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  • Breaking: Police Inspector who killed Kolade Johnson dismissed

    Inspector Ogunyemi Olalekan has been dismissed for the killing of Kolade Johnson.

    Olalekan was found guilty after an orderly room trial that started on Monday.

    Kolade was killed by a stray bullet when operatives of the anti-cultism unit of the police command stormed the area for a raid at Onipetesi, Lagos-Abeokuta road on Sunday.

    Olalekan and Godwin Orji, a sergeant, were identified as suspects who carried out the shooting by the police force.

    Lagos police spokesman, Bala Elkana, said on Thursday, in a statement, that only Olalekan was found guilty.

    He explained: “The two Police officers alleged to have been involved in the shooting of Kolade Johnson on 31/03/2019 were apprehended and subjected to internal disciplinary proceedings, known as Orderly Room Trial by the Command.

    Read also: Police arrest ‘notorious’ suspected kidnapper in Ondo

    “The Orderly Room trial commenced on Monday 01/04/2019 and ended on Thursday 04/04/2019.

    “They were tried on  three count charges: (1) Discreditable Conduct (2) Unlawful and Unnecessary Exercise of Authority and (3) Damage to Clothing or Other Articles contrary to Paragraph E (iii), Q (ii) and D (i) First Schedule, Police Act and Regulations, Cap 370 LFN 1990.

    “The trial started with the reading of charges and taking of plea.

    “Five witnesses testified.

    “At the conclusion of the trial, the first defaulter, Inspector Ogunyemi Olalekan was found guilty of Discreditable conduct by acting in a manner prejudicial to discipline and unbecoming of members of the Force by shooting and killing Kolade Johnson; Unlawful and Unnecessary exercise of authority by using unnecessary violence, by using AK 47 rifle on the deceased in total neglect to the provisions of Force Order 237 on the use of Firearms.

    “The Adjudicating Officer, CSP Indyar Apev awarded the punishment of dismissal from service and prosecution to the First defaulter.

    “There was no evidence linking the second defaulter, Sergeant Godwin Orji to the shooting, he was therefore found not guilty and discharged and acquitted.”

     Olalekan, according to the police, has been handed over to the criminal investigation department for prosecution in a conventional court.

  • Nine-year-old boy wins National Mathematics competition

    Nine-year-old Enwere-Kingsley Ikenna of Cuddy Kids School, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos on Thursday emerged overall winner of the 16th Annual National Mathematics Competition (ANMC).

    Ikenna won gold medal, scoring 98.85 per cent to defeat 39,518 candidates who participated in the competition in the 36 states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory.

    The competition, organised by National Mathematical Centre and Nigeria Tulip International Colleges (NTIC) Abuja, was to reward hard work for pupils who devoted time to surmount the phobia associated with mathematics.

    Mr. Ercan Yilmaz, Principal, NTIC, Ogun Chapter, said Ikenna would get all expenses paid full scholarship with N300,000 cash prize while his teacher would get N200,000 and his school would get a digital printer and desktop.

    Read Also: Mathematics lecturer killed in Benin

    Yilmaz said pupils who emerged winners from second to seventh position would also get full scholarship from the college while winners from eighth to the twelfth position would get 100 per cent scholarship on tuition, among other prizes.

    “This is certainly a display of academic commitment par excellence which NTIC as a school that rewards hard work would not be tired of doing.

    “We believe that pupils who could devote much of their time to the mastery of mathematics, that others in their ignorance, consider a big devil should be more than amply rewarded,” he said.

    The principal noted over the years, the competition had been further strengthened and improved in quality, quantity and the spread of participation.

    He lauded the state Universal Basic Education Board in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and Kwara States for their partnership to further improve participation, organisation and manpower deployments for the competition.

    Mr J. O. Odeyemi, Director, Curriculum Development and Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ogun, also said the award was not just to recognise the brilliant learners, but to encourage other learners to excel in other academic facet.

    Odeyemi, represented by Mrs. Olayemi Aromolati, an official of the Ministry, said the award was laudable because it aimed at recognising the contribution of the young talent who have made immense contribution to the college, which would in turn affect the society positively.

    The other top 11 finalists are Kayode Oluwaseyi-Emeka of Brainiacs Montessori Schools, Ogun, who emerged second position with 97.37 per cent and got a cash prize of N200, 000, N100, 000 for teacher, a digital printer and desktop for school.

    Daaron Okam of Bridging gap Schools, Lagos, came third with 96.53 per cent with cash prize of N100, 000.

    The teacher will receive N75, 000, a digital printer for school, while Ayomikun Bello emerged fourth position.

    Adebayo joy of Petoa Nursery and Primary School, Ekiti, came fifth position with 94.89 per cent, Isabela Adubifa of Corona Schools, Victoria Island, Lagos, came sixth with 94.77 per cent, while Onwumere Ucheochukwu of St. Saviour School, Lagos, emerged seventh position with 94. 06 per cent.

    Oluwalade Oluwademilade of Living Spring School, Lekki came eight with 93. 41 per cent, Esekhalu Ehinowu of Play Learn Academy bagged ninth position with 93.40 per cent while Adewale Ajayi of Migration Montessori, Ogun, emerged tenth position with 93.25 per cent.

    Also, Patrick Taiwo of Adeola Odutola College, Ogun, emerged eleventh position with 93.14 per cent and Eunice Oluwatomi of Oluwarotimi Nursery and Primary School, Akure, bagged the twelfth position.

    The winners emerged from the fourth to twelfth position also received various cash prizes which ranged from N75,000 to N25,000 for the least person and N50,000 to N20,000 for their teachers .

    The 16th edition of the competition was sponsored by Access Bank, Nigeria.

    NAN

  • Exploration continues after 10,000 feet deep operation in north, says NNPC

    Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroluem Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru has stated exploration in Northern Nigeria will continue despite having gone 10,075 ft deep in the oil exploration on the Kolmani River II Well.

    The NNPC boss disclosed this in Kaduna on Thursday at the 40th edition of the Kaduna International Trade Fair.

    He said the corporation is working on the Kolmani River II with optimism and high expectation.

    He said the exploration will enable the NNPC do a massive appraisal of the discovery of gas reserves made in 1999 in the region.

    Baru said President Muhammadu Buhari has personally urged the corporation to go back to exploration on the Kolmani River II Well.

    Drilling, he said, has been going on smoothly, stating as at Thursday’s morning, the corporation has dug 10,075 ft deep with a target to reach 14,270 ft exploration.

    “The main purpose of this well is to start some massive appraisal of the discovery that was made way back in 1999 of some gas reserves in Kolmani River 1 and so far the drilling has been going on smoothly to enable exploration.

    READ ALSO: NNPC pushes for zero gas flare

    “We will do the needful, if we need to probe any particular section we will take our time to do it, our target date is to see that by the end of May, we complete exploration on that particular well and move to Kolmani River iii which site is almost ready for the rigs to move there and from there we move to other locations,” he said.

    He urged stakeholders at the fair to provide an opportunity for stakeholders and long term exhibitors like NNPC to take stock of their participation through the years with a view to consolidating on areas of strength, while working on avenues for improvements.

     Baru said the loss of agriculture to crude oil exploitation has retarded local industries that feed on agricultural produce as feedstock, prominent among which he said are the textiles industry as well as tanneries in the North.

    On product availability, the NNPC GMD said as supplier of last resort, the corporation would continue to ensure that the nation is wet with “white products” that enable local business movements of goods and services are guaranteed.

  • 2019: Election tribunals get 736 petitions

    Aggrieved politicians have so far filed a total of 736 petitions before the various election tribunals established over outcomes of the last general elections.

    A breakdown of the number, made public on Thursday by the election petitions coordinating office at the Court of Appeal, revealed that four petitions have so far been filed in respect of the presidential election.

    The office, headed by Mrs. Rabi Abdulazeez, also revealed that 43 petitions have so far been filed in relation to the governorship elections.

    Court of Appeal’s spokesperson, Sa’adatu Musa Kachalla, revealed that 207 petition have been filed in relation to the Senate elections.

    A total of 101 petitions are pending in relation to the House of Representatives polls while 381 have been filed in respect of the state Houses of Assembly election.

    As regards the presidential election, the first was filed by Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and Ambrose Owuru, who claimed to be the party’s presidential candidate.

    The petition marked: CA/PEPC/001/2019 was filed on March 7 this year.

    Read Also: Lessons from inconclusive elections

    The second was filed on March 8 by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar. It is marked: CA/PEPC/002/2019.

    The third marked: CA/PEPC/003/2019 was filed by the Coalition for Change (C4C) and Geff Ojinika, who claimed to be the party’s presidential candidate.

    The core contention of the authors of the third petition is that the election, held on February 23 this year, “was vitiated by substantial non-compliance with mandatory statutory provisions, which irregularity substantially affected the election, such that the 1st respondent (Buhari) was not entitled to be returned as the winner of the presidential election.”

    The fourth petition, marked: CA/PEPC/004/2019, was filed on March 19 this year by the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) and Pastor Aminchi Habu, listed as the party’s presidential candidate.

     

  • Niger imposes curfew on commercial motorcycles

    The Niger state Police Command has announced ban of commercial motorcycle in Minna metropolis and its environs due to the influx of armed bandits into the state.

    The ban, which was announced in a statement by the Niger state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Muhammad Abubakar, takes effect from Thursday, April 4.

    He said the ban is in the continuous effort to nib in the bud cases of violent crimes across the state, especially armed bandits who use motorcycles to perpetrate heinous crimes across the state.

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    “The Niger State Police Command wishes to inform the general public on the ban of commercial motorcycles in Minna metropolis and environs from 9.00 pm to 6.00 am.

    “This is in line with the provisions of the traffic law cap 118 law of Niger State 1989 and Restriction on the Use of Motorcycles Order 2012.”

    The Police assured the public of its determination to double effort to stem the tide of crimes in the state, vowing the order will strictly be enforced across the state to bring the perpetrators to book.

  • One dead as car rams into fuel tanker in Ebonyi

    One person died and another is said to be in critical condition at a hospital following an accident involving a fuel tanker and a Honda salon car.

     The incident occurred along Abakaliki/Enugu express road on Wednesday night.

    It was gathered that the driver of the salon car, a welder popularly known as Best Brian, was burnt to ashes

    It was gathered the tanker driver was returning from Cross River state where he went to off-load parts of the fuel to the owner.

    It was further gathered the tanker had a burst tyre and parked on the road for repairs when the salon car with registration number APP 607 AR rammed into it from the back.

    The tanker ignited on impact and the two drivers got burnt.

    The welder was trapped inside his car but the tanker driver, who was said to be carrying out repairs under the vehicle, managed to escape though with severe burns all over

    He is said to be in critical condition at the hospital.

    An eyewitness said: “Best Brian was with us yesterday at the building material and when we finished talking.

    “He said he was going home because he comes from the village to work every day.

    “How I wish he was alive to tell the story how the incident happened. Now he is burnt beyond recognition.

    “We don’t know whether he was drunk or that he was answering a call that caused him to ram into the tanker,” he said.

    It was gathered that the accident occurred at the same scene where another tanker carrying diesel failed and destroyed property worth millions of naira recently.

    Charles Edem, Head of Operations of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, in the state confirmed the incident.

    He said the driver of the Honda car was burnt beyond recognition while the driver of the tanker suffered severe burns and was rushed to the hospital.

  • Police arrest ‘notorious’ suspected kidnapper in Ondo

    Police in conjunction with Meyatti Allah and community vigilante have arrested one of the notorious kidnappers terrorising travelers along Akunu-Ikakumo-Auga road in Akoko area of Ondo state.

    Sources said a man yet-to-be identified was travelling in his Mercedes benz car with registration Edo Ben 203 PW when he was kidnapped.

    His vehicle was reportedly abandoned between Auga and Akunu with the owner marched into the bush.

    It was learnt that a synergy between Edo and Ondo states Policemen coupled with Meyatti Allah group that pursued the kidnappers and exchanged gun shots with them, making it possible for the victim to escape from captivity around Ibillo, a community in Edo state.

    One of the suspected kidnappers who sustained gunshots was arrested where he went for medical attention.

    Police quickly recovered pistols, AK rifles and cutlasses from their hide out.

    Also, a 40-year cattle dealer, Fatai Amuda was kidnapped between Akunu and Ikakumo by suspected gunmen believed to be herdsmen.

    Read Also: Sokoto police arrest Nigerien gun fabricator, Alhassan

    The Akala of Ikaram, Oba Andrew Momodu where the boy hail from confirmed it while reporting the case to Ikare-Akoko Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police(ACP) Rauf Razak who assured him that police will comb the bush and deal ruthlessly with the criminals.

    Police Spokesman, Femi Joseph, while parading the deputy leader of the gang, Ismall Waku said it was the combined team of Meyatti Allah and Police that swooped on the hoodlums in their hide-out.

    According to him, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ikare-Akoko on suspecting a car parked on the roadside alerted the leader of Meyatti Allah in the area, which led to the arrest of the suspect.

    Joseph said after much fire power, the gangsters fled to different directions after which Wakil was arrested with wounds sustained from gunshots.

    He said his other accomplices would be fished out soon to face the wrath of the law.

  • Breaking: One dead, official injured as drug addicts raze NDLEA office

    Rampaging youths on Thursday evening razed the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) office in Kazaure local government of Jigawa state.

    The office located along Daura-Kazaure road opposite Dikko Roni filing station was completely burnt down by the youths during the mob action.

    The youths also injured an NDLEA official identified as Stanley Sylvester, an Assistant Narcotic office I.

    Findings by our reporter indicated the youths were provoked after NDLEA operatives killed a suspected drug kingpin in the area.

    It was gathered the incident occurred when the operatives raided criminal hideouts in Kazaure town, headquarters of Kazaure local government area.

    An eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, identified the deceased as 25-year-old Abubakar Lawal, a resident of Sha-iskawa Kazaure.

    Read Also: NDLEA arrests 81 for illicit drug peddling in Oyo

    He said the deceased ran for safety and jumped into Kazaure river during the raid where he was allegedly shot dead by the NDLEA operatives.

    Eyewitness said the killing resulted to crisis, making the angry youths to chase away NDLEA officials.

    They also burnt two of their vehicles and injured one official.

    When contacted, the Public Relation Officer to the Jigawa state Nigerian Security and Civil Defense, DSP Adamu Shehu confirmed the incident.

    He said: “The NDLEA personal raided a resident on which allegedly as hideout of illegal drugs consumption and trading.”

    Shehu added: “The NDLEA arrested some and while some escaped, one of them drowned in to Kazaure river and died.”

  • UBEC approves N2.7bn for construct of 5,010 classrooms

    The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has approved the sum of N2.7 billion for construction of 5,010 classrooms across the country.

    The project is under the School Based Management Committee and School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP).

    State Coordinator of UBEC in Plateau, Mrs. Mary Zakka, disclosed this at a one-day advocacy and sensitisation workshop organised by the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for the success of its implementation on Thursday in Jos.

    She said the commission would this year support communities under the three project categories which were, SBMC Macro to construct 1,110 classrooms within six months, SBMC Micro , 3700 classrooms and special cases with 200 classrooms.

    Read Also: UBEC to release N142.5 billion to states

    The UBEC official said however that the communities must show commitment by contributing 10 per cent counterpart funding before such funds can be accessed.

    “For these monies to be released, the communities must contribute, this is self- help for their good.

    “Participants of this workshop should step down this training to ensure the cooperation of critical stakeholders for the success of this programme,” she said.

    Director of Nomadic Education and Social Mobilisation, Mrs. Grace Nyam, said the programme had been resuscitated with the objective of promoting grassroot participation, support and eventual ownership of basic education by communities.

    Nyam said however the success was dependent on the level of community awareness, participation and support to the programme, thus the need for the workshop for education secretaries, Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and other stakeholders.

    She reiterated the success of the programme would serve as a strategy to fast-tracking school development through community self -help initiated programmes.

    She urged participants to remain committed in ensuring critical stakeholders in communities, support the programme, thus increase school enrollment, retention and completion.

    Executive Chairman of SUBEB in Plateau, Prof. Matthew Sule, urged the participants to sensitise stakeholders on the need to contribute towards the improvement of the standard of education in the State.

    He said the basic requirements for ensuring improvement in education was infrastructure development and the quality of teachers, saying that access to the intervention would facilitate that.

  • Nigeria’s total debt stock grows to 24.3 trillion, says DMO

    The Debt Management Office (DMO) has announced Nigeria’s total debt stock comprising external and domestic debts stand at N24.387 trillion.

    Director General of the DMO Ms. Patience Oniha made this disclosure at the public breakdown of the nation’s public debt data in Abuja on Thursday.

    According to Oniha: “the Total Public Debt stood at N24.387 trillion or USD79.437 billion as at December 31, 2018 representing a year-on-year growth of 12.25%.

    From the breakdown, it was revealed that the FGN External Debt in 2018 was N6. 460 trillion up from N4.527 trillion representing a 42.69% increase.

    “The FGN Domestic Debt in 2018 on the other hand was N12,774 trillion up from N12,589 trillion the previous year representing a 1.46% increase.

    “The sum of both external and domestic FGN debts was put at N19,234 trillion while the total sum of the external and domestic debt stock of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was put at  N5,152 trillion broken down as N3,853 trillion domestic debts and N1,298 trillion external debts.”

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    The DMO boss further stated: “Progress was made towards achieving the target Debt Stock mix of 60% (Domestic) and 40% (External). The share of Domestic Debt dropped to 68.18% from 73.36% as at December 31, 2017 thereby achieving a Mix of 68.18% and 31.82% in the Debt Stock.

    “The DMO strategy of using relatively cheaper and longer tenored external funds is achieving the expected objectives.

    “Some of the objectives were: to create more space for other borrowers in the domestic market, extend the average tenor of the debt stock in order to reduce refinancing risk and increase External Reserves.”

    The implementation of the strategy led to an injection of N855 billion through the redemption of Nigerian Treasury Bills in 2018 and a general drop in the FGN’s borrowing rate in the domestic market from over 18% p.a. in 2017 to 14 – 15% p.a. in 2018.

    With regards to the N3.4 trillion Promissory Notes Issuance to Settle Inherited Local Debts, Oniha disclosed that the purpose is to use it to settle Inherited Local Debts and Contractual Obligations of the Federal Government.

    The programme, which is estimated at N3.4trillion, Oniha said covers: Contractors; Exporters; Judgement Debt; State Governments and Oil Marketing companies.

    The features of the promissory notes to be issued are that it will serve as Sovereign and negotiable Instruments and also have Liquid Asset Status.

    The DMO boss stated the FGN’s Domestic Debt Stock includes N331.12 billion Promissory Notes issued to Oil Marketing Companies and State Governments in December 2018.”

    The benefits of issuing the promissory noted the DMO boss stated include: “it will provide stimulus to the economy and unlock investment across a number of sectors currently having liquidity issues; Positive impact on the non-performing loan ratios of banks which will in turn, increase the banks capacity to lend; Enable the Federal Government to formally recognise and account for its true liabilities in line with the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).”

    Some of DMO’s major plans in 2019 are to undertake more of project-tied borrowing and access more external borrowing from Concessional Sources. Furthermore, the DMO announced plans to issue 30-year Federal Government of Nigeria Bonds (FGN Bonds) for the first time.

    “The issuance of the Bond Oniha said: “will meet the needs of annuity funds and other long term investors while also developing the domestic capital market and reducing the re-financing risk of the FGN.”

    Another area of focus in 2019 will be the management of Risks associated with the Debt Stock to mitigate Debt Service Costs.”

    In 2019, Budget Deficit was put at N1. 859 trillion but new borrowings, if passed by the National Assembly have been put at N1.649 trillion.

    By this development, the percentage of Deficit to be Funded by Borrowing in 2019 will 88.7 0%.

    According to Oniha: “the New Borrowing in 2019 (subject to NASS Approval) will be a 50-50 split for Domestic and External both at N824 billion. The domestic borrowing component also known as FGN Bonds, will sourced from Sukuk, Green Bond and Savings Bond while the external (N824 billion) will be largely Concessional, Cheaper and will help reduce Debt Service Cost. Longer-term funds for infrastructure, used to create space for private sector borrowing and Increase External Reserves

    Patience Oniha also explained: “Proceeds of the USD500 million Eurobond raised in November 2017 and USD2.5 Billion were used to redeem the N198.032 billion of Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTBs) that matured in December 2017.

    “Also, USD2.5 billion Eurobond Proceeds (February 2018) were used to redeem N729.95 Billion Nigerian Treasury Bill (NTB) in 2018.”