The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • Ibadan-based lawyer kidnapped

    An Ibadan-based lawyer, Mr. Musibau Adetunmbi, has been kidnapped in Iwaraja, Osun State, by yet to be identified abductors.

    The Chairman of Ibadan branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Oluwole Akintayo, yesterday confirmed this to reporters in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    There was no contact from his abductors last night.

    The NBA chairman said: “Mr. Adetunmbi was travelling on Monday to Ondo State to appear in a matter he had in Akure, for Tuesday morning, when the incident happened.

    Read also: Man charged with kidnapping

    ‘“He was in the car with his driver and team members when his vehicle was ambushed by suspected kidnappers. Others were asked to alight, while they took him and his driver to an unknown destination.

    “We went to the kidnap spot today (yesterday) and there was no trace of his whereabouts. We have reported the matter to the Osun State Police Command.

    “Unfortunately, the kidnappers have not established a contact with us or his family.”

     

  • Exclusion from primary: Court strikes out Shittu’s case against APC

    A Federal High Court, Ibadan on Friday struck out a suit filed by the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, against the All Progressives Congress (APC) over exclusion of his name for his inability to produce evidence of participating in the one-year mandatory National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

    Justice P.I. Ajoku struck out the suit for Shittu’s failure to file it within the time stipulated by law.

    The APC had excluded his name from among aspirants due to his non-participation in the NYSC scheme after his graduation from the University of Ife. But the minister headed to the court, describing it as a breach of his human rights.

    “I must first consider the provision of Section 285 of the constitution that makes it mandatory for all pre-election matters to be filed within 14 days of occurrence.

    “This particular case was not filed within 14 days, but outside the date.

    “Therefore, I will not bother going into the merit of the case.

    “Having failed to satisfy the dictates of the constitution, the matter is hereby struck out,” the Judge ruled.

    Read Also: ICT mainstay of economy, says Shittu

    In his reaction to the ruling , the defence counsel, Mr Adebayo Ojo, who was the former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Oyo State, said that the law has taken its due course.

    “The judge acted by the 1999 constitution and it is a victory for democracy,” Ojo said.

    Shittu’s counsel, Mr Abdulhakeem Mustafa, (SAN) had tendered a 38-paragraph affidavit and 13 exhibits to support his claims.

    Shittu prayed the court to determine whether the action of his party to omit his name in the list of governorship aspirants was lawful or a contravention of the constitution.

    Joined as respondent in the matter is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

     

     

  • Bayelsa buries victims of electoral violence

    The Bayelsa State Government on Friday buried the late Government House photographer, Reginald Dei and Ward Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Seidougha Taribi, who were reportedly killed by soldiers during the last elections in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

    A statement by the Special Adviser, Media Relations, Fidelis Soriwei, quoted Governor Seriake Dickson as saying that the victims were interred in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Speaking during a meeting with political appointees in Yenagoa, Dickson accused the leadership of the nation’s security agencies of deliberately shielding the perpetrators of the heinous acts.

    He said that the masterminds of the violence and killings during the election were being protected from arrest and prosecution.

    He said: “These two young men were cut down in their prime for no reason. The criminals responsible for this heinous crime are being guarded by security agencies. It is indeed another sad reminder of the things the Federal Government do to us as a state.”

    Dickson described the gruesome killings as acts of terrorism against the state adding that Dei and Taribi were not near any polling unit when soldiers were led to kill them in their residence in Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area òf the state.

    The governor condemned the use of the country’s Armed Forces and security agencies for brazen acts of murder and terrorism against innocent citizens.

    Dickson also berated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state for colluding with the opposition to subvert the will of the people.

    He pointed out that despite the sacking of Bassambiri in Nembe LGA, and failure to use card readers during the election, INEC went ahead to accept fake results to foist a Senator and House òf Representatives on the people.

    He said: “You can see that in most of the states where the RECs were firm, INEC said no, let the result come from the field; even with the big names and money, they were firm.

    “But here in Bayelsa, a community like Bassambiri in Nembe LGA was sacked and the next day, after 24 hours of shooting, they just drove election materials straight to their location and INEC went on to announce what it got. Card readers were not used and yet some persons are parading themselves as winners.”

    Read Also: Host communities kick against Dickson’s commission of inquiry

    The governor charged party faithful to expect more intimidation and harassment from the APC ahead of the gubernatorial election in the state”

    “The APC’s plan for the governorship election is more than what we saw in the last election because the next one is an isolated election. They are planning to do ten times even more and that is why you must be steadfast and calm”, he said.

    He said that the state PDP Chairman, Mr. Moses Cleopas, would soon set up a committee to examine the party’s results in the last election in the various units, wards and communities.

    He said stakeholders and party leaders of the would appear before the committee to give account of their stewardship.

  • Gunmen kill about-to-wed man

    Gunmen have killed a young man at Ogbor, in Aba North Local Government Area of Abia State.

    The incident, which The Nation learnt, occurred at Uwakwe Street, off Ukaegbu Road, Ogbor-Hill, has caused panic in the area.

    Sources said the deceased, who reportedly visited his parents, was the only person killed by the gunmen, who, however, dispossessed others of their belongings.

    The sources said they suspected the killing to be cult-related.

    They said: “We don’t know the young man, but some people said he came to visit his parents at Medical Drive, near Ukaegbu Road.

    “According to reports, he entered a bar and a few minutes later, armed men stormed the area and struck.

    “We suspect that the gunmen trailed him to the bar. They only robbed other people in the vicinity.

    “We learnt that he was planning to wed and came to inform his family, who live on Medical Drive.

    “We ran into our houses when we heard what happened. We thought cultists were fighting again, but later found out that it was the deceased that was targeted.

    “We are now afraid because of the killing.”

    Police spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna confirmed the incident in a phone interview with our reporter.

    He said he was yet to be properly briefed on what happened.

    The Nation gathered that the body had been deposited at the mortuary.

     

  • FG needs $3billion to link Itakpe to Abuja by rail – Amaechi

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has disclosed that about $3 billion is required to link Itakpe to Abuja by rail.

    He also noted that the $3 billion will see to the establishment of a seaport which will be located in Warri.

    The Minister said this in Agbor on Thursday during an inspection tour to check the progress of work on the Itakpe-Warri rail project.

    The Minister who directed that commercial operation of the train service commence with immediate effect, also said the entire project will be ready by October.

    He said: “About $3 billion is needed to connect Abuja to Itakpe with a seaport at Warri.”

    On the progress of work, Amaechi said: “We have completed the track work, what is outstanding is the stations and if they continue with the pace of work, we will get it completed soon. We are not harassing them to complete it because we are owing them but when we pay them, we will harass them.

    “We have 12 stations. None has been completed but they are at different levels of completion. For some, they have finished the structural work. By September and October, the entire project will be ready.

    On the commencement of commercial services, he said: “Passengers should start paying because the free ride cannot be forever.”

    On the linking of Itakpe to Lokoja, he said: “It has to go to the cabinet first. When the cabinet approves that, then we will start because it is a different contract entirely but this (Itakpe-Warri) will be functioning before then.

    “What the project does is that it takes the people from the south to the north and it gets them out of Itakpe because Itakpe appears to be middle nowhere.

    He also hinted that the Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria is making arrangements to create parking spaces for buses at Itakpe that will convey passengers from the train by buses to their various destinations.

    He also commended the contractors for the pace of work.

    Read Also: Amaechi, Malami plotting to void Rivers elections, PDP alleges

    According to him: “They have done filling, foundation work and even structural work. So what is left is for them to put roofing and do the finishing. This is the third visit, this place looked like a bush, overgrown by weeds during the first visit, at the second visit they had started but nothing significant had happened and now the third visit, they are almost completed.”

    On the affordability of the service since commercial activity has been directed to commence, he said: “All trains across the world are affordable because government all over the world subsidize. So, it is cheap. The problem is not the cost. The problem is whether we can even break even.”

  • Banditry: 46 suspects arrested, 10 killed in six days

    The Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu has disclosed that 46 suspects have been arrested for their involvement in kidnapping and banditry in some states in the North.

    The Police boss also said 10 suspects have so far been arrested in the onslaught against bandits.

    According to the IG, the success was recorded after Operation Puff Adder was launched on the 5th of April.

    The IG also noted that the country is experiencing an upsurge in crime since the general elections was concluded.

    He disclosed this in Abuja at the Force Headquarters during the monthly meeting with police management and other senior police officers.

    Giving details of the successes recorded, the IG said: “Indeed, it is in furtherance to our commitment to complimenting you that Operation Puff Adder was conceptualized and launched on 5th April, 2019 to address in the shortest possible time the threat of kidnapping, armed robbery and armed banditry in Kogi, Niger, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina States as well as the FCT.

    “It is gladdening to note that this initiative has recorded remarkable achievements. Between 5th April, 2019 when the operation was launched and today, the initiative has recorded the following achievements:

    “Number of kidnapping suspects and armed bandits arrested are 46, ten suspects were killed in operations while two victims have been safely rescued.”

    On the number of firearms recovered from the suspects, Adamu said: “18 AK 47 rifles and 9 other locally fabricated and automatic weapons were recovered, 1300 live AK47 ammunition were recovered, 28 live cartridges were recovered while ten extra rifle magazines were recovered.”

    On the increasing rate of crime, the IG said: “Criminal records point to a significant rise in crime following the conclusion of the general elections. While some security experts have attributed the trend to the disengagement of the criminal elements from politically-related activities for which they might have been engaged during the elections, others have attributed the trend to socio-economic factors.

    Read Also: IGP vows to smoke out bandits and kidnappers

    “While the debate on the cause of the upsurge in crime could be a subject of debate or academic conjecture, what remains undebatable is the fact that the primary and statutory duty of the Nigeria Police as the lead agency in internal security framework, is the prevention and detection of crime and the maintenance of our internal security order.

    “This places on us the responsibility of assuring the citizens of their safety and security without any form of excuses. It also challenges us to rededicate ourselves to our statutory duties, constantly review our law enforcement strategies and re-order our policing priorities towards stemming the tide of crime. It is within this context that this meeting was summoned.”

    The IG while charging his men said: “I expect you to replicate this strategy in your various commands in order to restore order in the public space and enhance public confidence in the Police.

    The IG while seeking the support of the citizens, assured them of the renewed commitment to emplacing effective strategies towards addressing the current security challenges.

    “The threats might appear challenging, but I can assure that they are surmountable and we shall provide the requisite leadership needed to address them.”

    “We, however, cannot do it alone. We seek the citizens’ support and we trust that you shall all partner with us to present a common front in the war against criminal elements that are bent on re-ordering our national values and testing our common will.”

  • Court suspends judgment on suit seeking to sack Saraki, 55 others

    The Federal High Court, Abuja has suspended delivery of judgment in a suit filed by an advocacy group, Legal Defence and Assistance Project, (LEDAP) seeking the sack of Senate President, Bukola Saraki and 55 other lawmakers.

    LEDAP dragged Saraki and the 55 other lawmakers to court seeking a declaration that they were no longer members of the National Assembly having defected to other political parties before the expiration of their tenure.

    The group, in their suit filed on Sept. 14, 2018, prayed the court for an interpretation of Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution.

    This was with regards as to whether any member of the National Assembly who resigns from the political party that sponsored his election before the expiration of the term for which he was elected, automatically loses his seat in the assembly.

    The group was also seeking a declaration that the lawmakers were no longer entitled to receive any remunerations due to a member of the National Assembly and that any of such remunerations after their date of defection be refunded to the Federal Government.

    Read Also: Make details of NASS budget open, Saraki orders

    LEDAP in the suit, also prayed the presiding members of the National Assembly to declare vacant, the seats of the defectors.

    They had argued the matter in court with only a counsel to the Senate President being represented once while the other defendants never sent representation.

    The court, being satisfied that the processes were served on all parties but they chose to disrespect the court and stay away, allowed the plaintiff to argue his case and fixed April 11 for judgment.

    When the matter was called on Thursday for judgement, counsel to Saraki and the other lawmakers, Mr Mahmud Magaji,SAN, urged the court to tarry in delivering judgment to hear from the defence team in order to deliver a better-informed judgment.

    “The court should wait a while and hear from the other side now that certain facts are available to it.”
    He further contended that in law, once an issue of jurisdiction was raised, it behoved on the court to hear it first before handling any other issue in the matter.

    Magaji also challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter on the grounds that the plaintiffs had no

    “locus standi” to file the suit.

    According to him, they are only busybodies and meddlesome interlopers.

    The counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Ede Uko, however, argued that the defendant’s counsel was only attempting to arrest the judgment of the court.

    According to him, the law is trite under our jurisprudence that the judgment, particularly the final judgment of the court cannot be arrested.

    “I submit with respect that the application of the defendants seeking to arrest this judgment is misconceived and completely incompetent.

    He referred the court to several Supreme Court rulings where it was firm to say that no antics of parties could be allowed to be used to frustrate the administration of justice.

    Uko further argued that the conduct of the defence in the matter was not worthy of sympathetic consideration since they were duly served with all processes of the court and they even briefed a counsel to handle the matter.

    He said it was not the fault of the plaintiff that the said counsel failed to appear in court again seeing that the defence had nothing to file but to concede to the claims of the plaintiff.

    ” What the defence is seeking to hold onto is like a drowning man
    Continue on Page 2

  • Why Ogoni clean up exercise may fail, by Abe

    The Senator representing Rivers South East, Magnus Ngei Abe, on Thursday, warned that the ongoing Ogoni cleanup programme may not succeed due to increasing spate of security issues.

    He also said that unrestrained pollution of Ogoni land is another reason the cleanup exercise may fail.

    Abe who stated this as part of his lead debate on a Bill for Act to establish the Federal University of Environment, Science and Agriculture in Ogoni Land noted that every day at least six people are killed in Ogoni land.

    He said that he is aware that contracts have been awarded for the cleanup programme but feared that insecurity is a major issue in the area.

    He lamented that the security situation in Ogoni land is not one that any meaningful cleanup programme could go on.

    The people of Ogoni, he said, were running away as a result of the worsening security situation being experienced in the area.

    Urging the Federal Government to take measures to stem the tide of insecurity, Abe insisted that unless the security and continuous pollution of the environment are addressed, no meaningful cleanup programme can take place.

    For government must address security and pollution issue to enable contractors to work effectively.

    Read Also: Abe: I knew Supreme Court would strike out my motion

    Abe said, “I am aware that contracts for the clean-up of Ogoni land have been awarded. Right now as we speak, the security situation in the area does not provide for a meaningful economic or even contractual activity could go on. As we talk now, every day, at least six people are killed in one community or the other. There is no day they are not killing people. Many residents of the various communities have abandoned their homes and ran away due to violence. So, in that kind of atmosphere, it will be difficult for me to say there is any contractor somewhere in the bush alone working? I don’t think that is possible at this time but I know that contracts have awarded and I believe that it is our responsibility as a nation to address these security issues so that real development can take place.

    “Any clean-up that goes on without first addressing the issue of the continued pollution of the environment is a waste of everybody’s money because as the clean-up is going on, the criminals will be spoiling the exercise. Addressing the security issues in Ogoni land, is foundational to the success of the clean-up. However, due to public pressure, people want to see the clean-up exercise going on and that contracts are awarded, people want to believe that something is going on not considering the security challenges in the area.”

    On how to address the situation he said: “What I think should be done to address the issue of insecurity, every society rewards the behaviour you want and punish the behaviour you don’t want. In the Niger Delta, violence is being rewarded. If you engage in violence you are rewarded. All over the country criminality is being rewarded.

    “People must be held accountable for their action. When people kill people, you say it is cult, it should be murder.

    “What does Nigeria expect of Nigerians, we don’t know because we have not agreed. We must be a nation that stands by the truth. If we really want change in Nigeria, everybody must stand up for it. What is happening is that everybody thinks that they can secure their space. We must decide that we can not tolerate what is wrong. Everybody cannot go to jail, it is not possible. Stand for the truth.”

    On the proposed university, he said, ‘One critical objective of the University will be to establish improved scientific standards and train more competent apprentices and student that will fill the vacancies that expatriates are currently occupying due to lack of local competencies.”

    He added that the university when established will produce specialists and graduates in different areas of environmental challenges such as: Environmental Management/Engineering, Environmental Accidents, Water Pollution, Hazardous waste detection and management, Soil Contamination, Ozone Depletion, Assessment, Remediation, and protection of air and water resources, River Basin Management, Flood Protection and Drought prevention.

  • Husband murder: Court refuses to reject wife’s alleged confession

    An Igbosere High Court in Lagos on Thursday dismissed an application asking it to reject the alleged confession of a lawyer, Udeme Otike-Odibi, accused of killing her lawyer husband, Symphorosa, last May 3.

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye ruled that Otike-Odibi’s prayer, made through her lawyer, Oluseye Banjoko, did not satisfy the requirements of the law.

    The judge ordered a trial within trial on May 23, to determine whether the confessional statement allegedly obtained from her by the police on May 4, 2018, should be admitted as having been made by her.

    According to Banjoko, the statements were invalid, having been made without her lawyer being present and without being videoed, as required by law, among other reasons.

    He relied on Section 93 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Lagos State, 2015 and Section 35(2) of the 1999 Constitution (As amended).

    But dismissing Otike-Odibi’s application, Justice Akintoye held: “This court does not find that the said confessional statement was obtained contrary to the provisions of Section 93 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL).”

    The court also considered Section 35(2) of the 1999 Constitution (As amended), which provides that a person accused or detained has a right to remain silent or avoid answering any question until such person has consulted a legal practitioner.

    Read Also: Appeal Court strikes out motion setting aside gazette on approval of 48 Obas in Oyo

    Justice Akintoye held: “The defence counsel has not been able to establish that the defendant was not given the option to remain silent or to avoid answering any question until after consultation with a legal practitioner or any other person of her choice. This has not been proved to be so. He who asserts must prove….

    “It is also important to point out that the defendant, of all people, was well aware of her right, being a Legal Practitioner herself and as such, could have decided not to speak to any police officer.

    “To now imply that she is not aware of her rights or that the police forced her to speak, appears to be very far fetched to this court.

    “The end result is that I do not find that the confessional statement being sought to

    Continue on Page 2

  • Appeal Court strikes out motion setting aside gazette on approval of 48 Obas in Oyo

    The Court of Appeal in Ibadan on Thursday struck out a motion filed by Sen. Rashidi Ladoja, challenging the powers of Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State to gazette and approve “ beaded crowns and coronets” to 48 Obas across the state.

    Ajimobi appealed the Jan. 20, 2018 decision of Justice Olajumoke Aiki of the Oyo State High Court, which set aside recommendation of a committee of inquiry on the review of the 1957 Ibadan Chieftaincy declaration, which recommended crowning of 21 new Obas in Ibadanland.

    The three-man panel of judges headed by Justice Nonyerem Okoronkwo, held that the thrust of the relief sought was invoking the court to set aside the gazette which approved the crowing of the Obas.

    The court which has Justice A. Talba and Justice F. Ojo as members, held that the gazette which the motion seeks the court to set aside was not the subject matter at the lower court.

    Okoronkwo said dealing with such issue at this point may involve dwelling into the main appeal.

    “We refuse to entertain the issue and urged the appellant to incorporate it in the main appeal and the motion is hereby strike out,’’ Okoronkwo said.

    The judge adjourned the matter until May 27 for hearing of the main appeal.

    Read Also: Ekiti community seeks implementation of S’Court judgement

    Ajimobi set up a commission of inquiry headed by Justice Akintunde Boade, to review the 1957 Ibadan Chieftaincy declaration and to make recommendation.

    Osi Olubadan, Rashid Ladoja went to the Oyo state High Court to challenge the composition of the committee and to set aside their report and the lower court grants his request on Jan. 20,2018.

    The Governor on April 26, 2018 after the court ruling approved the beaded crowns and coronet for 48 Obas across Oyo State including the Ibadan’s recently crowned 21 Obas and other traditional rulers.

    The governor gazette the approval in line with section 28 (1) of the Chiefs Laws of Oyo State and with this gazette 26 Obas would wear beaded crowns while 22 would wear coronet.