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  • Kano Tribunal: We won’t condone external influence, says Chairman

    The Governorship/National and State Houses of Assembly petition Tribunal has been inaugurated in Kano on Thursday by Justice Nayai Aganaba who is the Chairman of the Election Petition Tribunal.
    The Chairman of the tribunal who inaugurated a three man committee comprising of his humble self, and two other members, namely; justice Ashu Augustine Ewah and Mustapha Tijjani assured that there would be no external influence in dispensing Justice to all the election petition before them.
    Aganaba admonished all the lawyers involved to conduct themselves in accordance to the ethics of the profession stressing that they should not be carried away by emotions during proceedings adding that “ as you see these politicians they are all friends jumping from one party to another.
    We the lawyers should be cautious not to get too much involved and be left stranded at the end of the day creating enmity between ourselves the lawyers”
    He warned that the tribunal is not a tea party but a serious business as such there should be no acrimony where senior lawyers will openly engage each other in open quarrel.
    He craved the indulgence of the lawyers to cooperate with each other and have mutual respect which is essential to the profession so that we would not encourage exchange of words across the bar.
    The Chairman of the Kano Chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Musa Lawal Abdullahi assured the tribunal of their maximum support during the proceedings and would avoid anything that would bring about unnecessary delay.”

    Read Also: 220 suspected criminals held in Kano

    “ we the lawyers in Kano have assured him that we would do our very best to ensure that we are not going to do anything that would derail or delay their sittings.
    In fact, we are going to give them our maximum support so that all the cases can be dealt with within the stipulated time”
    However, the there are 33 cases before the tribunal comprising of 11 House of Representatives, and 22 State House of Assembly so far as petitions of that of the Governorship election is yet to be filed before the tribunal.
    The tribunal has only 180 days to attend to all election petitions brought before it by aggrieved Political Parties or their candidates.

  • Man impersonates Adeboye, Olukoya, T.B. Joshua to defraud Nigerians

    The police in Lagos on Wednesday arraigned a 27-year-old businessman, Yusuf Atanda, charged with impersonating Pastor Enoch Adeboye and two other church general overseers to defraud members of the public.

    According to the police, Atanda created fake facebook accounts of Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor D.K. Olukoya of Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministry, and Pastor T.B. Joshua of the Synagogue Church of All Nations to dupe people.

    The defendant, who resides at Okokomaiko, Lagos, is being tried for cyber crime before Magistrate M.O Tanimola in Ikeja.

    Atanda, however, denied committing the offence, and was admitted to bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Tanimola said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Aondohemba Koti, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offence in October 2018 at Okokomaiko.

    Read Also: Adeboye’s secretary, Pastor Olorunnimbe dies at 60

    He added that the defendant used the names of the three general overseers on the internet without their consents.

    “Atanda created a fake facebook account of Pastor E.A Adeboye of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor D.K Olukoya of Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministry and Pastor T.B Joshua of Synagogue Church of All Nations.

    “He posed as the pastors and sent electronic messages to the public to deposit either N1, 000 or N2, 000 into a bank account to get N3, 000 or N5, 000, respectively, in four days.

    “If they pay and it is four days, he will block the persons’ numbers so they would not be able to reach him anymore.

    “Upon receipt of a written petition from one of the complainant’s legal counsel, the police swung into action, and the defendant was tracked and arrested.

    “The amount of money the defendant got from over 100 members of the public was yet to be ascertained,” the prosecutor said.

    The alleged offence violates Section 20 (1) of Cybercrime (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, Law of Federation, 2015.

    The case was adjourned until April 17 for mention.

  • Lagos-Ibadan Expressway: exercise patience, FRSC urges motorists

    The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission ( FRSC ) in Ogun, Clement Oladele, on Thursday, advised motorists plying Lagos -Ibadan Expressway to exercise patience and drive cautiously, especially within construction areas.

    Oladele disclosed this in a statement signed by the FRSC Public Education Officer in the state, Florence Okpe, and made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta.

    The sector commander warned motorists to avoid driving against traffic, as violators were liable to be prosecuted.

    He noted that the FRSC was working in concert with the construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, on introducing additional measures to cushion the hardship motorists were facing as a result of the construction efforts.

    Oladele said that the FRSC had been encouraging the construction company to speed up rehabilitation work and also open up areas that had been fairly completed for public use.

    Read Also: FRSC confirms two dead in Bauchi tanker explosion

    “Motorists are enjoined to cooperate with the FRSC and sister traffic agencies in ensuring free flow of traffic while driving along the road corridor and other corridors in the country.

    “The expressway has witnessed sporadic gridlocks this week due to incessant infractions occasioned by frequent breakdown of majorly articulated vehicles, which is compounded by the ongoing rehabilitation of the corridor.

    ” This has narrowed the lanes available on the expressway, especially between Magboro /Ibafo axis to the Mowe sections of the road.

    “Commuter activities along the corridor have also affected motorisation, coupled with traffic indiscipline by some reckless drivers that take advantage of gridlocks to attempt driving against traffic.

    “The FRSC wishes to inform the motoring public that the past few days have been characterised with infractions that distorted the free flow of traffic,” he said.

    Oladele said that the command would continue to ensure free flow of traffic on the expressway.

  • Breaking: Ibadan Poly orders immediate suspension of student union

    The management of The Polytechnic Ibadan at the early hours of Thursday announced the suspension of activities of the Student Union Government of the institution.

    Announcing the management decision, the Institutions spokesperson, Mr Adewole Soladoye said the suspension became necessary as the student union body had failed to obey and follow the rules guiding its activities on campus.

    Read Also: Ibadan Poly gets new rector, registrar

    According to him, the management directed the immediate suspension because of the ongoing football competition which had been disturbing the peace of the institution ahead of next week’s examination.

    He urged the students, in general, to stay committed to their examination which begins shortly.

    He added that the management will not hesitate to punish anyone who flouts the rules guiding the institution.

  • Umahi congratulates Wike on re-election

    The Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi has congratulated his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike on his re-election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Governor Umahi in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor described the declaration of Wike as the winner of the March 9th Governorship election in Rivers state by INEC as victory for democracy and a pointer to a better democratic norm in the country.

    While congratulating Governor Wike on his re-election, Umahi extolled his dogged spirit in fighting for his rights and to recover the mandate of the people of the state which they demonstrated through their ballots.

    Read Also: Rivers election: INEC declares Wike winner

    He commended INEC for standing firm and doing that which is right, adding that there is still hope that Nigeria will still get it better in terms of conducting free and credible elections in future.

    Umahi called on all the political actors in the state to join hands together to move the state forward, adding that Nigerians should eschew politics of bitterness and see politics as a vehicle to render service to mankind.

  • North will remain poor except… – Dangote

    African richest and Chairman of Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has said Northern Nigeria will continue to remain poor except states governments move to close the development gap between the north and the south.

    Dangote, who spoke at the 4th edition of the Kaduna Investment Summit (KadInvest 4.0) in Kaduna on Wednesday, berated Northern governors for doing little to end poverty in the region.

    According to him: “Nigeria is ranked at 157th out of 189 countries on the human development index. While the overall socio-economic condition in the country is a cause for concern, the regional disparities are in fact very alarming.

    “In the North Western and North Eastern parts of Nigeria, more than 60 per cent of the population lives in extreme poverty.

    “It is instructive to know that the 19 Northern states which accounts for over 54 per cent of Nigeria’s population and 70 per cent of its landmass, collectively generate, only 21 per cent of the total subnational IGR in the year 2017.

    “Northern Nigeria will continue to fall behind if the respective states governments do not move to close the development gap.

    “And that is why we are always saying the biggest challenge that we have and what we have been praying for is to have 10 governors like Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to move the northern Nigeria forward.

    “Closing the gap requires multi years investment and goverment will not be able to raise the require capital funding, only the private sector can raise the capital to fund the level of investment that this country needs.”

    He went on: “Therefore, government must create the conducive environment that will trigger a huge inflow of private capital into attractive sectors of the economy.

    Read Also: Dangote Refinery lifts youths in host communities

    “Private investment will create jobs and will ameliorate the twin problem of poverty and unemployment.

    “As more people are gainfully employed, you will witness a very sharp decline in some of the disturbing social vices prevalent in our society, especially among the youths.”

    While urging other northern states to emulate Kaduna State Government in the investment drive, Dangote said aside the over $500 million investment El-Rufai’s goverment has attracted, Dangote Group is patnering Peugeot of France and Kaduna State government to establish multi-billion naira automobile assembly in Kaduna State.

    He also disclosed Dangote Group will be considering investing in dairy production in Kaduna state, saying the trend of importing 98 per cent of milk consumed in Nigeria at the rate of $1.3 billion is unhealthy coupled with the fact that the imported milk is unhealthy.

  • ‘How I escaped being used for rituals in Oyo’

    A middle-aged sex worker on Wednesday narrated how she managed to escape being used for money rituals by suspected internet fraudsters.

    The lady whose name and identity was preferred to be made anonymous for security reasons narrated her ordeals while been kept in custody by security operatives in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

    In a statement during the handing over of two suspected internet fraudsters to the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan Zonal Office, the middle-aged woman said she had joined the boys alongside some other friends from a club to pass the night with the boys unaware of their antics and intentions.

    The suspects, Sanusi Azeez Toba and Osho Olalekun Micheal, arrested at Kolapo Ishola, Akobo area of Ibadan were handed over to the Oyo State’s special anti-crime patrol outfit codenamed, “Operation Burst”, after the escaped victims reported the matter to them.

    She added that she had to jump down from a two storey building where she and others were taken hostage and later scale a fence when she noticed the boys were acting funny in the middle of the night.

    She said “We met at the club last night and we all went back to their apartment to sleep over. At some point I noticed some funny movement and saw them with a calabash (a native pot).

    “That was when I knew they were ritualists with the intention to use me for rituals. So I jumped off the two-storey building, and off the fence. I then reported the case to the ‘Operation Burst’”

    Preliminary investigations have also revealed that the suspects have various incriminating documents stored in the laptops and phones recovered from them at the point of arrest.

    The development is coming even as operatives from the Ibadan Zonal Office of the Commission also on Wednesday, arrested another twelve suspected internet fraudsters, popularly known as ‘Yahoo-Yahoo Boys’

    While six of the suspects were arrested at 2nd Pipeline, Ologunerun, Ibadan, the other five were picked up at a location in Ijebu-Remo, Ogun State.

    Those from Ibadan are Akinbinu Akinfemi, Wasiu Adeyemi, Idowu Samson, Tijani Usman, Saheed Eniafe and Adeyi Victor.

    Benson Gospel, Abdulazeez Gafar, Agbumabiwon Abiodun, Abayomi Awotedu, and Bukayo Abiodun were apprehended at Ijebu Remo.

    Read Also: Sex education key to ending sex abuse among children – Mothers

    Ranging between the ages of 17 and 29 years, the alleged fraudsters’ arrests were occasioned by petitions from their neighbours, detailing their alleged fraudulent activities.

    The alleged acts include love scam and other forms of internet fraud through which they obtain money from unsuspecting victims.

    Items recovered from them include laptops, mobile phones and several documents containing false pretences.

    “All the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded”, a source within the Ibadan zonal office of the commission noted.

  • No crisis in Lagos APC over cabinet composition, says party chairman

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said there is no crisis in the ruling party over the preparation for the setting up of the next state Executive Council by Governor-elect Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    The party said the assignment will be performed by the next governor, following his inauguration on May 29.

    Its chairman, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, frowned at the misleading report by a section of the media that the issue had become a bone of contention between the Mandate Group and the Governorship Advisory Committee (GAC).

    According to Balogun, the report was designed to cause disaffection in the party.

    He said in a statement in Lagos that the fake and mischievous report was also meant to cause disaffection among GAC members and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

    Balogun said: “There is no looming crisis in Lagos APC. For the avoidance of doubt, the governor-elect, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is focused on the task ahead of him, which is to accelerate the development of the state and improve the wellbeing of Lagosians.

    Read also; Tricycle owners hail Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat

    “He is taking his job step-by-step. No group or individual is knocking heads with another over cabinet. When he is inaugurated, by the grace of God on May 29, Governor-elect Sanwo-Olu will form his cabinet to the admiration of all and sundry.

    “The Lagos APC is intact and solidly behind Mr. Sanwo-Olu. We all share the laudable dream of that visionary APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for a greater Lagos State that accommodates all, irrespective of social status, ethnic origin or religion.”

  • ‘How PDP plans to frustrate Lawan’s ambition in ninth Senate’

    THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) plans to poach 13 All Progressives Congress (APC) returning and new Senators to forestall  the emergence of Senator Ahmad Lawan as the President of the 9th Senate President, APC sources have said.

    A source said two Senators approached to be arrow heads of the plans alerted the party hierarchy and Lawan’s campaign team.

    The two senators, one a returning and the other just elected, said a source, were expected to lead PDP to their  colleagues from Adamawa, Taraba, Ekiti, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano and Kebbi states.

    The PDP, said our sources, are working for an APC Senator from Gombe.

    A ranking Senator said: “At the moment, Lawan is the candidate to beat, using well known international parliamentary best practices and parameters.

    “All odds are in his favour in terms of experience in the administration of the legislature. He has been in the National Assembly in the last 20 solid years. His achievements at the Committee level are unassailable. Remember the engine room of legislation is the Committee stage. Don’t forget he has a Phd.”

    A  senator-elect, who turned down the PDP offer,  said: “In all parliaments, be it in the Presidential System or Parliamentary System the world over, leadership or presiding officers emerge based on their experiences as leaders of the caucuses. Thus, when a party gains a majority after a general election into Parliament, the leader of the caucus of such a party in the legislature transforms to be the President or Speaker of such parliament in a seamless process. It is an established practice and all stakeholders should make sure we act in conformity with the international standard in this respect.

    Read also: Group backs Lawan, Gbajabiamila for NASS leadership

    “They also discussed with us the revival of the ‘Like Minds Group’ of 2015 and their various social media campaign of calumny, most especially their deliberate attempt to link a National Leader of APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, to the emergence of Senator Ahmad.”

    Meanwhile, the Initiative for Demonstrating Change in Nigeria (IDCN), a pro Buhari group,  backed  Lawan’s aspiration.

    The, group, therefore, urged  members-elect of the National Assembly to support the decision of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)  to elect Lawan as Senate President and Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the Federal House Representatives.

    Mr Chinedu Ogah, the National Coordinator of the group, who spoke to reporters in Abakaliki,  said the contributions of Lawan as the Majority Leader of the 8th Senate were far reaching as they boosted the unity of the country.

    Ogah said: “Ahmed Lawan has displayed maturity as the true leader that will unite the national assembly.

    ” He is a lover of democracy, intelligent, humble and believer in one Nigeria. We should elect him as the Senate President because he has displayed that he does not put party interest above national interest.”

  • African Wrestling Championships: Team Nigeria arrive from Tunisia

    Nigeria’s contingent to the just concluded 2019 African Senior Wrestling Championships held in Hammamet, Tunisia returned to the country on Wednesday night, NationSport reports.
    The delegation, which was led by President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) Hon. Daniel Igali, arrived the Muritala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos aboard Turkish Airline at about 7:20 pm.
    The 16-man Nigerian team which won a total of 13 medals were received by few journalists without any fun fair.
    Team Nigeria won Women’s Wrestling at the Championships with 5 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals in 10 categories to lead with 195 points ahead of 2nd placed Tunisia with 177 points, while Egypt finished 3rd with 160points.
    Their male counterparts won a total on 1 gold and 3 bronze medals to finish 5th in the men’s freestyle with 63 points, behind winners Tunisia (183pts), Egypt (180pts), Algeria (117pts) and Morocco (90pts).
    In a chat with NationSport on arrival, Hon Igali commended the athletes for making the country proud at the championships.
    “I think it was the duggedness of the athletes, the instructions from the coaches, the desire and fire in the athletes to represent their country and to represent it well. I’m really very proud of my athletes and coaches for this enormous feat that we achieved in Hammamet, Tunisia.
    “The Tunisians have a very good female team and they were poised to come first, especially on home soil. So, it was a battle and my athletes were really dogged and wanted it bad enough. In spite of the preparations we had, this Nigerian spirit is something else. They get somewhere and in the heat of the moment they keep firing from all cylinders. I can’t be more proud than this and I want to give them all the kudos, they really did well,” Igali told NationSport.