The Nation Newspaper

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  • FG dissolves governing council of Oko Poly

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra state.

    This is contained in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Sonny Echono in Abuja on Thursday.

    READ ALSO: Oko poly campus submerged in flood

    The permanent secretary said the dissolution was with immediate effect.

    He said the federal government appreciated the services the former council members rendered to the polytechnic, while wishing them success in their future endeavours.

    Chief Lasbury Amadi was the Chairman of the board of the Polytechnic.

  • Breaking: Thugs invade Jime’s campaign office

    Suspected armed thugs on Wednesday night invaded the Jime/ Ode Campaign Organisation office in Makurdi.

    The invasion came a few hours to Barr. Emmanuel Jime’s filing a petition at the Benue State Election Tribunal challenging the victory of Governor Samuel Ortom in the just- concluded governorship election.

    The thugs whose actual number could not be ascertained broke into the building by destroying one of the burglary proofs on the conference hall windows.

    They ransacked the office of the Director General of the Campaign Organisation and some offices in the building littering all relevant documents on the floor and carting away television sets and other valuables therein.

    The thugs were suspected to be sponsored and probably in search of legal documents relating to Jime’s tribunal case.

    Read also: Akume petitions Election Tribunal over Benue North-West senatorial result

    Narrating the incident, one of the security guards on duty at the Campaign Organisation, stated the thugs scaled the fence, shot twice in the air while it was raining last night and broke in through the window protectors where they perpetrated the crime.

    Some lawyers handling Jime’s tribunal case were earlier at the Campaign Office to put finishing touches to their legal documents and it is suspected that the hoodlums may have assumed the vital documents were left in the office.

    Meanwhile, Directors of the Jime/ Ode Campaign Organization were on hand to inspect the affected places and lodge complaints with relevant security outfits.

  • Airport transportation records 17.23m passengers in 2018

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said that a total of 17.23 million passengers passed through Nigerian airports in 2018.

    The NBS said this in its Air Transportation Data for 2018 posted on its website.

    The report said international passengers who passed through the country’s airports reached 4.43 million in 2018 as against 4.05 million passengers in 2017.

    This, according to the report, represents 9.42 per cent growth rate.

    Similarly, the bureau said the number of domestic passengers who passed through airports reached 12.79 million in 2018 as against 10.38 million passengers in 2017.

    It further said that the 2018 figure represented a 23.19 per cent growth rate.

    Also, the bureau said aircraft traffic reached 290,328 in the year under review.

    It said a total of 55,961 international airliners passed the airports in 2018 as against 40,328 of them recorded in 2017.

    According to the NBS, the figure represents a 38.92 per cent growth rate.

    The bureau further announced 11.24 per cent growth in the number of domestic flight operations in the airports in 2018.

    It said 234,367 domestic flights were recorded in 2018 as against 210,693 in 2017.

    It also disclosed a growth of 1.94 per cent in total cargo traffic in 2018 as against 2017.

    “There was a 19.96 per cent increase in total mail traffic recorded in 2018 when compared to the same period last year,” the NBS said.

    The data in the report was supplied administratively by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, verified and validated by the NBS. (NAN)

  • Alleged NDDC bribe: EFCC tenders bank account as proof

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Thursday tendered a bank account through which a former Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Executive Director of Projects, Mr Tuoyo Omatsuli, was allegedly paid N3.6billion bribe.

    The commission is trying Omatsuli at the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly receiving N3.6billion bribe from a contractor, Starline Consultancy Services.

    He was charged with Don Parker Properties Limited, Francis Momoh and Building Associates Limited before Justice Saliu Saidu on 45 counts.

    EFCC said Omatsuli of procured Momoh and Building Associates to utilise a total sum of N3.6 billion paid by Starline Consultancy Services.

    Read Also: Alleged fraud: EFCC opens case against bank, staff

    It accused Omatsuli of conspiring with the others “to disguise the illegal origin of a total sum of N3, 645,000,000, being proceeds of an unlawful activity, to wit: corruption and gratification.”

    The alleged offence, which EFCC said was committed between August 2014 and September 2015, contravened Sections 15(1), 15(2), 15(3) and 18 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011, as amended by Act No 1 of 2012.

    Testifying on Thursday, a banker, Mr. Peter Adegoke, said the funds were transferred from the NDDC to Starline Consultancy Services between 2014 and 2016.

    Led in evidence prosecuting counsel Mr Ekene Iheanacho, the witness said the funds were transferred to the firm’s Fidelity Bank account.

    Adegoke said he had been with Fidelity Bank for over ten years and is presently a compliance officer.

    He said his duties include processing requests by anti-graft agencies such as EFCC.

    The witness said he received a letter from EFCC on July 12, 2016, requesting the account opening documents and statement of account of Starline Counsultancy Services.

    “We provided the documents as requested,” he said.

    Adegoke said Ibinabo Michael West was the account’s signatory.

    The account statement and opening package were admitted in evidence.

    Under cross-examination, the witness said he did not see Omatsuli’s name in any of the documents.

    The trial continues Friday.

  • Police arrest 65-yr-old man for defiling 10-yr-old girl

    A 65 year old man, Sulaiman Rauf, has been arrested by men of the Ogun state Police Command for defiling 10 years old girl.

    The arrest of the suspect followed a complaint by the girl’s father, Fahinhun Mathew, who reported at the Idi-roko Divisional Police Headquarters that the suspect who resides in their neighborhood, sent the victim an errand, but when the girl returned, he lured her into his room where he forcefully defiled her.

    After the sexual abuse, the girl quickly notified her father about the incident, which prompted the man to report it at the Police station.

    Detectives stormed Araromi Street Ilase where the suspect resides and was promptly arrested, according to Abimbola Oyeyemi, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun state.

    Read Also: Police bust suspected child theft syndicate

    Abimbola, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) who made this known in a release, stated that “upon interrogation, the randy old man admitted having carnal knowledge of the victim but claimed not to know what led him to it.”

    The Police Spokesman added that the victim has been taken to the General hospital for medical attention and report.

    However, the Commissioner of Police Bashir Makama has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to Anti-Human trafficking and child labor unit of the state criminal investigation and intelligence Department for proper investigation and prosecution

  • Africa honours Ghana’s table tennis legend, Ethel Jacks

    When Ethel Jacks walked into the venue of the 2019 ITTF Africa Junior and Cadet Championships – Sports Trust Emporium in Accra, Ghana not many of the players knew who she was.  But some of the older coaches quickly recognised her and started exchanging pleasantries with the former African champion.

    Her call at the venue yesterday was elicited by a special award bestowed on her by the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) in appreciation of her contributions to table tennis.

    Although she is 76 years old, you could not miss the athleticism in Jacks’ steps and strides. When her profile was read before the presentation, an excited Jacks was welcomed to the stage by ATTF President, Khaled El-Salhy, who was assisted by President, Ghana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), Mawuko Afadzinu.

    In her remarks, the beaming septuagenarian said: “I am so happy that this long-awaited recognition finally came to me in my lifetime. I am grateful to the ATTF for this special award and I believe this will also motivate the present players, showing them that their labour will not be in vain.”

    The occasion must have brought back floods of pleasant memories for Jacks. It certainly brought back a recall of her great exploits with her late doubles’ partner, Ernestina Akuetteh.  In 1964 and 1968, Jacks partnered Akuetteh to win the women’s doubles gold medals at the African Championships. Fittingly, Jacks called for a one-minute silence for the great Akuetteh of blessed memory.

    For the ATTF helmsman, the award was in recognition of Jacks’ immense contributions to the sport. “Ethel Jacks put Ghana on the African map with her performance in the 1960s and 1970s. She is one of the three players in Africa to have won the African Championship thrice in the history of the tournament. So ATTF believes honouring her would inspire upcoming players in Ghana to aim high and exceed Ethel Jacks’ feat,” the ATTF chief said.

    In her playing days, Jacks won the women’s singles title thrice at the African Championships commencing in 1964 in Accra, 1968 in Lagos, Nigeria and 1974 in Alexandria, Egypt. Her record has only been equaled by Nigeria’s Bose Kaffo and Olufunke Oshonaike.

  • 19 children from orphanage evacuated

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Social Development Secretariat (SDS) on Thursday evacuated 19 children from Famouskids Orphanage Home, in Tungan Maje area of Zuba, Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja over alleged negligence and other nefarious acts.

    Also, the SDS officials, accompanied by joint team of security personnel, stormed and sealed off the premises of the orphanage, which also runs a school in the area.

    Famouskids orphanage home had 25 children as inmates but only 19 ages 4-17 years were around during the evaluation exercise.

    Speaking with newsmen during the exercise, SDS’s Acting Secretary, Hajiya Safiya Umar, said the action followed a request by the Police authorities in the Area, asking the Secretariat to evacuate the children from the hitherto orphanage home.

    Umar added following information from the police the owner of the orphanage, Nkechi Udoh had abandoned the Home, the SDS was given a directive to pick up kids and transfer them to Government facility till when she returns from wherever she went to.

    According to her, preliminary report revealed most of the children were brought to Abuja from Cross Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.

    They were reportedly left since February, 2019 in the care of a 23 year old, who claimed to be an undergraduate of the University of Abuja.

    “The police wrote to SDS to come and evacuate the children, meaning there are a lot of things happening in orphanages, from our investigations here, we have come to realize that there are other linkages with some other orphanages in Abuja.

    “It appears it is a big business in orphanages, which the government is expected to look into it.

    “It is quite unfortunate that people are now using orphanages as their own personal businesses.

    “They are using the children as personal business; here, a mother deposited her two children voluntarily and is asking the woman to give her children and she has taken to her heels.

    READ ALSO: Association condemns abuse of children in orphanage homes

    “As we are here the police are asking us to resolve the issues, we don’t know which issue, the police here in Tundan Maje, the area command reached out to us. And a child is missing and one child means a lot, to the world.

    “Orphanages are not meant to sell children reliably from the police that the child might have been sold and she is in Lagos, which they are now trying to track,” she explained.

    She further lamented: “It is bothering us that the orphanages in FCT are abusing the law, they are only supposed to keep the children only for three month and then give them out either for adoption or fostering.”

    On his part, one Edet Rapheal, who claimed to be working with the orphanage as a volunteer, denied knowledge of the missing child from the Home.

    He said: “I don’t know anything about the missing child, the first time I heard I was arrested and taken to the police station and they questioned me about the child.

     “I told them (the police) I don’t know anything about the missing child. I remember the first girl but I have never met the missing girl.”

  • 21 bodies recovered from Liberian gold mine

    Liberian authorities on Thursday confirmed 21 bodies have been recovered from a gold mine where a mudslide buried some miners two months ago.

    The authorities said up to 45 miners were thought to have been trapped after the mudslide at the Gbanepea Mine in the lower Nimba County in central Liberia on Feb. 9.

    Dorr Cooper, the Nimba County superintendent, said only 21 bodies were found and that rescue operations had been brought to a close while speaking to newsmen.

    “Additional 13 bodies were recovered few days ahead of the end of the entire rescue operation, apart from the eight bodies that were earlier.

    Read also: Dangote: BUA lies on claims to mines ownership

    “This means that we were able to recover more than 20 bodies during the entire process,’’ Cooper said.

    He also announced the closure of the mining site and suspension of all mining activities at the place until further notice.

    Cooper called on the locals of the area to adhere to the government’s order on the closure of the site.

    `The government remains firm on its decision to suspend all mining activities in the area until all necessary measures are put in place.

    `The Liberian government is working to ensure that all the necessary mechanisms are put in place to allow qualified individuals and organisations interested in exploration to start operating in the area very soon,’’ he added. (Xinhua/NAN)

  • UCL: PSG should listen to me more, says Alves

    Paris St German’s experienced Brazil international defender Dani Alves said on Thursday that the club should follow his recommendations to improve in the Champions League.

    With three Champions League crowns, three Club World Cup titles and two UEFA Cup triumphs among his trophy haul the full back is the world’s most decorated active player.

    The experienced Brazilian however feels his voice is not being heard at runaway Ligue 1 leaders PSG.

    PSG have been knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16 for three years in a row, going out on away goals against Manchester United this season after winning the first leg 2-0 at Old Trafford.

    “I know how to win,” the 35-year-old, who joined PSG in 2017 from Juventus and has been negotiating a contract extension for next season, told RMC Sport.

    “When I want to say something I would like to be followed. Not because I’m better than any other but because I’ve been there.

    “When someone has been there maybe it’s good to listen to them, to rely on their experience.

    Read Also: Hard to Take!  PSG fan shatters Television over 3-1 defeat

    “Maybe it will work, maybe it won’t. I would like that when I say something, one would listen more.”

    Alves, who spent six years at Sevilla and eight at Barcelona before moving to Italy in 2016, felt PSG should have been less complacent and more aware that history was against them.

    “When you are up against a historical opponent in football, boxing, tennis, history will always be against you,” he said.

    PSG are on the brink of an eighth Ligue 1 title, which they can clinch on Sunday by avoiding defeat at second-placed Lille.

     

    NAN

     

     

  • System failure disrupts JAMB UTME in Kaduna

    Persistent system failure characterised the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Danbo International School Kaduna.

    Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the exercise in Kaduna on Thursday,  reports that the examination, which was supposed to last for two hours lasted for four hours at the centre.

    750 students wrote the examination at the centre, with the first batch, made up of 250 candidates expected to write from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. but could not start until around 9:00 a.m. and finished around 12:00 p.m.

    The second batch that was to commence at 10:00 a.m., could not do so until around 12:00 p.m. because all the computer systems tripped-off few minutes after commencement of the examination due to power cut.

    Other systems were bad and had to be replaced with back up, while others kept going off at different intervals while the students were writing the examination.

    One of the candidates, Akintola Isaac told NAN that his system tripped-off three times, adding that any time it tripped, he started all over again.

    Akintola, who sat for the emanation for the second time, added that the consistent failure of the system did not allow him to finish the examination before he was asked to leave the hall.

    Read also: WAEC, JAMB working on clashing timetables

    “We barely commenced the examination when all the system in the hall went off. After getting them running again, my system tripped-off three times and it takes 10 to 20 minutes to get it working again.

    “In the long run, I only finished two papers and was on the third one when I was asked to leave the hall that my time is up.

    “When I complained to the JAMB officials and appealed to allow me write again, they told me there is nothing they can do.

    Am still appealing to JAMB to give me another opportunity because it is not my fault,” he said.

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