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  • Woman docked for cheating another of N150, 000 to procure visa

    The police on Monday arraigned a 25-year-old woman, Jennifer Samuel in a Kubwa Grade1 Area Court for allegedly cheating one Queen Augustine of N150, 000 to procure UAE visa.

    Samuel, who lives in Kajini, Abuja is charged with criminal breach of trust and cheating.

    The prosecutor, John Okpa told the court that Augustine reported the matter at the Kubwa Police Station on April 9.

    He said the defendant collected N150, 000 from the complainant to with a promise to procure a Visa to Dubai, United Arab Emirates for her on Feb. 7.Okpa said the defendant however converted the money to her personal use.

    He said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    READ ALSO: Woman docked for biting neighbour’s breast

    The defence counsel, Lilian Ibrahim prayed the court to admit her client to bail in the most liberal terms.

    The prosecutor drew the court’s attention to the fact that the defendant’s address was not clearly stated in the First Information Report.

    He added that sureties who are not civil servants form the habit of running away after taking suspects on bail and suggested that the court should consider it if bail is granted.

    The judge, , admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N200, 000 with one reliable surety, who must be a civil servant from Grade Level 8, resident within the court’s jurisdiction.

    He also ordered that the surety must produce a copy of his last promotion letter and identity card.

    He adjourned the matter until May 3 for hearing.

  • Ogoni Clean-up: Paramount ruler urges FG to mobilise contractors

    The Paramount Ruler of Bodo City in Rivers, King John Beredon, has urged the Federal Government to mobilise contractors to site to commence the remediation and recovery stage of the Ogoni Clean-up programme.

    Beredon made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers.

    He said that if contractors were adequately mobilised, Ogoni people and the entire Niger Delta region would have renewed confidence in the Federal Government’s promise to kick-start the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report implementation in Ogoniland.

    The paramount ruler, however, commended President Muhammadu Buhari on his political will to drive the clean-up programme and pleaded that contractors be mobilised to site without further delay.

    “We expect that contractors with specialised reputation should be mobilised to site, that is the first thing we expect because the presence of the contractors will make the environment lively to accommodate other processes as stipulated in the report.

    “We expect that the exercise should start in earnest with a progressive proof with contractors starting the remediation of impacted sites.

    “The coast is now clear, there is absolute peace and the elections are over too, so, let the Federal Government begin to give adequate attention to fulfilling its promise on Ogoni Clean-up.

    Read Also: ‘Mobilise your neighbours for APC’

    “Going by the UNEP report, I know that the entire clean-up process is a long term programme but I believe that if bureaucratic bottlenecks are checked, the exercise will be concluded in good time,” Beredom said.

    “The programme with a life span of about 25 years will take quite a long time, the truth is that our people cannot continue existing in a polluted environment for as much as a decade that is why I’m calling on government to give urgent attention to the plight of Ogoni people and her environment.

    “The Federal Government and relevant authorities should adopt a very active method in tackling the Ogoni Clean-up just the way fire fighters will stop the spread of fire because it is long overdue.’’

    The paramount ruler also said that there was the need for government to recruit only experts for the clean-up to avoid unnecessary alterations and deviation from the provisions of the UNEP report.

    He commended government at all levels for an improved security in the state.

    “From the state down to the local government, there has been an improved security formation.

    “I want to particularly commend the state governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, whose relevant synergy with the federal security has contributed towards the security improvement in my domain,” he said.

     

     

  • Aviation unions suspend picketing of Caverton Helicopters

    The unions in the aviation sector on Monday suspended their plan to picket Caverton Helicopters Limited, following successful deliberations with the airline’s management.

    The unions, however, picketed the offices of in-flight service providers, Newrest Aviation Services Limited and Serv Air, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, for alleged anti-labour practices.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the unions are: The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN).

    Others are the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP).

    Mr Aba Ocheme, General Secretary, NUATE, told NAN that the picketing of Caverton Helicopters was suspended following the agreement by the management to pay all the sacked workers their entitlements.

    “This morning, we held a meeting with the management of Caverton and they have agreed to pay the severance benefits of all the sacked workers within five weeks.

    “They have also agreed to look into other pending issues concerning staff welfare, and have promised to give us feedback soon,” Ocheme said.

    Read Also: Aviation group highlights risks in drone use

    On the picketing of the in-flight service providers, he said both organisations had prevented their members from joining unions in the aviation industry.

    “We have a court case with Newrest ASL at the National Industrial Court, Lagos, over this issue, but there is no court order that we cannot picket the company.

    “We have some persons who have indicated interest to join us and are even paying checkup dues, but the management is preventing them from doing so.

    “They have even gone further to make the job difficult for these persons by victimising them,” the general secretary said.

    He disclosed that the picketing of both companies would continue on Tuesday, as other affiliate trade unions from outside the aviation sector had indicated interest to join the protest.

    NAN

  • AFCON 2019: ‘Super Eagles will do better than previous outing’

    Mutiu Adepoju, ex-Super Eagles player, said on Monday that the senior male national team would put up a better performance better in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament holding in Egypt from June 21 to July 19 than they did in 2014 in South Africa.

    Adepoju told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the team is in such good form that it could take on any team in Africa.

    The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, known as the Total 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, is scheduled to be the 32nd edition of the competition.

    The tournament will be hosted by Egypt from 21 June to 19 July 2019.

    Read Also: AFCON 2019: It won’t be easy for us, says Rohr, Musa

    He said that Nigeria’s super Eagles was outstanding during the qualifying stage having won some of their matches home and away.

    “The team displayed class and superiority in their match against Seychelles and others.

    “I hope like every other Nigerian is expecting good results from the team,” Adepoju said.

    NAN reports that the tournament was initially scheduled to be hosted by Cameroon. They are also the title holders after winning the previous edition.

    On Nov. 30, 2018, Cameroon was stripped of hosting the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations [5] due to delays in the delivery of infrastructure, the Boko Haram insurgency and the Anglophone Crisis.

    On Jan. 8, Egypt was chosen by the CAF Executive Committee as the host nation of the competition. The tournament has also been moved from the original dates of June 15 –July 13 to June 21– July 19.

    NAN

     

  • Breaking: Again, court orders Jay Jay Okocha’s arrest for tax evasion

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere has renewed a bench warrant for the arrest of former Super Eagles captain, Augustine Jay-Jay Okocha for alleged tax evasion.

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye made the order following Okocha’s alleged failure to settle a 2017 income tax evasion case brought against him by the Lagos State Government.

    Read Also: Okocha to resolve tax evasion case today

    The judge first made the order on January 29, following an application by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.

    The ministry told the court that Okocha had also failed to appear in court since 2017 when the case was filed against him.

     

    Details shortly…

     

  • Don urges Nigerians to support Buhari

    Dr Bashir Yankuzu, Federal University of Technology, (FUT), Minna) has urged Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari to build a stronger and greater nation in the next four years.

    Yankuzu made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Monday.

    He said that it was time for leaders and followers to unite and support the move by the present administration to build a Nigeria of everybody’s dream.

    The Don also said that time had come for all Nigerians to set aside their political differences and support the policies and programmes of the Buhari-led administration.

    According to him, with the collective support of all Nigerians, the country will overcome its current insecurity and other challenges.

    “Nigerians must be supportive, patient and prayerful for God’s intervention in the socio-economic and political growth of our country.

    Read Also: Northern CAN backs leader’s visit to Buhari

    “We are going to witness a better four-year,my advice is for all to unite and support the government,” Yankuzu said.

    He said that the Buhari administration had made several land mark achievements in so many areas such as road construction, transportation, security, agriculture and physical infrastructure.

    Yankuzu, who lectures at the Department of Educational Sciences in the institution, however, advised the Federal government to be more proactive in tackling kidnapping and banditry across the country.

    He said arresting and prosecuting all those involved in criminal activities would enable rural farmers resume farming activities and boost food production.

    NAN

     

  • Easter: FRSC advises motorists

    The Itori Unit Command of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun State has advised motorists to drive cautiously and deist from exceeding speed limits, to avoid unnecessary road accidents during the forthcoming Easter celebration.

    Mr Sunday Oko, the Unit Commander, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ota, Ogun, on Monday.

    NAN reports that Christians worldwide will be marking the Easter season from April 19 to April 22, which brings to an end to the Lenten period, and also commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

    Oko stressed the need for motorists to keep to all traffic rules and regulations specified in the National Road Traffic Regulations in 2012, and warned that any motorist found violating the regulations risks arrest.

    He also urged commercial drivers and other motorists to put their vehicles in good condition before embarking on any journey during the Easter.

    Read Also: FRSC cautions officers against chasing erring motorists

    “FRSC implores drivers to desist from speeding, dangerous overtaking, driving under influence of alcohol and even under-age driving during Easter festivities.

    “Motorists must adhere strictly to the maximum speed limit of 100 kilometres per hour for private vehicles and 90 kilometres per hour for commercial drivers

    “We must drive to stay alive, and so drivers must avoid night journeys as well.

    “It is a good thing to be law abiding, and so motorists must obey traffic rules and regulations so as to make our highways safer for all,” he said.

    NAN

     

  • 9th Assembly: APC clears Lawan, others to consult PDP colleagues

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Assembly members on Sunday got the nod to negotiate with the opposition in their bid for principal positions in the Ninth Assembly.

    It is democratic to do so, the party said in a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Lanre Issa-Onilu, who stressed that the party has nothing against its members seeking cooperation with other legislators as it is confident that they will not betray the party.

    There has been reports of Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan, who has been adopted for Senate President, holding meetings with members of the opposition, but Issa-Onilu said that Lawan was adopted by the party for the position in the first place because of his ability to carry everyone along, which is needed for such a position.

    He also said that the party will announce its zoning arrangement for the National Assembly leadership in the coming days.

    The statement reads: “We are inundated with reports of our members in the National Assembly holding consultations with members of the opposition over the election of leaders into the Ninth National Assembly. Let me state that our party has no objection to such consultations.

    “It is a normal democratic practice world over to stretch hands across the divides.  And contrary to some media reports, the actions of our members do not contradict the party’s position. APC has a comfortable majority in both chambers. Therefore; we have the number to produce the leadership.

    “But democracy recognises the importance of the opposition, especially when you do not have two-third, which would be required at some very critical situations. For us as a ruling party, we understand that a stable and peaceful National Assembly would enhance our capacity to deliver more for the people of Nigeria.

    “So, the party is not averse to negotiation by Senator Ahmed Lawan and our other senators-elect working to fulfil the position taken by our party.

    “It is important to note that one of the key considerations for adopting him as the party’s candidate for the Senate presidency is his ability to carry everyone along. On top of that, the party has confidence in him not to compromise the progressive ideology of APC. So, clearly, Senator Ahmed Lawan is capable of conducting his negotiations within the prism of APC’s objectives.”

    On zoning and the leadership of the House of Representatives, Issa-Onilu  assured Nigerians that the party will put to rest ongoing agitations and “will soon release the zoning arrangements for the principal positions of the incoming Ninth National Assembly.

    “The party will also make its position clear in the coming days on the principal positions in the House of Representatives,” the party’s spokesman said.

    He said that the nationwide consultations being championed by the Senate Leader and Leader of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, who is seeking to become the Speaker of the Green Chamber, were in line with the party’s policy of inclusiveness.

    According to him, national interest is guiding the ongoing rapprochement between APC’s candidates and members-elect from the opposition.

    Issa-Onilu said: “It is just part of politics and in a democracy, consensus is a key element. To have a smooth sail in the National Assembly, you don’t go to the floor pretending that the opposition parties do not exist.

    “Even if the opposition parties cannot defeat you, in the spirit of national interest, you must work with them. We want to run a government of inclusiveness, we need every party.

    “We will support every effort by our candidates for principal offices in the Senate and the House of Representatives to carry elected members from the opposition along.

    Read also: NASS: APC governors endorses Lawan, Gbajabiamila – Shettima

    “As long as we can, we will keep our members-elect united to present common candidates to lead the National Assembly. The fact that we are saying that we can go it alone is not the same thing as saying that the opposition does not matter.

    “We have the numbers to achieve our aim but we have to ensure comfort for the opposition too. Unlike in the past, what we are pushing before the 9th National Assembly is a national interest agenda.

    “We want them to see our candidates within the prism of the national agenda we are pursuing.”

    The Senate Leader at the weekend had audience with more senators-elect from PDP.

    He was busy selling his vision of a united Ninth National Assembly.

    A PDP senator-elect said: “Actually, Lawan met with us to seek our support. He tried to make a few clarifications which boosted our confidence in him.

    “It is not a party affair at all. It is left to individual senator to decide who to vote for.”

  • No room for negotiation with bandits – Zamfara CP

    The Commissioner of Police in Zamfara, Mr Celestine Okoye has said that the security agents in the state will not negotiate with the bandits terrorising the people of the state.

    Okoye made this position known on Sunday in Talata-Mafara while addressing newsmen shortly after a state Security Council meeting.

    Read also: Zamfara banditry et al

    “When you talk of negotiations, it means the issue has not gone far. We have shut down all avenues of negotiation.

    “The bandits should know that we are now going to come in full force and there will be no escape for them.

    “Very soon, armed banditry activities will be over in Zamfara, but we will not disclose details of the measures to be used,” he said. NAN

  • Chibok girls are abandoned, says #BBOG

    Members of the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy group have accused the Federal Government of abandoning the remaining 112 Chibok schoolgirls to their fate.

    They said five years after the abduction of the schoolgirls, their parents were grieving without a glint of hope for the release of their daughters.

    The activists noted that similar neglect had befallen the parents of Leah Sharibu, an abducted victim of insurgents.

    #BBOG said Federal Government’s failure on the Chibok schoolgirls had become a sore point in the nation’s history.

    A representative of the group, Nifemi Onifade, stated this in a speech co-signed by fellow members of the group, Florence Ozor and Gapani Yanga.

    Onifade spoke at the fifth year anniversary of the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction.

    He said: “They can see that the parents of our remaining schoolgirls have been wickedly forgotten and abandoned to their fate and left to grieve the loss of their children without any form of closure by the Federal Government. No serious government handles a matter like the still missing 112 schoolgirls of Chibok and Dapchi with the levity of an unending saga. The same manner of gross neglect and abandonment has also been extended to the parents of #LeahSharibu. We question the government’s silence on #LeahSharibu. We question government’s silence on the state of Alice Nggadah of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

    “Our movement has already done everything within the power of a citizens’ group to keep the government alert to its primary responsibility of securing the lives of the Nigerian people since 2014. Our persistent advocacy was to forewarn government of the consequences of sending the wrong signals on the value Nigeria places on the lives of our citizens.

    Read Also: #BBOG kicks against secret burial of fallen soldiers

    “Today, abductions and kidnapping are rife, gruesome killings take place on repeat basis across the country and internally displaced persons (IDPs) are unable to rebuild their lives. That Nigeria has, since it failed our #Chibokgirls in 2014, degenerated to become a poster country for terrorist mayhem is the grandest shame of a nation.

    “Today, our core demand remains the same, relevant today as it has been on each of the 1811 days that we have daily turned up at the Unity Fountain pressuring two consecutive Presidents of Nigeria to rescue the remaining 112 #ChibokGirls, Leah Sharibu, Alice and others. For as long as they remain in captivity, we of the #BBOG shall continue to carry them in our hearts and make our voices resound and re-echo our cries of five years.

    “Mr President #BringBackOurGirls now and alive.”

    A former Minister of Education and leader of the group, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, announced that she stepped down from the group when she went into politics to avoid conflict of interest.

    The former minister urged the government to tell Nigerians if the case of the Chibok girls had been closed, based on what she called the evidence gathered.

    She said: “Some people look at us and ask: have you resumed? I look at them like they don’t even get it. A person like me decided that demanding for good governance from a government that has no care to offer good governance has become a blunt instrument. So, I decided to go into politics. But consistent with the values of this organisation, as soon as I decided to go into politics, I stepped down because conflict of interest is a complete lack of integrity. Others can do it, but we cannot do it in the #BBOG.

    “The sad thing is that the failure of successive governments to treat the Chibok matter with the effectiveness required laid the foundation for the emboldening of those who have continued to terroriee our country.

    “So, whether it is what you find in Zamfara, Yobe, Borno, Plataea, among others, the terrorists became emboldened because our government failed to show that sense of the dignity of the Nigerian life.”