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  • Niger Assembly passes N21.75bn supplementary appropriation bill

    Niger Assembly passes N21.75bn supplementary appropriation bill

    The Niger House of Assembly on Wednesday passed the 2017 supplementary appropriation bill of N21.754 billion.

    The House passed the bill following the presentation of the report of the Committee on Planning and Appropriation.

    Presenting the report, Chairman of the committee, Bashir Lokogoma, said the bill was necessitated by the in flow of additional funds not envisaged during the preparation of the 2017 budget.

    He said N8.8 billion was received from the excess crude, N5.906 billion from the budget support facility, and Paris club refund of N7.210 billion.

    Lokogoma further stated that the bill had recurrent expenditure of N8.286 billion while capital expenditure was pegged at N13.467 billion.

    The committee, however, observed that the additional in flows were expended before legislative approval, saying it was unacceptable.

    The Speaker thereafter directed the Clerk of the House to forward five copies of the bill to the governor for his assent.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 2017 budget size now stands at N134.950 billion as against N116.196 billion approved initially.

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  • EU appoints woman as Head of Commission’s Cabinet for 1st time

    EU appoints woman as Head of Commission’s Cabinet for 1st time

    The EU  President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday appointed a woman for the first time as his Head of Cabinet“The President appointed today Clara Alberola as his new Head of Cabinet with effect from March 1.

    “Mrs Alberola is the first woman and the first Spanish national in the history of the European Commission to head the Commission President’s office,” the Commission said.

    Martinez Alberola, who served as Deputy Head of Cabinet, will assume the office from Martin Selmayr, who has been appointed as the EU Commission’s Secretary-General following the retirement of Alexander Italianer.

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  • Kebbi SEMA assures assembly of improved performance

    Kebbi SEMA assures assembly of improved performance

     

    The Kebbi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has assured the State Assembly that it would judiciously utilise the N5 billion approved for the organisation in the 2018 budget.

    The Chairman of the agency, Alhaji Sani Dododo, gave the assurance on Wednesday in Birnin Kebbi when the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation paid a courtesy visit to the agency.

    Dododo said the agency was satisfied with the allocation, adding that it would facilitate improvement in its performance.

    “The state assembly approved N5 billion to enable the agency to continue to carry out its humanitarian services to the people of the State.

    Read Also: Kebbi provide amenities at settlements

    “We urge the assembly to assist and cooperate with the agency for effective performance.

    “Also, we call on people of the state to always report any outbreak in their areas to the agency for appropriate action.”

    Earlier, the Committee Chairman, Alhaji Umaru Sarkin-Shanu, expressed satisfaction with the activities of the agency.

    He said that assembly would do everything possible to support and assist the agency to achieve its mandate.

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  • Strike: UniAbuja chapter of SSANU seeks NASS intervention

    Strike: UniAbuja chapter of SSANU seeks NASS intervention

    The University of Abuja ( UniAbuja ), chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities ( SSANU ), has called on the National Assembly ( NASS ) to intervene in the ongoing industrial dispute between it and the Federal Government.

    Members of Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising Non-academic Staff Union of Universities ( NASU ), SSANU and National Association of Academic Technologists ( NAAT ) have been on strike over Federal Government’s failure to pay their earned allowances.

    The strike commenced on Dec. 4, 2017.

    A statement by SSANU’s National President and Chairman JAC, Mr Samson Ugwoke, on Wednesday in Abuja, said that the leader of UniAbuja chapter of SSANU, Malam Hassan Shallangwa, had presented a letter requesting the intervention of lawmakers.

    He said that the letter was presented to Mr Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of House of Representatives, through his Special Assistant Media and Publicity, Mr Turaki Hassan.

    “The Federal Government, through its relevant Ministers, have refused to dialogue with the unions and are pretending that all is well in our campuses, but we believe that it is only the National Assembly that can call them to order in the interest of Nigerian Education

    ‘’The strike we embarked upon since Dec. 4, 2017 has been crippling almost all activities on our campuses, yet the government remained passive about it, ’’the statement quoted Shallangwa as saying.

    Ugwoke expressed JAC’s dismay that the N23 billion paid by the Federal Government was cornered to pay the Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU ) “for their Earned Academic Allowances.”

    He said that the three non-teaching staff unions were left with N4.6 billion (11 per cent), as earned allowances.

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  • NMA honours Ogun Speaker with award

    NMA honours Ogun Speaker with award

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ogun chapter, on Wednesday in Abeokuta, conferred on the Speaker of the Ogun House of Assembly, Suraj Adekunbi, a “Distinguished Ambassador” award.

    Dr Abayomi Olabode, the state Chairman of the association, said the award was given to Adekunbi in recognition of his outstanding achievements.

    He said some of the achievements were the promulgation of relevant legislations for the development of health care services and sports in the state.

    Olabode who led other members of NMA to the assembly complex to decorate the speaker, briefed him on level its preparedness for the forthcoming NMA National Games tagged: “Abeokuta 2018.”

    He said, “The assembly, through its people-oriented legislations, has helped in transforming all sectors of the state’s economy, particularly the health care sector.

    Read Also: NMA educates market women on Lassa fever in Osun

    The chairman described the speaker as an astute administrator and a lover of peace, and reiterated NMA’s unwavering support to the house for the advancement of the health sector.

    He gave the assurance that the NMA would continue to partner with the assembly in initiating relevant legislations to further enhance the health care sector.

    The speaker thanked the association for the gesture and noted that the success recorded so far in the house was possible through the synergy between professional bodies and residents in the state.

    He said, “As a people’s representatives, it has become imperative that we deliver on the mandate given to us by the electorate through quality representation.

    “We strive to bring about legislations that will always advance the socio-economic status of the state.

    Adekunbi, however, tasked the medical personnel not to rest on their oars in improving the overall health of the populace.

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  • Court adjourns Dasuki ‘s case till March 22

    Court adjourns Dasuki ‘s case till March 22

    An FCT High Court, on Wednesday adjourned until March 22, continuation of hearing in the case involving former National Security Adviser, retired Col Sambo Dasuki, pending outcome of judgment of the Supreme Court on his appeal.

    The judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, adjourned the case after Dasuki’s counsel Mr Adeola Adedipe, holding the brief of Mr Joesph Daudu (SAN) applied for adjournment.

    Adedipe informed the court that Dasuki’s  matter is pending at the apex court and the outcome of the judgment on March 2, may affect the case pending in the trial court.

    He also expressed surprise that Dasuki was not in court.

    Responding, Mr Henry Ajiga, holding the brief of Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), who did not oppose the application, prayed the court to adjourn it to the same day with a sister case.

    He also expressed surprise on Dasuki ‘s absence, adding that the date for hearing was transmitted to the agency holding him.

    Dasuki is standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged diversion of N13.6 billion.

    On trial along with Dasuki were Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser, and Aminu Baba-Kusa, a former NNPC Executive Director, and two others.

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  • My wife is serial divorcee, fifth husband tells court

    My wife is serial divorcee, fifth husband tells court

    A 47-year-old businessman, Rufus Otegbola, on Wednesday told an Igando Customary Court, Lagos, that his wife, Funmilayo, is a serial divorcee.

    Rufus, who urged the court to dissolve his 13-year-old marriage to Funmilayo for alleged adulterous acts, told the court that he was the fifth husband of the respondent.

    “My wife is adulterous and a serial divorcee, she had married and divorced four husbands before I married her.

    “Funmilayo is diabolical and fetish, she always comes home with charms and my fear is that she may kill me one day if I do not end the marriage.”

    Rufus said that his wife packed out of their matrimonial home without his consent.

    “My parent-in-law and my wife’s siblings came to my house to pack my wife’s property without my permission.”

    He urged the court to end the marriage as he was no longer in love with her.

    In her response, Funmilayo, 42, and a businesswoman, said that her husband was an unrepentant polygamist.

    “My husband deceived me. He did not tell me that he had three wives before marrying me.

    “He impregnated me and hurried me into his house without legal marriage.

    “I discovered that he already had three wives living with him and there was nothing I could do since I was pregnant, I had to stay.”

    Funmilayo said that Rufus had also turned her into a punching bag.

    “My husband beats me all time and even when I was pregnant, he beats hell out of me; I fell into labour immediately, forcing the delivery of the baby.

    “As a result of the frequent beating, on May 9, 2016, I packed my belongings from his house and moved to my parent’s house.”

    Funmilayo further described Rufus as an ungrateful person.

    “When he lost his job, I was the one feeding him with his wives and their children and I was also paying the school fees of our children and my step children.”

    The mother of four, however, consented to the dissolution of the marriage, saying “I am also fed up with the union”.

    In his judgment, the President of the court, Mr Akin Akinniyi, noted that the estranged couple were tired of the marriage as all efforts to reconcile them had failed.

    “Since both parties consented to the dissolution of their marriage, this court has no choice than to dissolve the marriage.

    “The court pronounced the marriage between Mr Rufus Otegbola and Mrs Funmilayo Otegbola dissolved today, both parties henceforth ceased to be husband and wife.

    “Both are free to go their separate way without any hindrances and molestation,” Akinniyi ruled.

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  • Court imprisons three vagrants for criminal trespass

    Court imprisons three vagrants for criminal trespass

    A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Wednesday sentenced three vagrants to three months imprison each for trespass.

    The convicts: Sani Yusuf, Yunusa Abdullahi, and Abbas Nafiu, all of Jabi Motor Park by Delta Line, Abuja, were convicted after they pleaded guilty and begged for leniency.

    The convicts were sentenced on a two-count charge of criminal trespass and attempt to commit theft.

    The judge, Abubakar Sadiq, however, gave each of the convict an option to pay N5, 000  fine, and warned them to desist from committing crime.

    The prosecutor, Dalhatu Zannah, had told the court that one Lawal Mohammed of Jabi Motor Park, Abuja, reported the matter at the Utako Police Station on Feb. 9.

    Zannah said that the convicts criminally trespassed into the park at about 3: a.m. and attempted to steal valuable items.

    He told the court that, when the vigilance group arrested the convicts they could not give  satisfactory account of themselves.

    The prosecution counsel said that the convicts made confessional statements during police investigations and the offences contravened Sections, 348 and 95 of the Penal Code.

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  • Group canvasses support for Atiku

    Group canvasses support for Atiku

    The Atiku Global Support Group in Akwa Ibom has called on Nigerians to support former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in his desire to become the president of the country.

    The coordinator of the group, Mr Eric Ekwere, made the plea in a statement he issued in Abuja on Wednesday, observing that the former vice president seemed to have been prepared enough to direct the affairs of the nation.

    He said that the group met in Uyo recently where the members discussed the need to mobilise support for Atiku, describing him as a man with vast experience both in politics and in business.

    According to him, Atiku has acquired the required experience to fix the nation’s challenges in all sectors.

    Read Also: 2019: PDP rejects automatic tickets for Atiku, other defectors

    “Atiku is an experienced politician having been a vice-president in the past and as a successful businessman.

    “He understands the nuance of the economic sector and this is what the country needs right now,’’ he said.

    Ekwere also described the former vice-president as “a politician who does not discriminate and always in the lookout for young, intelligent and smart Nigerians to support.’’

    He observed that the robust network of friendship Atiku globally would go a long way in showcasing the potential of the country.

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  • Court grants EFCC permission to freeze ex-naval officer’s accounts

    Court grants EFCC permission to freeze ex-naval officer’s accounts

    High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday granted permission to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to freeze the accounts of Admiral Tahir Yusuf, a retired naval officer.

    The judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu made the order following an ex parte order filed by Mrs Elizabeth Alabi on behalf of the EFCC chairman.

    “An order is hereby made granting the chairman of the EFCC or any officer of the commission, powers to instruct the Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc or the Chief Compliance officer of Zenith Bank to issue a freezing order.

    “The freezing order is in respect to the accounts shown in the application until investigation into the matter is concluded.”

    The judge made a similar order directing the managing director of Skye Bank to also issue a freezing order in respect to the same accounts in his bank.

    She further ordered that should investigations reveal a prima facie case against the respondent, the EFCC should take steps to prosecute appropriately as stipulated by law.

    Read Also: Why EFCC filed charges against CCT chair

    Earlier, Alabi informed the court that the commission received intelligence report with regards to some unusual transactions between the account of the Nigerian Navy and those of Yusuf.

    She said that upon investigation, it was discovered that huge sums of money were transferred from the navy’s account to the account of Yusuf and Babajide Oguntade, both retired officers of the navy.

    “We discovered an inflow of about N2 billion into a joint account they had opened. On further investigation, we realized that the money had been spent.

    “We also uncovered about seven accounts belonging to Yusuf with the bank and these are the accounts we want the court to freeze so we can conclude our investigation, “she said.

    The counsel said that investigations were still on to unravel why monies were moved from the Nigerian Navy’s account into the individual accounts.

    Justice Ojukwu adjourned the matter until April 20, for counsel to report back.

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