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  • 2019 elections: Reps probe killings of Poly lecturer, others in Rivers

    The House of Representatives, on Thursday, commenced investigations into the killings of Dr Ferry Gberegbe, a Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic Lecturer, and others during the 2019 General Elections in Rivers.

    This was sequel to a motion under matters of public importance by Rep Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers) at a plenary presided over by Speaker Yakubu Dogara at the National Assembly, Abuja.

    The House, which condemned the killings, also observed a minute silence in honour of the departed souls.

    Moving the motion,  Chinda noted that during the elections, which was conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) there was palpable presence of heavily armed men of security agencies, including the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and Nigerian Army in Rivers and across the country.

    He said the polls were characterised by clear cases of harassment and intimidation of voters and electoral officers, coupled with sporadic shootings by the security personnel aimed at instilling fear in the people.

    The lawmaker said it was disheartening that though government’s duty was to protect lives and property as enshrined in the constitution, the security agents allegedly resorted to killing the innocent, unarmed civilian voters.

    ”The House notes that during the said elections, there were reports and viral video clips of cases of intimidation, harassment, torture, and shooting to death of innocent, unarmed civilian voters.

    ”These were done by men of FSARS and the Nigerian Army in several parts of Rivers, including Bori, Abonnema in Akuku Toru, Bonny, Emohua, Ikwerre and Okrika Local Government Areas.

    ”The House is aware that government owes its citizens the duty of protecting and securing their lives as enshrined in SS. 14(2)(b) and 34(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

    ”The House is also aware that on or about March 9 at the Khana Local Government Area Collation Centre, Dr Ferry Gberegbe, a lecturer with the Ken  Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori in Rivers, was shot in his lower abdomen by men of the FSARS led by ACP Akin Fakorede and he died a few days later from the gunshot  wound.

    ”Also, at Degema, one Mrs. Ibisaki Amachree was shot dead by men of the Nigerian Army,” he said.

    Chinda, who said the Nigerian Army had no mandate to participate in elections, described the killings in Rivers as ”one too many in cases of extra-judicial killings across the country.”

    He said the killings, if not immediately checked, could lead to anarchy and cause despondency in the minds of teeming civilian Nigerian masses.

    He said the killings by these security agencies was not only callous and inhuman, but had reduced the image and reputation of the Nigerian army before the rest of the world and compromised the national security.

    When the motion was out on a voice vote by the Speaker, Mr. Dogara, the lawmakers unanimously adopted it.

    Dogara, therefore, mandated the House Committees on Army, Human Rights, Justice as well as Police Affairs to investigate the matter.

    He urged them to report back to the House within two weeks for further legislative action. (NAN)

  • Nigeria battles Egypt for supremacy in singles

    The battle for supremacy in the singles between Nigeria and Egypt continues at the ITTF African Junior and Cadet Championships on Friday April 12 in Accra, Ghana.

    With the conclusion of the team events, the individual events – singles and doubles take centre stage at the ongoing ITTF African Junior and Cadet Championships holding in Accra, Ghana.

    Nigeria and Egypt are the cynosure of all eyes again in singles and doubles as the race for new champions in the event reach crucial stage on Friday April 12.

    In the boys’ junior and U-21, Nigeria’s Azeez Solanke and Egypt’s Mamoud Helmy have been tipped as favourites having guided their teams in the team event with Helmy yet to taste defeat in the competition. The only defeat suffered by Solanke was against Helmy in the semifinal of the U-21 which was won by Nigeria.

    Already, some players have been shown the exit in the doubles and mixed doubles events while the singles event enter knockout round as the seeded players take to the table in their quest to mount the podium.

    From the number of medals won so far, Nigeria seems to be topping with three gold medals and two silvers while Egypt are playing second fiddle to the West African giant in the competition.

    In the women’s singles, the battle for the titles will be among Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria.

    According to African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), the quality of play continues to improve especially with the commencement of the singles event with over 180 players competing for the six gold medals at stake in singles and doubles events.

     

  • Man, 26, remanded in prison over N650,000 FRSC job scam

    A Makurdi Magistrates’ Court on Thursday remanded a 26-year-old man prison for allegedly defrauding three job applicants of N650,000.

    The Magistrate, Mr Peter Chaha, ordered that Ezekiel Francis be remanded in Makurdi prison and adjourned the matter until May 21, for further mention

    Francis was charged with criminal conspiracy, impersonation and Advance Fee Fraud punishable under Sections 97, 132 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004; and 3(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act, 2006.

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Regina Ishaya, told the court that the defendant had defrauded the trio of Paul Ukoha, Arubi Job and Obo John under the pretext of getting them jobs at the Federal Road Safety Corps.

    According to the prosecutor, the defendant conspired with one Solomon Ogbu of Sango, Ogun, and told the victims that they were officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps who could help them get recruited into the outfit at a fee.

    Read also: FRSC confirms two dead in Bauchi tanker explosion

    The victims said they sent N650,000 to the conspirators through a Union Bank account number 0068239410 and UBA account number 2116011062.

    Other items the defendant and his accomplice collected from the complainants were their original primary school certificates, original secondary school certificates, state of origin certificates and National ID cards.

    The complainants said that after collecting the money and the items, however, the conspirators failed to recruit them as promised and converted the money to their personal use.

    Francis was later arrested by the police during investigation, while Ogbu is still at large.

    When the case came up for mention, the defendant did not take the plea for want of jurisdiction.

    Ishaya told the court that investigation into the matter was in progress.(NAN)

  • 2019: Election Tribunal receives 18 petitions in Kaduna

    Justice A. H. Suleiman, Chairman, National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in Kaduna state, says the tribunal has received 18 petitions from candidates not satisfied with the outcome of the just concluded 2019  polls in the state.

    Suleiman who addressed lawyers and Newsmen during the tribunal inaugural sitting on Thursday in Kaduna, said 10 of the petitions were in respect of the February 23 National Assembly elections, while eight were for the March 9 State House of  Assembly poll.

    Suleiman warned that absence of parties and their Counsel will not stop proceedings of the tribunal.

    He added that where necessary, “appropriate provisions of the Rules of Court or Practice Direction (as the case may be) will be invoked against the defaulting party.“

    He stressed that “the parties and Counsel are forewarned to desist from engaging in any untoward act that may stifle the administration of justice.

    “In this regard, any attempt to influence the Tribunal, in any way or mode, should be totally avoided as such attempt shall be severely dealt with according to the law.“

    The Chairman emphasized that the Tribunal shall have zero tolerance for corruption and warned against back door communication by litigants or their Counsel with the Chairman, members or staff of the Tribunal.

    “All communications should be in the Open Court. This is in our bid to see that justice is not only done, but also seen to be done.

    “Importantly also, the Tribunal expects much from the legal practitioners that may appear before it to prosecute or defend their respective petitions.

    “That is to say, Counsel should exhibit high Standard of professional conduct and etiquette.

    “To the members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, i.e. the Press, there is no doubt that we are partners in progress. We therefore solicit for your utmost co-operation for the good of the society.

    “We accordingly implore you to report the proceedings of the Tribunal accurately.

    “You are enjoined to eschew sensational cum inaccurate reports concerning the proceedings of the Tribunal. It is our belief that you all know the consequences of doing otherwise.”

    The chairman said the tribunal would seat daily including weekends until all the cases are concluded.

    “Election petitions by their nature are sui generis; i.e. in a class of its own. It is therefore obvious that time is of essence.

    “In this regard, we request the cooperation of all, especially the legal practitioners having petitions to prosecute or defend before the Tribunal. Counsel should therefore endeavor to remain committed and be up and doing.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the Tribunal will not entertain unnecessary delay as the petitions will be treated with utmost urgency and dispatch. Counsel is further reminded to avoid the request for unnecessary adjournment.

    “On our part as Judicial Officers, we are under an oath to dispense justice without fear or favor, affection or ill-will,“ he said.

    According to Suleiman, the Tribunal will afford all parties adequate and equal opportunity within the ambit of the law to present their cases to the best of their ability for adjudication.

    “To achieve the noble objective of expeditious dispensation of justice in the enormous petitions before us, the Tribunal shall adopt and seriously adhere to the following:

    “The sitting of the Tribunal will always commence at 9:00am daily and may as well extend to the night.

    “The sitting will be on day to day basis and may include weekends and public holidays.”(NAN)

  • Buhari greets Pascal Dozie at 80

    President Muhammadu Buhari has sent warm greetings to Mr. Pascal Gabriel Dozie, Founder of Diamond Bank PLC and former Chief Executive Officer, on his 80th birthday

    He joined his friends, family and business associates to celebrate his years of lofty achievements.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, also commended the astute businessman’s entrepreneurial spirit, resilience in pursuing investments and willingness to always serve the nation with his experience and wisdom in diverse fields.

    Read Also: Japan congratulates Buhari on reelection

    He saluted Mr Dozie’s deep sense of patriotism, visionary leadership, and lifestyle of showing love for humanity, particularly the underprivileged, noting his leading roles in co-founding and partnering at African Capital Alliance, founding Kunoch Limited and serving as Chairman, Board of Trustees of African Development Foundation.

    As he turns an octogenarian, the President believed Mr Dozie’s investments in the country and its citizens will always be remembered by posterity, praying that God will continually grant him good health and wisdom.

  • We will recover all revenues accruable to FG — FIRS

    The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) says it is determined to recover all revenue accruable to the Federal Government.

    To achieve the objective, the service said it had already listed companies and organisations indebted to the government in fiscal year.

    The Executive Chairman, FIRS, Mr Babatunde Fowler, made this known in an address at  the ongoing 30th Enugu International Trade Fair, in Enugu on Thursday.

    Fowler, who was represented by Mr. Ben Obiorah, Tax Controller, Micro and Small Office, Enugu, said that to fish out all outstanding revenue owed the federal government; they had, since 2018, focused on businesses with huge annual turnover.

    “You may be aware that since 2018, FIRS, has focused attention on businesses with huge turnover, but no record of commensurate payment of their tax obligations.

    “This will continue in 2019, several of such companies have already been contacted by the device leveraging on various data sources.

    Read also: Why we want to delist our shares from NSE, by First Aluminium

    “We urge you all to comply with the provisions of the tax laws as we are duty bound to recover all revenue due to the FG  and the people of Nigeria,” he said.

    He, however, urged the business community, law enforcement agents and well-meaning citizens to continue to partner with FIRS to ensure that tax defaulters were traced to face the consequences while compliant businesses would receive all the support they required.

    Fowler said that the service was working hard to ensure that national revenue continue to grow through tax remittances.

    “We at the FIRS are working hard to ensure that we are in full alignment with all efforts to grow national revenue from taxation while easing the administrative burden inherent.

    “We place emphasis on human resources as one of several tools to achieving our aim of expanding the tax net which is why we recently recruited more young Nigerians to effectively provide adequate services to all the nooks and crannies of the country,” he said.

    Mr Emeka Udeze, in a welcome address by the President of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce Industry Mining and agriculture (ECCIMA) welcomed participants to the event and to congratulated the management and staff of FIRS for the successful organisation of the event.
    (NAN)

  • Ogbeh tasks farmers on use of quality seeds

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh says there is need for farmers to use quality seeds to enable their crops grow better.

    Ogbeh, represented by Mr Quadri Olalekan, gave the advice during a walk on Thursday in Abuja, organised ahead of the second edition of the Seed Connect Conference scheduled for between April 15 and April 16.

    The walk, tagged “Quality Seed’’ road walk was organised by the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) to create awareness on the need for farmers to patronise registered seed companies for their seedlings.

    “It is important that farmer shun poor seed and get seed from certified vendors and we can guaranty them good produce,’’ Ogbeh said.

    According to him, the ministry will provide every support needed to ensure that the perpetrators of fake seeds face prosecution under the seed law.

    Also, the Director-General, NASC, Dr Philip Ojo reiterated the need for farmers to patronise registered seed companies for bumper harvest.

    He, however, issued warning to fake seed merchants to desist from such act or risk being prosecuted if caught.

    Read Also: FG to re-construct grazing reserves – Ogbeh

    According to Ojo, the 2019 Seed Connect Conference will bring together stakeholders from across and outside the country to deliberate on ways to strengthen the seed sector and provide solutions to some of their challenges.

    He called on farmers and stakeholders to make judicious use of the golden opportunity by coming to learn how seed business was done in other countries to increase their production.

    Dr Rose Gidado, Country Director, Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), said it is necessary for farmers to adopt the use of improved technology to ensure that they got increased production of food across the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the road walk commenced from the Federal Secretariat to the Federal Ministry Of Agriculture, with stakeholders displaying different placards with different messages.

    NAN

     

  • IMF advises Nigeria to remove fuel subsidies

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday advised Nigeria to remove fossil fuel subsidy and deploy savings from the scheme to fix social infrastructure.

    IMF Managing Director, Christine Lagarde gave the advice during the opening ceremony at the ongoing World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings in Washington DC.

    She urged Nigeria to establish Social protection Safety Net to help government meet the needs of people at the lower cadre of the society, saying about $5.2 trillion has so far been sent on fuel subsidies and the consequences thereof.

    She said: “I will give you the general principle. For various reasons and as a general principle, we believe that removing fossil fuel subsidies is the right way to go.

    “And the Fiscal Affairs department has actually identified, how much would have been saves financially, but also in terms of human life if there had been the right price on carbon emission as of 2015. Numbers are quite staggering.

    “If that was to happen, then there would be more public spending available to build hospitals, roads, provide educational facilities and lift more people out of poverty”.

    Read also: IMF cautions Nigeria against borrowing from China

    Ms. Lagarde called for more public spending being made available to build hospitals, roads, schools and to support education and health for the people.

    “Now, how this is done is the more complicated path because there has to be a social protection safety net that is in place so that the most exposed in the population do not take the brunt of those removal of subsidies principle.

    “So that is the position we take. I would add as a footnote as far as Nigeria is concerned that, with the low revenue mobilisation that exists in the country in terms of tax to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Nigeria is amongst the lowest.

    “A real effort has to be done in order to maintain a good public finance situation for the country. And in order to direct investment towards health, education, and infrastructure,” she said.

    She said the global economy is also currently quite uncertain, adding the world was a year ago talking about synchronized growth and that 75 per cent of the global economy was going through that phase.

    On global economic growth, she said the forecast for this year is 3.3 percent.

    “But we contend that we are at a delicate moment. And this expected rebound from 3.3 in 2019 to 3.6 in 2020 is precarious and subject to downside risks, ranging from unresolved trade tensions, high debt in some sectors and countries, both public and corporate.”

    On borrowing from China, she said both the World Bank and the IMF are working together to bring about more transparency and be better able to identify debt, terms and conditions, volumes and maturity.

  • Pope kisses feet of South Sudan leaders

    Pope Francis on Thursday knelt to kiss the feet of South Sudan’s previously warring leaders, in a dramatic gesture after an unprecedented retreat at the Vatican.

    Pope however urged them to not return to a civil war.

    He also appealed to President Salva Kiir, his former deputy turned rebel leader Riek Machar, and three other vice presidents to respect a peace agreement they signed and commit to forming a unity government in May.

    “I am asking you as a brother to stay in peace. I am asking you with my heart, let us go forward.

    READ ALSO: Pope Francis to rebuild churches destroyed by Boko Haram

    “There will be many problems but they will not overcome us. Resolve your problems,” Francis said in improvised remarks.

    The leaders appeared to be stunned as the 82-year-old pope, helped by aides, knelt with difficulty to kiss the shoes of the two main opposing leaders and several other people in the room.

    The pope’s words were made even more pressing as anxiety grew in South Sudan over whether Thursday’s coup in neighbouring Sudan could scupper a fragile peace deal that ended South Sudan’s brutal five-year civil war.

    The Vatican brought together South Sudanese leaders for 24 hours of prayer and preaching inside the pope’s residence in a last ditch attempt to heal bitter divisions a month before the war-ravaged nation is due to set up a unity government.

  • Ending extreme poverty in Africa by 2030 doubtful, says World Bank

    The World Bank Group (WBG’s) projection to end extreme poverty in Africa is no longer feasible, its President, David Malpass, has said.

    The WBG chief, who spoke during a press briefing on Thursday at the on-going Word Bank Group/the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings in Washington DC,  said a combination of waning structural reforms in major economies, financial stress in some large emerging markets and elevated policy uncertainty globally have altered the bank’s earlier forecast.

    He said: “On current trends, per capita income in growth in sub-Saharan Africa as a whole is now projected to stay below one per cent until at least 2021 which elevates the risk of a further concentration of extreme poverty on the continent.”

    He stressed that this fact is extremely troubling because “it jeopardises the World Bank’s primary goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030.”

    On the other hand Malpass said: “Extreme poverty has dropped to 700 million globally at the last count,” saying that’s down from much higher levels in the 1990’s and 2000’s.

    Read Also: How North can tackle poverty, by Dangote

    Against the cheering figures reported globally, Malpass said: “The number of people living in extreme poverty is on the rise in sub-Saharan Africa,” warning that by 2030, “nearly nine in 10 extremely poor people will be Africans and half of the world’s poor will be living in fragile and conflict-affected settings,” adding this calls for urgent action by countries themselves and by the global community.

    He said the WBG was now in a position, given its comfortable financial status to stand in the gap to tackle the poverty scourge.

    His words: “Fortunately, the World Bank group is financially strong. And with the capital package which was agreed to a year ago at the Spring Meetings, and which I was proud to support, the organization is becoming even more responsive, efficient and effective,” to address the issue, stating that the World Bank’s vision and mission is poverty reduction and it can be addressed.”

    On expressed fears about China’s credit to sub-Saharan countries, Malpass said, debt on its own does not pose a threat, saying the danger lies In its misappropriation.

    “As far as China, and as far as the buildup of debt, let me take a second – a few moments on that. Debt is something that helps economies grow but if it’s not done in a transparent way, with good outcome from the build-up of debt, then you end up having it being a drag on economies.

    “And history is full of those situations where too much debt dragged down economies.

    “So what we are trying to do — and The World Bank is a key part of the Debt Transparency Project and the collection of data that has been encouraged by the G20 — and so this is a project that we are working hard on, and the keys are to have transparent disclosure of the debt as it is being created, and also then have the focus on good outcomes in terms of quality projects.”