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  • Lagos celebrates public school pupil for topping 2019 UTME nationwide

    Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs Adebunmi Adekanye, has congratulated Master Ezeunala Ekene Franklin, an SS3 pupil of Meiran Community Secondary School, Meiran, for making the best score in the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    Franklin scored 347 in the examination. A breakdown of the result showed that he had 78 in English, 91 in Mathematics, 86 in Physics and 92 in Chemistry.

    In a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Education, Adesegun Ogundeji, Mrs Adekanye said she was not surprised at Franklin’s performance, saying he had won many laurels representing the state in competitions.

    She said the 15-year old came first in the Zonal final of 2018 NNPC National Quiz competition. He proceeded and represented the South West at the National finals in Abuja.

    Adekanye noted that Franklin was to lead the Lagos team to 2018 Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientist (JETS) competition last December but when it was rescheduled, he had to be dropped to enable him concentrate on his WASSCE.

    She expressed joy that a new team of SS2 pupils eventually won the competition. A feat she ascribed to the qualitative education that the State has been providing.

    Read Also: 2019 UTME: JAMB remits N5bn to FG’s account

    Mrs Adekanye said quite a number of public school pupils did very well in the 2019 UTME – like Ihejeamatu Anthony of Festac Senior Grammar School who scored 327; AbdulLateef Adeyemi of Government Senior College, Ajara (295) and Tadese Fafai and AbdulWaheed Adegbite both of Abibat Mogaji Millennium Secondary School, Agege (291 and 271).

    The Permanent Secretary praised Franklin and others who had made Lagos and Nigeria proud locally and internationally.

    Adekanye said their performance would encourage the government to do more in making the school environment conducive for teaching and learning and continue organizing inter-school competitions in place such as the state quiz and debate, current affairs and the like.

  • Speakership: Reps member Chike Okafor loses seat

    A member of the House of Representatives, Chike Okafor (APC, Imo) has lost his seat.

    The member that represents Ehimembano/ihitte Uboma/Obowo Federal Constituency lost his seat to Emeka Nwajuba of Accord Party following a court order.

    Nwajuba got his certificate of return Monday in Abuja from the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Nwajiuba was a member of the House between 1999-2003.

    Okafor, who is serving his first term in House had few weeks ago declared his intention to vie for the position of the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives.

    According to the lawmaker, who is the current Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, his decision to contest the seat was borne of the need for the Southeast geo-political zone to be adequately rewarded for its contribution to the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the 2019 general election.

    He contended that justice and equity demand that the region be considered for the position since other regions have been duly compensated.

    Read Also: Tribunal adjourns hearing on Shehu Sani/Uba Sani suit till Thursday

    Okafor also banked on his ranking status having won the return ticket until the latest development.

    The lawmaker could not be reached for his reaction over the development as calls to his mobile phone returned unreachable.

    Nwajiuba, in his acceptance speech, while commending INEC and the judiciary for retrieving his mandate, however called on APC leadership to consider the South East in zoning the Speakership of the House of Reps to the Southeast.

    He said the APC has made steady progress between 2015 and 2019 in the zone, adding that zoning such position to the South East would lead to national stability, inclusiveness and consolidation.

    The electoral body reiterated its commitment to neutrality in election disputes with a promise to provide all requested documents to parties concerned.

    The Commission however advised senior lawyer to re-examine the manner of sending junior lawyers to access sensitive election documents from it.

    INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye during the issuance a certificate of return to Nwajiuba said the Commission is committed to obeying court orders.

    “On our own part, we are committed to giving all the political parties that are in election petition process whatever documents they want so long as we have those documents.

    “We want to appeal to political parties, we want to appeal to lawyers engaged in election petition process to show leadership and show courage when dealing with issues around whether the Commission has obeyed a particular court order or whether the Commission has not obeyed a particular court order.

    “We are committed to obeying all court orders whether those court orders are in favour of the Commission or against the Commission. It is now left for the judiciary to use their interpretative powers to adjust on matters,” he said.

  • Tribunal adjourns hearing on Shehu Sani/Uba Sani suit till Thursday

    National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kaduna on Monday adjourned the pre-hearing session of the petition of Sen. Shehu Sani (PRP Kaduna Central) to Thursday, May 16.

    The adjournment was sequel to the filing of preliminary objection by the first respondent, Malam Uba Sani of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared winner of the Senate Seat for Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 2019 general elections.

    INEC had declared Uba Sani winner after he defeated Lawal Adamu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Sen Shehu Sani of the Peoples’ Redemption Party (PRP) in the poll.

    Read Also; Acting CJN: Court fixes June 3 to hear suit against appointment

    However, both Lawal Adamu of the PDP and Shehu Sani rejected the results and filed separate petitions at the Tribunal challenging Uba Sani, INEC and the APC alleging that the election was marred by massive rigging and ballot stuffing.

    At the Pre-hearing session on Monday, the Chairman Justice A.H Suleiman said the first respondent (Uba Sani) had filed a motion moving for the preliminary objection on the case challenging his election victory, as earlier filed by Sen Shehu Sani.

    Justice Suleiman adjourned for adoption of pre-hearing conference forms of all the parties and had set the date to rule on the motion on preliminary objection filed by Uba Sani, the first respondent.

  • Bandits kill 6 civilian JTF, as minister visits Zamfara

    Bandits on Sunday attacked and killed six members of the Civilian Joint Task Force in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara, Vice Chairman of the council, Alhaji Sani Galadima said.

    Galadima made this known on Monday when he received the Minister of Interior, Lt.- Gen. Abdurrahman Dambazau (rtd), who was on a visit to the state as part of efforts by the Federal Government to find sustainable solutions to the security challenges in the state.

    “Six members of Civilian JTF were attacked and killed yesterday, Sunday, by the bandits after receiving their payments from Shinkafi town and were on their way back to their villages,” the vice chairman said.

    He added: “Even yesterday, these bandits sent a letter to the district head of Shinkafi town (saying) that they were coming to attack Shinkafi town.

    “This ugly situation is very disheartening; everyday we pay millions of naira as ransom to these bandits.

    “We really need government’s urgent support to end this problem.

    “Our women also suffer a lot (because) the bandits attack communities and abduct ladies from their parents’ homes.

    “People no longer sleep with their two eyes closed in the night in Shinkafi LGA.

    “We want the government to solve the issue of shortage of manpower including the army and police personnel.

    “We only have 19 soldiers in this town.

    “We need urgent intervention from the government; we are not satisfied with the efforts and strategies of security agencies.

    “We all know the camps where these bandits stay; even the security men are aware of these camps; our major concern is that security personnel are not getting to these bandits.

    “We are hoping that with this visit, this problem will come to an end,” he said.

    According to Galadima, at least 98 communities in Shinkafi LGA have been deserted due to the activities of bandits in the state.

    In his remarks, Dambazau, who was also in Anka Local Government Area, said that he was in the state on assessment visit to stakeholders over the security challenges facing the state.

    He said that President Muhammad Buhari was concerned about the security situation in the state.

    Read Also: Bandits strike again, sacks Batsari village in Katsina

    “This is not my first visit to Zamfara; we started this process to ensure lasting solutions to these problems not only in Zamfara state.

    “President Buhari asked me to visit Shinkafi and Anka Emirates in Zamfara to carry out the assessment and discuss these issues.

    “The President also expresses his condolence over loss of lives and destruction of properties as a result of this insecurity.

    “It is the responsibility of government to ensure lives and properties are secure.

    “That is why as government we must do everything to ensure the end of this situation.

    “We commenced this process by meeting with leaders of Miyetti Allah; we are going to consult with traditional rulers and governors of the most affected states,” Dambazau stated.

    The Emir of Shinkafi, Alhaji Muhammad Makwashe-Isah, expressed appreciation to the minister for the visit and urged the Federal Government to do more in fighting banditry in the state.

  • Man sentenced to death for killing brother in Lagos

    An Ikeja High Court on Monday sentenced to death a 33-year-old man, Abiodun Allen, for killing his immediate younger brother, Wale, with a broken bottle.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abiodun, who was first arraigned on Oct. 6, 2015, was convicted of killing Wale by stabbing him in the throat and stomach.

    Justice Raliatu Adebiyi, while convicting Abiodun, said that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and all the necessary ingredients to secure a conviction for murder had been established.

    The judge noted that the testimonies of the four prosecution witnesses (Mr Sunday Abogunrin who is a family friend of the convict and three police officers) corroborated the confessional statement of Abiodun to the police.

    She noted that the convict during his testimony acted strangely and the defence never raised the defence of insanity.

    Read Also: Hollywood actress, singer Doris Day dies at 97

    The judge said that Abiodun might have been acting strangely to get a favourable sentence from the court.
    Convicting Abiodun, the judge said: “Abiodun Allen is hereby found guilty of the murder of his brother Wale Allen, I so hold.”

    Following his conviction, Allen’s defence counsel, Mrs Y. A Ajayi told the court that she was not going to give an allocutus (plea for mercy) on the defendant’s behalf.

    Sentencing the convict, Justice Adebiyi noted that Section 221 gives a mandatory death sentence and does not give the court discretionary powers while meting out the sentence.

    “Abiodun Allen having been found guilty of murder is hereby sentenced to death. May God the giver of life, have mercy on your soul,” she said.

    Upon hearing the sentence, Abiodun remained expressionless as he left the dock to be led away by prison officials.

    NAN reports that during the trial, Abogunrin (PW2) had testified before the court that Abiodun was notorious in the community for ingesting illegal substances, beating up people and randomly killing animals.

    Abogunrin, who is also the landlord to the Allen family, said that in the early hours of the morning of the incident, he caught Abiodun dragging the body of the deceased to the bush behind their residence to secretly bury it.

    Abiodun, however, was the only witness to testify in his defence.

    In his testimony, the convict claimed he was a student and that the aunt whom he had been living with for over 20-years claimed he had killed her son and that following her claims, he was apprehended by some youths in the community.

    He also denied that the deceased was his brother and claimed that his mother was Chinese.

    The prosecution, led by Mrs O. R Ahmed-Muili, said that the convict committed the offence at 11p.m. on Feb. 20, 2013 at Imudo Village, Oto Awori, Lagos following years of toxic sibling rivalry between the pair.

    According to the confessional statement of the convict, he was asleep in the living room when he suddenly saw Wale, his younger brother, standing with a torchlight in his hand.

    “He alleged Wale woke him up and started saying that he was going to kill him if he was not careful.

    “He got up angrily and took up a broken bottle which he kept beside him and stabbed him in the throat.

    “While Wale lay dying, the convict allegedly told Wale that he must die before him because he has been threatening him for over two years,” he said.

  • APC guber ticket tears Sylva, Lokpobiri apart

    A former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva and the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, have fallen apart following their ambition to clinch the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa, it was learnt on Monday.

    It was gathered that prior to the election timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sylva and Lokpobiri had gone their separate ways to deliver results from the APC in the last general elections.

    Their disagreements were said to have sharply divided the state’s APC into three camps ahead of the November 2 governorship poll with a neutral camp led by a founding member of the party and governorship hopeful, Preye Aganaba.

    Sources from Lokpobiri’s camp said Sylva was angry that the minister was nursing a governorship ambition instead of supporting him to pick the ticket and complete his second term in office.

    Read Also: Bayelsa 2019 guber: Zoning as an imperative for peace and justice

    But one of the sources, who spoke in confidence, said Sylva should be blamed for the internal crisis rocking the party alleging that the former governor was running the party as his private estate.

    He said Sylva was nominating himself for all the juicy positions in the party without considering the interests of other loyal members of the party.

    The source said: “Sylva is behaving as if he is the only one in the party. He wants to be an NDDC managing director.

    ‘’He wants to be a minister in the coming cabinet of President Muhammadu and he wants to be the governorship candidate of the APC.

    ‘’His thinking is that he can clinch an appointed position and resign to contest the governorship election.

    “Besides, Lokpobiri is eminently qualified to contest the governorship ticket of the party. I don’t see anything wrong with the ambition of the minister.

    ‘’People in Sylva’s camp are saying that the minister’s candidacy will not fly because he is from Ekeremor in the same senatorial district with the incumbent Governor, Seriake Dickson.

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  • Updated: AAC suspends Sowore, nine others for alleged infractions

    The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African Action Congress (AAC), has suspended its national chairman and presidential candidate in the March 23 election, Mr Omoyele Sowore.

    Nine members of the AAC were similarly suspended for six months for alleged financial infraction and other anti-party activities.

    The party has appointed Mr. Leonard Nzenwa as Acting National Chairman pending the election of a substantive National Chairman.

    In a swift reaction, however, Sowore announced the expulsion of Nzenwa from the party.

    Others suspended for a period of six months beginning from March 27 are the Deputy National Chairman (headquarters), National Youth Leader, Buhari Olanrewaju; Ex-Official, Abimiku Anthony Kukumah; National Deputy Coordinator, Sydney Usman; and Deputy National Treasurer, Elanu Rex Inalegu.

    Others are National Treasurer, Ajiegbe Samuel Oluwafemi; Deputy National Chairman (South West), Ogunlana Rotimi Jacob; Deputy Organizing Secretary, Murtala Adamu; and Deputy National Youth Leader, Abdullahi Isa Mohammed.

    According to the party’s NEC, Sowore and others were suspended for alleged financial misappropriation, allowing inflow of foreign funds into the party and personally retaining same in contravention of Section 225 (3)(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    The suspended party chieftains were also sanctioned for allegedly failing to convene or hold the mandatory quarterly meeting of the NEC.

    A member of the party’s NEC, Mr Okwi Ibeh, who announced the suspension of the officials in Abuja on Monday, also alleged usurpation of functions of all organs of the party by the suspended officials.

    Ibeh said that the decision of the NEC was taken after a thorough appraisal of the state of the party under Sowore’s leadership.

    According to him, the NEC has resolved to refer the allegations against the suspended officials to the party’s National Convention, in line with the its constitution.

    Reacting to the suspension order, Sowore, in a statement he signed and circulated on Monday, said, “It has come to the notice of the office of the Chairman of the African Action Congress that a group of suspended members, induced by financial reasons and anti-progressive politics, gathered in Abuja today, 13th May, 2019, and purportedly held a NEC meeting.

    Read Also: Sowore: I’m not intimidated by moneybag politicians

    “These members, led by Leonard Nzenwa, former national secretary, who was suspended for financial impropriety and anti-party activities, have demonstrated by their actions that they have never been, and have never shared, the core beliefs that those of us in the African Action Congress hold.

    “Leonard Nzenwa is hereby expelled from the party, and the misguided individuals who participated in the Abuja meeting are suspended from the party until investigations reveal the extent of their involvement”.

  • IG ascribes 80 per cent of Police success to SARS

    The Acting Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Mohammed Adamu, said in Benin on Monday that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has contributed up to 80 per cent of the successes recorded by the Nigerian Police Force.

    Adamu made the remark at the commencement of a three-day Human Rights Training Programme for officers of SARS in Edo.

    The I-G, represented by CP Abiodun Odube, Commissioner of Police in charge of Training and Development, said this was in spite of the protests by Nigerians against the activities of SARS.

    He noted that one area of conflict between the public and SARS was in the area of human rights.

    The I-G said the training was, therefore, a holistic approach to enhance the performance of the squad.

    He also said that the force was committed to the training and re-training of its officers and men across the country to respect the human rights of the citizens.

    According to him, the training seeks to improve professionalism of officers, who are expected to take the training down to their subordinates and the rank-and-file.

    He stressed that the training was part of a holistic reform to get police personnel adequately equipped to discharge their duties and win the trust of Nigerians.

    Meanwhile, CP Mohammed DanMallam, Edo Commissioner of Police, commended the I-G for approving the participation of officers of the command in the intensive training.

    He said he believed that the training would aid the repositioning of the police for more efficiency and put them in good relations with members of the public.

    Earlier, Dr Uju Agomoh, Executive-Director, Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), said it would be the first time such training on human rights would be scaled down to the unit levels.

    Agomoh, whose organisation provided the technical support for the training, noted that it was not enough to call for banning of police units.

    Read Also: Police arrest three suspected kidnappers

    According to her, the units should be supported with training and re-training, to get the best out of them.

    Meanwhile, Mr Hartmut Zander, Project Manager, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, GIZ, (German society for international cooperation), said GIZ had been sponsoring reforms and training in the Nigeria Police through its Police Programme Africa.

    He said that the exercise had been running for more than three years.

    Zander said that GIZ aims at ensuring holistic reforms in the way police jobs are carried out and to promote international best practices in policing within Nigeria, in particular, and Africa, at large.

  • Kano Emirate: Ganduje presents Staff of Office to new Emirs

    Amid jubilations Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state has finally presented Staff of Office to the newly appointed First Class Emirs, in Kano, which started with the Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, one of the eldest sons of the late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, who is the newly appointed Emir of Bichi Emirate Council.

    He presented the Staff of Office to them in this sequence, after Bichi Emir, he proceeded to Karaye Emirate Council, when he presented to the new Emir, Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Abubakar II, followed by Emir of Rano Alhaji Tafida Abubakar Ila and finally presented to the Emir of Gaya, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulkadir.

    In each of the Emirate Councils, the Governor with his large entourage were greeted by thousands of people who came from all the Districts that make up the Councils, as they who showered encomiums to the Governor and rejoicing with the newly installed Emirs.

    After the presentations, he congratulated them for being appointed as leaders of their people. Urging them to always abide by what the Staff of Office symbolically represents.

    Explaining that, “This Staff of Office represents dedication and commitment to serve your subjects in the areas of security, health care delivery system, education and environment among others. We, as a government, are always ready to work with you hand in hand for the growth and development of our state in particular and the nation in general.”

    He Added that they should always be ready to see that their people were their major concern, insisting that, “You should place greater priority on education, health and the security of your domains. As government would always respond positively to your people-oriented yearnings and aspirations.”

    Read Also: SERAP to Ganduje: reject fat pensions, luxury cars for life for Kano lawmakers

    Ganduje urged the new Emirs to strive hard in the area of security, emphasising that, “As leaders who are closer to your subjects, you should join hand with government and other security agencies to make sure that, security is not only improved but maintained.

    Efforts towards strengthening community policing, as practice globally, should form part of your commitment. Ours is to, together, ensure that global best practices are observed.”

    Highlighting that, “New security strategy should be looked at. That is why I am calling on our Emirs to always consider workable and viable synergy with all the stakeholders in your domains, with the singular reason of making our societies safer.

    Security is on the shoulders of all of us. Government alone cannot tackle the issue of security. And traditional institution plays vital role in this area.”

    All the Emirs assured Ganduje of their support in his bid to develop the state, assuring him that, all the areas he highlighted would be given special consideration, for the overall development of the state.

    They made it categorically clear that regular meetings between them and other stakeholders in their domains would strategically be designed in order to discharge their responsibilities diligently.

    Emirs promised to give special priority and attention to the education of all, particularly girl child education.

  • I’m politically wiser now, says Ambode

    The outgoing Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, seems to have learnt a lot from his failed attempt to pick the All Progressive Congress (APC) ticket in the just concluded governorship election.

    Ambode’s re-election bid was punctured by Babajide Sanwo-Olu who won the party primaries and eventually won the governorship election in the March polls.

    Speaking to State House correspondents on Monday after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Governor said he had normally seen himself as a technocrat but the time he spent in office has changed his perception.

    On the lesson learnt, Ambode said “You see, every politician learns every day. The fact remains that I came in as a technocrat. So, I use to call myself a techno-politician but I think I am wiser now. I am more of a politician than a technocrat.”

    On his visit to Villa, Ambode said it was just to say thank you to the president for recent visit Lagos where he (Buhari) inaugurated some projects.

    Read Also: Ambode marks end of tenure with commissioning of projects

    The governor said he would want to be remembered for after leaving office, he said: “Well, in another 16 days or so we will be leaving office but what is important is that I was able to have that opportunity to be elected as governor of Lagos State and to touch humanity in a way that I deem it fit.

    “We did our best and most importantly the projects we did were people friendly and people-centred. I just think a lot more people have enjoyed the benefits and dividends of democracy than we actually met it. And that gives me joy that we were able to touch lives.

    “Wherever you find yourself, just make positive difference to people and Nigerians. That is the whole essence of service. I’m grateful that I had that opportunity.”