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  • Court strikes out ex-Naval staff reinstatement’s suit

    Court strikes out ex-Naval staff reinstatement’s suit

    The National Industrial Court, Abuja, has struck out the suit instituted by Enoch Iliya against the Nigerian Navy, seeking reinstatement and payment of his entitlements since 2015, when he was forcefully retired.

    Iliya, who was a Petty Officer in the Nigerian Navy served as a Radio Supervisor at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna, until his alleged forceful retirement.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Sanusi Kado, said the suit did not satisfy the conditions stipulated by the Public Officers Protection Act Section 2 (a).

    The Section of that Act states that any counter-action against public officers should be instituted within three months of action.

    Kado said the suit which was instituted in September, 2017 failed to meet the three months requirement.

    Read Also:  Court fines ex-unionist N200,000

    According to him, a period of more than two years has elapsed from the date of the alleged forceful retirement of the claimant.

    The claimant had sought for reinstatement and payment of his salary and entitlements from the day he was retired till now.

    The claimant had also alleged that he was sent on compulsory retirement based on a trivia excuse not known to Military Law.

    The Newsmen recalls that the Chief of Naval Staff had argued that the applicant was sacked because he absented himself from military duties.

    He submitted that Iliya was absent from work without leave or pass leading him to also be absent from an essential passing-out-parade of a course he underwent.

    The claimant counsel, Mr Bala Gwadah said his client was brought before a court martial and had been demoted as part of disciplinary action in 2009 for that offence.

    Gwadah argued that hinging his client’s compulsory retirement in an offence for which he was punished amounted to injustice.

    NAN

     

  • Anti-depressants do work: study

    Anti-depressants do work: study

    Anti-depressants do help lift people’s mood, although their effects vary, according to a recent study published in the London-based medical journal The Lancet.

    The study, which analysed data from 522 trials involving 21 common anti-depressants, found that all tested drugs were effective in treating depression.

    Drugs were deemed effective if symptoms were reduced in at least half of patients over two months.

    Lead author Dr. Andrea Cipriani said he was “very excited” about the findings, which he said provided a “final answer” to the controversy over the effectiveness of the drugs.

    The study also gives a comparison of the 21 types of anti-depressants.

    It says that agomelatine, amitriptyline, escitalopram, mirtazapine and paroxetine were the most effective anti-depressants among the ones that were tested.

    Meanwhile, the well-known brand Prozac, or fluoxetine, was one of the least effective ones.

    Led by Oxford University, the study hopes to settle doubts and debates over anti-depressants, which has been described by some people as conspiracies of big firms or no more effective than placebos.

    WHO says depression is a common illness worldwide, with more than 300 million people affected.

    The world health body said depression is different from usual mood fluctuations and short-lived emotional responses to challenges in everyday life.

    WHO also said close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15 to 29-year-olds.

    The UN organisation also warned that the burden of depression and other mental health conditions is on the rise globally.

    A World Health Assembly resolution passed in May 2013 has called for a comprehensive, coordinated response to mental disorders at country level.

    Xinhua/NAN

  • Cambodia slams Germany for suspending preferential visas for its officials

    Cambodia slams Germany for suspending preferential visas for its officials

    Cambodia has lashed out at Germany for suspending preferential visas for private travel by Cambodian government officials, following the arrest of opposition leader Kem Sokha and the dissolution of the main opposition party.

    Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation ( MFAIC ) via a statement released to the media on Friday regretted the development.

    “We regret that such measures were taken without due consideration of Cambodia’s political realities and in total disregard of the legal and judicial independence of the country.

    “The MFAIC considers the unilateral actions as politically motivated and prejudicially bias, which ran counter to the ongoing efforts of the two countries long-standing ties and bilateral cooperation,’’ it said.

    Read Also: American jailed in Cambodian for raping boy

    It added that Cambodia saw Germany’s reactions to Cambodia’s recent political development as hypocrisy and a double standard.

    The statement came a day after Germany informed the MFAIC of the suspension of the preferential visa treatment for Cambodia’s high-ranking officials.

    The suspension was made after the Cambodian government arrested Kem Sokha, president of now-defunct opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), on Sept. 3 for allegedly conspiring with a foreign power in an attempt to overthrow the government.

    Kem Sokha, 64, was charged with treason, a crime facing up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

    NAN

     

  • EFCC recovers N102m for Bank of Agriculture

    EFCC recovers N102m for Bank of Agriculture

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ), Kaduna zonal office, has recovered N102 million diverted from the Bank of Agriculture ( BOA ) in Kebbi.

    A statement by the spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said the funds were diverted by beneficiaries of the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN ) Anchor Borrowers Programme, disbursed by BOA.

    Uwujaren said so far a total of N297 million had been recovered by the commission in favour of BOA in Kaduna and Kebbi states.

    The Head of Operations of the Kaduna office, Ibrahim Bappa, formally presented a bank draft for the N102 million to one Mohammed Babangida, who represented the BOA Managing Director.

    Bappa assured the bank that the EFCC would continue to assist it in the discharge of its statutory duties.

    He, however, decried the worrisome trend in which beneficiaries of the scheme diverted the funds, and urged the BOA to ensure proper orientation before loans were disbursed.

    Responding, Babangida lauded the efforts of the EFCC in the recovery, saying the action had restored confidence in the bank.

    The EFCC spokesman said investigations into the matter began in 2017 following a complaint.

    According to him, the complaint bordered on the diversion of part of the N12 billion disbursed to some rice farmers through BOA in which Kebbi acted as uptaker for the purchase of paddy rice.

    “In the course of investigations, it was revealed that some rice mills in Kebbi collected bags of rice but failed to remit the total agreed sum.

    “So far, the Kaduna zonal office of the EFCC has been able recover N297 million in favour of the Anchor Borrowers Programme in Kaduna and Kebbi States,” he said.

    NAN

  • Army refutes report on suspension of offensive to aid Shekau’s escape

    Army refutes report on suspension of offensive to aid Shekau’s escape

    The Nigerian Army on Friday said troops movement under Operation Deep Punch II was temporarily halted in line with military plan and strategy and in view of the exigencies of time.

    Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, made this known in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

    He dismissed media report that the temporary halt of troops movement was intended to aid the escape of the faction Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, from the Sambisa Forest.

    Nwachukwu said the ongoing clearance operation by troops under the operation Deep Punch II was being carried out according to official plans.

    The deputy director described the media report as “frivolous”as it is capable of demoralising the troops and hampering progress of the ongoing exercise.

    According to him, such misinformation does not reflect the strong character and courageous disposition of troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and it is untenable and misleading.

    The army spokesman urged the public to disregard such information and cooperate with the military to enable it to succeed in its clearance campaign against the remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents.

    The statement of the Nigerian Army reads:

    “The attention of Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole has been drawn to unfortunate mainstream and social media report insinuating that troops advance at the ongoing Operation Deep Punch II was deliberately halted to allow the escape of the purported Boko Haram terrorist faction leader, Abubakar Shekau in Sambisa forest. This is not true.

    “Contrary to the mischievous allegations, no such order or directive was given by anybody to any of the units and formations in the operation.

    “It is crucial to point out that there are several factors in planning and conduct of military operations, whether kinetic or otherwise.

    Read Also: Army Names Brig-Gen. Chukwu As New Spokesperson

    “The ongoing Operation Deep Punch II, which is aimed at clearing Boko Haram insurgents from the Sambisa forest and the northern fringes of Lake Chad region, was planned to be executed in phases.

    “It is a phase operation, therefore, requires that at a predetermined point or stage, troops will be halted either preparatory for transiting to another phase or the other depending on the threat situation.

    “During the operation, troops’ movement could be put on halt when vehicles or other mobile equipment are bugged down due to the difficulty of the terrain and for recovery purposes.

    “In military operations avenues are deliberately provided for troops to harbour, where they rest and carry out refitting of weapons and other equipment before resuming the operations.

    “Additionally, booby traps and land mines could also compel advancing troops to halt to enable some specialized squad or scouts assess the situation before movement resume.

    “These and several other factors could precipitate the halting of troops during operations.

    “It is, therefore, very appalling and unimaginable that a fundamental operational procedure could be misinterpreted and be mischievously used as a psychological weapon to indirectly dampen the morale of our troops.”

    NAN

  • Election reorder: Jega asks INEC, FG to go to court

    Election reorder: Jega asks INEC, FG to go to court

    The election reorder carried out by the National Assembly has continue to generate reaction.

    Adding voice to the controversy that has continue to trail the change done to the order of election in the country, the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega,  on Thursday advised the Federal Government, INEC and other interested parties to challenge the the acrion in a court of law.

    Jega also corrected the notion that the National Assembly fixed a date for the election; saying that what they merely did was to reordered the sequence.

    He spoke in Abuja in an event organised by the Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Development.

    Speaking at the event with the theme, ‘Is Nigeria’s Democracy Under Threat?’ said there was a need for judicial interpretation on the matter.

    He said, “Both INEC and the interested parties have been reluctant to go to court for interpretation of constitutional provisions and this is significant because this has to do with the independence of electoral bodies.

    “Frankly, a lot of the arguments on this cannot be wished away and I think it is necessary for the independence of the electoral commission because that is key to the integrity of the electoral process because if we allow people to jettison and undermine that independence for whatever reason, then we are in serious problem. I think there is serious justification to test this matter in court.”

    Jega who conducted the last general election which has so far been judged as the fairest in the country noted that the 1999 Constitution was clear on the fact that organising and scheduling elections remained the exclusive preserve of INEC.

    He added, “I am struggling to see where the National Assembly found the constitutional justification for what they have done. I will mention two specific provisions. First of all, in the schedule of the constitution part 15 Section 1, of the said schedule, INEC has the constitutional power to organise, undertake and supervise elections.

    Read Also: 10 senators face sanctions over elections order

    “But that is not enough. In Section 76 (1), Section 111 (1) and Section 178 (1), it is categorically stated that elections shall be held on a date to be appointed by INEC. So, if elections are to be held on a date set by INEC, where does the National Assembly get the power?

    “As far as I am concerned, the dates and the sequence for elections are together.”

    The former INEC boss however argued that the action of the National Assembly would add to cost of eleectoral process as it will now hold on three days instead of two.

    Jega also posited that politicians remained the biggest threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

    He said politicians had continued to undermine INEC’s independence, making the job of the commission more difficult.

    Also speaking on the issue of underage voting especially in the last local government election in Kano State, the former INEC boss said he was hopeful that the committee set up by INEC to investigate the matter would answer many questions.

    He, however, said it was very difficult for the names of underage persons to be removed from the register because Nigeria lacked the technology and database of persons of voting age.

    Jega said, “I don’t think there are children on the INEC voter register but it is possible. The range of possibility is very wide. I can tell you that when INEC was finalising the register for the 2015 general elections, there was no software and there is still no electronic device that can distinguish a child from an adult once they are on the register.

    “So, the only thing I knew INEC did was to get a team of people to visually go through the register and if you do that, people who are below 12 can be identified as children visually but by the time you get to people who are 15, 16, 17 years old, it is very difficult.

    “The margin of error is significant in terms of visual identification of who is of age to be on the register. Also, in the National Assembly, there are people who have baby faces. So, using visual method, people who have baby faces run the risk of being removed from the register. So, the challenge is to prevent children from being on the register. Once they get on the register, the possibility of continuing to be there will remain.”

    Also, a former Chairman of the Labour Party, Chief Dan Nwanywanwu, who spoke on the alleged underaged viting said any register where underage voters are found should be purged completely while the process of registration be done anew.

    Nwanywanwu hailed the National Assembly for changing the sequence of the election. He, however, stated that the House of Assembly elections should come first instead of the National Assembly poll.

     

  • #BBOG to Govt. Where are our Dapchi girls

    #BBOG to Govt. Where are our Dapchi girls

    Members of the #BringBackOurGirls (#BBOG) advocasy have asked the government of the where about of the Dapchi girls abducted in Yobe state.

    The group in a statement on Thursday by its spokesperson Sesugh Akume stated.

    “Our movement was made aware and has been closely monitoring the news of the abduction of Government Girls Science Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State on Monday 19 February 2018.

    “There have been conflicting reports on the incidence among state and federal institutions and officials . This draws dreadful and eerie similarities with the confusion that surrounded official communication following the abduction of our #ChibokGirls on 14th April 2014 who have remained with the Boko Haram terrorists for 1, 410 days today.

    “Our Movement welcomes the news that some of the abductees have been rescued by the Nigeria Army. However, the limited information so far offered the public on the attack of their school and the girls’ rescue clearly raise crucial questions that demand prompt answers: How is it that a terrorist group said to have been defeated able to abduct in the range of 100 schoolgirls? How many precisely were abducted, how many are back, and how many are in captivity? Can The names of these 3 categories of victims be published for purposes of clarity and accountability? Has contact been made with the parents and families of our Dapchi girls? Are they able to to verify all information put out by the state?

    “We call on the federal government, the Yobe state government and the Nigerian military, the Nigeria Police Force, and other relevant authorities to promptly investigate this with utmost sense of urgency, and ensure to communicate factually to avert the tragedy of #ChibokGirls abduction.

    “Our movement will continue to monitor events as they unfold and shall respond accordingly.”

  • Banks must settle customers’ complaints within 2 weeks – CBN

    Banks must settle customers’ complaints within 2 weeks – CBN

     

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed banks and other financial institutions to settle customers’ complaints on issues of overcharge, unauthorized deductions and other matters within two weeks.

    Mr Tajudeen Ahmed, the CBN Head of Complaints Management Division, made this disclosure on Thursday in Abuja.

    He said the CBN would ensure that bank customers received redress on issues of excess charges or unauthorized withdrawal.

    Ahmed reiterated the apex bank’s commitment to eradicating the culture of excess and arbitrary charges.

    According to him, the CBN has since issued a circular which could be found on the Its website showing all legitimate bank charges.

    He explained that any charge outside what is contained in the circular was not allowed and should not be charged.

    “The consumer protection department issued guidelines to banks dated August 16, 2011, directing all banks and other financial institutions to resolve all customer complaints within two weeks of receipt of that complaint.

    “Before the expiration of that complaint, the financial institution is expected to be engaging the customer on a continuous basis to update him or her on the status of the complaint.

    “If it is not resolved within the deadline given, then such a person is encouraged to draw the attention of Central Bank of Nigeria to find solution to that complaint,” he said.

    Ahmed advised customers with unresolved complaints to contact the CBN by writing to the Director Consumer Protection Department or send an email to cbd@cbn.gov.ng.

    He also advised disgruntled bank customers to visit any branch of the CBN closest to them to lay their complaints.

    “The CBN continually engages the banks to find out if their conducts and practices are fair to their customers in order to stimulate people’s confidence in the banking system.

    Read Also: Banks’ loan request from CBN hits N11.73tr

    “Non-adherence to that normally results to regulatory sanctions as the case may be,” he said.

    Ahmed faulted banks for setting a limit on ATM withdrawals to get customers to make several withdrawals to cash large sums.

    “I have also observed and noted this. Don’t forget that at the beginning, it wasn’t like this. Over time, we started having this problem.

    “One of the reasons is that the quantum of N500 denomination is much more than that of N1,000 denomination.

    “When we approached the banks about these problems, they said that the machines become easily faulty when it is set to dispense up to N30, 000 to N40, 000 units.

    “However, CBN has directed that the machines that allow payment of up to N30,000 to N50,000 should be installed.

    “This is still ongoing. The Banking and Payment Department of the CBN is championing it,” he said.

    Also, the Head of Consumer Protection Division, Mrs Hadija Kasim, said bank customers could also avoid some of these issues by inculcating the habit of cashless policy.

    She reminded the public that there were various methods to make payments rather than carrying cash.

    “Let’s not forget that ATM cards can also be used on Point of Sale (POS) terminals.

    “We are encouraging people that unless it is absolutely necessary, they should reduce the carriage of cash. Cashless transactions are more convenient, safer and you will avoid the problem of overcharges,” she said.

    Kasim also advised bank consumers to use bank transfer channels for transactions in cases where sellers do not have POS.

  • Kano Accountant-General resigns

    Kano Accountant-General resigns

    Kano State Accountant General, Hajiya Aisha Bello, on Thursday tendered her resignation letter to the State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, amid controversy of interference in her duties by some powerful forces.

    In a letter, dated February 20, 2018, Hajiya expressed appreciation to the Governor for according her the opportunity to serve the state in two capacities, as Commissioner for Planning and Budget and subsequently as the State Accountant General.

    The letter, which was received by the office of Secretary to the State Government on Thursday, February 22, 2918 did not give reasons for her resignation,

    However, sources said her resignation may not be unconnected to controversy of interference in her duties by some prominent personalities in the Administration.

    The Nation learnt that  the Accountant-General had at one time tendered her resignation to the Governor last year, citing insubordination by the treasurer and inability to discharge her responsibilities, without interference.

    But the Governor, according to sources was said to have rejected her resignation.

  • Benue: Military operation will favour herders over farmers – group

    Benue: Military operation will favour herders over farmers – group

    A Tiv sociocultural group, Mzough U Tiv, has alleged that the military exercise in Benue State is a ploy to provide cover for herdsmen to take over Benue land.

    The operation tagged Ayem Akpatuma was flagged off in Guma Local Government Area on Thursday.

    According to Mzough U Tiv, the military’s  ‘real’ intention can be found in a pamphlet which it circulated on Tuesday.

    The pamphlet, which was issued by the Department of Civil Military Affairs, Army Headquarters, features a picture of a farmer and a herder conversing in Tiv on how to avoid conflict in practicing their professions.

    Mzough U Tiv’s President-General, Engr. Edward Ujege, who spoke to journalists yesterday, claimed that the pamphlet admitted that the herdsmen were responsible for the spate of killings in the state.

    Ujege said: “We wish to express our profound displeasure at the emerging trends of the military operation tagged Ayem a kpatema.

    “The general public may recall our initial apprehension about the real mission of troops deployed to Benue State. True to our predictions, the flag-off of the exercise on Tuesday confirmed our fears.

    “A pamphlet circulated by the Nigerian Army has defined the real intention of the military in Benue State. The pamphlet confirmed that the military had come to provide cover for armed Fulani herdsmen to take over our land.”

    Ujege stated that the message in the flyer, “underscores basic assumptions and erroneous impressions that the military has acknowledged that the Fulani herdsmen are responsible for the large scale massacre and massive destruction in our land.

    “Yet, without addressing issues of justice, reparation and compensation, they are compelling Benue people to accommodate the perpetrators of the heinous atrocities.

    “Moreover, there is no reference to the Open Grazing Prohibition and Establishment of Ranches law 2017, which addresses the fundamental issues of making both the farmers and the herders to coexist in peace.

    “The military is not only silent on the law, but has encouraged open grazing with all its concomitant consequences. This silence on the law points to the fact that they are not in its support and are not ready to ensure its enforcement.”

    According to the group, “the military has also assumed very wrongly that Benue people are responsible for cattle rustling which is not the case as rustling can only be undertaken by professionals in cattle rearing.

    “The publication of the pamphlet in the Tiv language gives the impression that the Tiv are the target of the exercise, whereas the herdsmen attacks cut across the entire Benue State which is multi-ethnic.”

    Ujege said, “This profiling” of the Tiv people was also unacceptable.

    “If the military are to be relevant in the state, they must assist in chasing away the invaders and restoring peace which can only be possible through the enforcement of the anti-open grazing law.”