlong even during the military administration.

    “Now, student union presidents want a vehicle and a driver to be driving him about to attend meetings; during our time, who dares have a car, we all struggle on the street, Amaechi said.

    He advised youths to rise up to the fight against corruption instead of a tacit support to those that they feel were their benefactor.

    “I will advise the youth to fight against corruption with all their energy instead of giving tacit support to those they think are their benefactors.

    “During our time in the student union struggles, we rose against impunity and organised protests; but what happens today, the government of the day announces the money siphoned but the youth keep quiet.

    “Such astronomic stolen amount government announced wouldn’t have happened during our time, all the street would have been filled with youths protesting and seeing that the culprits were punished.

    “Today, we have some of our youths dancing behind the corrupt politicians for a pot of meal that will not last long thereby mortgaging their future,’’ he said.

    Amaechi said that Nigerian youths should stand up to the reality of life by asking questions from leaders on how they managed the economy and the commonwealth of Nigeria.

    Read also: Amaechi: we should stop criticising Jonathan’s govt

    “Nigerian youths should start asking questions from leaders, including me about what we are doing with our resources. It’s time to reject those that put us in this.

    “We should all desist from pulling our country down through corruption. But unfortunately, the youth are not interested in that, all what they want is how to look good.

    “Maybe they looked at me wearing designer shoes, what they will notice is that designer and how they can get it. That is not supposed to be.

    “During my time as a student union leader, I had only two pairs of clothes. But now the value system is wrong and the youth are copying wrong leadership model,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Aisha Buhari arrives Katsina to inaugurate maternity clinic

    Aisha Buhari arrives Katsina to inaugurate maternity clinic

    The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, on Tuesday arrived Katsina State to inaugurate children and maternity clinic at the General Hospital, Daura.

    The children and maternity clinic was built and equipped by Buhari through her NGO, “Aisha Buhari Foundation’’, which also catered for the health needs of under-privileged families in the country.

    The aircraft conveying the wife of the president and her entourage landed at the Katsina International Airport at about 10 a.m.

    She was accompanied by the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Toyin Saraki, Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehenire, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Administration), Dr Hajo Sani.

    Read also: Aisha Buhari provides free medical services for 3,000 patients in Zamfara

    Others are the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Matters, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the former Deputy Governor of Plateau, Mrs Pauline Tallen, and wife of Benue Governor, Mrs Eunice Ortom, among others.

    The wife of the President was received at the airport by the Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Masari and some members of the National Assembly led by Senate leader, Sen. Ahmed Lawal.

    During the visit, the wife of the President is expected to inaugurate and hand over the facility to the Katsina State Government as part of her contributions to the health and physical well being of women and children in the state.

    NAN

  • India bans day time advertisement of condoms

    India bans day time advertisement of condoms

    India on Tuesday banned telecast of condom advertisements on TV during day time, a move that has invited fierce criticism from campaigners of safe sex.

    In an advisory, India’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry has asked all TV channels in this country not to air condom advertisements between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. local time to avoid exposure of such material to children.

    “It has been brought to the notice of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that some channels carry advertisements of condoms repeatedly which are alleged to be indecent especially for children.

    “In view of the above, all TV channels are hereby advised not to telecast the advertisements of condoms which are for a particular age group and could be indecent/ inappropriate for viewing by children,” the ministry added.

    The ministry has said the condom advertisements should only be aired late night till early morning, and asked TV channels to ensure strict adherence to the provisions of Cable Television Networks Rules.

    The ministry has also warned of action against any TV channel found flouting its order, which comes in the wake of a plea by the Advertising Standards Council of India ( ASCI ) earlier this month to decide the telecast timing of such advertisements.

    “The ministry has taken a call on our request. ASCI had received several complaints on the content of condom advertisments… (which) were explicit for children.

    “The main issue was with the timing of the advertisements,” Shweta Purandare, secretary general of ASCI, told the media.

    Doctors and critics, however, came down heavily on the government’s restrictions on telecast of such advertisements, saying such a move will prove counterproductive for campaigns against unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions and unsafe sex.

    Read also: Can you buy condoms for your partner?

    “Sex education in schools may not be enough for teenagers. Good condom advertisements can help curb unwanted pregnancies, which are on the rise among teens, by giving the right message.

    “I think it’s a wrong step by the government,” Dr. Gauri Kaushik, a gynacologist, said Tuesday.

    Poonam Mutreja, executive director of non-governmental body, Population Foundation of India, echoed similar sentiments.

    “There are 13 per cent unwanted pregnancies in India, there are nearly 15 million abortions.

    “This decision is a red flag for me,” she told the media.

    NAN

  • Three docked for killing journalist in Malta

    Three docked for killing journalist in Malta

    A Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged three men with murder over a car-bomb blast that killed anti-corruption journalist, Daphne Galizia, court officials said.

    Galizia died instantly when her car was blown up as she drove out of her home on October 16, a killing that shocked Malta and raised concern within the EU about the rule of law on the tiny Mediterranean island.

    All three pleaded not guilty at the arraignment, which was attended by her husband, Peter Galizia.

    The men were named as Vince Muscat and brothers Alfred and George Degiorgio.

    It was not immediately clear whether police thought they had acted on their own or were hit men working for others.

    Galizia wrote a popular blog in which she relentlessly highlighted cases of alleged graft targeting politicians of all colours, including Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Vince Muscat was not a relative.

    Police arrested 10 men on Monday in connection with their investigation into the killing. The other seven were released on bail.

    A close friend of Galizia said that she did not think the journalist had ever investigated the three men charged on Tuesday.

    “She wrote about government officials, politicians and wealthy business types,” the friend said, declining to be named because of the sensitivity of the case.

    The Malta government had offered a one million euro reward leading to information on the murder.

    It also called in the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and Europol to assist in investigations.

    Maltese media said investigators had homed in on the suspects following telephone intercepts , known as triangulation data – that included the call from a mobile phone which triggered the car bomb.

    Malta, the smallest nation in the EU, has been engulfed by a wave of graft scandals in recent months, including accusations of money laundering and influence peddling in government – all of which have been denied.

    Galizia exposed many of these cases and was loved by her readers as a fearless, anti-corruption crusader.

    Critics saw her as a muck-raking fantasist and she had been hit with 36 libel lawsuits in the nine months preceding her death.

    Much of her criticism was leveled against Prime Minister Muscat and his leftist Labour party, which won power in 2013 after a nearly quarter of a century of uninterrupted rule by the conservative Nationalist Party.

    In the months before her death, she had also regularly targeted senior Nationalist figures.

    Italian newspapers have speculated that she might have fallen foul of men, who were making a fortune by smuggling fuel out of lawless Libya.

    However, her friend said she had never looked into the illegal trade and any mention of it in her blog related to articles already published elsewhere.

    NAN

  • Theater Commander urges Boko Haram insurgents to surrender

    Theater Commander urges Boko Haram insurgents to surrender

    Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, the newly-posted Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, has called on the Boko Haram insurgents to lay down their arms and embrace peace.

    Nicholas made the call at hi maiden media interactive session on Monday in Maiduguri.

    He said that the call was imperative to encourage remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents to surrender in order to end insurgency and guarantee lasting peace in the region.

    “We have determined and courageous soldiers to crush the terrorists and bring peace to the North-East.

    “I call on the insurgents in the bush to surrender to the Nigerian Government and embrace peace,” he said.

    Nicholas also tasked the media to work toward awareness creation on de-radicalisation of the sect’s ideology, promote peace building and social cohesion.

    Read also: Army removes commander over Boko Haram attacks

    He reiterated the readiness of the military to work with media to ensure successful campaign against insurgency in the country.

    “The command will provide enabling environment for the media to access information on our operations.

    “You should ensure accurate, factual and balance reportage on the military operation,” he said.

    The commander warned that the authorities would not condone misrepresentation of facts and bias reportage.

    Nicholas disclosed that the command would come out with new strategies to intensify campaign to end suicide bombings and attacks by the insurgents.

    He also called on the people in the region to cooperate with military to enable them to win the war against the terror group, adding that the war against insurgency was a collective responsibility.

    Also, the outgoing commander, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, said the military had implemented various operations to get rid of the insurgents and sustained the feat recorded in the counter-insurgency campaign.

    Attahiru said that Boko Haram insurgents were tactically defeated, while the military liberated all the territories from the insurgents.

    He explained that the military had launched various operations designed to clear the remnant of the insurgents.

    “In view of the successes recorded by the military, the Boko Haram insurgents resorted to suicide bombing of soft targets,” he said.

    Attahiru said about 100 Boko Haram insurgents including five high profiled commanders were killed and 72 others surrendered to the military in the past six months.

    According to him, the military had reinforced its Mobile Strike Force to block the sect’s supply routes and enhance clearance operations.

    Attahiru listed other achievements of the command to include conduct of polio immunisation exercise in non-accessible rural communities and lifting of ban on fishery activities at Lake Chad Basin.

    Nicholas was the Chief of Logistics, Army Headquarters, before his new appointment as the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole.

    NAN