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  • Education crucial for peace, security, rule of law, says Saraki

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has reiterated the importance of education in ensuring peace, security and rule of law in any society.

    Saraki, stated this while contributing to the General Debate on the theme: “Parliaments as Platforms to Enhance Education for Peace, Security and the Rule of Law” at the ongoing 140th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Doha, Qatar.

    He noted that “education is a fundamental human right – central to the development of citizens as well as what contributions they make to society,” according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu.

    He added that the National Assembly holds strongly that with the right education, Nigerian youths would be less susceptible to the radicalising influence of terrorist groups and other societal ills, thereby “helping to birth a more peaceful, secure and just society.”

    He however regretted that the security challenges confronting the country today are traceable to – or exacerbated by – challenges in the nation’s education sector.

    He however stated that even though Nigeria has about 13.2 million Out-of-School-Children – the highest in the world – according to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the 8th National Assembly has and would continue to work with the Federal Government to address the shortfall with combined strategies to enhance peace, security and the rule of law in the country.

    Saraki said: “De-radicalisation programmes for former militants or insurgents have a strong education component, and these have proven very effective for peace-building and security.

    “The Presidential Amnesty Programme for ex-Niger Delta militants involved free local and international tertiary education for former combatants. This is in recognition of the fact that education reduces youth restiveness, which in turn promotes peace.

    “As part of parliament’s effort to ensure that education is built on solid foundation, we passed The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Amendment Act which guarantees free and compulsory education for all Nigerians up to secondary school level; while also increasing from 2% to 3% the budgetary allocation to universal basic education.

    “The law also makes it easier for states to access UBEC intervention funds, as the benchmark for counterpart funding has been reduced from 50% to 10%. This and other legislative interventions will make all the difference, we believe, in basic education in Nigeria.

    “The 8th Senate is looking to amend the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) Act 2011 to include Colleges of Agriculture as beneficiaries of the fund, to improve the quality of education in those institutions. We amended the Federal Polytechnics Act to enhance the quality of learning as well as prospects of graduates in the job market.

    “The Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institution Bill, which we have also passed, aims to protect female students from gender-based violations.

    “We have acted decisively in the terrorism situation in the north with the passage of the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) Act, which is all about bringing people back from internally displaced camps back to normal life in the region. Children will go back into the school system and peace will return to those areas.

    Read Also: Lift visa ban on Nigerians, Saraki begs Qatar

    “We do affirm that the rule of law is crucial to viable democracy, and for a successful and peaceful society. Education is necessary in order for people to appreciate where a society is, and where it should be headed.

    “No society develops without sustained democracy and the rule of law, which leads to economic development. Even those who are going to invest in a country will only do so when we have sustainable democracy that guarantees stability; that also requires the rule of law.

    “Parliament’s actions must therefore be guided by these considerations when we tackle the education needs of our societies. It is only then that we can truly say that we have been able to use education for the enhancement of peace, security and the rule of law,” he stated.

    He insisted that it is important for the General Assembly of the IPU to work for sustainable democracy through Parliaments and for better oversight by parliamentarians to ensure that set targets are met.

    “Education is not a choice but a compulsory act that must be taken seriously by all citizens, as I am sure you all agree,” he stated.

  • Imposed NASS leadership will fail, Dogara declares

    Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Monday said the leadership of the ninth National Assembly should be allowed to emerge from elected parliamentarians.

    Dogara said that any leadership that is forced on the National Assembly will fail.

    The Speaker spoke in Abuja at the ongoing induction of Senators-elect and House of Representatives members-elect of the ninth National Assembly.

    He noted a situation where “leadership is forced and literally driven down the throat of elected members had never endured in the National Assembly.”

    He advised Senators-elect and House of Representatives members-elect to look out for those who have thrown themselves into the race to see who will aggregate their aspirations better.

    The least legislators could afford in the National Assembly, he said, is crisis on account of the leadership selection process.

    “I hope we will learn from history,” Dogara noted that leadership imposed on the National Assembly has never worked.

    Dogara said: “Well, I guess that it is not a subject matter you may want just to offer an advice on because we are all parliamentarians those that have been elected, we will be here for four years to serve the people. Leadership is always something that emerges from people.

    “Some of us that have been a bit old in the field, we know how that is done.

    “My advice is that we stay calm to understand the people going in for these positions of leadership in the National Assembly.

    “At the end of the day we are praying that we have those leaders who will be able to sustain what we have done in the Eight Assembly or even surpass what we have done. We don’t want leadership that will take us back.

    Read Also: Speaker: Dogara fingered inplot against Gbajabiamila

    “We have made a lot of mileage and we hope that we will be able to get the kind of leadership that will build on the achievements of this Assembly which is unparalleled in our legislative history.

    “I will advise members to actually look out for those who have thrown themselves into the race to see who is it that will aggregate their aspirations better and then will be able to surpass the record of this Assembly.”

    On the role of party in the emergence of leadership at the National Assembly he said: “Well, I’m not here to dictate to parties, the parties have their manifestoes, the way to do their businesses but one thing I have said and if you followed the business during this induction, it is always better to allow the leadership to emerge from the people.

    “Where leadership has been forced upon the people, the history in the National Assembly, and in fact, the history of Nigeria, it has never endured.

    “The least we could afford in the National Assembly is crisis on account of the leadership selection process.

    “So who ever a party is sponsoring and supporting, they should make sure they have the backing of the legislature so that they (legislators) accept it because they own the process and they own the leadership.

    “That way, it will be good but in a situation it is forced, literally driven down the throat, in most cases it doesn’t augur well.

    “Even in the Senate it doesn’t augur well. In the House of Representatives too, it doesn’t augur well too.

    “You are journalists, you should be able to dig into the archive and you will be able to find specific cases.”

    Senator Ali Ndume said that the National Assembly is drifting and has been privatised to some extents.

    He noted that when positions have been zoned, members of the zones should be allowed to choose among themselves.

    Ndume also said that a situation where the presiding officer rules out a member who has contribution to make should be reconsidered.

    Dogara laughed and noted that since Ndume is running for the Senate President, if he gets it he will know where the shoe pinches.

    Dogara said: “If you become the Senate President, you will like to exercise such power because I know you very well.

    “Certain unwritten rules are applied by the presiding officer to stabilise the chamber.

    “If a member raises point of order, the presiding officer may even tell him to approach the chair.”

  • Bricklayer sentenced to life imprisonment for defiling 7-year old niece

    An Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court on Monday sentenced a bricklayer, Idowu Ismail Gbolahan, 30, to life imprisonment for defiling a 7-year old girl (names withheld).

    Justice Abiola Soladoye of found Gbolahan guilty of the offence of defilement of his niece.

    The trial judge sentenced him to life imprisonment following his guilty plea to lone count charge of defilement brought against him by the Lagos State government after arraignment.

    He was said to have defiled the seven year old girl, his niece, when she went to visit her grandmother at No 50 Maroko Road, Shomolu, Lagos on August 11, 2018.

    The prosecution Mrs. Fehinti Ogbemudia told the court that the defendant carried the victim from her grandmother’s room where she went to drink water.

    According to her: “The defendant suddenly carried the victim to his room and shut the door.

    “He removed her pant and had sexual intercourse with her.

    “The victim’s scream attracted a neighbour, one Ukfot Esther, who led the rescue of the victim.

    “Defendant made confessional statement and the victim was referred to the Mirable centre of Lagos State Teaching Hospital for medical examination to corroborate her evidence.

    “Both confessional statement and the Mirabel report attached to the proof of evidence which is before the court. We rely on the provision of section 213 (2) of Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2015.”

    Read Also: Offa robbery: ‘Wounds on suspects’ legs not caused by gunshots’

    She urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant based on his guilty plea.

    In his allocutus, defendant cousel, Kelechi Obi, pleaded for mercy, adding his client is the first offender having no record of criminal offence and he did not waste the time of the court.

    Delivering judgement in the matter, Justice Soladoye held that the defendant upon arraignment, admitted to defiling the victim who is a seven-year-old child.

    She also held that he pleaded guilty to one-count charge of defilement of a child contrary to section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015

    “I have listened carefully to the allocutus of his defence counsel Mr Kelechi Obi.

    “I hereby hold that the offence in question is a strict liability offence.

    “An offence against a child is a violation of her chastity and I cannot imagine the emotional and physical scars she will endure for the rest of her life.

    “Idowu Ismail Gbolahan, male, is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment. This is the sentence of this honourable court,” Justice Soladoye said.

  • UPDATED: Seven killed in Ondo bank robbery

    Armed bandits on Mondays killed seven persons in Ido-Ani, Ose local government area of Ondo state during a siege on the only commercial bank at Isewa quarters in the ancient community.

    The robbery operation was said to have started around 2.00 pm and lasted for about one hour without any resistance.

    At the end of the attack, five bank officials, a Vice Principal who was a customer and a police man reportedly fell to the bullets of the hoodlums who carted away undisclosed huge amount of money.

    The robbers, it was learnt, drove a Sports Utility Vehicle to the

    bank and went straight to the banking hall after using dynamites to blew off the security doors.

    Sources said attempts were made to alert soldiers at Isua Akoko Military check point and police men from the vicinity but the robbers carried out their operation successfully before their arrival.

    Also, it was learnt that a victim allegedly shot on the stomach was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owo.

    Others said to be on danger list were on admission at Ido-Ani General Hospital.

    Sources hinted that one of bandits was however unlucky as he was caught by a vigilant soldier and thrown into police custody.

    Read Also: Rainstorm again wreaks havoc in Ondo communities

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Femi Joseph, a Superintendent of Police (SP), who confirmed the incident, said he could not give details of the incident as at press time.

    Balogun of Ido-Ani, Chief Olatunji Oshati(Maxima) described the incident as too shocking.

    He symphatised with the families of the deceased, urging appropriate authorities to beef up security in Ido-Ani and his environs.

    Former Supervisor in Ose local government council, Hon. Isaac Obiniran, lamented he alerted security agents immediately the hoodlums invaded the town but the response was not timely.

  • Breaking: I won’t step down, Ndume vows after meeting Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday met behind closed doors with the former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume.

    Ndume has been aspiring to be President of the 9th Senate due for inauguration in June.

    He had declared his intention to run for the number three highest political office despite endorsement of the current Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan for the position by the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC).

    Ndume, declined to speak on camera with State House correspondents on Monday at the end of about one- hour meeting with Osinbajo.

    Read Also:  Osinbajo, Ndume meet in Aso Rock

    But he indicated that he was not ready to step down from the race.

    When asked by reporters whether he would step down, he asked rhetorically: “Me?”

    He declined to speak further on the Senate Presidency race as he maintained that he was still holding consultation.
    “This is not the time to talk now because I am still holding consultation,” he stated.

    Details shortly…

  • 3 easy ways to reprint your UTME slip

    If you intend to sit for the UTME 2019 examination, you should be aware of the ongoing registration slip reprinting. Although you must have gone through the rigours of printing the slip at the point of registration, it is sacrosanct to reprint before the closing date. This is because the initial slip given to the candidates does not include the examination centre, time, date and seat number.

    Moreover, no candidate would be let into any CBT centre without the slip containing the necessary information mentioned above.

    Follow the procedures to successfully reprint the 2019 JAMB examination slip:

    Method 1: Reprint using E-mail address

    1.       Login to your email address

    2.       In your inbox, a message would appear from JAMB. If otherwise, make sure to check your spam folder for the message.

    3.       Download and open the message which contains an attachment which is the JAMB slip

    4.       Print out the file (PDF Format) using the Ctrl + P buttons

    Method 2: Reprint from JAMB website

    1.       Go to JAMB website @ jamb.org.ng/PrintExamSlip/PrintExaminationSlip.

    2.       Log on to your profile after providing the necessary details (e-mail address and password).

    3.       Put in your registration number in the provided space and click reprint.

    4.       The information on your examination centre, time and seat number would be displayed on the slip.

    5.       Click on Print or press Ctrl + P button on the keyboard to print out.

    Method 3:  Reprint from JAMB Profile dashboard

    1.       Go to JAMB website

    2.       Click on e-facility Account /Log in

    3.       Input your e-mail address and password in the provided space

    4.       Click on ‘Login’ to view your JAMB profile dashboard

    5.       Click on bold green text “Reprint your examination slip” on the top right hand corner of the screen

    6.       Fill in your registration number and click ‘Reprint’

    7.       Proceed to print out the document by clicking on the Ctrl + P buttons on the keyboard

    Note the followings:

    ·       The examination slips are sent out in batches spanning across 5-7 days

    ·       You are advised to print 2 Copies of the Exam Slip because you would be required to submit 1 of them at the Exam Centre. You will then keep the other copy for reference.

    ·         You are not advised to use Opera Mini. Instead, use Chrome browser

    ·       Your JAMB slip can ONLY be reprinted from the methods listed above

    ·       The Jamb 2019 Examination will begin on the 11th of April, 2019

  • Navy arrests vessel for diverting petroleum product

    Commander of the Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Victory in Calabar, Commodore Julius Nwagu, has handed over an 8, 000 metric tonne petroleum vessel, MT AYSU with IMO number 9014511, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly diverting petroleum products.

    Also handed over to the anti-graft agency were five suspects, who were arrested with the vessel.

    Nwagu, who addressed reporters on board the vessel along the Calabar Channel Monday said the vessel was to lift sludge from Warri refinery to a company in Port Harcourt, but it did not do so thereby contravening in the approval issued by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Naval headquarters.

    Nwagu said the vessel also had approval to load low power fuel oil (LFPO) off-shore Bonny and was supposed to discharge to a tank farm in Calabar but on arrival it was discovered after test by the DPR that the product off specification and therefore unacceptable as LPFO.

    The Commander said it was based on these that the Naval Headquarters directed that the Command should hand over the vessel to the EFCC.

    He also disclosed that there was 1, 500 MT of products in the vessel when it was arrested.

    Acting Zonal Head of EFCC, Uyo Zonal Office, Mr Alex Eba, said they would investigate and prosecute offenders appropriately.

    Nwagu, who will be handing over Command of NNS Victory on Wednesday, also said in the past one year they have completed 32 projects under their area of responsibility.

    Speaking at the commissioning of one of the projects, a sick bay at the NNS Victory Headquarters in Calabar, he said all these were achieved has solely from resources sent from the headquarters and also from internally generated revenue and there were no special funds for any of the projects.

    Nwagu said a year ago, he had started off with two operational boats, but would leaving 12 operational boats and four undergoing repairs in the Command.

    Read Also: Navy, others search for answer to piracy

    He said the successes were made possible through the cooperation of military and civilian staff if the command as well as a healthy synergy with sister security agencies.

    The Commander also handed over 190 bags of contraband foreign rice worth over 3 million naira and three suspects to the Nigeria Customs Service at the NNS Victory jetty.

    Flag Officer Commander (FOC) of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Rear Admiral David Adeniran, who commissioned the sick bay, lauded NNS Victory for the achievements, expressing delight that such were happening under his watch.

    He said the Navy would always ensure that the welfare of its personnel are adequately taken care of so they will be able to discharge their duties effectively.

  • Oyetola seeks establishment of Court of Appeal in Osun

    Osun State Governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, on Monday threw his weight behind the call for the establishment of a Court of Appeal Division in the state.

    He spoke in Osogbo during the commencement of the special sitting of the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, holden at the High Court of Justice in Osogbo.

    The two-week programme is meant to enable the appellate court to attend to the many pending cases before the Justices emanating from Osun State.

    The governor said: “I cannot end this address without lending my voice to the request of the stakeholders that you should graciously consider the possibility of having a Court of Appeal (division) sited in Osun state.

    “‎I want assure you my Lords that our government would do everything possible to support this move”

    Before the governor spoke, leaders of the Bench and Bar in the state in separate speeches urged the visiting Justices to assist in making a case for the establishment of a division of the court in Osun state.

    With not less than 250 cases, Osun Stin state has the higher number of cases on appeal before the Justices of the Court of Appeal Akure Division which has appellate jurisdiction over Osun and Ondo States.

    It was the first time the Court, established 10 years ago, will move its sitting to Osun state to take justice closer to the people.

    The Osun stakeholders, who called for the establishment of the Court of Appeal, include,

    Continue on page 2

  • Rivers APC primaries: Supreme Court strikes out Abe’s case

    The Supreme Court on Monday in Abuja struck out an appeal filed by Sen. Magnus Abe, challenging the primary election conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state.

    Abe had prayed the court to make a pronouncement on the direct and indirect primary elections conducted by the APC for the nomination of its candidates for the 2019 general elections.

    The apex court struck out the appeal on the grounds that the notice of appeal filed by the Senator was defective and not in compliance with the order of the court.

    The acting Chief Justice, Ibrahim Muhammad held that the notice of appeal offended section 285 of the 1999 constitution.

    Muhammad said amendment cannot be done to the notice of appeal in view of the fact that the 14 days required by the law to file the appeal had expired.

    Abe had approached the court asking it to make clarification on which of the two primary elections was authentic in the eyes of the law.

    Read Also: Supreme Court to hear APC primaries appeals on April 8 and 11

    However, the APC through its counsel, Mr Jibrin Okutekpa(SAN) objected to hearing of the appeal arguing that names of persons affected by the suit were not listed on the notice of the appeal.

    Okutekpa said this made the appeal incompetent and incurably defective.

    The court rejected the plea by Abe’s counsel, Henry Bello that the omission he erroneously made should not be visited on his client.

    He added that the notice of appeal could not be refilled because the 14 days allowed by the law had expired.

  • Prison inmates excel in WAEC exams- NPS

    The Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) says no fewer than 157 prison inmates across the country have embraced formal education.

    Mr Ja’afaru Ahmed, Controller-General of the service, disclosed this at the De-radicalisation workshop organised for senior officers of the service on Monday in Abuja.

    He said that many of the inmates, who sat for the Western African Examination Council (WAEC) examination passed with impressive grades.

    Ahmed was represented by Mrs Husseina Kori, Deputy Controller-General in charge of Health and Social welfare at the service.

    The prison boss said that three of the 157 inmates were currently undergoing undergraduate admission process at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the de-radicalisation programme was funded by the European Union (EU).

    He said that the inmates who acquired formal education were extremists, adding that the service had recorded a significant breakthrough in changing their mindset.

    “It is commonplace to say that violent extremism poses serious threat to social cohesion and economic development of a nation.

    “This programme, which started a few years ago, has successfully navigated the teething challenges usually associated with novel projects particularly when it involves rehabilitating extreme deviants, ‘he said.

    Read Also: 24 inmates to write UTME at Ikoyi prisons

    Ahmed said that the service had assumed the tedious task of leading the de-radicalisation programme considering its mandate of Reforming, Rehabilitating and Reintegrating deviants into the society.

    He said the programme had turned out to be a great window of hope in the midst of devastating circumstances ensuring that violent extreme offenders desist from their unpatriotic activities.

    Ahmed said that the Federal Government in its commitment to protect lives and property of citizens had deployed numerous strategies to tame the scourge.

    “Although the crisis is not over, it is gladdening to see steady progress, especially in de-radicalising violent extremists.”

    Ahmed reiterated the service`s commitment to uphold the confidence reposed on the service by the federal government to spearhead this great initiative.