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  • 2019 World Junior Circuit: Nigeria pairs hit semifinal in doubles

    Nigeria’s quartet of Azeez Solanke, Jamiu Ayanwale, Taiwo Matti and Augustine Emmanuel played their best match of the tournament in the boys’ doubles to hit the semifinal stage of the ITTF World Junior Circuit tagged Ghana Open.

    It was the pair of Solanke and Ayanwale that first berthed in the last four after a hard-fought quarterfinal win over Saudi Arabia’s ALSHAREIF Khalid and ALSUWAILEM Salem. The Saudi Arabian took charge from the stage when they won the first game at 11-7 but disappointed by the loss, Solanke and Ayanwale fought back to win the encounter at 3-1 to the admiration of the fans.

    Also Matti and Emmanuel were set up against the combination of Costa Rica’s SANCHEZ Alfredo and England’s James Smith.

    Read also: Quadri is 23rd in ITTF ranking

    It was an energy-sapping encounter as the match was stretched to fifth game with the Nigerians dominating to end the match at 3-2 to qualify for the last four.

    However, Indian star, Mainak Nistala has described Nigerian players as talented. The Indian youngster told NationSport after losing 2-3 to Emmanuel in the boys’ junior singles that he was particularly mesmerized by the precise forehand packed with a lot of power by the Nigerian player. “I think Nigeria players are very different because they are so good in forehand and this made it very difficult for me to control the ball. The forehand has a lot of force behind it and this even made most of shots very hard to control,” Nistala admitted.

  • Sexual assault: Court grants teacher N500,000 bail

    A secondary school teacher, Mr Ajayi Akintunde, was on Thursday granted N500, 000 bail in Lagos, over an alleged sexual assault of an 18-year-old secondary girl.

    An Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s Court, which granted the bail, asked him to provide two sureties as part of the conditions.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Yewande Aje-Afunwa, ordered that the sureties should be gainfully employed and should show evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State Government.

    She added that one of the sureties should be related to the defendant.

    Read Also: Court remands two men for raping family friend’s daughter

    The defendant, whose address was not provided, is facing a charge of unlawful sexual assault.

    He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Asp. Peter Nwangwu told the court that the offence was committed in 2018 at Fazi-I-Omat High School Iwaya, Lagos.

    Nwangwu said the defendant was arrested by the police after a case was reported at Iwaya Police Station.

    He said that the defendant had unlawful oral sex with the girl, when he forced her to suck his private part.

    According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Section prescribes a 3-year jail term for any offenders.

    The girl had told the police on two different occasions that she succumbed to pressure and gave the teacher oral sex.

    She said that the teacher further demanded sex if she ever wanted to graduate from the school with her classmates, but she refused.

    The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, DSP Bala Elkana, confirmed that the teacher was arrested and paraded at the police command.

    NAN

  • Court judgement, an affirmation of people’s will, says Omo-Agege

    Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central, APC) has described judgement of the Federal High Court in Warri, which held he was the validly elected candidate as an affirmation of the will of the people of Delta state.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Communications and Strategy, Godwin Anaughe, the Senator said the court only affirmed what was already known that Emerhor Oe’terga was not the candidate of the APC.

    The statement reads: “The judgement delivered by the Federal High Court Warri on the 2nd of April 2019 definitively refused and rejected all the claims of Emerhor Oghenetega Germanson and Ima Niboro in which they sought to be declared the Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Delta Central Senatorial district and Udu/Ughelli Federal Constituency respectively.

    “In doing so, the Federal High Court sitting in Warri, presided over by Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite acknowledged the obvious and validated what has been the true position all these while: Emerhor Oghenetega Germanson certainly does not have a legal right to the Delta Central Senatorial seat. Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is the Senator-elect having duly won the legitimate primaries of the All Progressives Congress, APC, held on October 3rd, 2018 and also won the general elections held on February 23rd, 2019, despite Emerhor Oghenetega Germanson’s working assiduously against APC in the senatorial election and ensuring that the party is defeated in his unit and ward.

    “The Federal High Court in its judgement upheld the statutory role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in monitoring activities of political parties, particularly the monitoring of primaries to elect candidates to contest the general elections.

    Read Also: Court upholds Omo-Agege’s election

    “The Court found as proof that in the primaries of the APC which INEC monitored, the winner is Senator Ovie Omo Agege and not Emerhor Oghenetega Germanson, a fact the Court said was admitted by Emerhor Oghenetega Germanson.

    “The Court also found that Emerhor Oghenetega Germanson being an aspirant who claimed to have won a primary election as against other contestants, improperly instituted his case when he refused to join other contestants as parties to the suit. That amounts to shaving their heads behind their backs.”

    The statement added:   “Not having joined Senator Omo-Agege and Rev. Francis Waive as necessary parties, the Court found the case to be incompetent.

    “On the merit of the case, the Court in its judgment found against Emerhor Oghenetega Germanson and held that he did not win the primaries of the APC conducted by the National Working Committee of the APC and monitored by INEC. The winner of the APC primaries conducted by the National Working Committee of the APC and monitored by INEC is Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

    “The Court then finally struck out the suit for being incompetent and lacking in merit. This judgement is a victory for all candidates of the APC in Delta State who fought so hard to achieve victory for our great party. It is a tremendous victory for democracy, rule of law and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “It is a victory for the people of Delta Central Senatorial District who voted for Senator Ovie Omo-Agege to return to the Senate as a ranking Senator to continue the good work he started three years ago. And it rebukes Emerhor Oghenetega Germanson’s attempt to steal the election and subvert the will of the people.

    “This judgement is also a moment of profound clarity following months of frenzied media coverage that tended to confuse and mislead the general public. We applaud the Court for its decision and for affirming what we already knew to be the will of the people of Delta Central Senatorial District.”

  • Court orders farmer to pay back N61,600 to ex-lover

    A Sharia Court II sitting in Magajin Gari in Kaduna State on Thursday ordered a poultry farmer to pay his ex-lover N61,600, being amount he borrowed from her to start a poultry business.

    The Judge, Musa Sa’ad-Goma, ordered Shu’aibu Rani, 33, to pay, Zulaihat Umar N10,000 on the spot and subsequently pay her N5000 monthly to exhaust the amount.

    Umar, 24, had prayed the court to recover the amount from her ex-lover.

    Read Also: Court didn’t decide in favour of Omo-Agege – SAN

    Umar said that she borrowed Rani the sum of N86,600 to start up a poultry business in 2014, adding that the defendant agreed to pay her N5000 monthly until the amount was exhausted.

    “He had promised to pay me back after he sells the birds but he only gave me N25,000 and failed to pay the balance,” she said.

    Rani, who did not deny owing his ex-lover, said he separated from Umar after he got married to another woman.

    NAN

  • Man docked for stealing snails, onions, rice

    A 48-year old man, Osazee Benjamin, has been arraigned before an Oredo Magistrate Court for stealing items such as snails, rice, onions, groundnut oil, tomatoes and beans at the Oba Market in Bénin City.

    Benjamin was said to have stolen the items worth N220,000 between February 22 and April 1st 2019.

    Police Prosecutor, Inspector Patrick Agbonifo, told the court the offences were punishable under Section 390 and 340 of the Criminal code cap 48 vol II Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria.

    Inspector Agbonifo said suspected stolen items such as braziers, children slippers, wrist watches, spaghetti were found on the accused person.

    Read Also: Court remands two men for raping family friend’s daughter

    Benjamin, however, pleaded not guilty to the six-count charges preferred against him.

    Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Ivie Akere, granted the accused bail to the sum of N50,000 or a surety in like sum who must be a family member.

    She adjourned the case to April 10 for trial.

  • Sultan to Muslims: look for new moon of Sha’aban

    Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, on Thursday, called on Muslims to start looking for the new moon of Sha’aban 1440A.H.

    Abubakar made the call in a statement signed by Prof. Sambo Junaidu, the Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto.

    Junaidu stated that “this is to inform the Muslim Ummah that Friday, April 5, which is equivalent to 29 day of Rajab 1440A.H., shall be the day to look for the new moon of Sha’aban 1440A.H.

    Read Also: Sultan tasks FG, states on building, equipment of hospitals

    “Muslims are, therefore, requested to start looking for the new moon of Sha’aban 1440A.H. on Friday and report its sighting to the nearest district or village head for onward communication to the Sultan.”

    The monarch prayed to Allah to help religious leaders and all Muslims in the discharge of their religious duties.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sha’aban is the eight month of the Islamic calendar that comes before the compulsory fasting month of Ramadan.

    NAN

  • Group slams police for killing Kolade Johnson

    A human rights organization, Crime Victims Foundation of Nigeria (CRIVIFON) has condemned the killing of a football fan, Kolade Johnson by two officers of the anti- cultism unit of the Lagos Police Command.

    The foundation, in a statement issued in Lagos Thursday also condemned what it described as “careless use of rifles” by the two policemen involved.

    The spokesman of the Lagos Police Command, Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), had in a statement on Tuesday named the suspected officers as Inspector Ogunyemi Olalekan and Sergeant Godwin Orji.

    In the statement issued by its  Executive Director, Mrs. Gloria Egbuji, the group said it was pained that the two policemen involved in the killing were once beneficiaries of the police human rights training facilitated by the foundation.

    It regretted that they threw away every knowledge they have acquired during the training programme.

    Read Also: Police reveal cop-killers of Kolade Johnson

    “No Nigerian or even a foreigner in our midst should be deprived of his or her life in such an uncivilized manner as displayed by the Anti-Cultism Team involved in the dastardly act,” it said.

    The foundation also expressed dismay over the attitude of some policemen at a time the federal government is seriously giving attention to the restructuring of the Police Force for efficient performance and especially with respect to the issue of human rights violation.

    According to Egbuji: “As facilitators of the police human rights training which began in 2006 at the Lagos Police Command, CRIVIFON would want every police man who undergoes the training to bring the knowledge acquired to bear on his job.

    “They should not see the training merely as an opportunity to acquire certificate but knowledge needed to improve their service delivery.

    “They should also see the training as opportunity to reform their character traits with respect to how they used to perceive people’s fundamental human rights before undergoing the human rights training.”

    She however remarked that the foundation is encouraged by the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari and the police management in their reactions to the unwarranted killing of Kolade Johnson have emphasized the administration’s on-going effort to over haul the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other such units particularly through regular training of personnel to avoid the continuous violation of people’s constitutional and fundamental rights.

    She also acknowledged the swift action taken by the Lagos CP, Muazu Zubairo to immediately unravel what happened and the assurance to deal with the situation in accordance with the law by prosecuting the suspects

    “As partners in the human rights training, CRIVIFON commended President Buhari for showing interest in reforming the police and also, appreciated authorities of the Nigeria Police Force for creating the enabling environment for such training of their officers and men to take place particularly with the renewed vigor of the present Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu to ensure that officers and men of SARS and other units are regularly trained,” she added.

     

     

  • Don’t forget your promise to run inclusive govt, APA tells Buhari

    The Vice Presidential candidate of the African People’s Alliance (APA), Prince Adesoji Adeleke Masilo, has reminded President Muhammadu Buhari not to forget his campaign promise to run an all-inclusive government.

    Advising him not see his victory as a “winner takes all,” he said he must live up to his promise to give appointments to members of other political parties, particularly those that supported him and the All Progressives Congress to achieve victory.

    In a statement, Masilo, who commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting a free, fair and credible general elections, said the military and the legal profession backgrounds of Buhari and Osinbajo, will help Nigeria overcome insecurity and imbibe democratic values.

    Read Also: Buhari condemns killing of Kolade Johnson by SARS

    According to him, the re-election of the President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, is a perfect combination for the nation’s solid foundation for good governance.

    He expressed confidence in all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) recently elected during the February and March general elections, including the governors-elect, to support the Buhari/Osinbajo administration in taking the nation’s out of the woods.

    He said: “President Buhari’s background in the military and that of his vice, Osinbajo, in the legal profession will help the nation’s re-establish discipline and respect for human dignity long lost in this nation. Both of them, no doubt, will give us necessary development, dividends of democracy and also take us to the next level.”

    Masilo commended the INEC for “technically sorting out issues in very critical and volatile states, where there had been established electoral infractions.”

  • TECNO unveils SPARK 3 smartphone

    TECNO Mobile has launched a new smartphone series named SPARK 3.

    The new phone which is the third in the SPARK series comes with impressive upgrades in terms of both hardware and software.

    It has better pictures, bright and clear selfies as it comes upgraded with AI Technology to light up your smartphone experience.

    The launch which held recently at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, gathered stakeholders, government representatives, Dealer, Celebrities, media amongst others.

    Luke Pan

    In his welcome remarks, Brand Manager TECNO Mobile, Luke Pan said that he was proud to announce the release of TECNO SPARK 3 series which is equipped with the latest AI Technology.

    READ ALSO: Tecno launches  camera and A.I technology

    Explaining further, he said that the success of SPARK 3 is predicted to surpass that of its predecessors.

    “SPARK 3 takes photography to a whole new level as it is a by-product of rigorous research of many human faces. Come and try SPARK 3 series, the AI Beauty Mode will blow your mind.”

    Jesse Oguntimehin

    According to PR and Strategic Partnership Manger, TECNO Mobile, Jesse Oguntimehin, “TECNO, as Africa’s most preferred smartphone brand, is known for devices that provide premium experiences at a price and value that dwarf those of its closest competitors, so without a doubt, SPARK fans will be delighted to have and share experiences with the new SPARK 3 series.”

    As a way of giving back to the society, TECNO mobile also kicked off the 3rd edition of its Light Up Your Dream campaign through a featured short documentary that detailed the journey and achievements of previous winners.

    Chinma Banksharon

    Announcing this year’s edition which begins from 3 April to 17 May, Digital Marketing Manager, TECNO Mobile, Chinma Banksharon said that TECNO is giving every Nigerian with dreams, young at heart an opportunity to be part of the competition, “This year’s edition would produce 7 lucky millionaires who will participate online or buy the device from our stores,” she said.

  • INEC declares Sekibo winner of Rivers East Senatorial election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Sen. Thompson Sekibo of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the Rivers East Senatorial Election.

    Mr. Edwin Enabor, INEC Head, Voters Education and Publicity in the state disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Port Harcourt.

    Enabor said Sekibo won the election held on Feb. 23 after polling 283,759 votes.

    He said Mr Apiafi Jocelyn of the PDP also won the Rivers West Senatorial poll with 159,215 votes.

    Enabor also declared Mr. Dagogo Fara of the PDP, winner of Degema/ Bonny federal constituency election with 30,422 votes.

    Others are Mrs. Nwankwo Promise of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who won the Oyibo state constituency seat with 26,675 votes.

    Read Also: Updated: INEC declares Wike re-elected in Rivers

    Mr. Anthony Soberekon of PDP who won the Degema constituency seat with 10,976 votes, Mr Bariene Deleyah of PDP who won in Khana 1 seat with 64,269 votes and Mr. Prince Ngbor of the PDP who won the Khana 11 seat with 39,681 votes.

    He said the state House of Assembly outstanding supplementary election would hold on the April 13.

    He said the election would hold in 20 polling units in Opobo/ Nkoro, 47 polling units in Ahoada West among others.

    NAN