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Tag: Nigerian news

  • Court docks man over theft of N15,000

    Court docks man over theft of N15,000

    A 24-year-old man, Elijah Damilola, who allegedly defrauded one Oluwatoyin Samson of N15, 000 was on Tuesday charged before an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    Damilola is facing a two-count charge bothering on stealing.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Joshua Oladoye, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Aug. 31 at about 10:30 a.m. at Kunfayakun area in Osogbo.

    Oladoye said the complainant sent the money to the accused through his account, to give to her blind mother but the accused failed to deliver the money.

    He said the complainant reported the matter to the police and the accused was arrested.

    “He was taken to his bank for the print out of his account details and it was discovered that he had withdrawn the money,’’ Oladoye said.

    The prosecutor said the offences committed contravened Section 390(9) of the Criminal Law of Osun, 2003.

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

    Counsel to the accused, Mrs Raji Abiodun, urged the court to grant her client bail in the most liberal terms.

    The Magistrate, Mr Ayo Ayeni, granted the accused bail in the sum of N10,000 and one surety in like sum.

    Ayeni said the surety should reside within the court’s jurisdiction and should show evidence of tax payments to the Osun Government.

    He adjourned the case until Oct.13, for mention.

  • Hajj: 2,700 pilgrims return in Zamfara

    Hajj: 2,700 pilgrims return in Zamfara

    No fewer than  2,700 pilgrims out of  the 4,793  that performed the 2017 Hajj exercise from Zamfara  have so far been transported back home.

    Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, the Chairman of  the  State Transportation Committee on this year’s Hajj, stated this while receiving the fifth batch  of the pilgrims at the State Camp in Gusau on Tuesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fifth flight,  which conveyed pilgrims from Kaura-Namoda, Anka and  the remaining pilgrims from Maru and Bungudu Local Government Areas, arrived  at the Sultan Abubakar lll International Airport, Sokoto,  at 3.30 a.m.

    According to him, the pilgrims later arrived Gusau at about  10. a.m.

    Tanko, who is also the Chairman of  Gusau Local Government Council,  said the pilgrims were transported by Max Airlines, adding that all of them were in good health.

    “We are expecting the sixth flight between today and tomorrow Insha Allah; we are hoping to complete the transportation of all our pilgrims before the deadline given by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON),” he said.

    Tanko said that  the transportation exercise of this year’s hajj was moving on successfully while  the pilgrims in the state  had  behaved remarkably well during the Hajj .

    He thanked the state government, NAHCON, Max Airlines, State Amirul Hajj Committee and the media for their support.

    Tanko also thanked the State Mass Transport Service, security agencies, the Federal Road Safety Commission  and various volunteer groups for their support.

  • FG to block IPOB funding sources

    FG to block IPOB funding sources

    The Federal Government says it is aware of sources of funding of the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB ) and is taking steps to block them.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed this on Tuesday when he appeared on a live TV programme “Good Morning Nigeria” on the Nigeria Television Authority ( NTA ).

    “Terrorists do not publish where their funding are coming from. But we know the countries that are supporting IPOB.

    “We know the sources of their funding though I am not at liberty to disclose them here.

    “We are taking steps to block them and we are also taking a lot of diplomatic actions in respect of the countries that are supporting them”.

    The Minister said that most of the countries supporting the group were doing so based on ignorance.

    He said they had been hoodwinked to believing that “Nigeria is a country where Muslims persecute Christians” and a country where there is genocide.

    “As we speak today, IPOB has written letters to many Governments outside Nigeria, international parliaments sending fake and cloned videos claiming there is genocide in Nigeria.

    The minister charged the international community not to adopt double standard in dealing with IPOB and to be more diligent before making any pronouncements.

    He said what the countries would never accept in their territories, should not be condoned or encouraged in Nigeria.

    The minister justified the actions of the military for declaring IPOB a terrorist group as well as its proscription by the South-East governors.

    “There are a lot of arguments regarding the constitutionality of the action of the military and the South East governors.

    “People must realise that we are dealing with issue of national security and I do not think that the military and the governors should fold their arms while the country is set ablaze.

    “I have heard a lot of comments as to whether the military has the right to declare IPOB, a terrorist group

    “What the military has done is to catalogue all the activities of IPOB, which are not different from that of terrorists groups,” he said.

    Mohammed said IPOB set up a para-military organisation, a parallel military group, Biafra Secret Service and Biafra National Guard.

    He said the group were attacking army installations and soldiers at check points, extorting money from innocent people.

    “IPOB activities are not jokes. If there have not been the proactive actions on the part of the military and the South East governors, there would have been retaliations from other regions and the entire country will be set on fire.

    “We cannot be talking of semantics or procedure when the nation is moving towards crises and precipices.

    It is only in a Banana Republic that you can see non state actors doing what IPOB is doing.

    “The actions by the military and the governors should be seen from the perspective of ensuring internal security and averting chaos,” he said.

    The minister reiterated his position that IPOB was being sponsored by the association of disgruntled politicians and treasury looters to discredit President Muhammad Buhari”s Administration.

    He admonished the media and opinion leaders to be circumspect in their publications and discussions on IPOB in order not to aggravate the crises the more.

    “The kind of comments and headlines in the media as well as comments from certain quarters are the types that give oxygen and confidence to the IPOB.

    “They must exercise restraint because the only reason we practice our profession or be a commentator is simply because there is peace in the country,” he said.

  • S/A court to hear state’s appeal against Pistorius

    S/A court to hear state’s appeal against Pistorius

    South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal will hear the state’s appeal against the six-year murder sentence handed to Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius on Nov. 3, the National Prosecuting Authority ( NPA ) said on Tuesday.

    The state will argue that six years in jail is too lenient a sentence for the murder by Pistorius of Reeva Steenkamp, his girlfriend, in 2013.

    “The state, in the papers, will stipulate clearly that the sentence imposed is shockingly low,” said NPA spokesman, Luvuyo Mfaku.

    “The presiding officer has the discretion to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence when compelling and substantial circumstances exist.

    “But… with this matter, the presiding officer exercised that discretion in a very lenient manner.”

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

    The Court told state prosecutors and the defence in November that they would need to argue their cases in court before it would rule on the matter.

    State prosecutors, led by advocate Gerrie Nel, say the sentence was too lenient as the jail term was less than half the 15 years they had sought.

    In his arguments at the trial, Nel said Pistorius had shown no remorse for the 2013 shooting.

    Lawyers for the gold medalist, known as the “Blade Runner” for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, say he did not deliberately kill model and law graduate Steenkamp.

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

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

    She dismissed in August, 2016, a request by Nel to appeal Pistorius’ sentence, saying she was not persuaded that there was a reasonable prospect of success at another court.
    Nel then launched his case at the court, in Bloemfontein, 400 km (250 miles) southwest of Johannesburg.

  • ‘My husband’s second wife pounds me at will’

    ‘My husband’s second wife pounds me at will’

    An Idi-Ogungun Customary Court at Agodi in Ibadan on Tuesday dissolved a seven-year-old marriage between Samuel Adeboye and his wife, Temitope, over the woman’s battering by the second wife.

    The President of the court, Chief Mukaila Balogun, leading other assessors — Aare Samotu and Ganiyu Alao — gave the verdict, saying both parties can no longer live together peacefully as husband and wife.

    “Evidence of parties have proved that love does not exist between them; moreover, the respondent has agreed to the dissolution of the union as requested by his estranged wife.

    “Based on this evidence, the marriage is thereby dissolved and the custody of the two children of the union is to remain with the plaintiff (Temitope).

    “The respondent should forthwith pay N7,000 monthly via the court registry as feeding allowances for the two kids,” the court ruled.

    Ealier, Temitope, who filed the suit, said her husband’ second wife always beat her whenever their husband was not around.

    She also accused the defendant of supporting the second woman whenever she (Temitope) complained over the beating.

    “My husband was in support of the brutality I received from her second wife and never condemned his wife’s wrongdoing.

    “Instead, he would ask me to beat her in return despite my ill-health and the big stature of his second wife, ” she said.

    She further accused her husband of not performing his responsibility as a father for the two children,  saying she is solely responsible for their welfare.

    In his defence, Adeboye denied the allegations, but urged the court to uphold the divorce request being sought by her.

    He described the plaintiff as a troublesome woman, who hardly obeys instructions or respects him.

    “She sells ogogoro (local gin) and I have warned her to discontinue but she refused; so, the court should separate us because I cannot cope with a woman that has refused to obey me.”

  • Court jails man for stealing car battery

    Court jails man for stealing car battery

    A Kado Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Tuesday sentenced a 22-year-old driver, Daniel Evans, to four months imprisonment for stealing car battery.

    The Judge, Alhaji Ahmed Ado, however, gave the convict an option to pay N5, 000 fine.

    Ado advised the convict to desist from committing crime, adding that the sentence would serve as deterrent to other would-be offenders.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Evans, who resides at Mpape Karmo Abuja, was convicted on a count charge of theft.

    The convict pleaded guilty to the charge, but urged the court to tamper justice with mercy.

    He said he stole the car battery because his was bad and he had no money to buy another one.

    The Prosecutor, Judith Obatomi, had earlier told the court that one Samuel Fisayo of Life Camp, Abuja, reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station on Sept. 11.

    Obatomi said the convict stole the complainant’s car battery, valued at N45, 000, on Sept. 9.

    The prosecutor added that Evans confessed to the crime during police investigation and begged for mercy.

    Obatomi said the offence was punishable under Section 287 of the Penal Code.

  • Police nab herbalist over murder

    Police nab herbalist over murder

    The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested two men, Onyekachi Idoko and Felix Akor, for alleged murder of three persons in Udenu Local Government Area of the state.

    The Spokesperson of the command, ASP Ebere Amaraizu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Enugu.

    Amaraizu said that the two suspects were arrested following a well-coordinated operation by the police.

    He said that the murder suspect, Idoko of Ifuroka-Amalla community in Udenu council area was nabbed by police operatives of the Udenu Division on a tip-off.

    The spokesman said that the murder suspect, who fled after committing the alleged offence, was arrested on Sept. 16 at Inyi community in Igboeze North Local Government Area of the state.

    He alleged that the suspect alongside others murdered one Onyemaechi Eze on July 5 over a yet-to-be established issue or issues and escaped.

    “The suspect is now helping the operatives in their investigations as he had given insight into how he and his gang allegedly collected N200,000 from the native doctor, Felix Akor, who hired them to murder the victim.

    “The native doctor, Akor, is also alleged to be diabolically responsible for the mysterious death of two siblings, Blessing and John.

    “Akor has been arrested by the operatives as well,’’ he said.

    The police spokesman said that both suspects had been helping police operatives in their investigations.

  • Nasarawa to deploy security operatives to schools

    Nasarawa to deploy security operatives to schools

    Nasarawa State Government would soon provide security in more than 400 public schools to protect students, teachers and facilities from hoodlums.

    The state’s  Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Tijjani Ahmed, said.

    Ahmed made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia on Tuesday.

    According to him,  the government is taking proactive measures to safeguard schools in view of
    rising rate of  kidnapping going on in other states of the federation.

    He said conventional security agencies would complement the efforts of members of Nasarawa State Youths Employment Scheme ( NAYAS ) that would be deployed to public primary and secondary schools.

    He added that “NAYAS officials would be deployed to over 400 public secondary schools and primary schools in the state.

    “The state government believes that the combined efforts of security provided by Parent Teachers Association( PTA ), the conventional security agencies and NAYAS should be able to properly secure our schools.”

    Ahmed disclosed that the state Governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, had already approved the erection of parameter fencing in all public schools.

    He further said that more than 3,000 chairs would be distributed to public schools apart from 7,000 mattresses and 3,500 beds worth N222 million that would go to 28 boarding schools in the state.

    The commissioner added that the government would soon distribute registers, scheme of work, dossiers, and other instructional materials to schools.

    He explained that government had evolved machinery to ensure effective supervision of teachers and school heads to ensure high standard in the education sector, attributing  the failing standard of education in the state to the lack of supervision.

    He said “all area offices are directed to go round schools unannounced to put everybody on his or her toes.

    “Defaulting staff members would be duly sanctioned  in line with civil service rules and regulations.”

  • Hurricane Maria devastates Dominica – PM

    Hurricane Maria devastates Dominica – PM

    Hurricane Maria has left “widespread devastation” on the Caribbean island nation of Dominica, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said on Tuesday.

    Skerrit said “so far, we have lost all what money can buy and replace.

    “Roofs were taken off buildings, including residences.

    “My greatest fear for the morning is that we will wake to news of serious physical injury and possible deaths as a result of likely landslides triggered by persistent rains.”

    The hurricane downgraded to a category 4 as it headed toward the French archipelago of Guadeloupe, on lockdown since midday Monday.

    Maria’s centre was expected to pass within 20 to 30 kilometres of the town of Basse-Terre at about 5 a.m. (0900 GMT), the French weather service — Meteo France — said.

    Southern areas of Guadeloupe could see winds gusting at up to 220 kilometres per hour, with sea waves of up to 10 metres height and possible local flooding, Meteo France warned.

    The French island of Martinique, south of Dominica, downgraded its alert from top-level violet to grey, but warned residents to remain indoors all the same after Maria passed close by.

    An overflight of the island would be carried out at first light to assess damage, and emergency services and utility staff would also start work, the prefecture said.

    Maria is expected to remain “extremely dangerous” as it heads towards Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

    “Maria made landfall on Dominica around 9:15 p.m. ( 0115 GMT Tuesday ), after being upgraded to a category five hurricane,’’ the Center said.

    It forecasted Maria to follow a path similar to Hurricane Irma, which cut a trail of destruction across the northern Caribbean earlier this month.

    “My roof is gone, I am at the complete mercy of the hurricane, house is flooding but I have been rescued.

    “We do not know what is happening outside, we not dare look out, all we are hearing is the sound of galvanise flying, the sound of the fury of the wind.

    “As we pray for its end,” Skerrit said.

    Maria could be a direct threat Tuesday to Montserrat and Saint Kitts and Nevis, and by Wednesday to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, according to the French meteorological service.

    All were under a hurricane warning along with the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Culebra and Vieques.

  • London recycles ‘fatberg’ into biofuel

    London recycles ‘fatberg’ into biofuel

    A giant, 250-metre “fatberg” of oil, fat and other solid waste blocking a main sewer under London is to be recycled into biofuel, Thames Water, the  company working to remove it, said on Tuesday.

    “The congealed mass under a street in east London’s White-chapel district will produce some 10,000 litres of biodiesel, enough to power 350 double-decker buses for one day.

    Engineers have removed about one-third of the 130-tonne blob and expect to complete their “sewer war” against it early next month, the company said.

    It said tankers full of oil and fat, recovered from the mass with high-powered jets, will be sent to a biofuel processing plant.

    “Other unflushable items such as baby wipe, nappies, cotton buds and sanitary products – which should never be flushed, will be disposed of,” it said.

    “It may be a monster, but the White-chapel fatberg deserves a second chance,” Alex Saunders, Thames Water’s waste network manager said.

    He said that it was the first time the company had tried recycling material from a hunk a sewer waste.

    “We’ve therefore teamed up with leading waste to power firm Argent Energy to transform what was once an evil, gut-wrenching, rancid blob into pure green fuel,” Saunders said.

    Thames Water agreed last week to send a cross-section of the record-breaking “fatberg” to the Museum of London, which said its exhibition would raise questions about contemporary urban life.

    Several Twitter users proposed the names Donald or Trump after Thames Water appealed for suggestions.