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Tag: Nigerian Newspaper

  • Ex-militants warns against removal of Mowarin

    Ex-militants warns against removal of Mowarin

    Ex-militants from Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Ondo and Delta states, have kicked against alleged plot by unknown persons to remove Head of Onshore Education Unit, office of the Amnesty Programme, Major Hassan Kesiena Mowarin (rtd).

    The ex-militants said there have been improvement in the scheme since Morawin assumed office and his appointment showed that the ruling party meant well for the people of the Niger Delta region.

    Spokesman for the ex-militants, Mr. Atangbala One, who spoke to newsmen in Benin City said some few individuals want Morawin removed because true beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme are now selected for the scheme.

    Atangbala alleged that the few cabal in the system placed fake beneficiaries in schools and subsequently force them to remit the sum of N30, 000 to N40,000 monthly to them

    According to him, “Major Mowarin has been fighting feverishly against the commercialization of admission process for amnesty sponsorship which was supposed to be free for the genuine delegates for the program.

    “But a cabal hijacked it and sell the beneficiary codes of the poor children of the Niger Delta to their cronies.

    “The few cabals who do not mean well for the people of the region have gone as far as paying for on-line media, smear publications and also  paying some uninformed persons to stage protest against him all in attempt to remove him and continue with their blood money business.”

  • Allegation of evading EFCC mischievous, says Oduah

    Allegation of evading EFCC mischievous, says Oduah

    The Senator representing Anambra North, Senator. Stella Oduah, today described as mischievous, a publication that she was evading invitations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    In a statement issued in Abuja, Oduah said that the report was the handiwork of political detractors whose aim was to pitch the anti-graft agency against her.

    Reports in some national dailies and online media had indicated that the Chairman Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration was evading invitations to the commission to defend a N9.4 billion contract awarded during her time as Aviation Minister.

    However the senator claimed that the story was mere fabrications which did not emanate from the EFCC.

    She said that she had been in constant correspondence with the commission.

    Oduah said that she is willing to defend her stewardship during her time as minister, adding that she followed due processes in all her dealings while in charge of the ministry.

    “The season of politics is here again and some people must play the politics of pull down syndrome, this is what perhaps informed the fabrications in the story.

    “How else do you explain that a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a law abiding citizen, a chief executive officer of multinational companies, would be evasive to honour an invitation if not a mere mischief, that is informed by dirty politics.

    “Even the publication did not say that I stole any government money or awarded contracts to myself,” she said.

    The senator said that she had carved a niche for herself in the business world, within and outside the shores of Nigeria even before she ventured into the murky waters of Nigerian politics in 2010.

    Read Also: Oduah asks FG to tackle ‘modern slavery’

    According to her, she is a citizen of Nigeria, who has no other home but Nigeria and would not be distracted by activities of her detractors.

    She stated further that this would not be the first time her detractors would want to use the media to tarnish her hard earned image.

    Oduah stressed that the sinister purpose of the news story is to pitch her against the Commission and the general public.

    She therefore urged her detractors to leave her alone and learn to play the politics of hard facts and issues.

    She stated that contracts awarded under her watch as a minister were done in her official capacity and they went through due process.

    The senator added that in her time as minister, she transformed the aviation sector and followed all established processes and procedures.

  • IBB’s spokesman, sues IGP, others for being declared wanted

    IBB’s spokesman, sues IGP, others for being declared wanted

    *Seeks N1b for rights violation

     

    Spokesman to former military leader, Ibrahim Babangida, Kassim Afegbua has sued the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and two media houses, accusing them of violating his fundamental human rights by declaring him wanted over the statement he issued for his principal.

    There was controversy over the authenticity of the letter written last Sunday by Afegbua on behalf of Babangida.

    The police, through its spokesman, Moshood Jimoh later issued a statement declaring Afegbua wanted for allegedly “making false statements, defamation of character and for an act capable of instigating public disturbance throughout the country”.

    In a suit he filed on Tuesday, marked: FFHC/ABJ/CS/129/2018, before the Federal High Court, Afegbua faulted the police’s decision to declare him wanted without first inviting him.

    The fundamental rights enforcement suit suit filed by his lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, also has Jimoh, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Channels Televisions Limited as respondents

    Afegbua argued that he had not been formally invited by the police before declaring him wanted and thereby painted him “as a fugitive and common criminal with no modicum of dignity”.

    Afegbua described his being declared wanted as witch-hunt, harassment, intimidation and persecution, as his boss had not denied the statement he issued on his behalf.

    Justifying the inclusion of the media houses in the suit, Afegbua said the police, the IGP and the Force PRO deployed the platforms of NTA and Channels Televisions to declare him wanted.

    He argued that it was needless declaring him wanted having not been formally invited by the police or resisted arrest by the police.

    Afegabua wants the court to declare that “the continued witch-hunt, harassment, intimidation, and persecution of the applicant or threats thereof by the respondents ostensibly on the basis of a letter he wrote on behalf of his principal, General lbrahim Badamosi Babangida GCFR, when his principal has not lodge any formal complaint to the police or any other security agency”.

    He prayed the court to declare that the decision by the 1st to 3rd respondents to declare him wanted, using the media of the 4th to 5th respondents, when there has been no formal invitation extended to the applicant or any attempt has been made to arrest him and he has resisted or refuse to honour such invitation do not only constitute prosecutorial misconduct, malicious process, misfeasance in public office by the 1st to 3rd respondents but also infringe unjustifiably, illegally and unconstitutionally upon the applicant’s fundamental rights to life, dignity of human person, liberty to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, to freedom of expression, association and movement”.

    The plaintiff claimed his said rights were “guaranteed and protected respectively by sections 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 40 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Articles 2,4,5,6,7,9,1o,11,12 and 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement)Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

    Afegbua prayed the court for  “an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the respondents by themselves, their officers, servants, agents and privies from (I) the continued witch-hunt, harassment, intimidation, and persecution of the Applicant or threats thereof ostensibly on the basis of a letter he wrote on behalf of his principal, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida GCFR”.

    Read Also: Afegbua will report to police Wednesday – Lawyer

    He also wants “an order directing the respondents to stay all action and to desist forthwith from proceeding with any process whatsoever, including but not limited to any purported investigation, detention, prosecution of the applicant or otherwise, which is connected, associated with or premised upon the letter he wrote on behalf of his principal, General lbrahim Badamosi Babangida GCFR.”

    Afegbua, who seeks NGN1billion as damages against the respondents for the breach of his fundamental rights, equally wants “an order directing the respondents to apologise to the applicant through the media of the 4th to the 5th respondents and three national newspapers.”

    The grounds for his claims includes that he is a renowned journalist, publisher, writer, spokesperson for General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, GCFR and former Commissioner in Edo State”

    Afegbua said he “wrote a letter on behalf of his principal, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida GCFR on February 4, 2016, which was widely publicised”.

    He said there was another letter, “purportedly to have emanated from the applicant’s principal on the evening of the same February 4, 2018”.

    He said: “There has been no formal complaint by the applicant’s principal to the police or any other security agency of any infraction by the Applicant.

    “The 1st to 3rd respondents, through the media of the 4th and 5th respondents declared the applicant wanted and the action of the respondents has put the life of the applicant in serious jeopardy and he now has real trepidation for his life.

    “There was no formal invitation to the applicant from the 1st to 3rd respondents and there was no attempt by the 1st to 3rd respondents to arrest the applicant.

    “The applicant has not refused to honour any formal invitation by the 1st to 3rd respondents and he has not resisted arrest by the applicant, hence there is no basis for declaring the applicant wanted.

    “The 4th to 5th respondents used their media to broadcast to the whole world that the applicant is wanted at the behest of the 1st to 3rd respondents,” Afegbua said.

     

  • “Defend Yourselves” – Ortom tells Benue Indigenes.

    “Defend Yourselves” – Ortom tells Benue Indigenes.

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has called on  the people of the state to brace up to defend themselves in the face of incessant killings by the herdsmen.

    The governor who spoke on a radio programme titled, ‘issue of the moment’ monitored by our correspondent on Tuesday said that it was necessary for them to do it in legitimate way so as not become easy prey to their killers.

    Governor Ortom noted that in spite of the presence of policemen in the state, killings were still on going in the two local government areas.

    He regretted that the statements credited to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris blaming the anti-open grazing law for the new year attacks has rather encouraged the herdsmen to continue with their attack on the state.

    Read Also: Ortom advises motorcyclists against jungle justice in Benue

    He also lamented the inability of the security operatives to stop the killings and arrest the killers as well as the perpetrators of the New Year killings.

    The governor explained that despite the presence of police, the killings in the state was yet to cease, expressing doubt of compromise among those who were supposed to provide security to the people of the state.

    According to him, ‘It is because we are law abiding that is why we are being attacked daily,’ adding,  ‘you need to listen and hear the opinion of the people of the state on the matter.’

    “I think the people should have the right to defend themselves and not make themselves easy prey to be killed in their homes.”

    “So any lawful means you can adopt to defend yourself just go ahead in Benue state. We are not going to wait for the Inspector General of Police, IGP, to do it.”

    The governor commiserate with families of the police personnel who were killed in the cause of carrying out their official duty in the state.

    “It is unfortunate, the Police are dying and the Inspector General of Police is playing politics with the issue.

    “The man should resign because he has failed woefully. He doesn’t have the capacity.

    “There are many good Police officers who can take over that job and perform creditably by turning around the security architecture of this country and make thing work and protect lives and property. That man has no business being the IGP,” Ortom lamented.

  • Police arrest Six over Herdsmen/Farmers conflict

    Police arrest Six over Herdsmen/Farmers conflict

    The Police Command in Adamawa has arrested six suspects in connection with the latest conflict between herdsmen and farmers in Simba and Shure villages of Song Local Government Area of the state.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr Abdullahi Ibrahim, disclosed this on Tuesday in Yola while briefing newsmen.

    Ibrahim cautioned people in the state against taking the laws into their hands and urged them to report any suspicious characters to security agencies.

    Meanwhile, the Adamawa Government has condemned the recent incident during which several lives were lost.

    Read Also:  Police investigate alleged killing of man in Enugu

    A statement by the Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Ahmad Sajoh, said government would do everything possible to bring the culprits to justice.

    “The government feels disturbed that at a time when normalcy is returning to the other parts that were engulfed in crisis, a new wave of attacks is taking place in areas that have been peaceful.

    “This is unacceptable. Government will do everything possible to deter further expansion of theater of conflict in the state,” Sajoh said.

    He commended security forces for their prompt action that ensured the speedy control of the situation.

    “Government is equally doing everything possible to support the police and other security services to apprehend and bring the perpetrators to book,” the commissioner said.

     

    NAN

     

  • Wike directs Tertiary Institutions to investigate lecturers involved in sexual harassment

    Wike directs Tertiary Institutions to investigate lecturers involved in sexual harassment

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has directed  the governing councils and heads of State-Owned Tertiary Institutions to set up committees to investigate reported cases of sexual harassment and sorting against lecturers.

    This decision was reached after a meeting the Rivers State Governor held with the chairmen of the Governing Councils, Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts of State-Owned Tertiary Institutions at the Government House Port Harcourt.

    Read Also;Wike, Amaechi convoy clash in Port Harcourt

    A statement by Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media noted that the institutions  involved include: Rivers State University, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt, Rivers State College of Health Science and  Technology and Rivers State School of Nursing.

    The Statement added that all the affected institutions  are expected to report back to the governor on the outcome  of their investigations.

     

  • IGP’s decision to prosecute IBB’s press secretary illegal, says Falana

    IGP’s decision to prosecute IBB’s press secretary illegal, says Falana

    Activist lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has described as illegal the decision of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr Ibrahim Idris to prosecute Mr. Kassim Afegbua, the Press Secretary of former President Ibrahim Babangida, for defamation.

    In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday, Falana who noted that neither President Muhammadu Buhari nor Babangida has filed any complaint against Afegbua, contended that there was no justification for the action of the IGP.

    Afegbua, according to him, has not committed any offence known to the law.

    “Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the issuance of the public statement by Mr. Afegbua and the denial by General Babangida, it ought to be pointed out that no criminal offence known to law has been committed to warrant the action of the Inspector General of Police. More so, that both General Babangida and President Buhari have not complained that the controversial press statement has defamed them.

    “In fact, if the statement is considered defamatory whoever is injured would have to institute a civil suit where he will be required to put his own reputation in issue”.

    To buttress his argument, Falana cites a related and decided case of the Court  of Appeal.

    “In Arthur Nwankwo v The State (1985) 4 NCLR 228, the Court of Appeal had cautioned public officers in Nigeria to desist from invoking undemocratic laws which were introduced by the earstwhile British colonial regime to harass or intimidate their political opponents. According to Olajide Olatawura JCA (as he then was of blessed memory):

    Read Also: IGP  orders Afegbua’s arrest

    “The decision of the founding fathers of this present Constitution which guarantees freedom of speech which must include freedom to criticize should be praised and any attempt to derogate from it except as provided in the Constitution must be resisted. Those in public office should not be intolerant of criticism. Where a writer exceeds the bounds there should be a resort to the law of libel where the plaintiff must of necessity put his character and reputation in issue.”

    He said; “Since General Babangida has now turned round to insist that he authorised Mr. Afegbua to issue the controversial statement it is hoped that he will be prepared to say so in a criminal court.

    “His testimony will go a long way to destroy the criminal case which the Inspector-General intends to institute against Mr. Afegbua”.

    Falana accused the IGP of defaming Afegbua by declaring him wanted and for portraying him as a fugitive running from the law.

    He advised the IGP to withdraw the statement.

    “It is undoubtedly that it is the Inspector General of police who has defamed  Mr. Afegbua  by  portraying him as a fugitive from the law.  Therefore, Mr. Idris is advised to withdraw the offensive declaration without any further delay”, he stated.

    Falana recalled that Babangida, last Sunday, issued a press statement through his press secretary, Mr. Kassim Afegbua. He noted that in the statement, the former military ruler was said to have advised President Mohammadu Buhari not to participate in the 2019 presidential election.

    He also noted that Babangida, in his characteristic manner, promptly disowned the well publicised press statement and the views ascribed to him by Mr. Afegbua.

    He said since this is not the first time that General Babangida has disowned controversial statements made by him, Mr. Afegbua ought to have been more circumspect in issuing this particular statement.

    “However, notwithstanding that the retired General has dissociated himself from the statement the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris has declared Mr. Afegbua wanted for alleged “character defamation”.

    “By declaring Mr. Afegbua wanted when he has not failed to honour the invitation of the Police, the Inspector-General of police has over reached himself”, he argued.

    Falana however, advised the IGP not to popularise the discredited views of both Generals Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida who, he said, failed woefully to institutionalised democracy, rule of law, human rights, self-reliance and probity during the 20 years that both of them had ruled the country.

  • JORAISU vows to continue strike action

    JORAISU vows to continue strike action

    The Joint Research and Allied Institution Staff Union ( JORAISU ) yesterday restated commitment to continue with its strike action if its demands are not met by the Federal Government.

    JORAISU Acting Chairman, Mr. Rasheed Akinade, who led the protest to the National Assembly, in Abuja complained over inability of the federal government to honour its part of the pact to pay 12 months arrears owed to the union among other demands.

    He said seven years after, assurances made by the federal government has been futile.

    The research union kicked against extension of retirement age to 65 years while calling for a review of regular and earned allowances.

    The chairman noted that the content of the agreement includes; payment of 12 month arrears of 53.37 per cent salary increment which other workers in the country have been paid, elongation of 65 years of retirement age of researchers, review of allowances and establishment of NARICOM among others.

    He lamented that JORAISU had given the present administration reasonable time to consider its plight and also had over 33 meeting with the FG from 2010 to 2017 without any fruitful outcome, prompting the resolution to go into strikes and protests.

    Akinade said: “The strike is still ongoing and until we see concrete things, not writing or meeting, the strike will continue. The battle started in 2011 when an agreement was signed and arising from the agreement, seven issues called for implementation. It is the implementation that we have been fighting for from 2011 till today.

    “These issues are 12 month arrears arising from the wage increment of 53.37%, all workers in Nigeria have gotten this 12 month arrears only research institutes in this country have not gotten their arrears. Even before the federal government accepted that research institutes workers are entitled to the arrears it took us over ten months, we have held 33 meetings between 2010and December 7, 2017.

    “The other issues are elongation of 65 years age of retirement for research officers, establishment of NARICOM, review of regular and earned allowance, release of negotiated conditions among others.”

    “When this administration came in 2015, and following the different assault and insults, we decided to suspend strike actions. We wrote two letters to the president, August 2017 and September, 2017, so as at today, the House committee called us to a meeting and the Minister of Agriculture told us that we should allow them to call for a meeting and we agreed. Since the meeting of December 7 we have not heard anything from the minister.” He added.

    The Chairman House committee on Tertiary Institution, Hon. Aminu Suleiman, who received the letter on behalf of the Speaker said the parliament already resolved that all matters relating to federal government 2009 agreement with unions should be addressed once and for all and no longer handled in ad-hoc manner.

    Suleiman said except the issue is treated genuinely, there will only be an exchange of letters, assuring that their concerns will be treated on the floor of the House.

    “Let me say on behalf of the speaker that you are welcome to the House of Representatives. I have sufficiently gathered from you grievances of your members that you have presented. I can assure you that even as at last week, we had course to meet with the minister of education and the three non-teaching staffs in the Nigerian universities,” he said.

    “I am assuring you that the parliament under the Speaker Hon. Yakubu Dogara is concerned about all associated industrial actions in our institutions should be addressed once and for all and not be addressed as ad-hoc manner.

    “I can assure you that I will present it to the speaker verbatim, when it is slated for discussion I’m also assuring you that you will have voices in the parliament that will speak for the Nigerian workers.” He added.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Man bags 28 months imprisonment for burglary

    Man bags 28 months imprisonment for burglary

    An Osogbo Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday sentenced a 33-year-old man, Abdulfatai Kamarudeen , to 28 months’ imprisonment over burglary and theft.

    Kamarudeen is facing a two- count charge bothering on burglary and theft.

    The magistrate, Mr Tunde Badmus, had ordered the convict to be kept in Ilesa Prison due to the magnitude of the offence committed or pay an option of fine of N10, 000 on each count charge.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Lamidi Rasaki, told the court that the convict committed the offences on May 11, 2017  at about 1:30 a.m. at Abo-Jesu area of  Osogbo.

    He said the convict broke into the apartment of one Oyebola Johnson and stole the sum of  N150,000 cash , one S7 Galaxy phones valued at  N350,000 and another  mobile phone valued at  N25,000.

    Other items he stole include a travelling bag valued at N10,000, dresses and one HP laptop valued at N250,000.

    The prosecutor said the police arrested the convict at Ibadan and  one of the stolen items, the laptop was found with him.

    Rasaki  said the offences contravened Section 410, punishable under Section 111 and Section  383 punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 vol. 11 Laws of Osun,2003.

    The convict pleaded guilty to the two-count charge.

    The Defence Counsel, Mr Najite Okobie , prayed the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing the convict.

    NAN

     

  • NiMet predicts sunny, hazy conditions on Wednesday

    NiMet predicts sunny, hazy conditions on Wednesday

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunny and hazy weather conditions over the central States of the country on Wednesday.

    NiMet’s Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Tuesday also predicted day and night temperatures in the range of 32 to 40 and 15 to 25 degrees Celsius respectively.

    The agency predicted that the southern States would experience partly cloudy to cloudy conditions in the morning with day and night temperatures in the range of 35 to 39 and 22 to 26 degrees Celsius respectively.

    It also predicted localised thunderstorms over Lagos, Ijebu, Yenagoa, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Eket, Oshogbo, Ibadan, Akure, Benin and environs during the afternoon and evening period.

    According to NiMet, Northern States will experience sunny and hazy conditions throughout the forecast period with day and night temperatures in the range of 32 to 40 and 14 to 19 degrees Celsius respectively.

    “It will be dry over the North, while increased cloudiness with chances of rainfall activities are expected over the south within the next 24 hours,” NiMet predicted.

    NAN