The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • How I dealt with NURTW leaders, by Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has offered insights into how he handled the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) known for fomenting troubles in the state.

    Until Ajimobi took over, the state was under the threats of constant violent crisis by feuding NURTW leaders leading to several deaths and injuries.

    The governor said he decided from day one not to have anything to do with the body that will endanger peaceful existence of Oyo.

    He spoke while delivering a public lecture with the theme: “Peace and security architecture for sustainable development in Oyo State” organised by the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) at the University of Ibadan old Conference Centre, Ibadan.

    He said: “When I came in 2011 and the leadership of NURTW came on a visit, saying Your Excellency, we are for you’, I said no! Be for peace. If any of you steps on the law by fomenting trouble, you will be arrested and jailed. They conformed with the directive and peace was back.

    “To make an omelet, you must break eggs. For you to make sustainable changes possible, you must step on toes.

    “When the elders in the state realised I would not budge, they came to beg me and I insisted that for the state to escape the siege of brigandage, where students of universities were killed in broad daylight at Iwo Road, it had to stop.

    “They grudgingly agreed that the reign of terror had to stop and today we are talking about the prevalence of peace in the state.

    Read Also: Ajimobi to Makinde: be ready to deal with threats to peace

    “I make bold to say that if peace is the only achievement people will remember of this administration, I am happy about it.”

    He appealed to the governor-elect Seyi Makinde to be ready to ensure enforcement of legal actions against people, who plan to obstruct peace and tranquility in the state.

    The governor added: “I call on the incoming administration to see the maintenance of peace that had already been entrenched as important.

    “He should not at any period shy away from making the leadership of NURTW realise the enormous power reposed in the office by not taking necessary steps at all times to put them in their place.”

    SPSP President, Dr. Nathaniel Danjibo lauded the qualities of the governor that made the society arrived at the decision that he deserved the honour.

    He reiterated the fact that Ajimobi’s administration succeeded in containing the hitherto NURTW skirmishes, bank robberies and activities of the notorious ‘one million boys’ in the state as well as the establishment of community relations department that had worked assiduously to bring to nearest minimum, herders’ crisis with farmers.

  • Bank manager docked over alleged N3.7m theft

    A 39-year-old bank manager, Lateef Ewedina, who allegedly stole N3.7million from a branch of Asha Microfinance Bank appeared before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Friday.

    Ewedina, a resident of Ipaja area of Lagos state, is facing a charge of stealing from his employer.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Godwin Oriabure, told the court that the defendant committed the offence between September 2018 and March 2019 at Asha Microfinance Bank, Simpson Street, Ebute-Meta in Lagos State.

    He alleged that the defendant, a manager of the branch of the bank, had made fraudulent cash withdrawals and unauthorized cash disbursements of the depositors’ funds.

    Oriabure said that an audit of the bank’s accounts by its auditor, Mr Ayedekun Rasheed, uncovered the fraud which was traced to the defendant.

    The offence, the prosecutor said, contravened Section 287 (7) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    Read Also: Teenager in court over alleged phone theft

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 (7) stipulates a seven-year jail term for the offence of stealing from one’s employer.

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N1million with two sureties in like sum.

    Chief Magistrate Oluwatoyin Ojuromi said that both sureties must be above 40 years’ old and be gainfully employed with an evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case was adjourned until May 14 for mention.

  • Breaking: French forces free American, South Korean in Burkina Faso

    French forces have freed four foreign hostages in Burkina Faso, according to French government.

    But the Forces lost two soldiers during the rescue operation.

    Two of the people released were French while the other two were said to be an American and a South Korean.

    The hostages were kidnapped in the neighbouring country of Benin in May.

  • Herdsman remanded for allegedly murdering 2 brothers

    An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court on Friday ordered that a herdsman, Muhammadu Usman, who allegedly killed two brothers be remanded in prison, pending legal advice.

    The Magistrate, Oluwabukola Oreoluwa, who did not take the plea of Usman, ordered that he be remanded at Oke-kura Prison Ilorin, pending legal advice from the office of the Kwara Director of Public Prosecutions.

    Oreoluwa adjourned the case until May 28 for further mention.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Isaac Yakub, informed the court that the accused hacked Usman and Salihu Abdullahi and stole their cattle at Elemere via Malete in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara.

    Read Also: Herdsman remanded for alleged murder

    He said the accused was caught while trying to escape and the stolen cattle was recovered from him.

    The police charged Usman with culpable homicide and armed robbery, which contravened the provisions of Section 221 of the Penal Code Law and section 6(B) of Robbery and Firearms Law of Nigeria 2004.

    He prayed the court to remand the accused in prison custody pending the outcome of investigation.

  • Phelan confirmed as Man Utd’s assistant manager

    Mike Phelan was confirmed as Manchester United’s assistant manager on permanent basis on Friday after being given a three-year contract, the Premier League club said in a statement.

    Former United player Phelan returned to Old Trafford in December 2018 as assistant to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following Jose Mourinho’s dismissal.

    He previously worked in a similar role, as well as that of first-team coach, under Alex Ferguson from 2001-2013 — a period in which the club won seven Premier League titles.

    “I am thrilled to be back as Assistant Manager,” Phelan said. “Manchester United has been a huge part of my life since I joined as a player in 1989 and I am delighted to be able to continue that relationship in this key role.

    “Since returning in December, I have enjoyed working with Ole, Michael (Carrick), Kieran, Mark and Emilio and we are all focused on preparing for the new season.”

    Read Also: Tottenham stadium to host European club rugby finals in 2021

    While Solskjaer’s appointment in December as interim manager sparked a return to form for United, since he was given the job on a permanent basis results have slumped and United will finish outside the Premier League’s top four.

    They host relegated Cardiff City in their final match of the campaign on Sunday, after which the focus will turn to next season and reviving the club’s fortunes.

    “Mike is a great person to have around and has been invaluable to me since we returned in December,” Solskjaer said.

    “He brings a wealth of experience to this role with a long established connection to the club.”

    Midfielder Phelan joined United in 1989 from Norwich City and spent five years there before finishing his playing career at West Bromwich Albion.

    His coaching life began at Norwich where he had a spell as assistant manager, a role he also took at Blackpool and Stockport County before forming a hugely-successful spell working alongside Ferguson.

    He left when Ferguson retired in 2013, returning as an assistant at Norwich before a short spell as Hull City manager.

    Phelan’s deep understanding of the club could prove invaluable to Solskjaer who has the daunting task of trying to close the gap on the club’s two fiercest rivals, Liverpool and Manchester City who are locked in a titanic title battle.

    United are 29 points behind City and 28 behind Liverpool.

  • Teenager in court over alleged phone theft

    A 19-year-old tailor, Tobi Sodiq, on Friday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, over alleged theft of a cell phone worth N50, 000.

    Sodiq, who resides at No. 27, Adebimpe St., Mile 12 in Lagos, is charged with conspiracy and stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    According to the Prosecutor, Insp. Victor Eruada, the defendant committed the offences with other persons still at large on April 30, at 8:45 a.m. at Secretariat Bus Stop Along Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, Lagos.

    Read Also: Three students bag one-year jail sentence for attempting to steal

    Eruada said that the defendant stole the Samsung Galaxy phone from the complainant, Mr Gbenga Adefoluwe.

    “Adefoluwe was stuck in traffic when Sodiq walked up to his car, distracted his attention and stole the phone.

    “The complaint raised an alarm with the help of some passersby the defendant was arrested,” the prosecutor said.

    Eruade said that the offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 stipulates a three-year jail term for stealing while Section 411 provides two years imprisonment for conspiracy.

    The Magistrate, Mrs M.I. Dan-Oni, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum, and adjourned the case until May 27.

  • Tottenham stadium to host European club rugby finals in 2021

    The 2021 Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup finals will be held at Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium from May 21 to 22, the European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) said on Friday.

    The 2018 finals held in Bilbao, home to Spanish soccer club Athletic Bilbao, while this year’s finals will be held in Newcastle’s St James’ Park.

    Tottenham’s stadium, which has a capacity of over 62,000, won the bid for the 2021 finals.

    “There is already a real buzz about the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and it will continue the theme of new experiences for our fans in dynamic stadiums,” EPCR Chairman Simon Halliday said.

    The new stadium, which will host NFL games apart from Premier League matches, will also allow Premiership Rugby side Saracens to play their annual ‘Big Game’ fixture from 2020 after they agreed on a five-year deal last month.

    Read Also: Ajax’s shares crash after Champions League defeat to Tottenham

    “We’re excited to have been selected to host this prestigious weekend… in 2021 and to have this opportunity to welcome EPCR and rugby fans from around the world to Tottenham to experience our new home,” Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy said.

    “These games will add to the portfolio of world-class sporting and entertainment events our multi-use venue will stage in this new leisure destination for London.”

    Saracens play Leinster in this season’s Champions Cup final on Saturday while Clermont take on La Rochelle later today in the Challenge Cup final.

  • Manchester United must invest wisely in transfer market – Solskjaer

    Manchester United must take “smart” decisions when signing new players during the close season and nurture their youth players so they can compete in the English Premier League (EPL) next season.

    Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer however said injuries to key players at the wrong moment were a factor in their season and only good recruitment would take care of it.

    A brief resurgence under Solskjaer had given Manchester United hope of finishing in the top four.

    But they failed to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League after winning only two of their last eight games.

    The 20-times league winners dropped down to sixth as a result and cannot finish higher than fifth on the final day.

    Solskjaer said player injuries in the final weeks of the season cost Manchester United a top four spot.

    “We’ve got to recruit smart, we’ve got to keep blooding the youngsters and we’ll be fine,” Solskjaer said.

    “This club is huge and the media and everyone’s criticising us as soon as they’ve got a chance. We got a few injuries and it’s been ups and downs for the last two months, but that’s football.

    “It’s not like (playing the video game) Football Manager. You’ve got to deal with different stuff outside of football as well… But I’ve enjoyed it. It’s a great challenge. I haven’t gone to bed one night worrying about what’s going to happen.”

    Read Also: I am the right man for Manchester United – Solskjaer

    Defender Luke Shaw was named the club’s player of the year but the English left back said he would trade the award for a successful season with the team.

    “It’s obviously nice for me but I’d rather win no trophies and have a better season as a team,” Shaw said. “It’s nice but we need to move on and focus on next season and what’s to come.

    “I think for me personally it’s probably been my best season since I’ve been here. I would have rather it had been a better season for the team but it wasn’t meant to be.”

    Manchester United host relegated Cardiff City on Sunday in their final game of the season.

  • Woman held in contempt for disobeying order on custody of children

    Chief Ademola Odunade, the President of a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan, on Friday held a woman, Shakirat Akande, in contempt for refusing to obey the court order which compelled her to handover custody of the three children to her ex-husband, Muri.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court in July 2015, dissolved the union between Muri and Shakirat due to her troublesome nature.

    The court had at that time awarded custody of the three children to Muri because the defendant reportedly did not show enough proof that she could take care of the children.

    In his ruling, Odunade berated Muri’s action for accommodating Shakirat without involving the court that had separated them.

    “You see, when we put an end to relationships here, we know what we are doing.

    In my observation, Shakirat would have become more hardened in her misbehaviours.

    “If you had informed us before accepting her back, we would have given her conditions.

    “However, criminal contempt is hereby issued against Shakirat,” the Arbitrator said.

    Read Also: How my boss attempted to rape me, by human trafficking victim

    He adjourned the case till May 30 for continuation of hearing.

    Earlier in his petition to the court four years after the court’s pronouncement, Muri said that his ex-wife had refused to give him custody of the children and that she had made life more difficult for him.

    “My lord, not too long after your judgment in 2015, Shakirat came pleading with my parents, friends and other family members to forgive her for the sake of the children.

    “After promising to be obedient and abide by my instructions, I allowed her back.

    “However, Shakirat soon went back to her vomit and she even made my home a hell.

    “Shakirat then got me arrested by the police, claiming that I stole her car.

    “After proper investigation, the police discovered that I never stole any car and that the vehicle in question was the same one I willingly gave her when we first broke up.

    “The police’s investigation revealed that Shakirat hid the car somewhere, but implicated me probably to get another car or to put me in trouble.

    “In fact, Shakirat has not stopped threatening my life,” Muri said.

  • Ex-CBN director lauds Buhari for reappointing Emefiele

    A former Director of the Budgetary Department of the CBN, Dr Titus Okunronmu, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for re-appointing Mr Godwin Emefiele as governor of the apex bank.

    Okunronmu gave the recommendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Ota in Ogun on Friday.

    He described Emefiele’s re-appointment as a decision in the right direction, saying that the re-appointment would stabilise Nigeria’s macro-economic decisions.

    The former CBN director said that Emefiele had done well, noting that “the country’s inflation rate is drastically coming down.

    “He has achieved what it expected of him as the nation’s currency is now stable,’’ said Okunronmu.

    “Monetary stability is a major issue in any economy. Emefiele has achieved this.’’

    Read Also: Buhari reappoints CBN Governor Emefiele for second term

    Okunronmu said that it would be difficult to achieve monetary stability in a situation where the nation was running on deficit, noting that to have stabilised the monetary policies was a big achievement.

    A letter for Emefiele’s tenure renewal was signed by Buhari on May 8 and has since been sent to the senate for confirmation.

    The CBN Act stipulates that the senate must confirm the nomination of any of its governors before the appointment can take effect.

    This is the first time since 1999 that a CBN governor would be nominated to serve a second term.

    Emefiele was first appointed in 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan and was retained by Buhari when the president assumed office in 2015.