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  • Kogi poll: SDP candidate rejects disqualification

    The Natasha Akpoti Campaign Organization has condemned and rejected the recent purported disqualification of the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Barr. Natasha Akpoti​​, on the grounds of the age of her running mate.

    In a press statement issued on Saturday by the Spokesman, Natasha Akpoti Campaign Organization, Mr. Odaudu Minister, he said this decision is inconsistent with INEC allowing gubernatorial candidates/running mates of same age with or even younger than hers in several political parties in states across the country to contest in the 2019 general elections.

    “A country’s polity is as strong and efficient as the electoral body that guides it. When the electoral body becomes a tool available to the use of politicians determined to foist their corrupt, inefficient, selfish and detrimental style of leadership on the suffering citizens, then it is unfortunate and the people must speak up and demand for fairness and justice”, the statement said.

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    “To all our friends, supporters, and members of our campaign organization, Barr. Natasha Akpoti once again expresses her deep felt appreciation of your steadfastness. Your support, loyalty and desire for a better Kogi is what drives her”.

    “We will fight this great injustice by INEC. We will conquer this challenge as usual and proceed with our plan to liberate Kogi state from poverty and ineffectual leadership,” the statement added.

  • Teacher faces trial for forcing pupils to take off trousers

    Egypt’s chief prosecutor on Saturday ordered a criminal trial for a university teacher who allegedly forced his students to take off their trousers in order to pass an exam, private newspaper al-Masry Al Youm reported.

    The teacher, an assistant professor at Al-Azhar University, a state-run institution affiliated with Sunni Islam’s key centre of learning, al-Azhar, will face trial at the criminal court on charges of dishonouring a number of students and abusing his authority, the newspaper said.

    No specific date has been set for the trial.

    Earlier this year, a video showing the academic promising at a lecture to reward male students who remove their trousers with marks in the exam went viral.

    The footage purportedly showed at least two students accepting the offer amid cheers from some colleagues.

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    The video triggered an outcry in the conservative country and prompted Al-Azhar University to sack the teacher in April.

    The university called it an “immoral act and a crime.”

    At the time, the academic, who teaches Islamic creed and philosophy, reportedly apologised for the act, saying it was meant as a test for students on his lectures about ethics.

    Al-Azhar University, which admits Muslim students only, follows a gender segregation policy.

  • 1,000 ghost workers exposed in Niger

    Over 1000 ghost workers have been exposed in Niger state following the verification conducted by a committee set up by the Niger State Government.

    Some of the civil servants in the state were also discovered to be collecting double salaries while further investigations showed whose names appear in the payment vouchers but are not in the nominal roll of the state government.

    The Chairman of the Chairman of the Committee on Civil Servants Salary Management and Verification, Engineer Ibrahim Mohammed Panti divulged this to newsmen after the submission of the Committee’s report to the state government.

    According to him, a lot of discrepancies and malpractices have been discovered in the payment of salaries while the committee is saving the government more than N100 million with the recent findings.

    “The discrepancies discovered in the course of the committee’s work include duplication of Bank verification number (BVN), multiple bank accounts number of some staff, duplication of civil servant control and identification numbers as well as some staff names appearing in payment vouchers but could not be found in the nominal roll with office of the Head of Service.

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    “The state’s staff strength of over 27,000 people have so far been reduced to about 26,000 while some few ghost workers have also been discovered by the committee.”

    Panti stated that only 42 out of the 95 Ministries, Departments and Agencies submitted their staff list adding that the committee has decided on the discipline to give to the MDAs as a consequence of their refusal to submit their staff list.

    “The committee will not pay October salary to any of the MDAs that refuse to submit theirs on or before 2nd October.”

    He emphasized that the exercise was to close the leakages in salary payment to civil servants and not to witch-hunt anyone, adding that anyone who feels aggrieved or affected by the exercise negatively is free to approach the committee.

    The Committee Chairman further said that after the exercise is done, the State Government might be in a position to implement the N30,000 new minimum wage.

  • Ikpeazu sacks ASEPA GM over poor sanitation in Umuahia

    Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has directed the immediate sack of the General Manager of Abia State Environmental Sanitation Agency (ASEPA), Mr Okechukwu Apugo.

    A release by the Commissioner of Information, Chief John Okiyi said that Apugo was sacked over poor sanitation situation in Umuahia, the State capital.

    According to Kalu, the Governor gave the directive while on project tour in the state after passing through Ochendo by pass road and saw heaps of refuse along littered along the road.

    The information commissioner stated that the Governor Ikpeazu also directed the Secretary to State Government, Barr Chris Ezem, to take over sanitation in Umuahia with Dr Aham Uko assisting him.

    Ikpeazu has said that he would in the next four weeks, personally coordinates and supervises evacuation and disposal of refuse within the Aba metropolis.

    This is even as Ikpeazu has equally declared a State of Emergency on Environmental Sanitation in the state.

    The decision of the Governor to take over waste management activities in the state for four weeks was in response to the increasing challenges of waste management in some parts of the State (which seems to have proven overwhelming for the managers) including Aba, the commercial nerve of the state where the state generates tons of domestic and industrial waste daily.

    The Press secretary to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Onyebuchi Ememanka in a release also hinted that the Governor who happed on the need for a cleaner, hygienic and healthier environment would be signing an Executive Order in the next couple of days where distinct Waste Management Authorities would be created to manage waste in the major metropolitan Local Government Areas in the state.

    Read Also: Kogi poll: SDP candidate rejects disqualification

    “The Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, Ph.D. has declared a State of Emergency on Environmental Sanitation in response to the increasing challenges of waste management in some parts of the State.

    Consequently, the Governor will, in a matter of days, sign an Executive Order to create distinct Waste Management Authorities in the following Metropolitan Local Government Areas of the State – Aba North, Aba South, Osisioma Ngwa, Obingwa, Ugwunagbo, Umuahia South and Umuahia North Local Government Waste Managers shall be appointed immediately to superintendent over these Waste Management Authorities in the specified Local Government Areas.

    Effective from today, Friday, 27th September 2019, the Governor shall, for four weeks, PERSONALLY take over and coordinate Waste Management activities in the entire Aba Metropolis to restore sanity and discipline in the entire Waste Management System within the emergency period.”

    It could be recalled that Ikpeazu had within the week handed over two refuse compactor trucks to ASEPA to help them in the management of wastes in the state, an action that has received commendations from Aba residents.

  • Police intercept van fully loaded with Indian Hemp in Ekiti

    The operatives of Ekiti police command have intercepted a vehicle in Ise-Ekiti, the headquarters of Ise/Orun Local Government Areas of the state, fully loaded with bags of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp

    The suspects who were heavily armed were arrested by the police at about 7.45 am when the monthly sanitation programme, which normally cause restriction of human and vehicular movements, was ongoing.

    This development occurred barely two days after a branch of Wema Bank was robbed in the town leading to the death of a police officer, the arrest had fueled the insinuation around town that the suspects were arrested in connection with the bank robbery.

    Addressing newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, the police spokesman, Ekiti Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, said the suspects were arrested along Ise-Emure road when his men were on patrol of the area.

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    Ikechukwu said they were arrested with dangerous weapons and with full load of substance suspected to be Indian Hemp inside a mini bus fondly called (Akoto).

    “I can’t confirm that four men have been arrested in connection with the Thursday’s bank robbery in Ise Ekiti. We are still investigating and trailing the perpetrators.

    “But I can confirm to your that our men this morning arrested four men inside a mini bus carrying full load of Indian Hemp in Ise Ekiti.

    “Apart from the fact they transported this dangerous weeds, they were caught with dangerous weapons which were not expected to be carried about.

    “They are currently being detained and investigation has begun to be able to ascertain the extent of their involvement in the illicit business, so that their syndicates can be fished out”, he said.

  • Kogi guber election: Miyetti Allah endorses Bello

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has adopted Gov. Yahaya Bello as its candidate for the forthcoming Nov. 16 governorship election in the state.

    The National Organising Secretary of the group, Alhaji Aliyu Saleh, who made the declaration at a news conference in Lokoja on Saturday, directed Fulanis in the state to immediately embark on Ruga-to-Ruga campaign for the re-election of Bello.

    Saleh said that the group decided to support the governor for providing a secure environment for Fulanis to operate in the state.

    “We are also supporting the governor for approving free Contagious Bovine Plurol Pheneumonia (CBPP) vaccination for over 23, 000 cows belonging to our members in the state ,” he said.

    The group also commended Bello for putting in place measures which had led to a reduction in clashes between farmers and herders in the state.
    It also stated that the governor had given its members a sense of belonging by appointing one of them into his cabinet and by making their leaders members of the traditional councils at the state and local government levels.

    The national organising secretary, who was flanked by the state Chairman of MACBAN, Alhaji Umaru Jaido, also said that they decided to endorse Bello’s candidature because of their love for President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Read Also: Kogi poll: SDP candidate rejects disqualification

    The State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Abubakar Ohere, who received the endorsement document on behalf of the governor, thanked the group for adopting Bello as its candidate.

    Ohere described Gov. Bello as a leader with a large heart, saying that his priority had always been to provide security for all, irrespective of tribe and religion.

    He said that Bello decided to include Fulani leaders in the traditional council to reduce communal clash, especially between farmers and herders.

    While thanking the association for the endorsement, the commissioner said the gesture would propel Bello to do more for the people of the state.

  • DSS loses two personnel in car crash

    The Department of State Service on Friday September 27, 2019 lost two of its personnel in a fatal car crash.

    A statement by the Public Relations Officer,Department of State Services, National Headquarters, Abuja, Dr Peter Afunaya, indicated that the incident occurred in the evening at Gidan Busa Katari, along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.

    “The team was heading to one of the States in the North-West zone for an operation when the Hilux vehicle in which they were travelling somersaulted. Two (2) persons died in the accident while another was injured. He is presently receiving required attention in a medical facility.

    “This clarification has become necessary in order to debunk fake news making the round that the gallant officers were attacked by bandits. The public is enjoined to disregard any contrary information,” the statement read.

  • Five RRS operatives arrested for alleged extortion of N5,000

    Five policemen attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command had been arrested over alleged extortion of N5,000 from a woman.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the RRS said through its Twitter handle that the men were arrested on Friday in Ajah area of the state.

    “Our officers at Ajah extorted N5,000 from a lady; our Ops officers went in search, arrested and detained them at Alausa Headquarters of the squad.

    “They will be transferred to the headquarters on Monday for trial,” the RRS twitted.

    The squad, however, did not state what led to the extortion and if the money collected was recovered.

    In response to NAN queries on cases of impersonation of RRS operatives, it said that all RRS operatives must wear official badges on sleeves and their name tags on the breast of their shirts.

    It stressed that the public could also identify white vehicles of RRS operatives with red and blue stripes and “RRS” boldly inscribed on the body of the vehicles, motorcycles and Armored Personnel Carriers (APC).

  • Imo bans use of polythene bags for waste disposal

    Imo State government has banned the use of polythene bags to dispose refuse in the state, reiterating its determination to restore the state to its premier position as the cleanest and most beautiful state in the country through sustained aggressive environmental sanitation exercise.

    The Chairman of the State Sanitation Committee and former governor of the state Chief Ikedi Ohakim disclosed this shortly after monitoring this month’s state environmental sanitation exercise within the Owerri capital city and its environs, jointly with officials of the State Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO) led by the General Manager, Alex Emeziem.

    He said that the use of Polythene bags to dispose refuse has been banned in the state with immediate effect.

    “From now henceforth nobody is allowed to use polythene bags in this state to dispose refuse and anybody who dumps refuse in unauthorized places will henceforth be sanctioned accordingly,” he warned.

    He warned road site/street traders to relocate to markets or be prepared to face the full weight of the law established in this regard.

    Ohakim said that his committee had already desilted 16,000 K/m of roads with drainages previously blocked by refuse cleared of such refuse

    The former governor commended Governor Emeka Ihedioha for providing new engineering dumpsites in the three senatorial zones of Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu and enjoined the residents in the state to make maximum use of the facilities.

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    Also speaking, the ENTRACO boss, Alex Emezie disclosed that the state government had acquired new equipment and trucks and would soon come up with the policy of door to door system which would later be evacuated by trucks to stem the ugly tide of environmental degradation in the state.

    Emezie, a former member of the state House of Assembly added that his commission had divided the state into 12 zones and would also engage some qualified vendors that would pick waste materials in any part of the state and dump them at designated sites.

    “By next week, we will finish the selection of vendors who will be collecting refuse in the state from the zones created so that if there are any lapses, we will know who to hold responsible,” he added.

  • Gunmen kill 24-yr-old student in Kogi

    Yet-to-be identified gunmen have allegedly killed a fresh student of the Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences and Technology, Idah, Kogi State, Sule Moses.

    The 24-year old student was allegedly attacked and killed by the unknown gunmen, on Thursday, at a private hostel, located behind the school.

    The college provost, Dr Nuhu Anyegeu described the attack on the student as ‘inconceivable and shocking.

    The provost in a statement issued, in Idah, on Saturday, expressed regret over the death of the deceased, who he described as a promising young man.

    “On behalf of the college community, particularly the Governing Council and management of the institution, I am deeply touched by this act of man’s inhumanity to man.

    “We sincerely extend the deepest sympathy of the management to the parents of the deceased and the entire college community over this shocking development,” he stated.

    He appealed for calm and cooperation, particularly among the students of the institution.

    He said that the incident was immediately reported at the Idah Police Station, and the body of the conveyed to the mortuary.

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    He added that the deceased has since been buried in his home town in Dekina LGA of Kogi, amidst weeping and wailing by students of the institution.

    He called on the police to do a thorough investigation into the unfortunate incidence and bring the perpetrators to justice.

    The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), William Anya, said that he was not aware of the incidence, but promised to find out and get back to our reporter.

    As at the time of filing this report, the police spokesman was yet to get back to our reporter.