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Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

Court remands woman for Indian hemp trafficking

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, remanded a 35-year-old woman, Salihu Binta, in prison custody for allegedly trafficking 30kg of cannabis sativa otherwise called Indian hemp.

Binta, who was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ), is standing trial on one count charge, bordering on unlawful possession of narcotic drugs.

Counsel to the NDLEA, Mr Mike Kassa, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Aug. 20, 2017 along Abaji-Gwagwalada road, Abuja.

Kassa said the accused, without any lawful authority, possessed 30kg of the narcotic drug, similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD.

He said that the offence contravened Section 11 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Read Also: Court docked four Justrite staff over alleged theft

The accused, who was not represented by any counsel, pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge.

The judge, Ahmed Mohammed, consequently remanded the accused in prison custody and adjourned the case to Jan. 15 for review of facts in the case.

NAN

January 10, 2018
Bus conductors in court for snatching purse from woman

Two bus conductors, who allegedly snatched a purse containing N8,000 from a woman, were on Wednesday brought before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.

The accused, Segun Omotoye, 18, resides at Iyana Ipaja area and Joel Ubah, 19, resides at Abule-Egba Road, are facing trial for conspiracy and stealing.

The prosecutor, Insp. Clifford Ogu, told the court that the offences were committed on Dec.15 at Iyana Ipaja under bridge.

Ogu said that the accused snatched the purse of Mrs Tosin Ali while boarding a bus and they ran away.

“The case was reported at the police station and to the vigilance group in the area.

“The purse contained N8,000 and some vital documents of the complainant,” he said.

Ogu said that the vigilance group later caught the accused in an uncompleted building at night.

“An empty purse was found in their possession and the complainant identified it as her purse, when she was invited to where the accused were kept.

“The accused were handed over to the police,” he said.

The offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Taiwo Akanni, granted the accused bail of N20,000 each with two sureties in like sum.

Akanni adjourned the case until January 31 for mention.

NAN

January 10, 2018
I would beat Oprah Winfrey in White House race -Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump said he could beat Oprah Winfrey in a presidential race, while one of Winfrey’s closest friends said the media mogul and actress was “intrigued” by the possibility of running but was not considering it now.

Speculation about a 2020 White House bid by Winfrey blew up on social media and news outlets after her rousing “new day” speech at the Golden Globes awards show on Sunday night.

The Speech touched on female and black empowerment, her roots in poverty and support of those who speak up about sexual abuse and harassment.

However, some media commentators also injected skepticism into the surge of excitement among fans of the former talk show star, saying the Democratic Party and the country might well reject the notion of another celebrity political novice following Trump’s 2016 election.

Winfrey, long associated with Democratic politics and fundraising, has not commented publicly on the speculation. Known to millions by her first name, Winfrey, 63, has been a cultural force in the country for decades.

Read Also: Oprah Winfrey ‘intrigued’ by U.S. presidential run

Trump, speaking on Tuesday with reporters during a White House meeting with lawmakers, said in response to a question,”Yeah I’ll beat Oprah. Oprah would be a lot of fun.

“I know her very well. … I like Oprah. I don’t think she’s going to run,” said the Republican president, 71.

Winfrey confidante Gayle King said earlier on Tuesday there was no change in Winfrey’s past position – that she is not interested in running for president.

(NAN/Reuters)

January 10, 2018
Buhari presides over first FEC meeting of 2018

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday presided over the meeting of the Federal Executive Council with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and cabinet ministers in attendance.

The meeting is the first this year and has in attendance the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha and Head of Service, Mrs Winifrey Oyo-Ita.

Others attending the meeting included the National Security Adviser to the President, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno and Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari.

Read Also: Herdsmen crisis: Buhari orders IGP Idris relocate to Benue

The heads of agencies of the Federal Ministry of Transportation are expected to brief the council.

The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ibrahim Magu, was also at the venue of the meeting.

NAN

January 10, 2018
Prince Harry and fiancee Meghan get wedding music tips

Britain’s Prince Harry and his U.S. fiancee Meghan Markle were given some street-level tips for their wedding music as they visited a pioneering radio station in south London.

Harry, fifth-in-line to the throne, and actress Markle, best known for the TV legal drama “Suits”, announced their engagement in November, with the wedding set for May at Queen Elizabeth’s Windsor Castle home to the west of London.

On their second official royal outing together on Tuesday, the couple were greeted by large crowds when they visited the Reprezent radio station in Brixton which was set up in 2008 as part of a response to a rise in knife crime among young people.

Read Also: Royal Wedding! Anthony Joshua to Best Prince Harry

The station trains hundreds of young people each year in media and employment skills. It offers training in topics ranging from audio and radio production and editing to communication skills and work experience.

It also runs programs supporting youngsters with specific issues like mental health challenges, a cause dear to Harry’s heart.
Presenter Gloria Beyi, 17, said the couple showed a keen interest in the station’s music.

”The main thing I observed is they go quite well together,“ she told Reuters. ”This is genuine – this is real stuff. Having both of them in one room trying to talk to you and having interest in the station, how it works, the relationship between everyone, it’s just so amazing.”

Asked about possible wedding music recommendations, she said: “A little bit of house, a little bit of hip-hop, cos Harry did say that he is interested in hip-hop and house.

“So, that mixed together at a wedding? Then you’re pretty good. Those two genres if they’re there, you’re pretty sorted for your wedding.”

Harry, 33, and Markle, 36, will marry at Windsor’s St George’s Chapel on May 19.

(NAN/Reuters)

January 10, 2018
Man charged with stealing five generators

A 25-year-old, Abiodun Ilesanmi, who allegedly stole five generators valued at N160,000, was on Wednesday released on N200, 000 bail on the orders of an Ado Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court.‎

The Chief Magistrate, Mr P.T. Ajibade, who gave the ruling, also granted the accused two sureties in like sum.

He said the sureties, one of who must be a civil servant, should deposited photocopies of their valid identity cards with the court’s registrar.

Ilesanmi, whose address was not provided, is facing a charge of stealing.‎
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The accused, however, denied the charge.‎
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But the Prosecutor, Insp. Johnson Okunade told the court that the accused committed the offence at Olujoda area of Ado Ekiti at 5.00 p.m. on December 23, 2017.
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According to him, the accused stole one big tiger generator and four small tiger generators, all valued at N160,000, property of Mr Ajibola Oluwashina.

“Oluwashina said the accused was supposed to work on the generators, but when he went back for the generators, he could not give a satisfactory explanation as to their disappearance.”

The offence contravaned Sections 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State 2012.‎

The case has been adjourned until February 21 for mention.‎

NAN

January 10, 2018
Four Justrite staff docked for alleged theft of Heineken beer

Four men, Olumide Ogunwamide (30), Temitope Oluwaniyi (29), Vincent Azime (32), and Fatai Unman (30), were on Wednesday brought before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun for allegedly stealing valuables worth N125,000 belonging to their employer.

The accused, whose addresses were not disclosed, are facing a two-count charge of stealing and conspiracy.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Chudu Gbesi, told the court that the accused committed the offences on December 27, 2017 at about 2.00 p. m. at Justrite Shopping Complex, Ota.

He said that the accused, who are staff of Justrite Ltd, conspired among themselves to steal Heineken beer and other items valued at N125,000 belonging to their employer.

Gbesi said the offences contravened Sections 390(9) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Vol.1, Laws of Ogun, 2006.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr S. O. Banwo, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N100, 000 each, with two sureties each in like sum.

Banwo said that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and swear to an affidavit of means.

He also ordered that the sureties should show evidence of tax payment to the Ogun Government and submit four recent passport photographs to the court.

The case was adjourned until February 21, for hearing.

NAN

January 10, 2018
Blatter against use of VAR at Russia 2018

Former FIFA President Joseph Blatter has spoken out against using video evidence at Russia 2018 World Cup as teething problems continue to trail trials in countries such as Germany.

“You cannot use the World Cup as a guinea pig for such a serious intervention in the game,’’ Blatter said in an interview with Wednesday’s Sport Bild magazine.

Blatter, 81, was banned from football for eight years in 2015 by the FIFA ethics committee over a “disloyal payment” of 2 million Swiss francs (2.07 million dollars).

The payment was made to former European football chief Michel Platini.

The FIFA appeals committee later reduced the suspension to six years, while Platini is serving a four-year ban.

Read Also: Blatter joins Russia World Cup train

Blatter’s administration was sceptical of technological innovations during his 17 years as president of the world governing body.

But he finally advocated goalline technology for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after refereeing errors four years earlier in South Africa.

“It would be wrong to use video evidence in Russia, it is too immature and many countries still use it differently,’’he said.

(dpa/NAN)

January 10, 2018
House fire kills five migrants in Mecca

A fire Wednesday erupted in a house inhabited by migrant workers in Saudi Arabia ’s western city of Mecca, killing five people, a civil defence official said.

Five others were injured in the house in Mecca’s district of Mecca a spokesman for Mecca’s Civil Defence, Nayef al-Sherif, added in a media statement.

The fire first hit abandoned furniture and wood in the courtyard of the house and extended to a room where a family from Africa was living, al-Sherif said.

The blaze was later extinguished. Its cause was not immediately established.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, has a large community of foreign workers.

NAN reports that the International Labour Organisation estimated that there are about nine million migrant workers as of April 2013.

Read Also: Five Nigerian pilgrims die in Mecca

(dpa/NAN)

January 10, 2018
NFVCB seizes pirated films worth N200m

The National Film and Video Censors Board ( NFVCB ) said it seized uncensored, unclassified and pirated films worth about N200 million and arrested 12 suspected pirates between March and December, 2017.

Mr Adedayo Thomas, the Executive Director of NFVCB made the disclosure in an interview in Lagos on Wednesday.

Thomas said that pirated items were confiscated at Alaba International Market, Lagos, Kubwa, Banex Plaza and Wuse Market in Abuja, as well as Benin City in Edo and Kaduna.

He explained that the seized items include; DVD’s, CD’s, Production equipment and copies of several pirated films.

“The board has scaled up its enforcement activities for the New Year and are intensifying efforts to make this evil business of pirates becomes unbearable for those that have seen it as a means of making quick money.

“The board will ensure total sanity and get rid of pirates in the industry, while the right owners of works enjoy the fruit of their hard labour,” he said.

According to him, the 12 suspects arrested in Lagos and Abuja would soon be charged to court for prosecution.

Thomas said that such action would serve as deterrent to others thinking of going into such business and prevent such illegal products from selling in the market at the expense of genuine ones.

The Executive Director added that the action was part of the board’s enforcement operations in sanitising the Nigerian market of illegal films.

He explained that the board had lined up nationwide raid against uncensored, unclassified and pirated films to ensure that such products were completely removed from the movie market.

The NFVCB boss noted that the motion picture industry was not all about entertainment, but a big business that must be encouraged and protected to grow and bring profit to its investors.

Thomas said that the creative industry was acclaimed to have contributed 1.4 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP and can do more.

He commended the Bank of Industry ( BoI ) and Tonye Princewill, the executive producer of film “79 for supporting the board to discharge its mandate effectively.

Also Read: NFVCB confiscates pirated materials worth N150m at Alaba Market

“Bank of industry (BoI) support the Censors Board with the sum of N500,000 and three powerful motorcycles, while Tonye Princewill gives the board N500,000 to repair its abandoned operational vehicle used for raiding of pirates on the street.

“BoI and Tonye Prince will have been supporting any drive that would enhance the commercial viability of the films and creative industry.

“Recently, BoI gives two powerful motorcycles to the board as part of machinery needed to carry out its work smoothly.

“I am indeed grateful and happy towards their gesture, and I appeal to other stakeholders, individuals and philanthropists to support and partner with the board to be effective and efficient in discharging its mandate, ” he said.

Thomas said that BoI was a major financier of the creative sector, having invested heavily in the development of infrastructure and movie production in the country.

NAN

January 10, 2018