The Nation Newspaper

Tag: warns

  • Shettima warns caretaker chairmen against ‘betrayal’

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has warned council caretaker committee chairmen against aiding Boko Haram insurgents.

    The governor, at the swearing in of the chairmen yesterday, vowed that anyone caught in the act will face prosecution, adding that anyone not ready to relocate to his local government was free to reject the appointment.

    “Indeed, any of you not ready to relocate from Maiduguri to live, work and worship with your people in your local councils, is advised to reject this mandate.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, we are declaring a zero tolerance for the services of any chairman who is not ready for permanent residency in his local government throughout the period of his tenure,” Shettima warned.

    Findings showed that the governor’s warning may not be unconnected to news that a caretaker chairman and vice chairmen of two councils were arrested for allegedly aiding insurgents.

    His words: “There is an important issue we must not ignore or pretend about. It is no longer news that some months back, a chairman and two vice chairmen were arrested for security-related matters. Any caretaker chairman who shames this administration will face the music alone.

    “The Borno State government will not only disown such a person, but will take legal steps to ensure he does not hold any public office associated with the state.”

     

  • Stay away from Abia, Navy warns criminals

    The new commandant of the Nigerian Navy Finance and Logistics College, Owerrinta in Abia State, Captain Abdullahi Aminu has warned criminals operating within the state to stay away or risk meeting their waterloo.

    Aminu said that the navy in the state is prepared to tackle the menace of criminality to a logical conclusion, adding that the naval headquarters has adequately empowered the naval team to flush out criminals from their hideouts anywhere in the state.

    Capt. Aminu, who was speaking during the third quarter of their quarterly route march and show of strength, said that the exercise is aimed at ensuring that the naval ratings and officers are fit at all times.

    He said that during the exercise, officers and men of the naval college are expected to show the people their readiness to tackle the menace of criminals within and around the state.

    He noted that part of the charge to the men and officers is to ensure the security of life and property of their host community and the state in general, stressing that peace has continued to reign in the community as a result of the location of naval base there.

  • Don’t go near Eaglets, NFF warns scouts, agents

    Don’t go near Eaglets, NFF warns scouts, agents

    • Says Osimhen, Nwakali, others are FG properties
    • Vows not to issue players ITCs

    Agents and scouts masquarading as contacts for members of the Nigerian U-17 side Golden Eaglets, who emerged world champions in Chile at the FIFA U-17 World Cup last month, have been barred from entering into any agreement with clubs anywhere in the world.

    Disclosing this to SportingLife in Lagos on Thursday, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Melvin Amaju Pinnick vowed not to issue International Transfer Certificate (ITC) to any member of the Golden Eaglets or the country’s age-grade teams.

    Pinnick described the Eaglets and others as Federal Government properties arguing that these boys could not have become cash cows but for the fact that they were exposed to the world through these international competitions, sweating in Nigeria’s colours.

    Pinnick insisted that the NFF would be involved in all the movements of the players in line with the dictates of the FIFA regulations, pointing out the federation will ensure that proceeds from the players’ international transfers are given to their parents not these shylock scouts and agents masquarading as the players’ contacts.

    Pinnick warned foriegn clubs and their agents or scouts dealing with anyone on the players to stop such a nefearious act since nothing would come out of such transactions except through the NFF in tandem with the players’ parents or designated relatives.

  • CJN warns judges against serving as tools to desperate politicians

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed has warned judges against yielding themselves as tools for the subversion of justice by politicians who are desperate for power.

    The CJN, who urged judges to shun corruption and other unethical conduct, advised them to always, in the course of their duties, be guided by their conscience and the oath they swore to as judicial officers.

    Justice Mohammed spoke in Abuja yesterday while swearing-in 30 new judges of the Federal High Court. The swearing is a culmination of a process which began last year with newspapers’ advertisement.  Two thousand applied, from which 128 were shortlisted for interview.

    This set of judges is the first to be appointed using the more rigorous process under the “2014 Revised National Judicial Council Guidelines and Procedural Rules for the Appointment of Judicial Officers of all Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria.”

    In particular, the CJN urged judges of the Federal High Court to always remember that, with the court’s broad jurisdiction (the largest in the country), their judgments have “potential to change the governance and impact the peace of our dear nation.

    “I urge your lordships and all judicial officers not to allow themselves to be used as pawns by our various politicians in their quest for power.  The law is not obedient to any man but itself; by contrast, all men must obey the laws of the land.

    “Your Lordships must therefore take the proverbial bull by the horns and pull the plough within your courts so that we cultivate a highly professional, incorruptible and effective justice delivery system.

    “This we can only do, when we dispense justice without fear or favour, affection or ill will.  We must be seen to do justice though the heavens may fall and I assure your lordships that the heavens will surely not fall.

    “In an era where more press and public scrutiny of your courts is abound, we must all now realize that we have a sophisticated, discerning and alert population that is able to interpret our actions, however cleverly disguised.

    “Even if they are not able to perceive the mala fides in an act, nevertheless the duty to do justice and act honestly in furtherance of our collective interest as a people is surely no less a concern. In fact, such a duty is even starker.  This informs the oaths we take and must underpin the way that we act in our courts,” Justice Mohammed said

    The CJN, who expressed concern over the increasing frequency of corruption allegations against the Judiciary, agreed the few bad eggs exist within the nation’s judicial system. He challenged those behind such allegations to always provide evidence to allow for easy identification of the corrupt ones.“Although I will not hide away from the reality that some Judges and Judicial Staff may be complicit in corrupt practices, however, I must assert that corruption within the Judiciary is only imbibed by a minute minority.

    The new judges are: Mrs.Rosemary Dugbo Oghoghorie (Delta State), Yellin S. Bogoro (Bauchi State), Taiwo Obayomi Taiwo (Ogun State),  Ibrahim Watila (Borno State),  Mallong Peter Hoommuk (Plateau State), Isa Hamma Adama Dashen (Adamawa  State), Hassan Dikko (Kebbi State), Jude Kanyioh Dagat (Kaduna State), Olayinka Olusegun Tokode (Osun State)  and Simon Akpah Amobeda (Kogi State).

    Others are Jane Egienanwan Inyang (Cross River State), Daniel Emeka Osiagor (Rivers State), Prof. Chuka Austine Obiozor (Anambra State), Iniekenimi Nicholas Oweib          (Bayelsa State), Hassan Muslim Sule (Zamfara State), Hadiza Rabiu Shagari (Sokoto State), Saleh Kogo Idrissa (Yobe State), Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik (Edo State) and Hillary Ide Osho Oshomah (Edo State).

    Also included are Fadima Murtala Aminu (Adamawa State), Toyin Bolaji Adegoke           (Kwara State), James Kolawole Omotosho (Ogun State), Nehizena Idemudia Ekunwe (Edo State), Stephen Daylop Pam (Plateau State), Akintayo Aluko (        Ekiti State), Dr. Nnamdi O. Dimgba (Abia State), Emeka Nwite     (Ebonyi State), Abdulazeez M.Z. Anka          (Zamfara State), Abdu Dogo (FCT) and Adamu Turaki Muhammed (Jigawa State).

    “I believe that the Nigerian Judiciary is comprised largely  Judicial officers who are hardworking, dedicated, ethically minded, learned, patriotic and possess the highest standards of morals.  Indeed there is scarcely any other type of public servant as committed to their role as these dispensers of Justice.

    “The Nigerian Judiciary is one of the hardest working Judiciaries in the world, despite the paucity of funds and the lack of adequate welfare provisions for its personnel. Nevertheless, I must accept the need for the Judiciary to sanitize itself where allegations are made.

    “However, as the saying goes- he who alleges must prove.  This will indeed be done where the accusers themselves avail us of the particulars of these incidences of judicial corruption as well as the identity of the perpetrators, so that the National Judicial Council can act promptly and appropriately to remove such deviants from the Bench

    “I urge your lordships to consider the oaths that you have just taken to be a solemn commitment to serve with dedication, fairness, and in a manner that is faithful to the Constitution and the law of the land.  It is also a solemn covenant to the Almighty that you will perform your duty with all due diligence and honesty.

    “As such you must strive not to betray these oaths as this will also mean a betrayal of the trust of those who screened, interviewed and recommended you before your eventual appointment.  It will indeed be a betrayal of the trust of Nigerians who have reposed in you the power of Judgment as the representatives of God on earth.

    “Your lordships are now the embodiment of Justice.  You are the executors of the law and the protector of the social contracts, rights and morals that give safety to the good people of Nigeria.  Where your Jurisdiction permits it, you must ensure that you interpret the law within the confines of Judicial Precedent.

    “It may be that a difficult matter lies before you and the knotty issues of legal jurisprudence may seem arcane.  I urge you to seek the counsel of fellow Judges that are more senior to yourselves and are equally respected.  Be thoroughly grounded in the law and you will surely find solid footing therein,” the CJN said.

     

  • Military warns citizens on Boko Haram’s fresh tactics

    Military warns citizens on Boko Haram’s fresh tactics

    BOKO Haram has evolved more dangerous methods to distract and kill unsuspecting citizens, Defence Headquarters warned yesterday.

    Director of Defence Information Col. Rabe Abubakar, who spoke at an interactive session with reporters in Abuja yesterday, said troops had captured five of the 100 wanted Boko Haram suspects.

    Col. Abubakar explained that following the degrading of its firepower, dispersed elements of the sect now use dangerous cluster bombs for suicide missions and innocuous packages that attract curious passers-by.

    The Defence spokesman warned citizens to be security-conscious, adding that children should not pick unknown objects.

    He stressed that Boko Haram used such misplaced curiosity as a tool for killing many.

    His words: “Boko Haram elements have now resorted to using deadly cluster bombs or Improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which they plant on the body for suicide missions or as cluster bombs, which are packaged and dropped in places where they can arouse the curiosity of innocent persons.

    “Even children should be taught not to pick up any object they see on the streets because cluster bombs and IEDs could be deceptively laid there. Besides, when explosion incidents occur, do not go there out of curiosity but let the security agencies that are trained to handle such, do so.”

    Hailing the nation’s media for their competency and patriotism, he expressed the military’s dismay about how untrue assertions were being spread on the social media.

    Col. Abubakar added that it would not serve any good to disseminate anything that could negatively affect the morale of troops.

    “The war is not about religion at all because extremism has no basis in religion. Everyone must do his part in terms of civic responsibility because, if all goes well, it is for all of us,” he said.

    He urged citizens to volunteer information about suspicious persons or objects to enable security agencies end insurgency.

  • Buhari warns INEC as PDP alleges plot to rig

    Buhari warns INEC as PDP alleges plot to rig

    Presidency asks police, others to be fair in Kogi

    Ahead of Kogi and Bayelsa polls, President Muhammadu Buhari has told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police to ensure free, fair and credible governorship elections.

    Buhari spoke at a meeting with the INEC leadership and others, according to Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media Mallam Garba Shehu.

    To him, it is “mischievous” for the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to read meanings into a well-intended meeting.

    In a statement, Shehu said: “The President called the meeting cited by the PDP to warn, in particular, the INEC and the police to do prepare and give the nation a credible election. He said he expected nothing short of a free, fair and credible election.

    “He said he had suffered election manipulation in 2003,2007 and 2011 and would not like to have any Nigerian to go through that again.

    “He warned against the intimidation of voters in any way and vowed that he was prepared to move with all the forces available to him against anyone who undermines the rights of any citizen.

    “The meeting was short and straight to the point. It ended after five minutes. He asked Vice President Yemi Osinbajo if he had anything to say and he added nothing.”

    The Presidency cautioned against what it called PDP’s recurring tendencies to destroy national institutions.

    It added: “Nigerians should be wary of the PDP’s fruitless attempts to destroy national institutions President Buhari is determined to rebuild.

    “They started with the courts, the EFCC, then the police and now they are on the one-week old INEC. When will PDP allow our national institutions to do their job?”

    The PDP alleged a plot by the APC -led Federal Government to rig the Kogi poll.

    The party said the Presidency, INEC and the security agencies were involved in the “plot”.

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said the plot was to employ official and unofficial means necessary to ensure victory for the APC.

    The statement said: “We have incontrovertible records of separate meetings, late last week between the Presidency and the new INEC leadership as well as with some top security officers, which were coordinated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF),  Babachir Lawal, who boasted that he has President Muhammadu Buhari’s orders to ensure that Kogi State is wrestled from the PDP by all means.

    “We alert all to be aware of this planned ‘coup’ against democracy again, by the now ‘new sherrif’, who though, being the biggest beneficiary of free and fair election in the history of Nigeria, is now out to corrupt the electoral system and destroy our democracy, all in the obsession to foist a one-party state in the country.

    “Intelligence information available to us shows that at the meeting with the new INEC leadership under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the commission was given orders regarding the posting of compromised personnel to strategic areas in the state to manipulate the card readers as well as the actual voting process in favour of the APC, with assurance of adequate protection by government security agencies, particularly the Directorate of State Services (DSS).

    “We are aware that in another meeting also held in Abuja, the Presidency directed summoned security officials to ensure that the forces are maximally used to intimidate the people with a view to pave way for compromised INEC officials to manipulate the process, alter ballot figures and announce doctored results.

    “To kick off the rigging process and underscore the desperation to take over Kogi State, the President himself is billed to be in the state on Wednesday to endorse the APC candidate, Alhaji Audu Abubakar, a man facing charges of corruption.

    “It is, to say the least, an embarrassing miscarriage of justice that the same President who rode to power on much publicized anti-corruption credentials, would not only superintend over plots to corrupt the electoral process, but also endorse a man facing corruption charges as his governorship candidate.

    “Whereas majority of Nigerians have seen through the cosmetic anti-corruption stance of the President Buhari-led APC government, the PDP wishes to state in the strongest possible terms that the people of Kogi State love their Governor and are fully in support of his re-election bid.

    “We therefore caution the President and the APC to watch their steps as their plots have not only been exposed, but will also be stiffly resisted by the people.

    “In this regard, the new INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, must note that his legacy is at stake and that the Kogi election is for him an iron test. Prof. Yakubu must immediately distance himself and the commission from this planned ‘coup’ against democracy or be ready to hold himself responsible should there be any breakdown of law and order in the state during and after the elections.

    “Let it be known to President Buhari, the APC, INEC and security forces that no amount of force, intimidation and manipulation can bend the will of the people of Kogi State in their preference for the PDP and Governor Idris Wada, and that they will not accept any results that do not reflect their wishes and aspirations at the poll.

  • LMC warns erring Sunshine, Rangers fans

    LMC warns erring Sunshine, Rangers fans

    FC, Rangers and FC Ifeanyi Ubah and their supporters to refrain from further disruptive behaviour during the remaining fixtures of the Glo Premier League 2014/15 season.

    In a major breakthrough for the campaign for conducive match day experience for fans at all Glo Premier League venues which has recorded an upsurge in attendance, including family groups showing up for games, security operatives at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano with the cooperation of Kano State FA and the Kano Pillars FC Management apprehended a serial disruptive fan, charged him to court for attempted breach of peace and secured a conviction.

    Underscoring the weight of the LMC’s concern on the matter, the letter to the clubs was personally signed by the Chairman, Shehu Dikko and warned that any further breach of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Framework and Rules by their supporters will attract varying but stringent sanctions that may include prosecution in a competent court.

    In the case of Sunshine Stars, the warning was occasioned by activities of some fans from the club’s official supporters club that led to disruption of peace of the fans during the Match Day 28 fixture between Sunshine Stars and Nasarawa United.

    In that of Rangers, it followed reports of some fans, one of which was expelled by the referee for unauthorised access to the technical area while the match day 29 fixture against Shooting Stars was on. Concerning FC Ifeanyiubah, the LMC noted that a supporter of the club was reported to have encroached on the pitch to forcefully remove an injured Kano Pillars player during their match day 30 fixture in Nnewi.

    In the letter, the LMC chairman said to the clubs that “you’ll recall that under the Framework and Rules governing the League, disturbances at match venues are prohibited and clubs are held responsible for the behaviour of their supporters before, during and after a match. Therefore, should you fail to address the situation forthwith, the LMC would be left with no option than to either close your stadium to supporters or implement a stadium ban and move your games to a neutral venue in another city as provided in the rules”.

    The three clubs and indeed all clubs in the NPFL were also reminded that the LMC has a pact with security agencies to treat match day disturbances as a criminal breach of the peace for which offenders will face prosecution. The recent case in Kano was cited as a reminder that such disruptions and or attempted disruption will be treated as a criminal offense and a general warning to other clubs that “the LMC will not hesitate to allow the same treatment meted to any individual who engages similar disruptive behaviour at match venues anywhere in the country.”

  • Naval chief warns criminals as new warship arrives

    The Eastern Naval Command (ENC) of the Nigerian Navy in Calabar, Cross River State, yesterday added a new warship, the NNS Centenary, to its fleet.

    The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, who was ground to receive the ship at the NNS Victory jetty, said the ship is to further reinforce the presence of the navy in the Eastern flank of the country’s maritime space.

    Ibas said, “When we talk about maritime security, you have to know that it goes with development. Maritime security has a nexus with development. Nobody wants to do business in an insecure environment. As you are aware, the bulk of the resources that bring development come from the sea and the essence of the new ship, the newest in the fleet, is to further reinforce our presence in the Eastern flank of the nation’s maritime space. We are going to have credible presence. The ship has the capacity to carry helicopters. We are also working with the Air Force to sanitize the Eastern flank.

    “The new ship is capable of staying on sea for two weeks. It is no longer going to be business as usual for the bad guys at sea. Those doing their business at sea would have confidence to go about their business at ease. Whoever is a criminal at sea should know bad times await them.”

  • Stop attacking Buhari, labour leader warns Fayose

    A trade unionist, Comrade Sunday Akintunde has warned Ekiti  State governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose to desist from attacking President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Akintunde urged Fayose to exhibit decorum in public speaking, noting that his utterances against President Buhari in recent times were reckless and alien to Yoruba culture which upholds respect to elders.

    “As Yorubas, we are raised to respect elders and have moral values of omoluabi, not to be rude, crude and disrespect our elders but to behave in decorous manner in the society. Fayose has desecrated the office of governor and shown that he is a talkative by rushing to the press on national issues without having something tangible to offer the people of Ekiti other than to rubbish the President.

    Akintunde, who is the former Chairman of National Union of Air Transport Employee (NUATE),Murtala Muhammed International Airport chapter, Ikeja, Lagos, urged Fayose to stop his campaign of calumny on the person of President Buhari.

    He said: “Governor Fayose should stop heating the polity due to his inability to give the people of Ekiti the dividends of democracy and the promises he made during his campaign before he became governor. He should stop attacking President Buhari and focus his energy and attention on how to move Ekiti forward rather than turning himself to a town crier.”

    He added: “ If corruption is the only epidemic or virus that President Buhari will eradicate in this country for four  years, about  80 per cent of our problems would have been solved because corruption is the major virus that is destroying all__ sectors of the economy.”

    Meanwhile a socio-political group, Ekiti New Project (EKNP) has faulted the appointment of a 72-year-old illiterate carpenter, Olatunde Ayeni, as the caretaker chairman of Moba Local Government Area of the state.

    The group at the end of its inaugural meeting held in Ado Ekiti on Friday described Ayeni’s appointment as a “big insult to the intelligence of the people of Ekiti who are renowned globally for education and scholarship.”

    In a statement by its scribe , Olufemi Aduloju,  EKNP said the action of Fayose has embarrassed the state and portrayed it in bad light.

    It said: “It is a big insult on the integrity of the people of Ekiti for the governor to have appointed an octogenarian, illiterate and a carpenter to hold in trust the hopes and lives of a whole local government. Ekiti people are known worldwide with what their sons and daughters have achieved in their chosen fields.Also, it is an internationally known fact that in our state, it is one house, one professor and now, what is the state being turned into? When a carpenter, an okada riders and market women_ are now being given sensitive political appointments, it is an insult_ on our collective entity.

    “We therefore wish to caution the governor to stop rubbishing the state and the integrity of its people in the comity of states. The governor should keep himself busy with the seriousness of governance and bring the desired development to the state. Enough of his jamborees,  jumping around without doing anything; enough of this insult on our collective integrity. Though, _it is a good omen to reward a loyal and committed member, but the issue of giving such a sensitive appointment to an illiterate is awkward, he could have been compensated with contract.

    “How can an illiterate control the local government’s allocation? The governor just wants to use the man to mismanage the resources of the local government. The appointment of the caretaker chairman is nothing but an insult to all the people of Moba council area especially the educated ones. The implication is that, education is nothing in Ekiti state according to the governor. I don’t know how somebody who can neither write nor read will be able to keep the oath of secrecy in governance, since he will have to hire an educated person as personal assistant or special assistant to interpret the contents of every file. Therefore, the secrecy in governance is already eroded in that system because such aide is not supposed to be privy to all government transactions according to the law. Ordinarily, Ayo Fayose himself should not have been governor if there is a system in place to measure competence and finesse, unfortunately, there is none. The appointment defines his government as directionless and rudderless.”__

    Education has no meaning anymore if we know in a ‘Fountain of Knowledge’, erroneously too, that we can get to such position without our skill. Let us therefore pray hard that we don’t have another North Korean leader in our land.”

  • Ogoni clean-up: MOSOP warns politicians against sabotage

    The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has warned politicians against sabotaging the clean-up of Ogoniland, as recommended by a team of environmentalists from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

    MOSOP, yesterday in Port Harcourt, through its President, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, stated that it had uncovered “an evil plot by internal and external politicians” to politicise the planned Ogoni environmental remediation and restoration process, in order to advance some parochial political and economic agenda, capable of thwarting the success of the exercise.

    The umbrella organisation of Ogoni people asked the alleged saboteurs to steer clear of the implementation arrangements, declaring that any further attempt at undermining the process would be viewed as an affront against the collective interest of Ogoni people and would be decisively resisted.

    MOSOP said: “We insist that the environmental degradation of Ogoniland, which has compromised our general well-being, is not a political issue. Dragging the fast-tracking actions into the murky waters of politics demonstrates inexcusable callousness that should be condemned by all, especially lovers of safe and clean environment.

    “We are warning external collaborators who have, and are providing resources including their platforms for the secret, devious agenda to realise that they are known and sooner than later, they will be exposed.

    “We have come a long way, and we urge all Ogoni to come together, irrespective of interest, as we cannot afford to falter at this time of seeming genuine interest of government to redress the environmental wrongs against the Ogoni people. We urge all Ogoni people to heed our advice, as we will resist all attempts to frustrate efforts at ensuring environmental justice for our people.”

    The umbrella organisation of Ogoni people also stated that the condition in local Ogoni communities, where the people had been reaping deaths and facing crushing livelihoods should bother everybody, insisting that end must come to environmental injustice in Ogoniland.

    It will be recalled that UNEP’s environmental assessment of Ogoniland was initiated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2006, as part of efforts to put an end to the many years of pollution, neglect, environmental degradation and marginalisation in Ogoni.

    The Ogoni environmental assessment was adequately supported by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, while UNEP report, containing far-reaching recommendations was released on August 4, 2011 and presented in Abuja to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on August 12, 2011.

    President Buhari, on August 5 this year, exactly sixty eight days in office, approved the actions to fast-track the implementation of the UNEP report, with the decision, described by the stakeholders across the globe, as a welcome development.

    The UNEP report stated that the water in Nsisioken-Ogale-Eleme, Eleme (Ogoni) LGA of Rivers state, contained cancer-causing Benzene (carcinogen), which was 900 times the World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) standards for water contamination, thereby requiring urgent attention.

    The report also revealed that the sustainable environmental restoration of Ogoniland would take up to 20 years to achieve and would require coordinated efforts from government agencies at all levels, thereby recommending that the Federal Government should establish an Ogoniland Environmental Restoration Authority.