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  • Metuh: Court hears application of alleged misrepresentation by EFCC Oct. 7

    The Federal High Court Abuja has fixed Oct. 7 to hear an application by former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh alleging misrepresentation of facts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC).

    At the resumed hearing on Monday, counsel to Metuh, Mr Abel Oziokor, informed the court that the EFCC, which is trying Metuh, had published a contemptuous publication against his client.

    Oziokor said that the anti-graft agency, in its publication said that Metuh described how he shared funds he received from the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

    “Contrary to claims in the EFCC publication, Metuh never admitted to receiving any money from Dasuki, neither did he admit to have shared the N400 million duly released to him by President Goodluck Jonathan, for an approved special national assignment to individuals for other purposes.”

    Oziokor said that the publication was deliberately designed to injure and drag the integrity of the court in the mud and derail a fair trial.

    Read Also: Police foil attempt to cart away property in Okorocha’s warehouse sealed by EFCC

    He said this was by selling to the Nigerian public an impression that Metuh admitted receiving N400 million from Dasuki and shared it for political purposes.

    Oziokor described the publication as malicious, mischievous and a deliberate misrepresentation intended to mislead the public, blackmail the court and derail the course of justice.

    The counsel lamented that the publication did not reflect the proceedings in court but held outright falsehood and distortions.

    He therefore prayed the court to protect its integrity and put an end to what he described as the media trial of Metuh’s case.

    He urged the court to order the EFCC Spokesman, Wilson Uwajeren to appear before it to show why he should not be committed to prison for contempt and misrepresentation of proceedings.

    The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang fixed Oct. 7 to hear the application.

    He adjourned the substantive matter to Oct. 2 for continuation of trial.

  • Police foil attempt to cart away property in Okorocha’s warehouse sealed by EFCC

    The police in Imo State on Monday foiled an attempt by some people to cart away the property stocked in one of the warehouses seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Owerri, the state capital.

    The police also impounded two trailers allegedly deployed to evacuate the property stocked in the warehouse and arrested 12 suspects in connection with the crime.

    The warehouse, owned by Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha, wife of the immediate past governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, is situated along Aba Road, Owerri.

    According to one of the police officers at the facility, the police acted on tip-off, adding that 12 persons were arrested in the act.

    “Following a tip-off last night (Sunday), after two trailers had moved into the warehouse late in the night, a police team was dispatched to the premises”, said the officer, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity.

    He added, “Those inside the premises, however, refused to open the gate. The police team, therefore, cordoned off the building till this morning (Monday, 30/9/19) when we stormed the premises. The two trailers were impounded and 12 persons arrested.”

    Read Also: Court vacates forfeiture order on Okorocha’s properties

    The spokesman of the state police command, ASP Orlando Ikokwu confirmed the incident, adding that two trailers were impounded and taken to the premises of the command headquarters, Owerri.

    It could be recalled that EFCC had last two months ago sealed some properties traced to the former Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, as well as those of his family members and cronies.

    The properties include: Dews of Hope Hospital traced to Dr. Paschal Obi, former Principal Secretary to Okorocha and current member of the House of Representatives; Market Square Super Market; All in One Shop; and premises belonging to Imo State Broadcasting Corporation now housing Rochas Foundation College owned by Senator Okoroacha.

    Other properties seized by the EFCC include: East High Academy and East High College, owned by Okorocha’s daughter, Uloma Okorocha-Nwosu and Royal Spring Palm Hotel and Apartment, a 16 block cum 96 flats and eight bungalow multi-million naira estate traced to Okorocha’s wife.

  • Insurgency can’t be defeated by warfare alone – Buratai

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, Monday said that Boko Haram and other terror groups operating in the country cannot be defeated by warfare alone.

    He said that finding appropriate narratives that will counter the ideologies of the terror groups will greatly enhance the efforts of the Nigerian Army against terrorism and terrorist groups.

    Buratai, who observed that terrorism cannot be totally eliminated, noted that the insurgents’ belief in their ideologies remains their strongest driving force, adding that it is easier to kill members of a terrorist group than to eliminate their ideologies.

    The COAS stated this at the opening ceremony of a Spiritual Warfare Seminar organized by the Nigerian Army for religious leaders and clerics at the Army Resource Centre in Abuja.

    Buratai, who was represented at the event by Major General Sani Yusuf, said that the seminar was aimed at evolving narratives to defeat the ideologies of religious based terrorists groups operating in the country.

    He challenged the religious leaders to produce appropriate narratives that can effectively counter the ideologies of the insurgents, urging them to leverage on their daily interface with the society to protect the vulnerable people from succumbing to wrong ideologies.

    According to him, “the Nigerian Army has attained great feats in the fight against the insurgents, breaking their ranks and degrading their will to fight, however the insurgents’ belief in their ideologies remain the driving force, as such ideological battle can in many ways be more important than the kinetic battle. It must that it is easier to kill members of a terrorist group than to eliminate their ideologies.

    “It is a well-known fact that terrorism and terrorist groups cannot be totally eliminated by mainly Military actions, this means focusing our efforts on the underlying narratives through ideologies that employed by these terrorists to lure innocent citizens to their fold.

    Read Also: Buratai deplores importation of military hardware

    He added that “in the case of Boko Haram its ideology is classifying Western education as sin, while the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) is the one that challenges the rational of democratically elected government. By its nature, ideology has the power to manipulate what people think, form their opinion and direct their attitude. This often results in controlling people’s mind to the extent that they accept social contracts that equal denial of rights.

    “The need to defeat the ideologies of Boko Haram and ISWAP is based on the awareness that it is the ideologies that enhance their resource and help to recruit new fighters to their fold and as such, kill their ideology and terrorist movement withers and dies.

    “The importance of this seminar is premised on the key roles clerics have to play in producing appropriate narratives required to counter the ideologies of these religious terror groups.

    “Communities and the state need to be joined with a common purpose of rejecting the ideologies of these groups and challenge those who espouse them. These can be better achieved through the provision of appropriate counter narratives targeted at the ideologies of the terror groups. It means starting at the grassroots where families and local communities are at the fore front of the effort to protect the vulnerable people from succumbing to wrong ideologies.

    “It is in this regard that I see you the religious leaders and clerics who regularly interface with members of the society making value contributions to counter terrorism and prevent violent extremism.

    “I urge you to fashion out ways of stepping up your roles; remember that the fight against terrorism is a collective responsibility that cannot be left for the troops alone. It is therefore my candid opinion that this seminar provides with the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the Nigerian Army’s effort to ensuring a secured Nigeria”.

  • ‘Semen leakage cause of impotency in men’

    An Abuja-based Sex Therapist, Mrs Hauwa Tayyib, has identified leakage of semen as one of the lead cause of impotency in men.

    Tayyib, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday in Abuja, said that frequent leakage of semen could cause impotency, low semen volume and lesser number of sperms in male of any age.

    Semen leakage occurs when semen seeps out of the penis.

    Semen is a whitish fluid that contains sperm and it usually leaks out during sexual activity, regardless of whether ejaculation occurs.

    The sexologist said that semen leakage was one of the commonly occurring male sexual disorders.

    She also said that excessive masturbation was another factor that could contribute to the leakage of semen.

    She said that the condition was embarrassing and could also cause several health issues.

    Tayyib explained that semen leakage in urine was triggered by weak genital passage nerves, enlarged or swollen prostate, bad habits like alcoholism, weak bladder sphincter and poor blood sugar levels.

    Other causes, she said, were retrograde ejaculation, side-effects of medicines, infections and surgeries on reproductive parts.

    She said that the leakage also led to fatigue, back pain, hair loss, pain in the testicles, pelvic cavity cramps and a burning sensation after urination.

    According to her, it may also result in some unpleasant sexual disorders such as premature ejaculation, weak erection and sexual weakness.

    The sex therapist explained that impotency could be classified into two types, erectile dysfunction and interference with conception.

    “Males not able to produce children may not see or show any signs of weakness and are capable of having intercourse.

    “They are impotent because they do not possess ability to fertilize a woman’s egg and cause conception.

    “Semen leakage can cause both type of impotency in male of any age. A regular loss of semen strains entire reproductive system including prostate and testicles,” she explained.

    Tayyib added that a regular loss of semen could also cause damaged or deformed sperms incapable of fertilizing a woman’s eggs.

    “A man who has semen leakage problem suffers with low testosterone level that makes reproductive system sluggish and weak.

    “A man with low testosterone level suffers with low libido and lesser drive for lovemaking.

    “All these issues stop a male from gaining arousal and quick erection in bed, and even caused weak, softer or no erection, which are all types of impotency,” she said.

    Tayyib noted that the problem of regular semen leakage was highly debilitating and affected reproductive system and male’s health negatively.

    “This problem should be treated without delay to avoid impotency and other serious sexual dysfunctions,” she advised

  • Three ‘one chance’ operators killed in Abuja

    Three men suspected to be “one chance“ operators were burnt to death around Dutse in Abuja on Monday morning.

    “One chance” operators are people who pretend to be commercial drivers and carry unsuspecting victims to be robbed or killed for ritual purposes.

    The Nation gathered from an eyewitness that the three men who were in a vehicle had carried a young woman who raised alarm and attracted the attention of people around who managed to accost the vehicle.

    Read Also; Robbers planning to attack banks in Abia- Police

    Thereafter an angry mob rescued the lady and set the three men as well as the vehicle ablaze.

    Federal Capital Territory Police Public Officer, DSP Manzah Ajuguri condemned the action, saying an investigation has been launched into the matter.

    “We condemn jungle justice. We condemn the act of people taking the law into their hands. If there is a crime we expect our attention to be drawn so that arrests are made, “he said.

    He didn’t say if any arrest had been made but stressed that investigation has commenced into incident.

  • JUST IN:Tribunal rules on Ganduje, Abba case Wednesday

    The Kano state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has fixed Wednesday, October 2 for judgement.

    The PDP and its candidate, Abba Yusuf, had filed a petition challenging the declaration of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje as winner of the March 9 governorship election by INEC,

    Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the APC Governorship candidate, in his counter-reaction, sought tribunal to dismiss the PDP’s petition claiming won the governorship election in the state.

    The date for the judgement was communicated to parties through the secretary of the tribunal.

    Read Also; Arson: Man arrested over death of three family members in Kano

    The Nation recalled that the Tribunal on Wednesday, September 18th reserved judgment in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its gubernatorial candidate, Abba Kabir-Yusuf.

    On Monday, the tribunal communicated to the parties on the fixed date for judgment.

    One of the Lawyers in the case informed The Nation today of receiving notification from the tribunal of Wednesday, 2 October as fixed date for the judgment

  • Nigeria @ 59: work for betterment of Nigeria, Atiku urges

    As Nigeria marks its 59th Independence on Oct.1, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on citizens to put the country first and work for its betterment.

    Abubakar, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 elections, gave the advice in a statement in Abuja on Monday, saying “no one is bigger than the laws of the land’’.

    He urged lovers of Nigeria to take concrete steps to aid Nigeria’s progress by not just praying and showing understanding but also taking democratic action to ensure that the ideals of the country`s founding fathers were protected.

    He said that everyone had a role to play in making Nigeria great.

    “You see, when we put Nigeria first; we not only revive the Nigerian dream, we also revive unity and faith, peace and progress.

    “These were the ideals that our founding fathers had in mind when they came together to put forward this new and independent nation 59 years ago on Oct. 1, 1960.

    “Nigeria belongs to all of us and we all have a role to play in making our nation great.

    “Nigeria should be the beacon of hope, democracy and freedom, to not only the African continent but to the black Diaspora the world over.

    “And to ensure that this becomes the case, we all have a duty to support and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against all enemies, foreign and domestic. And this we must do, so help us God.’’

    Abubakar said that on Oct. 1, 1960, Nigeria’s founding fathers could never have fathomed that 59 years after, Nigeria would be facing some of the challenges “it is still having’’.

    Read Also: Nigeria may not celebrate 100th Independence anniversary – Bisi Akande

    He said that it was evident that all was not well with the country, adding “it is not all gloom and doom. There is still hope. Much hope.

    “ I took time to listen to a recent remark made by the Emir of Kano, HRM Muhammed Sanusi II about why we need to pay more attention to the issue of girl-child education. It is an age-long truism that women are the teachers of a nation.

    “I make bold to say that the greatness of our country has much to do with how well we educate our children, especially the girl-child.’’

    Abubakar commended Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara for leading the way by massively investing in public education.

    “It is on this note that I wish all Nigerians a happy Independence Day. May God bless all of us and may God bless Nigeria.’’(NAN)

  • Rivers acquires Shell stakes in Ogoni

    Rivers government has acquired Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) 45% stake in the Oil Mining Lease 11 in Eleme and other parts of Ogoni land in the state.

    Governor Nyesom Wike disclosed this in a broadcast from the State Government House, BrickHouse in Port Harcourt on Monday afternoon.

    He said:“I am delighted to inform you that the Rivers State Government has fully acquired Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) 45% interest in OML 11 situated in Ejama Ebubuo community in Eleme Local Government Area and the adjoining Ogoni and other communities of Rivers state.”

    Details shortly…

  • BREAKING: Controversy as new Speaker emerges in Bayelsa

    The embattled Speaker of the Bayelsa Assembly, Emmanuel Isenah, has been controversially impeached and replaced with a lawmaker representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 2, Monday Obolo.

    But a media Aide to Isenah, Ranami Afagha, said the impeachment of his boss would not stand as it was done against the standing rules of the House.

    Read Also: Heavy shooting in Bayelsa Assembly as Speaker refuses to resign

    Afagha said the mace of the House was violently taken away by thugs, adding that since the symbol of authority was not in the House activities of those who purportedly removed his boss were illegal and unconstitutional.

    “Those who don’t want peace said they removed speaker without the presence of the mace.

    “The mace was taken away so any activity done without the mace is illegal. So, my boss still remains the Speaker,” he said.

  • BREAKING: Heavy shooting in Bayelsa Assembly as Speaker refuses to resign

    There is heavy shooting at the Bayelsa House of Assembly following the refusal of Speaker Emmanuel Isenah to relinquish his position.

    It was gathered that while the House was sitting, Iseanah adjourned the plenary indefinitely in a tactical manoeuvre to foil his removal.

    But thugs were said to have immediately stormed the House, shooting sporadically and made away with the mace.

    Read Also; Bayelsa poll: Speaker bows to pressure, may resign on Monday 

    But leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) mounting pressure on the speaker to resign were said to have compelled lawmakers loyal to them to reconvene and impeach the speaker.

    Details shortly…