The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • Kwara courts in bad shape, says NBA

    The Ilorin Branch of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Monday painted a sordid and decrepit picture of the courtrooms in Kwara State.

    It also lamented the dearth of courtrooms and offices in the state judiciary.

    Its chairman, Mohammed Akande, told reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, on the sideline of 2019 biennial law week.

    Theme of the law week is “Advancing socio-economic fortunes through effective administration of criminal justice in Nigeria”.

    Akande said the state judiciary and investigative and prosecuting agencies need holistic funding.

    He said: “When you talk about the implementation of the law you have to look at some things that are very important. Of course, look at the position of our courts in the state. The courts are in bad shape. Even if a law is very effective and there is no place for magistrates and judges to sit, it cannot work.

    “In Kwara State, we still have like four or five magistrates sharing a courtroom. So, judicial time/productive hours are being wasted. The Ministry of Justice needs a better accommodation. Today, you see between seven and eight lawyers sharing an office. “

  • How Boko Haram killed 68 Badu village mourners, by Borno council chair

    Caretaker  Committee Chairman of Nganzai Local Government Area Alhaji Mohammed Bulama has explained how some insurgents launched attack on villagers, who went to bury one of their own at Badu Village in the local government, Borno State.

    Bulama said the insurgents rode on about five motorcycles to launch the dastardly attack on unsuspecting mourners.

    He spoke to reporters at Gajiram, the headquarters of Nganzai Local Government when Governor Babagana Zulum visited to condole with the affected families.

    The caretaker committee chairman said about 60 people were killed and 10 people were also injured in the unfortunate incident.

    The latest attack on the village, a source said, might have been caused by a previous blow on the insurgents by security agents and vigilante group.

    “There was a  previous security encounter between Boko Haram and security agencies in this village and the insurgents suffered a major setback as many of their weapons were recovered by the Army. They are still angry over that attack and that might have prompted their action to go after the villagers at the burial ground,” the source said.

    Zulum, who condemned the attack equally, reaffirmed his  commitment to strengthen more ties with  security agencies to protect lives and property of the citizenry.

    He  condoled  with the  families and relations of the  murdered villagers and called on the villagers to take their personal security more serious and they should be more vigilant.

    He also  prayed  for the repose of the souls  the departed  and  God to grant the families of the deceased the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

    The governor was also  at the State  Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri to sympathise with those who sustained various injuries during the attack.

    The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres yesterday strongly condemned the recent spate of attacks against civilians in Nigeria, including the attack on 27 July in Borno State.

     The Secretary-General expressed his deep condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Nigeria.

    He wishes a speedy recovery to the injured. He hopes those responsible for these attacks will be swiftly brought to justice.

    Reports yesterday indicated that troops have repelled attack by Boko Haram insurgents in Bama and Beneshiek.

    Beneshiek,  which is located on the Damaturu/Maiduguri highway is  75 kilometres (km) to Maiduguri and 60-km away from Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.

    Modu Ari, one of the resident of Beneshiek, who spoke to The Nation from his hiding place on phone, said they started hearing gunshots and heavy artillery sounds  from far until they learnt that the insurgents were chased out of the town.

  • MNJTF troops eliminate 10 terrorists in Borno

    THE troops of Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have eliminated 10 Boko Haram terrorists in Baga, Borno State during an early morning attack, the Force spokesman, Col. Timothy Antigha, said on Monday.

    He, however, said a soldier was killed by the terrorists and five others were wounded during the exchange of fire.

    Col. Antigha said in a statement that four of the 10 terrorists killed by the troops of MNJTF were suicide bombers.

    Col. Antigha said: “What was meant to be a surprise dawn attack on Multinational Joint Task Force and national troops this morning became a nightmare for the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), as 10 of its terrorists met their waterloo in Baga.

    “Specifically, at about 5:30a.m. this morning, ISWAP terrorists numbering about 30 infested troops’ defensive locality. However, vigilant troops spotted their approach and promptly thwarted what could have been an audacious assault.

    “In the process, 10 terrorists, including four suicide bombers were neutralised. Others escaped with gunshot wounds, as blood-stained tracks were observed.”

    Col. Antigha: “Additionally, assorted arms and ammunition were impounded from other terrorists, who fled in disarray. Unfortunately, a soldier paid the supreme price, while five others sustained varying injuries and have been evaluated for medical attention.

    “It must be re-emphasised that the MNJTF, acting cohesively with national forces, will continue to pursue courses of action necessary for the achievement of its mandate in the Lake Chad Basin.”

  • 16-man Assembly panel to screen Lagos commissioner nominees, others

    THE Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday constituted a 16-man ad-hoc committee to screen Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s nominees for the state Exco.

    The Speaker,  Mudashiru Obasa, who read the list of the members of the ad hoc committee, said it would be headed by Rotimi Abiru, a fourth-term lawmaker, representing Somolu Constituency II.

    Other members of the committee are Jimi Mohammed (Ikeja I), Yinka Ogundimu (Agege II), Abiodun Tobun (Epe I), Setonji David (Badagry II), Hon. Victor Akande (Ojo I) and Mosunmola Sangodara (Surulere II).

    Others are Mojisola Alli-Macaulay (Amuwo-Odofin I), Rasheed Makinde (Ifako-Ijaiye II), Lanre Afinni (Lagos Island II), Noheem Adams (Eti-Osa II), and Adedamola Kasunmu (Ikeja II)

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    The rest are: Suraju Tijani (Ojo II), Olusola Sokunle (Oshodi/Isolo I), Olumuyiwa Jimoh (Apapa II) and Abdulsobur Olawale (Mushin II).

    The committee is to report back to the House in a week.

  • Kudos for Gbajabiamila on NDDC Committee Chair

    The Forum of Akoko in Diaspora (FAD) has hailed the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila for appointing a fellow Akoko man, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, as the chairman, House Committee on  Niger Delta Development Commission  (NDDC).

    A statement signed by the group’s General Secretary, Taiwo Ogidan, showered appreciation on Gbajabiamila and other members of the House Selection Committee for counting Tunji-Ojo worthy of his new national legislative assignment.

    The statement also expressed implicit faith in the ability of Tunji-Ojo not to disappoint and live up to expectations in his new responsibilities.

    “We are nonetheless very confident that Hon. Tunji-Ojo will succeed on his newly assigned responsibility. He is someone that is known to be very hardworking, innovative, cerebrally gifted and of very versatile mind.”

    The statement, however, informed that the group has dispatched a letter to Tunji-Ojo to remind him of the onerous nature of his additional oversight functions.

    It added that regular reminder would be sent to the Akoko born lawmaker on the need to ensure that deserved benefits of oil derivation get to the people of mandate areas.

  • 32-year-old charged with stealing bags of rice

    A 32-year-old man, Festus Oluwaseun, was on Monday arraigned before an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court in Osun State for alleged theft of 250 bags of rice.

    Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Idoko John told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 23 around 1:17pm at Baruwa, Osogbo.

    He alleged that the accused stole 250 bags of rice worth about N3.3 million, owned by one Fashola.

    Idoko said the offence contravened sections 419 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol.11 Laws of Osun 2002.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Defense counsel Ola Ibrahim prayed the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal terms.

    Magistrate Rofiat Olayemi granted the accused N1million bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She said the sureties must live within the court jurisdiction with evidence of tax payment and two passport photographs attached with an affidavit of means.

    The case was adjourned till September 2.

  • Oil prices edge marginally higher

    Oil futures edged higher yesterday as traders weighed the health of the global economy and its impact on energy uptake.

    Brent crude was up eight cents, or 0.1 per cent, to $63.45 a barrel on the ICE Europe exchange while WTI crude for September delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange added 25 cents, or 0.4 per cent, to trade at $56.45 a barrel.

    Nigeria’s N8.91 trillion Appropriation Act 2019 was hinged on an estimated oil daily production of 2.3 million barrels; oil price benchmark of $60 per barrel and an exchange rate of N305 to the dollar.

    The Senate of Africa’s largest oil producer and member, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) had increased the budget by N80 billion, up from the N8.83 trillion presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to lawmakers last year.

    The planned resumption of trade talks between the United States (U.S.) and China, the world’s largest economies, also was in focus but commodity investors appeared doubtful that a near-term resolution could be accomplished, which would if achieved help support energy demand and higher crude prices.

    Last week, both U.S. benchmark WTI and Brent saw weekly rises of around 1.5 per cent.

    Oil has struggled to rally convincingly despite a string of six weekly declines in U.S. inventories and rising geopolitical tensions between Iran and other countries, notably the U.S. and Britain in the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global oil transport, with around a third of global seaborne oil trade passing through the waterway.

    Washington’s decision last May to pull out of a 2015 Iran nuclear deal set the stage for increased animosities in the region. On Monday, the U.K. sent a warship to escort its vessels in the area and warned Tehran that it must release a British-flagged vessel seized this month.

    Analysts at Macquarie Capital, in a Monday note, said the bullish trend in U.S. crude inventories, which fell 10 million barrels last week, remains supportive for the short-term outlook, but they expressed worry about longer term prospects against a backdrop of diminishing economic optimism and ample global supply.

    “We believe the window for upward price movement is rapidly closing, and we are lowering our conviction in tandem,” they wrote. “While we maintain our positive outlook on oil through September, or $70 (a barrel) Brent, we gross down long exposure.”

    Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve’s policy decision, which is expected to deliver a quarter-point interest-rate cut on Wednesday, also could be a key inflection point for global markets, as central banks attempt to curtail a global slowdown that could impinge upon energy consumption.

    “Global economic growth prospects remain fragile, so energy traders will closely await updates on both the trade front and Fed policy,” wrote Edward Moya, senior market analyst at Oanda, in a daily research note.

    Formal negotiations between China and the U.S., which were set to get under way on Tuesday in Shanghai, also were being watched for signs of progress, which could help support global economic expansion. Tensions between the superpowers have underpinned concerns about crude appetite.

    President Donald Trump has suggested that Beijing may avoid inking a tariff agreement with the U.S. until it determines the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. “I think that China will probably say, ‘let’s wait,’” he told reporters in the Oval Office. “When I win, like almost immediately, they’re all going to sign deals.”

  • Gunmen kill three in Benue

    GUNMEN on Monday shot dead three persons in Katsina Ala, Benue State.

    The deceased were travelling to Makurdi in a private vehicle with the correspondent of Bussinessday, Benjamin Adesan.

    An eyewitness said the incident occurred near Kiilometre 5, Katsina-Ala-Makurdi Federal Highway.

    The journalist, who was returning to Makurdi from Katsina-Ala, boarded a public transport, but later changed his mind and opted for a private vehicle.

    He said the vehicle was believed to convey huge sums of cash by revenue collectors.

    Gunmen trailed the vehicle and opened fire on the occupants, killing three of them on the spot.   

    Police spokesperson Anene Kate could not be reached for comments last night.

    The Nation gathered that Adesan was receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Makurdi.

    The bodies have been deposited in a mortuary in Gboko.

  • Ex-NULGE chair abducted in Edo

    A former Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Akoko-Edo branch, Edo State, Alhaji Jimoh Olumoye, has been kidnapped while going to farm.

    He was abducted on the Igarra-Okpe Road on Sunday afternoon while driving his car to pick his children from the farm.

    A member of the family, who preferred anonymity, said his children raised the alarm when they saw their father’s car with the doors opened and his phones abandoned.

    The source said: “His children had gone to the farm early in the morning and he promised to pick them in the afternoon before he would attend a family meeting.

    “The children waited for their father and when they did not see him, they trekked home. When returning home, they saw his car with the four doors opened and his phones abandoned. After searching for their father fruitlessly, they went home to inform the family.

    “We have been praying for his safety. We are worried because he is a civil servant who also farms to augment his salary. We appeal to his abductors to release him. He has an aged mother and everybody is afraid of breaking the news to her. We are really worried.”

    The source said the family had lodged a complaint at Igarra Police Station.

    It was gathered that vigilance groups at Igarra, Ojah, Ogugu and environs in Akoko-Edo Local Government and their counterparts in Owan East have been mobilised to comb the forests to rescue the victim.

    A member of a vigilance group said: “It was only the State Security Service that responded to our call immediately we heard about the incident and called them. We have mobilised our members and we trying to track the kidnappers down in the forests so that they will not escape to neighbouring states.”

    Police spokesman Chidi Nwabuzor could not be reached for comments last night.

  • Two charged with diesel oil theft

    TWO men were on Monday arraigned at a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing 75 litres of diesel engine oil valued at N46,500.

    Usman Nuhu, 32, a guard, and Celestine Klotoe, 37, a driver, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Modupe Olaluwoye said the defendants committed the offences, on July 18, at 51B, Adekunle Bisi Street, GRA, Ogudu, Lagos.

    She alleged that the defendants stole the oil from the store of their employer, Specific Tools and Techniques Ltd.

    Olaluwoye said they broke into the store with a master key and carried away the oil in a wheel barrow.

    “My lord, the whole thing was captured on the company’s Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera.

    “The second defendant, Klotoe, had even started selling the oil to people at his friend’s mechanic garage.

    “It was the company’s Accountant, Mr. Ojo Adeyemi, who saw the theft on the CCTV video and reported at the station,’’ Olaluwoye said.

    Chief Magistrate Oluwatoyin Oghere granted the defendants N100,000 bail, with two sureties each in the like sum.

    The sureties, she said, must be employed with evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case continues on September 11.