The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian news

  • Ekiti APC adopts indirect primaries for Council polls

    Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has adopted indirect primary method ahead of its forthcoming local government primary election in the state.

    The party said the decision was reached and ratified by its State Executive Committee meeting after extensive deliberation.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission had fixed December 7 for the election into the 16 Local government areas.

    Speaking with journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, the party Publicity Secretary, Hon. Ade Ajayi maintained that the party will give a level playing ground for all aspirants provided that membership status is certified.

    The ruling party promised to conduct credible, transparent, free and fair primaries for the Councillorship and Chairmanship elections slated for Sept. 21 and 28 respectively, noting that there would be no room for imposition against peoples’ choice.

    “APC is not ready to impose aspirants. But there are provisions for consensus where it is possible. And when it is not possible the party will go indirect primary.

    Read Also: APC Governors set to improve governance structure

    “The party will never deprive anyone who eminently qualifies the right to participate in the primary elections,” it said.

    On the alleged rigging plot raised by the opposition parties, the party described the allegation as frivolous, baseless and spurious in all its measures.

    APC said Fayemi’s unparalleled achievements within one year in saddle have endeared the party to peoples’ minds, noting that the party electoral victory is sacronsanct.

  • Five killed, 10 injured as bus burst into flame on expressway

    Five passengers were charred and 10 others suffered some degrees of burns on Friday when a bus conveying them burst into a hurrying flames after it had somersaulted at the Onigari corridor of the Lagos – Ibadan expressway.

    The lone crash occurred in the morning when the commercial bus coming from Sokoto stopped over briefly in Ibadan to pick Lagos bound passengers and shortly after taken off, the driver lost control of the wheel, smashed into the road median and tumbled many times over before balls fire erupted from the crash.

    The Route Commander and Public Education Officer of Federal Road Safety Corps, Ogun State Command, quoted the Sector Commander, Clement Oladele, as saying five persons died in the accident while 10 others were injured.

    She stated: “The lone crash involved a commercial bus that travelled all the way from Sokoto state but stopped briefly in Ibadan to pick other passengers. The bus was heading towards Lagos State before it lost control, at Onigari due to excessive speed , and collided with the road median with the bus upturning and bursting into flames.

    “The crash involved 18 passengers comprising 17Male Adults and 01Female Adult .

    “A total of 10male adults sustained injuries from the crash but five of the passengers unfortunately died from the crash comprising four male adults and a female adult.

    Read Also: Two die in Port Harcourt, Asaba accidents

    The commuter bus is a white coloured Mazda bus with registration number WWD 302CB

    “The FRSC Ogun State Sector Commander, Clement Oladele commiserates with the families of the crash victims and advised members of the public whose relatives travelled, requiring more information about the crash, should contact the FRSC Command at KM27 Ibadan – Lagos Expressway at Ogunmakin or the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) , Sagamu, where the injured victims were rescued to.”

    According to the Route Commander, the remains of those killed in the crash were also deposited at the OOUTH mortuary.

    She urged motorists to drive cautiously on the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway as it is still undergoing rehabilitation, recommending 50km per hour as safe speed at construction area while passengers should always caution their drivers observed driving recklessly.

  • Five vigilantes in police net for torturing victim to death

    The Niger state Police Command has arrested five members of local vigilantes who are members of ‘Yan Kwamiti’ and Hisba Shariah Commission of Kontagora local government area of Niger State for torturing an alleged suspect to death.

    The suspects were said to have tortured their victim, Ibrahim Ibrahim, to death after arresting him for being responsible for the abduction of his girlfriend, Maryam Salmanu of Unguwan Yamma area in Kontagora.

    The arrested vigilantes include; 35-year-old Ahmadu Yahaya, 28-year Dahiru Abdullahi, 20-year Abdulrasheed Atabo, 22-year Yunusa Adamu aged 22 years and 20 year Abubakar Usman.

    The suspects arrested had arrested three persons, Ibrahim Ibrahim, Musa Salahu and Ahmed Mohammed to their office to ‘investigate’ the alleged abduction.

    It was revealed that when the trio got to the office of the vigilantes, the local security apparatus tortured and inflicted various degrees of injuries upon them. Two of the people were released while the deceased, who was said to be very frail, was kept in their custody.

    The suspects having realized the deteriorating health condition of the deceased reportedly took him back to his room in the wee hours of the morning and dropped him there without the knowledge of his family members.

    In the morning, Ibrahim was discovered in his room where he was too weak to move and to speak; his parents rushed him in the hospital but he gave up without before he could receive medical attention.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Muhammad said that investigation is still ongoing and the suspects will be charged to court at the end of the investigation.

    Abubakar advised Vigilante Corps in Niger state to always operate within the ambit of the law.

    “The Yan Doka, Yan Sakai and all voluntary security outfits in Niger state should always endeavour to operate within the ambit of the law in their bid to compliment efforts of the Police in the protection of lives and property.”

  • Ex-UBTH staff nabbed over employment racket

    A former staff of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Mr. Micheal Oshodin, has been arrested for duping employment seekers into the University of Benin.

    Oshodin, aged 59, said he worked and retired at Stores and Supply Department of UBTH.

    He was paraded at the Edo State Police Command on Friday for duping over 25 persons by collecting huge sums from them with a promise to securing employment for them.

    Oshodin, however, said he was contacted by a staff of UNIBEN, one Christy Ikeke Oni in the Department of Theatre Art to look for persons seeking to be employed in the institution.

    Read Also: Mother in Police net for killing 3-day-old step-son with insecticide

    He said the problem started when the Christy suddenly died two months ago after he had given her all the money he collected from his victims.

    According to him, “She died two years ago. That was why this problem came up. The people have been begging me to help them find job and I decided to help them when opportunity came. I gave Christy all the money I collected from them.

    “I was walking inside UNIBEN when one of the victim saw me and raised alarm. I gave the deceased UNIBEN staff N1.2m. I already told them I will pay them back but I need little time.”

  • Mother in Police net for killing 3-day-old step-son with insecticide

    The Police have arrested a 22-year-old woman for allegedly poisoning her three days old step-son with ‘otapiapia’ in Shakodna village, Shiroro local government area of Niger state.

    It was learnt that the suspect, Harela Uba, who is the First wife of Mallam Una Saidu in shiroro local government gave her seven-year-old daughter to administer the insecticide to her step-brother.

    The mother of the deceased baby, Fa’iza Uba had gone to bath leaving her three-day-old baby in her room only to return to meet the baby foaming in its mouth.

    Raising alarm over the situation of the baby, they rushed him to General Hospital, Kuta where he was confirmed dead by a Physician who said that the baby was poisoned.

    Read Also: Man slaughters three in-laws in Edo

    The father of the baby reported the incident to the Shiroro police division which was taken up as several people were interrogated regarding the incident.

    When called for questioning on reasonable suspicion that she was the other person in the house when the incident happened, Hurela confessed to have given her daughter the insecticide to administer on the baby.

    The suspect who is eight months pregnant claimed she did not know what got into her to make her commit the act.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Muhammad said that the case has been charged to court.

     

  • BREAKING: Tribunal dismisses petition against Taraba Gov, Ishaku’s election

    The Taraba State Governorship Election Tribunal has dismissed the petition by Abubakar Danladi of the All Progressive Party (APC) challenging the re-election of Governor Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 9, 2019 governorship election.

    A three-man panel led by Justice M.O. Adewara unanimously held that the petitioners failed to prove their claims that the marred by irregularities and substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

    Justice Adewara, who read the lead judgment, also held that since a Federal High Court in the state, gave a judgment on March 6, 2019, in suit: FHC/JAL/CS/01/2019, disqualifying Danladi from contesting the election, he could not be said to be a candidate in the election.

    Read Also: Taraba Tiv are indigenes not settlers, says Ishaku

    The tribunal also held that since judgment was upheld up to the Supreme Court, it meant that APC had no valid candidate in the election, did not participate in the election and was not qualified, along with Danladi, to have presented a petition before the tribunal.

    The tribunal further held, that even if the petition was to be considered on the merit, the petition failed to lead sufficient evidence to establish their claims that Ishaku was not validly elected by majority of lawful votes and that the election was marred by irregularities, non-compliance and corrupt practices.

    Details shortly…

  • Man slaughters three in-laws in Edo

    A 44-year old man, Edoghogho Omorogbe, has been arrested for killing his mother in law, sister- in- law and a six- month old baby.

    His victims were identified as Mrs. Alice Omorogbe 52, Mrs. Blessing Efe 25 and her baby.

    Edoghogho killed his victims on September 10, 2019 at their residence at Iguadolor Community in Ovia North East local government area of Edo State.

    A two-year-old girl inside the room at the time of attack was spared.

    The mutilated bodies of victims were discovered the following morning.

    woman and her daughter who were slaughtered

    Edoghogho said he killed his in-laws because of the way they were hiring boys to beat him anytime he had issues with his wife.

    According to him: “I am a tipper driver but since the rains started I was doing menial jobs.

    Read Also: Three ‘kidnappers’ held in Abia

    “I killed them out of annoyance because my mother -in- law used boys to beat me up. She would say I am talking to my wife. If I quarrel with my wife, she will send boys to beat me up.

    Their residence where they were killed

    “I didn’t know the cutlass will meet the baby. After I killed them, I ran away. Later I came out and went to tell my father what I did. I have not seen my wife since I killed her mother and sister.”

    Edo Police Commissioner, Danmallam Abubakar said the suspect would soon be charged to court.

  • Returned migrant shot dead in Libya

    A Sudanese migrant was shot dead in Libya after the coast guard stopped the boat he was on from attempting to cross the Mediterranean and brought him back to shore, UN agencies reported on Friday.

    The incident occurred on Thursday in Tripoli, when many of the 103 migrants, who had been on board resisted, being sent back to Libyan detention centres.

    International Organisation for Migration (IOM) officers witnessed armed men beginning to shoot in the air.

    When several migrants began running away, the Sudanese migrant was struck by a bullet in the stomach, IOM spokesman Leonard Doyle said at a news conference.

    “This was tragedy waiting to happen. The death is a stark reminder of the grim conditions faced by migrants picked up by the coast guard after paying smugglers to take them to Europe,’’ Doyle said.

    Read Also; NEMA receives 153 Nigerian returnees from Libya

    Charlie Yaxley, a spokesman for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said the incident was proof that Libya is not a safe haven and that migrants must not be returned to the civil war country.

    UN agencies have repeatedly highlighted the severe malnutrition, lack of water and overall inhumane treatment in Libya’s overcrowded detention centres.

    In July, 53 people died and 130 were wounded in airstrikes on a migrant and refugee centre in a Tripoli suburb, amid fighting between the UN-backed government in Tripoli and rival forces led by military strongman Khalifa Haftar.

    Among the 5,000 migrants detained in Libya, more than 3,000 are kept in active conflict areas, according to the IOM.

  • How Nigeria spends $1.2bn to import fish annually – Emefiele

    The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele says about 1.2 billion dollars worth of fish is imported into the country annually.

    Emefiele disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday while briefing some state Governors and the media on the feat recorded so far in agriculture for economic growth.

    He explained that current fish production stood at 0.8 million tons while the demand was 2.7 million tons, giving a deficit of 1.9 million tons.

    He said the apex bank’s current initiative was to enagage the coastal state governors to develop the blue economy to address the deficit of 1.9metric tons as well as eradicate the huge import bill for fish.

    According to him, this is a very huge economic opportunity for the states to create an enabling environment for investors.

    In a similar development, the governor said that major innovation to deepen the poultry business was the recent partnership between the bank and tertiary institutions to pilot the “The University–Based Poultry Production Programme” in twelve 12 Universities across the six geo-political zones.

    Read Also; House halts CBN’s charges on deposit plan

    He added that the objective was not only building future agripreneurs but making the universities able to improve their internally generated revenue.

    “For the pilot phase, five Nigerian Universities, namely; Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and University of Ilorin were enrolled.

    “These Universities have submitted revised proposal to their respective sponsoring banks,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Governors of Ekiti, Adamawa, Lagos, Ogun, Benue, Zamfara, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Bauchi, Gombe, Katsina, Anambra, Imo, Edo, and Borno states attended the meeting.

  • Court sends ex-Petroleum Ministry’s senior official to prison over $9.6bn judgment

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Apo, Abuja has ordered that a former Director, Legal Services of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Grace Taiga be remanded in Suleja prison, in Niger State.
    Mrs. Taiga, who was arraigned before the court on Friday on an eight-count charge of bribery, among others, is to remain in prison until September 25, 2019 when her bail application would be heard.

    Upon her arraignment on Friday, Mrs. Taiga pleaded not guilty to the charge in which she was, among others, accused of receiving bribe, through her offshore bank account in signing the Gas Supply Processing Agreement (GSPA) between P&ID Limited and the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Petroleum Resources Ministry on January 11, 2019, and over which an arbitration panel, which sat in London awarded about $9.6billion damages against Nigeria.

    After she pleaded to the charge, filed and being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), her lawyer, Ola Olanipekun (SAN), prayed the court to allow his client to be remanded in the custody of EFCC pending the determination of her bail application, on the grounds that she was suffering from hypertension and diabetes.

    Read Also:  P&ID $9.6bn judgment: FG arraigns ex-Petroleum Resources official on bribery charges

    Lead prosecuting lawyer, Bala Sanga however objected to Olanipelun’s request and argued that the proper place to remand a defendant, whose plea had been taken, is prison custody.

    In a ruling, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi upheld Sanga’s argument and ordered that the defendant be remanded in Suleja prison.

    Justice Adeniyi directed that the defendant be accorded due medical treatment while she is in custody, pending the hearing and determination of her bail application.

    The judge subsequently scheduled September 25 for the hearing of her bail application.

    The EFCC also accused Mrs. Taiga violating various laws by entering into the GSPA without prior approval by the Federal Executive Council and a certificate of no-objection to the contract from the Bureau of Public Enterprise.

    The charge is in relation to the controversial Gas Supply Processing Agreement (GSPA), in respect of which a British court upheld P&ID claim to the $9.6bn damages awarded against Nigeria by an arbitration tribunal

    The EFCC alleged that Mrs. Taiga signed as Nigeria’s witness to the GSPA while the then Minister who was the head of the Ministry, Rilwan Lukman (now late), signed as Nigeria’s representative.