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Delta reopens Warri/Benin highway

The Delta state government has announced the reopening of the Warri/Sapele/Benin highway for the movement of vehicles in and out of the state.

The Warri/Sapele/Benin highway has been shut down as a result of reconstruction work following the consistent rain which has rendered the road impassable.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu who announced the re-opening at the weekend, commended the Contractor, Obakpor J.U. Construction for its commitment and sacrifice in ensuring early re-opening of the road.

He said, “As earlier promised, the Okowa led administration has continued to show concern for the pains road users had to go through on account of the deplorable condition of the road.

READ ALSO: East West Road: Travellers groan as Warri/Benin section collapses

“It is to the glory of God that we announce the re-opening of the road today Friday September 20 as against the Saturday we earlier promised.

“This is in fulfilment of our avowed commitment to ameliorate the sufferings of road users that have been stacked there for almost two weeks.

“I must commend the contractors Obakpor J. U. Construction for their resilience and sacrifice to deliver on target.

“The State Government commends Deltans and other road users for their patience and cooperation while the road remained closed.

“Work will now commence on the other side of the road effective tomorrow.”

September 23, 2019
Six startups get N5m grant to expand their businesses in Edo

The Federal Government through the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) has given six startups being incubated at the South-South Innovation Hub N5 million grant to expand their businesses.

Presenting the cheques to the startups in Benin City, Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, said the innovative businesses developed by the startups are laudable and would be showcased at national and international levels.

Prince Agba who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ernest Umakhihe, said the government was committed to providing grants for startups to grow their businesses and become employers of labour.

“I am greatly excited and overwhelmed by the innovations of the startups. This will be showcased at the national and international levels and we will get more donors to support such initiatives, Agba said.”

In his remark, Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, stressed that youth empowerment is key to eradicating social vices in the country.

The governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Youths, Hon. Damian Lawani, commended the innovators for their commitment and for developing solutions-driven businesses.

READ ALSO: 30-year old man who robs prostitutes nabbed in Edo

He assured that the state government was committed to partnering with individuals and groups, including Non-Governmental Organisations to empower youths in the state.

Edo Focal Person of NSIP, Ms Yuwa Aladeselu, noted that the South-South Innovation Hub has created an avenue for youths to develop their innovative ideas into businesses.

She said the grants would enable the startups expand their businesses, employ more persons and deepen their market base.

Mr Samuel Oluwatobi Gege, Managing Director of Marybel Nigeria Ltd., a partner in the innovation programme, said 17 startups were given N250,000 each to develop their innovative ideas into businesses in the first phase of the grant programme.

He explained that six of the 17 startups who were given N250,000 each were given N5 million grant in the second phase of the grant programme to expand their customer base and create more employment.

247 Medics, Open Employment, Tech Hieve and Numbers were given N1 million each while Study Hub and Circum Pro were given N500,000 each.

September 23, 2019
El-Rufai enrols son in public primary school

Gov. Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State on Monday enrolled his six-year-old child, Abubakar into primary one in Capital School Malali, Kaduna, a public school, in fulfillment of a promise he made in 2017.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that El-Rufa’i had in a state broadcast in December 2017, promised to enroll his child in a public school when he turns six years.

“The move is part of reforms to revamp public schools in the state to make them more competitive.

“We are determined to fix public education and raise their standards so that private education will become only a luxury.

“As we make progress, we will require our senior officials to enroll their children in public schools.

“And I will by personal example ensure that my son that will be six years of age in 2019 will be enrolled in a public school in Kaduna State, by God’s grace,” El-Rufa’i had said.

Briefing newsmen shortly after he enrolled the child, El-Rufa’i explained that it was a commitment that had been fulfilled.

“I made that commitment because I believe that it is only when all political leaders have their children in public schools that we will pay due attention to quality of public education.

“I went to a public school like this. In fact, the school I went to is not as good as this one, but here I am, because of the quality teaching I got.

“My intention is to ensure that all our public schools offer quality education, and so we are encouraging all our senior public servants to send their children to public schools.

“Once the public schools are improved to a point they are nearly as good or even better than private schools, no one will waste his money taking his child to private school,” he said.

Ummi El-Rufa’i, the mother of the child said: “l am glad that we are able to send a strong message to our leaders and the elites, that we need to start making things work from within our homes.

“By the time we start attending public hospitals and send our children to public schools, the system will get better. This is a very huge step,” she said.

On his part, the little child said: “I am sad that I will miss my old school, my friends and my teachers. But I have to help my father keep his promise” .

September 23, 2019
Court dissolves 5-year-old marriage because hubby has a German wife

An FCT High Court, Jabi on Monday dissolved a five-year-old union between Lynda Dike and her husband Jude Ajaero, on grounds that he was legally married to another woman in Germany.

Dike in her petition sought for the dissolution of the purported marriage through Sections 3 (1) (a) (d) and 34 of the Matrimonial Cause Act.

The sections which stipulated that any marriage purportedly celebrated when one of the parties was lawfully married to another when consent was obtained either by fraud or duress would be void.

The Act further stipulated that a petition for nullity can be instituted by the ailing party.

Delivering judgment, Justice Charles Agbaza, held that the sole issue to be determined by the court was whether the petitioner had successfully made out a ground for the court to grant the relief she sought.

The judge further averred that Ajaero, the respondent who was served with court processes , hearing notices did not file nor answer to the petition, but had legal representation and neither did he challenge the evidence of the petitioner, rather he rested his case on that of the petitioner

According to Agbaza, ” the implication of this is that the court will deem the unchallenged and uncontroverted evidence of the petitioner as true,correct ( as long as it is credible) and act on it”.

Agbaza concluded and said “because the evidence brought by the petitioner was not challenged by the respondent,

“this petition succeeds and judgment is accordingly entered in favour of the petitioner in the following terms

“The court hereby pronounce a Decree of Nullity of the purported marriage conducted between Lynda Dike and Jude Ajaero on Oct.2,2014 at the Federal Marriage Registry, Abuja, on the ground that the marriage is void.

READ ALSO: Court dissolves pastor’s marriage over incest

” The court hereby grants an order nullifying the said marriage”, he added.

In her petition, Dike said that when she married the respondent, he told her that he was not married.

She further submitted that however, when she traveled to Germany to see the respondent and instead of taking her to the address she knew he lived, he took her to a different address..

According to the petitioner, when she demanded to be taken to the address of where he lived, she was beaten up by the respondent.

She said this action prompted her to tail the respondent to the aforementioned address and that was when she discovered that he lived there with his German wife.

Dike added that she confronted the respondent and he admitted that he was married to the German woman and that they had been married for over a year before he came to Nigeria to marry her.

(NAN)

September 23, 2019
BREAKING: Abia begins grilling of Commissioner- nominees

The leadership of the Abia State House of Assembly has begun the screening of 24 commissioner- nominees submitted to it for confirmation by Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

The screening started at about 12noon.

So far, three former members of the State House of Assembly Kalu Uduma, Paul Chijioke and Theophilous Ugbaja were asked to take a bow in line with legislative privileges enjoyed by lawmakers.

Details shortly…

September 23, 2019
Abducted SAN Onyemenam regains freedom

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Chike Onyemenam, who was kidnapped a week ago along Benin/Asaba highway has been released by his abductors after paying the sum of N7.5 million ransom.

Onyemenam was kidnapped, Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, at Utulu junction along Benin- Asaba expressway Issele-Azagba near the Delta State capital.

A family source who confirmed his abduction on Monday, had also confirmed that the SAN has been released after the family has paid N7.5 at the weekend.

Read Also: Kidnapping: Army dismisses three soldiers in Borno

The hoodlums were said to have earlier asked for N15million, before the ransom was reduced N7.5m after the family had pleaded with the abductors.

The source said, “We give glory to God that he was not hurt by his abductors, as he came out a little bit strong.

When contacted, State Police Command who claimed not to be aware of the kidnap also could confirm release of the lawyer.

September 23, 2019
BREAKING: House leaders set for another meeting with Service Chiefs

Sequel to the notched security meeting of last week, the House of Representatives leadership and relevant committees are set for another meeting with Service Chiefs.

The stage is set as the Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamola has just arrived the venue

Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila on Friday vowed to report Security Chiefs personally to President Muhammadu Buhari for snubbing a security meeting convened by the House of Representatives.

The meeting with the Security Chiefs for briefing on the anti-terrorism war was postponed till today.

Details shortly…

September 23, 2019
Oil thieves set Agip pipeline ablaze in N/Delta

Unscrupulous people, described as crude oil thieves have set fire on an oil pipeline, belonging to Italian oil giant Agip at Ubeta community in the Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the field is operated by Nigeria Agip Oil Company, a subsidiary of Italy’s Eni.

Ubeta is a border community between Bayelsa and Rivers States, separated by Orashi River, deep in the resource-rich Niger Delta.

A community source, who participated in a Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) to the burnt facility, told NAN that the fire, which broke out on Sept. 20 had been contained.

The source explained that the fire, which was ignited in the early hours of Sept. 20, was finally put off on Sept. 22 by a fire-fighting team.

He said the JIV report concluded that the fire was caused by vandals.

Read Also: Fire razes Unity Bank headquarters

Vandalism of pipeline installations is rampant in the Niger Delta, the resource base of Nigeria.

“A joint investigation at the scene of the incident by regulatory agencies, NOSDRA, DPR, Rivers State Ministry of Environment and community representatives to ascertain the cause of the inferno revealed that it was due to a third party interference.

“An illegal bunkering point was found on the pipeline at the point of the fire and it was being repaired,” said the source.

Ubeta residents informed NAN that the area is notorious for illegal crude refining activities, a development that has made the settlement a target for frequent raids by security agencies.

When contacted on the development, Ms. Marilia Cioni, Regional External Communications Advisor in charge of sub-Saharan Africa at Eni, said the company would soon speak on the incident.

(NAN)

September 23, 2019
PHOTOS: El-Rufai enrols son in public primary school

Gov. Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State on Monday enrolled his six-year-old child, Abubakar into primary one in Capital School Malali, Kaduna, a public school, in fulfilment of a promise he made in 2017.

Read More: El-Rufai enrols son in public primary school

September 23, 2019
JUST IN: Suspended Justice Ngwuta participates in S/Court’s legal year ceremony

In what seems a precursor to his eventual resumption of judicial functions, suspended Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court, is currently participating in activities marking the commencement of the court’s new legal year.

Fully dressed in the official robe, Justice Ngwuta is sited among other Justices of the court, at the on-going inauguration of new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) in the Supreme Court’s ceremonial courtroom.

Justice Ngwuta, now one of the most senior Justices of the Supreme Court, has not sat in open court since November 4, 2016 following a directive by the NJC that judicial officers being investigated on corruption related allegations should cease to perform judicial functions until the conclusion of investigation.

He was one of the two Justices of the Supreme Court, whose houses were raided, among other judges, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) between 7 and 8, October, 2016.

While his other colleague, Justice John Okoro resumed duties shortly after the raid, Ngwuta was charged to court.

Read Also: El-Rufai enrols son in public primary school

He was first arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on corruption related charges and later, arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), over his alleged failure to declare some of his assets. Both charges were filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

On March 23, 2018, the Federal High Court upheld his challenge of the competence of the charge and discharged him.
Justice John Tsoho, in a ruling, relied on the Court of Appeal decision in the appeal by Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa (of the Federal High Court) and held that it was wrong to subject Justice Ngwuta’s trial before his court, without first, subjecting him to the disciplinary procedure of the NJC.

On May 15, 2018 the CCT also held in similar manner and struck out the charge against Justice Ngwuta.
Since the last decision by the CCT, Justice Ngwuta has not resumed normal judicial functions. He has not been sighted sitting as a member of any panel of the court.

September 23, 2019