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  • S/Court affirms recall of 181 sacked personnel of NSCDC

    The Supreme Court has affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja that recalled 181 sacked personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    Delivering judgment on Monday, the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad struck out the appeal filed by the corps challenging the decision of the lower court.

    The acting CJN, who led four other justices, held that the apex court lacked that jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

    He said that Section 248 (4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended placed all legal disputes which emanated from the National Industrial Court (NIC) to terminate at the court of appeal.

    Mahammad further said that that apex court was therefore not vested with the jurisdiction to entertain such appeals.

    “In the circumstance, the appellant applicant has reached its limit and the appeal is therefore struck out.

    “The matter has come to its finality’’, he said.

    The lost appeal was filed by NSCDC against the judgment by the National Industrial Court (NIC), reinstating 182 of its personnel who were wrongly dismissed.

    NIC had, in a judgment on March 19, 2015, ordered the NSCDC to reinstate the sacked staff with their full emoluments from the time they were illegally dismissed.

    The trial court also ordered NSCDC to return the employment letters to the affected personnel and pay all arrears of their salaries amounting to about N1.2 billion.

    Read Also: We’re ready for PDP in court , says Ganduje

    The court restrained the NSCDC from further tampering with the employment of the affected personnel.

    Dissatisfied with the judgment, the NSCDC, and Immigration and Prisons Service Board (who were respondents at the NIC) appealed the judgment, but failed to diligently prosecute it.

    A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Moore Adumein, in a ruling, on July 18, 2016, upheld the respondents’ request and dismissed the appeal for lack of diligent prosecution.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Obono Musa and 180 others had sued the then Commandant-General, NSCDC, alleging unlawful termination of their employments.

    They prayed the court to declare that the verbal and oral suspension of the claimants by the NSCDC was null, void and of no effect.

    The claimants also sought an order directing the defendants to recall all the claimants to work and to also release the original copies of their letters of employment to them.

    They also asked for an order of the court directing the defendants to immediately pay them all arrears of salaries from 2007 till date.

    Speaking to newsmen after the court session, Mr Ibrahim Bawa, Counsel to the respondents expressed delight on the outcome of the case, adding that his clients had been exposed to hardship since 2007 when they were unlawfully sacked.

    He therefore urged President Muhammadu Buhari to impress it on the Commandant-General of the corps to without delay effect the decision of the apex court.

    Bawa also said that the president might contemplate investigating the untidy manner the establishment was managed.

    NAN further reports that the 181 personnel of the corps were seen dancing and thanking God for their legal victory in the premises of the court.

    NAN

     

  • Ogun gets new Police Commissioner

    A new Commissioner of Police, Bashir Dabup Manama, has been deployed to Ogun State and has since resumed duty in the state.

    Bashir Dabup Makama, a Political Science graduate of Bayero University Kano; succeeds Police Commissioner, Ahmed Iliyasu.

    The New Police Commissioner enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force in 1986 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent   of Police (ASP), and served in various police Commands across the country in different capacities.

    He was once an assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of operations in Anambra State; he was Area Commander Port Harcourt in Rivers State.

    He also served as Deputy  Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in Kano State,  as well as Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Special Protection Unit,  force headquarters Abuja.

    Read Also: Plant trees, Ogun residents told

    He was later posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge  of Adminstration in Anambra State from where he was promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Police  in 2016 and posted to Benue State. From Benue State, he was posted to Force Criminal Investigation and intelligence Department (FCIID) Abuja as the Commissioner of Police   in-charge of Administration,  from there,  he was posted as Commissioner of Police Kwara State.

    His last point of duty is Akwa Ibom State before his deployment to Ogun State as the new Police helms man in the State.

    He is a member of several International organisations -notably the National Organisation of Black Law Enforcement Agents (NOBLE) USA and international Association of Chiefs of Police (I.A.C.P).

    His hobbies include dancing and reading. He is happily married with lovely children, according to the Police Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a statement on Monday.

  • Obaseki’s economic reform: IFC assesses Edo’s private sector scene

    Following the far-reaching economic reforms by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration in Edo State, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), an arm of the World Bank, has expressed interest to collaborate with the state in boosting the capacity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to scale their operations and increase productivity in the state.

    This was disclosed by the Senior Economist, IFC, Denny Lewis-Bynoe, who led a delegation of the IFC on a courtesy visit to the Government House, Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Lewis-Bynoe said the delegation was on a two-day visit to the state to assess the private sector scene, especially the operating environment for SMEs, so as to fashion support instruments for their growth.

    According to her, “We want to help businesses and also improve the ease of doing business in Edo State and Nigeria. So, the IFC is in Edo to have a detailed assessment of the private sector and come up with strategies to improve their businesses.”

    Read Also: Gunmen abduct policeman, others in Edo

    She said part of their assignment was to directly engage with the stakeholders in the sector to understand their challenges, assess avenues for building a support structure and ensure that the state puts modalities in place to help them grow.

    She stressed that the report of the team will guide the bank in developing strategies to assist the private sector in Nigeria.

    The Acting Governor, Shaibu called on the World Bank to develop strategies for commercial banks to better support small scale businesses in Nigeria.

    According to him, “We are running a government that is private-sector-driven. We are lucky to have Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is private-sector oriented. Governor Obaseki championed the economic team of the former governor, Adams Oshiomhole. We have had a robust relationship with World Bank in the last few years, and we look forward to strengthening the partnership with you.”

     

  • Court acquits man of defiling his eight-year- old stepdaughter

    Justice Sybil Nwaka of an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, on Monday acquitted a  sales engineer, Happiness Essien, charged with defiling his 8-year-old child daughter (name withheld).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 31-year-old Essien, who has been remanded in prison since May 25, 2016, was acquitted of a one-count charge of defilement mainly due to the absence of the alleged victim to testify during the trial.

    Setting Essien free, Justice Nwaka said: “I find the defendant not guilty of the offence of defilement or sexual assault, I set him free, he is thereby discharged and acquitted.

    “It is the resolve of the state to ensure victory not only for the victim but also the defendant.”

    Reacting to Essien’s acquittal,  Mr Babajide Boye, the lead state prosecutor, emphasized the importance of the testimonies of complainants in sexual and domestic violence in securing a conviction.

    He said: “I will like to seize this opportunity to appeal to witnesses in sexual assault cases, particularly the complainants. We commend their prompt reaction in reporting sexual offences to the police.

    “Our expectation from them is to ensure that they follow-up these cases to a logical conclusion by not shying away or allowing themselves to be cajoled or threatened from coming to court to give evidence in respect of their complaint.

    “The production of and appearance of most victims of sexual assault cases are dependent on the complainants who are most likely the parents, guardians or custodians.

    “We plead that they should encourage the victims to come out. The efforts of the state is to ensure that perpetrators are brought to book and this can only happen if there is cooperation between the victim, the complainant and the prosecution.

    “Once again,  thank you My Lord for the well considered judgment,” he said.

    READ ALSO: Driver sent to prison for defiling girl, 10

    According the prosecution,  Essien, committed the offence on April 12, 2016 at 7.30 p.m. at his residence at No. 7, Olorunwa, Shasha -Akowonjo area of Lagos.

    According to Boye, “The defendant defiled his 8-year-old stepdaughter.

    “The crime was reported by the victim’s mother at Shasha police station, Lagos. She said that her husband, the defendant, has been having sex with her daughter.

    “The complainant said that she detected it when air sounding bubbles was coming out from the victims vagina.

    “She said after interrogating the victim, she confessed that her stepfather has been having sex with her.

    “She said the daughter told her it started sometime in 2015 and that the defendant had had carnal knowledge of her on several occasions.”

    During the trial, the prosecution presented two witnesses – the Investigating Police officer (IPO) and a medical doctor.

    Essien, while testifying in his defence, however,  denied the allegations.

    The offence, the prosecution said, contravened the provisions of Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 (Revised).

  • Ogun: Tribunal directs INEC to grant Akinlade, APM access to election materials

    The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, on Monday directed  the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to grant the candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Adekunle Akinlade and the party, access to the documents used for conduct of March 9 gubernatorial election in the state.

    Justice Chinwe Onyeabor-led three man panel gave the directive at its inaugural sitting, following a motion ex parte brought before it by Akinlade and APM.

    The governorship candidate and APM are challenging the victory of Prince Dapo Abiodun and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), designated as second and third respondents in the Petition marked EPT/OG/GOV/ 01/2019.

    In arguing the application, Counsel for the Petitioners, Mamman Osuman, SAN, who appeared with Ahmed Raji, SAN, told the tribunal that the order being sought was necessary to allow the applicants access to the electoral documents used during the election “with a view to maintaining the petition already filed before the tribunal.”

    Read Also: Pastors held for ‘killing’ in-law in Ogun

    Osuman argued further that the application was filed pursuant to section 151, sub-section 1 and 2 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

    Among other prayers sought were, “An order directing the 1st Respondent to forthwith grant access to the Petitioners/Applicants and their Solicitors, agents, experts and other staff to inspect, photocopy, scan, pay for and obtain certified copies of all documents used by the 1st Respondent for the conduct of the Ogun State Governorship Election held on 9th of March, 2019, for the purpose of instituting and maintaining Election Petition; the said documents being the ones contained in the schedule attached to the Supporting Affidavit to this application;

    “An order allowing/permitting the Petitioners/Applicants (for the purpose of instituting and maintaining an Election Petition) to inspect, scan, photocopy, pay for and obtain certified copies of the electoral documents contained in the schedule attached to the Application, same being the documents that are in the custody of and were used by the 1st Respondent in the conduct of the Governorship Election that took place in Ogun State on 9th March, 2019.

    “An order directing the 1st Respondent to promptly abide by the orders of this court, made in the terms of the Ex parte application.”

    Justice Onyeabor held that the prayers were granted “strictly in compliance to section 151 sub-section 1 and 2 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and adjourned the case till April 9 for confirmation of service.

  • Sanga council chairman raises alarm over planned violent protest

    Chairman of Sanga local government area in Kaduna state, Mr Charles Danladi, has called on security agencies to investigate a protest planned for tomorrow to destabilise the area and cause unrest.

    Speaking on Monday in Kaduna, the Chairman said the protest was planned by some disgruntled elements in Kaduna to “promote religious division in Sanga” based on claims of a move against Christians holding political offices in the LGA area.

    Danladi, who stated the allegation on which the planned protest was premised was false, said: “I wish to bring to your attention deliberate plans by certain persons to incite ethno-religious crises in Sanga LGA and to request that security agencies investigate, take steps to uphold peace in Sanga LGA and bring those responsible for this incitement to book.

    “Those behind these plans to cause a breach of the peace and incite communal tensions met in Kaduna over the weekend under the auspices of a political party.

    “By the evening of Sunday March 31st, 2019, they had sent monies into Sanga LGA to fund the protests scheduled for Tuesday April 2nd, 2019.

    Read Also: Sanga killings: Chief begs Christians against reprisal attacks

    “Information available to me indicates that these persons want to promote religious division in our LGA.

    “They have prepared a campaign based on patently false claims that there is a move against Christians holding office in our LGA.

    “They want to cloak their negative activities under the guise of protecting me against alleged attempts to remove me as chairman by Dr Hadiza Balarabe, the Deputy Governor-elect of Kaduna state.

    “There is nothing of the sort and the masterminds know this but they seek to deliberately perpetrate falsehood and further irresponsible narratives.”

    According to the chairman, despite the security challenges faced in the area, they are at peace with each other and the state government has been helpful in providing relief materials to victims of attacks.

    He said there are over 1,000 internally displaced Christians and Muslims in the LGA and efforts are ongoing to repair their houses to enable the victims return back to their homes.

    Danladi lamented proliferation of arms in the LGA, noting that some of the attacks blamed on Fulani were carried out by people who launch such attack and killings to pay back on little issues such as land dispute, because they are empowered by possession of guns and other arms.

  • Rivers polls: PPN raises alarm over plot to overturn candidate’s victory

    The National Chairman of Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), Hon Razak Eyiowuawi, has raised the alarm over alleged plot by Rivers State Governor Nyeson Wike to overturn the victory of the party’s candidate, Mr. Gumba Gbabara, in the Gokana State Constituency for House of Assembly election.

    Eyiowuawi warned “any attempt to tamper with the outcome of election in Gokana State Constituency where Gbabara has reportedly won with all collated result at the ward with the security agencies would be resisted”.

    The PPN chairman alleged in a statement in Ado Ekiti on Monday: “It has been brought to our notice that River State Governor Nyesom Wike is trying to bribe Independent National Electoral Commission officials sent to state on fact finding and collation of already declared results where PPN won in the state Assembly election.

    “PPN hereby warns that it is time Governor Wike and his cohorts are called to order and allow do the needful by declaring our candidate.”

    Read Also: PDP cautions AGF Malami on Rivers election

    PPN River State Chairman, Stanley Worlu, had in a petition to the River State Police Commissioner dated April 1, stated: “From the resolution on INEC National Collation Committee Report on the suspended River State election, it has come to our notice as a party that Gokama Local Government is among the local government areas INEC claims elections did not hold.

    “To the best of our knowledge, this is not correct as election held in all the wards in Gokama, units results announced by the presiding officers in all the units, copies of the results are with INEC and the police.

    “We therefore request the commissioner for police to make the available copies of Gokama Council governorship and House of Assembly election results for collation.”

  • Olu urges unity at inauguration of Warri Varsity council

    The Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli, has called on sons and daughters of Itsekiri nation to unite to ensure the completion of the proposed University of Warri.

    The monarch stated this during the inauguration of members of Board of Directors/Advisory council of the varsity in his palace in Warri.

    The institution is to be sited in Obitugbo, Warri North council area of Delta state.

    Pledging to give full support to the university project, the traditional ruler charged sons and daughters of Iwereland to come together and ensure the completion of the university.

    Ogiame Ikenwoli said: “Talk about Warri University did not start today. But at God’s own time the project has taken off.

    “Itsekiri should unite to build the university. Those of you inaugurated should do your best to build the university. I am behind you.”

    READ ALSO: Olu of Warri tasks council members on peaceful coexistence

    Inaugurating the members of the council, the king urged them never to hesitate to alert him to areas where he can render assistance to fast-track development of the project.

    Expressing gratitude to them for accepting the responsibilities, he stated: “I am very happy with the quality of members. It is certain the university will be a huge success”.

    It will be noted the Olu is to serve as the Visitor and Chancellor of the university.

    The Coordinator of the Planning/Implementation Programmes of the proposed university, Professor Jim Omatseye, has disclosed that the university will take- off with a campus in Koko, headquarters of the council area.

    Stating this will be until the permanent site in Obitugbo is ready for use, Omatseye assured the university will bridge the gap for Deltans in university admissions and other related opportunities.

    “We have a take off campus to start the university in Koko, headquarters of Warri north local government area.

    “Olu will be the Chancellor and the Visitor,” the Prof stated.

  • Obasanjo to PDP: Purge yourselves of bad eggs, hypocrites ahead of 2023

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on has urged the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to purge itself of “bad eggs and hypocrites,” whom he said, lacked commitment to return the opposition party to its lost glory.

    Obasanjo rued that many of the PDP leaders are still preoccupied with what ministers to “their pockets and stomach,” wondering why some of them left the party while others lost hope the seconds the results of 2019 Presidential election were announced.

    The elder statesman spoke on Sunday evening, when the Southwest PDP leaders led by the party’s National Vice Chairman (South West), Dr Eddy Olafeso, visited him at his Pent-House Residence within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    In attendance at the meeting are; Senate Minority Leader, Biodun Olujimi, Senators-elect, Oyo South, Kola Balogun, Ondo Central, Ayo Akinyelure, Rep-elect (Ibarapa North and Central), Hon Ajibola Muraina, former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Minister for State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada and PDP gubernatorial candidate in Ekiti State 2018 election, Prof Olusola Eleka,

    Obasanjo told his guests that Nigerian situation demands a vibrant voice and opposition in PDP to engender a virile democracy.

    The former Head of States also bemoaned the failure of leadership in the country, saying Nigeria can’t move forward “if we continue the way we are.”

    Obasanjo whose Coalition for Nigerian Movement (CNM) failed to provide a formidable force to unhorse President Muhammadu Buhari and his the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the centre, advised PDP to purge itself of “hypocrites and bad eggs.”

    He noted that the purging exercise would put the party on a higher pedestal to scout for those he called “critical mass of committed people,” who “would be ready to stand with the party come rain, come shine.”

    Obasanjo said: “I knew PDP would lose election in 2015 because it was clear. And I knew PDP will need to be rebuilt after losing the election.

    “You need what I call critical mass of committed people, and come rain, come shine they are committed. With that, you can make Nigeria better.

    “You see peoples’ faces beautiful but you don’t know what each person harbours inside of him. If you discover a bad egg, remove such a person. And if such person has learnt his or her lessons there can still be room to accommodate the person.

    “Politically speaking, you can’t be my friend if you don’t buy into the Nigeria’s project. For me, till death, I will continue to push for a better Nigeria.

    “I said if you compare the two of them (referring to Atiku and Buhari); with what I know and all I have written about the incumbent which they have decided to cover up, Atiku is better than the incumbent by far. That’s the point I am

  • FG partners India on atomic energy

    The federal government is working on improving its relationship with the Republic of India on the peaceful use of atomic energy.

    Both countries will be partnering on atomic energy and biotechnology for their mutual benefit.

    Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, stated this on Monday in Abuja, when the High Commissioner of India to Nigeria Abhay Thakur paid him courtesy visit.

    Onu, who appreciated the Indian government for the capacity building of Nigerian scientists, also congratulated them for their success on anti-satellite missiles.

    Read Also: 17 killed in India fire

    Assistant Chief Information officer of the Ministry Edet Etuk, stated this in a statement.

    According to him, “Dr Onu said that Nigeria is building a knowledge society which is innovative-driven so that we use our knowledge to convert our products into goods and services we need.

    “Earlier, the High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, His Excellency, Abhay Thakur said that India is looking forward for corporation on skills development, peaceful application of space technology in agriculture, atomic energy and innovation in many areas of agriculture.

    “Other areas of interest according the High Commissioner of India are resources mapping and the application of science and technology to all kinds of industrial growth and development.”