The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian news

  • Tiv/Jukun leaders in Taraba agree to ceasefire

    The leaderships of the Tiv and Junkun waring factions in the Southern part of Taraba on Thursday, agreed to a ceasefire to allow the return of normalcy to the area.

    This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day peace meeting held in Jalingo, Taraba, with representatives of the tribes, government officials and state security chiefs.

    Government officials and security agencies in the state also attended the meeting.

    According to the communiqué, speakers at the meeting condemned the crisis and stressed the need for cessation of all forms of hostilities between the two communities to have way for the peace building effort being spearheaded by the state government.

    Read Also: Jukun-Tiv conflict: Catholic bishops call for peace

    “The meeting noted that the crisis had been hijacked by criminal elements from both the Jukun and Tiv communities and therefore, the two communities should expose the criminal elements amongst them.

    “We also resolved to stop reprisal attacks or revenge from both parties but report all from of security breaches to the security agencies for appropriate action.

    “There is every need for government to take deliberate steps to encourage the Internally Displaced Persons to return to their homes since adequate security operatives have been deployed to the affected communities to protect lives and property,’ the leaders said.

    The leaders urged journalists to be more positive in their reportage while the parties also charged the communities to be wary of rumours that are capable of inciting the people and destabilising the entire peace process.

    The communiqué was signed by the Deputy Governor, Haruna Manu as representative of the state government, Mr Danjuma Adamu and John Mamman signed for the Jukun community while Mr Jime Yongo and Mr Isaac Waakaa signed on behalf of the Tiv community.

    The communal crisis between Tiv and Jukun of Taraba has claimed many lives and property worth billions of Naira in Takum, Wukari and Donga local government areas of the state.

    (NAN)

  • Davido to make Hollywood debut in ‘Coming to America 2’

    Nigerian international music superstar, Davido, is set to make acting debut in Hollywood, with a performance role in the sequel of the 1988 romantic comedy classic, “Coming To America”.

    African-American comedian and actor, Michael Blackson disclosed this on his verified Twitter handle @MichaelBlackson, congratulating Davido.

    Blackson wrote: “Davido told me he has a performance scene in the movie #ComingToAmerica2, congrats homie.”

    Although, Davido has not confirmed or debunked the report, industry watchers are taking the post seriously, as fans are already congratulating the “Assurance” crooner.

    Filming for the sequel, ‘Coming to America 2’, has begun in Atlanta, Georgia, and it is scheduled to be released on Dec. 18, 2020 in the United States.

    It is produced by Kevin Misher and directed by Craig Brewer, from a screenplay by David Sheffield, Barry W. Blaustein, and Kenya Barris, based on characters created by Eddie Murphy.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ”Coming to America” is a blockbuster romantic comedy film directed by John Landi, based on a story originally created by veteran actor Eddie Murphy, who played the lead role.

    The film also co-stars Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, Shari Headley and John Amos, and was released in the United States on June 29, 1988.

    Read Also: As Don Jazzy marks one year of not smoking, Davido plans quitting

    Eddie Murphy plays Akeem Joffer, a crown prince of a wealthy African nation of Zamunda who grows weary of his pampered lifestyle on his 21st birthday and wishes to do more for himself.

    When his parents, King Jaffe and Queen Aeoleon, present him with an arranged bride-to-be, Akeem takes action.

    In his quest for an independent woman, who loves him for himself and not his social status, Akeem and his best friend/personal aide, Semmi, travel to the New York City borough of Queens.

    They rent a squalid tenement in the neighbourhood of Long Island City under the guise of poor foreign students beginning their search for Akeem’s bride.

    The film ended in the lines of Prince meets Princess and they live happily ever after. (NAN)
    JOSH

  • Police exhume 10 bodies from shallow graves

    Benue State Police Command has confirmed that four suspects have been arrested in connection with 10 bodies found buried in a shallow graves in Benue community.

    On Wednesday, police detectives led a suspect to a thick forest in Agbatse village, Ushonho Local government area in Benue state and exhumed 10 bodies killed and hurriedly buried in shallow graves.

    The 30-year-old suspect told the police that he killed about 30 people, mostly Okada riders and buried them secretly.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Policeman killed as robbers attack bank in Ekiti

    The suspect said he was acting on a direction of juju man who prepared a charm for him and assured if he killed a certain number of people, he will have supernatural powers like wanted criminal gang leader Terwase Akwaza aka Gana.

    Police spokesperson Kate Anene confirmed the incident and said four suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime and would be paraded on Friday.

  • JUST IN: Policeman killed as robbers attack bank in Ekiti

    A police officer has been confirmed dead and many persons wounded in a bank robbery in Ise-Ekiti, the headquarters of Ise/Orun Local Government Area of the state.

    The deceased was said to be a security official with a branch of Wema Bank located at the heart of the ancient town.

    The robbers, according to sources, stormed the bank around 2pm on Thursday with two vehicles through Ikere road.

    The multiple sources said the robbers forced their way into the banking hall with dynamite and carted away huge amount of money stacked in five ‘Ghana must go bag’

    Read Also: Seven dismissed soldiers held for robbery

    The source said the robbers were said to have shot sporadically into the air to scare those within the vicinity of the bank.

    Several staff of the bank and customers who came for transaction were said to have been attacked and injured.

    The Police Public Relations officer, Ekiti Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, who confirmed the incident, said the robbers attacked the bank with dynamite and gained entry into the banking hall.

    “I can confirm to you that a bank was robbed at Ise Ekiti this afternoon. And a policeman killed.

    “The robbers broke the security door with Explosive Material, precisely dynamite.

    “Our men are on their trail and we shall ensure that none of them escape.

    “Members of the public should go about their normal duties and be rest assured that we are ready to protect their lives and property at all times,” the police spokesmen stated.

  • Oyo to revoke lands without proper documents

    Oyo State Government has called on residents of the state to ensure that they update their land documents so as not to fall victims to land revocation or property demolition.

    The Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Abiodun Abdu-Raheem, while on a duty tour of the various sites owned by the state government in Ibadan, the state capital, said the present administration had picked interest in the issue of lands across the state for proper documentation and accessibility.

    He said: “This is the right time for the good people of Oyo State to know that things should be done in the proper manner. Anyone that does not have up-to-date documents should do so because the ministry would be paying unscheduled visits to various sites to check if such sites have genuine approval.

    “If there is any infraction whatsoever from anyone on the sites visited, the person would face the full wrath of the law as the present administration is not out to witch hunt anybody, but to enforce law and order and to ensure that proper approval is given before construction on sites is carried out.”

    Read Also: ‘Six-month grace to property owners not revenue drive’

    The commissioner, who was in company with the permanent secretary and some directors of the ministry, also served a stop-work notice on the contractors handling the construction of some houses at Mami Market Agodi, GRA and a water corporation building at Jericho, a statement by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, said.

    He asked the contractors to report at the ministry with necessary documents for the construction of the site.

    The team also visited the industrial park as well as free trade zone along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to assess the lands in the area.

    Meanwhile, in its bid to bring succour to both working and retired citizens of Oyo State, the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration has distributed cheques for the payment of gratuities.

    The Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, disclosed that the governor had released over N180million for the payment of the 2012 outstanding, and part of 2013 gratuity allowance for the retirees of the respective years in the state’s civil service.

    Olaleye stated that the Governor Seyi Makinde led Administration had doubled the amount earmarked monthly for the payment of gratuity in order to clear the back log arrears and make it as the landmark of payment of gratuity to workers as they retires.

  • UPDATED: UK court orders stay of $9.6b award execution

    • · FG to deposit $200m within 60 days

    A United Kingdom Commercial Court has ordered a stay of execution of the $9.6billion damages secured against Nigeria by Process and Industrial Developments pending the determination of an appeal by the Federal Government.

    It however asked the government to make a security payment of $200million to the court within 60 days

    The court also granted Nigeria’s leave to file an appeal against the award.

    But the court upheld the award and refused to reverse the damages.

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) said the battle to quash the award has shifted to the UK Court of Appeal.

    He, however, hinted of the possibility of challenging the legality of the $200million security deposit within the 60-day window.

    Read Also: $9.6b award: Fed Govt raises 13 points against P&ID, exposes trick clause in MoU

    P&ID secured the damages against Nigeria following a failed Gas Supply Project Agreement (GSPA) contract between it and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

    A brief from London by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) said: “Leave to appeal has been granted.  Stay of execution is also granted subject to payment of $200m security payment to court pending the determination of the appeal the leave for which has been granted by the commercial court.

    “The steps we will consider are to study the ruling and act in a way beneficial to the interest of the nation.

    “We will study the court rulings, exercise the right of appeal and consider the legal options available at our disposal as it relates to the payment of $200m in view of the 60 days window stipulated by the court.”

    Malami, who admitted that he was pleased with the judgment, said: “I see this as a positive resolution that constitutes an important step in the government‘s efforts to defend Itself in a fair and just process.

    “We look forward to challenging the UK Commercial Court’s recognition of the Tribunal’s decision in the UK Court of Appeals, uncovering P&lD’s outrageous approach for what it is: a sham based on fraudulent and criminal activity developed to profit from a developing country.”

  • You cannot waive your immunity for adjudication, Lawyer tells Osinbajo

    Dr Kayode Ajulo, a Constitutional Lawyer says Vice President Yemi Osinbajo cannot waive his constitutional immunity for adjudication of claims of libel and malicious falsehood against his person in the court

    Ajulo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja against the backdrop of an alleged falsehood peddled in a newspaper by Mr Timi Frank and Mr Katch Onanuju against Osinbajo.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that Osinbajo said he had instructed the commencement of a legal action against two individuals who put their names to the odious falsehood.

    Ajulo however said that the provisions of Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended frowns at it.

    According to him, the implication of the foregoing provision of the law is that the person holding the office does not have the right to waive the immunity.

    “Because any of such waivers is ineffective as the immunity is not that of the person holding the office but of that particular office he represents during the tenure of the office.

    Read Also: Yemi Osinbajo, ‘incestuous’ bullies and tumours

    The lawyer said that the position further found backing in the use of the word “shall” which was the operative word in the section which admitted no discretion whatsoever.

    He said that the immunity granted to Osinbaji prescribed an absolute prohibition on the courts from entertaining any proceedings and civil or criminal in respect of any claim or relief against him.

    According to him, no question of waiver of the relevant immunity by the incumbent of the office concerned or indeed by the courts may therefore arise.

    “The court has laid it down as a rule that the time a person spends in office will not be reckon with in the calculation of time for the purpose of statute of limitation,’’ he said.

    Ajulo said the immunity clause remained of great antiquity in Nigeria’s nascent constitutional law jurisprudence.

    He said that the vestige of the doctrine of immunity in favour of the occupier of offices had always been a consistent feature of each successive constitutions of Nigeria.

    Ajulo however said that the only option available to the vice president in his bid to waive his immunity was to resign, adding that “Nigeria is not yet tired of the services of Osinbajo’’.

    (NAN)

  • El-Rufai’s son’s public school enrolment deceptive, says Shehu Sani

    The lawmaker, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the eight National Assembly, Senator Shehu Sani, has reacted to the action of Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who on Monday enrolled six-year-old son, Abubakar, in a public school.

    Sani said the governor’s intention was to deceive people outside the locality, who might not know the level of decay in public schools in the state.

    He said it was designed to score points ahead of 2023 political dispensation.

    Sani described the action as a badly written Kennywood or Nollywood script, designed for the media, preparatory to 2023.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Kaduna, he said the governor’s action “was simply a 2023 political stunt set up for the media and people who live outside Kaduna because those who reside here know what public primary schools look like.”

    Sani said: “It is not because I have political difference with him, no. But whoever lives in Kaduna State knew that what the governor did with his son by enrolling him in a public school was just a comedy.

    Read Also: As El-Rufai’s son goes to public school

    “Although, it was a badly written Kennywood or Nolywood script, as far as I am concerned that was a bad and poorly written script for the media preparatory to 2023 and nothing else.

    “He would have done better by upgrading schools in Kaduna. You cannot spend N195million in a particular school and then take your son and the media to that school and think you have done anything different.

    “Let me tell you, we had a governor in this state, Balarabe Musa, who never lived in the Government House when he was in power. He lived in his private house. I know that the children of former Governor Ahmed Makarfi attended this same Capital School.

    “I also know that other public officials’ children go to that school too. So if you are not being cunning, deceptive and comical, you would have allowed all your children to enrol in public schools. Public school doesn’t mean primary schools alone, there are public secondary schools and public universities.

    “He is not new in this kind of drama. It was the same person who was moving around Kaduna-Abuja road with cameras, saying he was chasing kidnappers. So, this is a new script, but as far as I am concerned, that is comedy since we are in an era in this state of using public utilities, public hospitals and now public schools.

    “So it is also in order that public officials, both elected and appointed, should patronise public toilets in Kaduna. That is the highest form of patriotism and selfless service. You should use what the masses are using, which is public toilets.”

  • Rohr picks Azeez, Olayinka for Brazil game, as Omeruo, Abdullahi, Awaziem return

    Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr has invited midfielder Ramon Azeez and forward Peter Olayinka into Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the Oct. 13 friendly with five-times world champions Brazil in Singapore on Sunday.

    Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), disclosed in a statement on Thursday that Rohr is also having defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Abdullahi Shehu and Chidozie Awaziem back from injury.

    “Otherwise, the squad is largely unchanged from the side that was forced to a 2-2 draw by Ukraine in Dnipro on Sept. 10,’’ he said.

    Olajire said goalkeepers Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Maduka Okoye were also retained in the squad.

    “But England-based Leon Balogun and Russia-based Bryan Idowu are however left out of those called up for the defence.’’

    The NFF spokesman said Azeez, a former under-20 national team captain now with Spanish La Liga side Granada was called up just as English side Leicester’s Kelechi Iheanacho was left out.

    “Girondins Bordeaux’s Joshua Maja will sit this one out, with his place taken by another new boy, Olayinka,’’ he said.

    Olajire disclosed further that England-based midfielder Wilfred Ndidi also returns after missing the Ukraine encounter with injury.

    “Alex Iwobi, Oghenekaro Etebo and Scotland-based Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, who scored on his debut against Ukraine, are all back in midfield, with Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Samuel Kalu, Paul Onuachu and Emmanuel Dennis all back in the frontline.

    “Substantive captain Ahmed Musa is still down with injury,’’ he added.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all invited players are expected to arrive in Singapore on Oct. 9.

    Read Also: Brazil good test for Super Eagles, says Rohr

     

    Nigeria and Brazil will face each other at the Singapore National Stadium at Kallang in Singapore on Oct. 13.

    The clash is coming 23 years after Nigeria, on their way to winning Africa’s first Olympic football gold medal, spanked Brazil 4-3 after extra time in the Atlanta Games’ semi-finals.

    The match was played at the Athens Stadium in the State of Georgia, U.S.

    THE INVITED PLAYERS

    Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland FC); Emil Maduka Okoye (Fortuna Dusseldorf, Germany)

    Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Chidozie Awaziem (CD Leganes, Spain); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England)

    Midfielders: Alexander Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Anderson Esiti (PAOK Salonica, Greece); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Ramon Azeez (Granada FC, Spain)

    Forwards: Victor Osimhen (Lille OSC, France); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Emmanuel Dennis (Club Brugge, Belgium); Peter Olayinka (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic).

    (NAN)

  • France pays tribute to former president Jacques Chirac

    France’s National Assembly and Senate stood in silence on Thursday to mark the death of former president Jacques Chirac.

    Chirac, who ruled France from 1995 to 2007, “is now part of France’s history,” National Assembly president Richard Ferrand said in an official statement.

    The conservative Chirac was best known abroad for his staunch opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

    At home, perhaps his greatest legacy was his acknowledgement, for the first time, of the French state’s role in the wartime round-up and arrest of Jewish people to Nazi death camps.

    But he also knew many political setbacks, including the 2005 rejection by French voters of a proposed constitution for the EU.

    Later the same year, he suffered a minor stroke, and in the closing months of the year the country saw severe rioting by frustrated youths from minority backgrounds.

    In 2011, he received a two-year suspended sentence over allegations that, as mayor of Paris in the 1990s, he put party members on the city payroll without them actually working.

    Tributes to the former president came from left and right, with Ferrand also recalling his commitment to arts and the environment.

    Read Also: France’s inhumanity to Africans

    “Personally, I cannot forget the last message he addressed to us when he left power, in which he exhorted the French people never to compromise with extremism, racism, anti-
    Semitism, or the rejection of others,” Ferrand wrote.

    Interior Minister Christophe Castaner spoke of “the strong emotion that touches, at this moment, the French people.”

    European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker was “devastated” to hear of the death of Chirac, whom he counted as a great friend, a spokeswoman said.

    The leader of the EU executive has “no words to express his grief,” according to commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva.

    Chirac, who suffered from severe memory problems, had disappeared from public life in recent years. His wife Bernadette, who survives him, has also faded from public view.

     

    (dpa/NAN)