Global Naija Info

Prof Femi Osofisan Famous writer, Femi Osofisan, has described the death of Elechi Amadi as painful, saying it marks another sad loss from that fine generation of pioneers whose writing established and defined our contemporary literature. In a moving tribute titled: Adieu, Elechi, Osofisan stated: ”I called him Elechi, simply and without formality, as many did, because he was that kind of man. In spite of his age and achievements, he had no airs. In his company you laughed easily; and you learned, because he was full of yarns and wisdom. Certainly I was proud to be his friend, this man whose books were among the ones that taught us how to write. His prose was crisp, his narrative style brisk, compelling; he knew the art of total seduction through the manipulation of suggestion and suspense; he was thoroughly familiar with traditional lore and the world of mystery, magic and fabulation. You enter his fiction, and you are instantly gripped!. Even as you turn the last page, you find y...

An Abuja Federal High Court on Thursday ordered the remand of a former Acting Governor of Adamawa, Ahmadu Fintri, in Kuje prison pending the determination of his bail application. Fintri was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge bordering on money laundering. He was said to have defrauded the Adamawa government to the tune of N970 million and 4.8 million dollars when he was the governor of the state for three months. The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. His counsel, Mahmud Magaji, applied for his bail contending that the offences were bailable. Magaji based his bail arguments on Section 35 (6) of the 1999 Constitution which presumes his client innocent until proven guilty. Furthermore, he relied on sections 158 and 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act in urging the court to admit the defendant to bail. “We rely on these sections in seeking the order of the court to admit the defendant to bail pen...

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An Abuja Federal High Court on Thursday adjourned former Gov. Orji Kalu’s alleged money laundering trial till Sept. 27. The judge, Justice Anwuli Chikere, adjourned the case pending an appeal filed by the defendants at the Supreme Court. Kalu is standing trial alongside, his company, Slok Nigeria Limited and Jones Udeogo, a former Commissioner for Finance in Abia for alleged money laundering. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned them on a 32-count amended charge of diverting state’s fund as the chief executive officer of the state between 1999 and 2007. The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Oluwaleke Atolagbe, said the offences contravened Section 17 (C) of the Money Laundering Act. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges. At the resumed hearing on Thursday, Mr. Solomon Akuma(SAN), counsel to the third defendant, informed the court of a pending appeal in the Supreme Court. He, therefore, urged the court to adjourn the proceedings to await the outcome of the ap...

Two men were on Thursday docked at an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State for allegedly stealing armoured cables belonging to the Eko Electric Distribution Company worth N254,000. The duo, Suleimon Abdulamid, 40, and Kelechi Sunday, 41, whose residential addresses were not disclosed, are facing trial on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and wilful damage. They, however, denied the charges. The prosecutor, Insp. Moses Uademevbo told the court that the accused committed the offences on June 25 at 2. 45 a.m., at A-Z Oil and Gas Company, Dockyard, Apapa. He said that the accused stole two pieces of armoured cables and damaged another 12-meter-length cable, all valued at N254,000, belonging to Eko Distribution Company. The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 285, 348 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011. Section 285 prescribes seven years’ imprisonment for anyone found guilty of stealing. The magistrate, Mrs O.O.A. Fow...

Aluu Community in Ikwerre Local Government of Rivers has been thrown into mourning mood following the passing on of Chief Elechi Amadi, an educationist and author. Amadi, 82, a retired army officer and former commissioner for education in Rivers, died on Wednesday in Port Harcourt. A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited the community on Thursday reports that many residents received the news of Amadi’s death with shock. Some of the residents said they would miss him, especially his fatherly role and philanthropist disposition. Chief Adi Wali, a cousin to Amadi, said that his death was a big shock to the community. “We have lost a father, brother and an icon. It is a big shock to this community. It is an end of a generation that can never be brought back,” he said. Wali said that the late author was the light of the community, adding that they were yet to come to terms with his death. “We lost an educationist, a pathfinder and a colossus. I do not know wh...

A 40-year-old man, Haruna Danjuma, was arraigned in Lagos on Thursday for assaulting a female police officer, Insp. Modupe Olowolagba, while performing her lawful duty. Danjuma, who resides at Musibau Ashafa, Abule Egba Area of Lagos, was charged with assault before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court. The Prosecutor, Sgt. Ishola Samuel told the court that the accused on June 20 at Oko Oba traffic junction assaulted a female police officer, Insp. Modupe Olowolagba, by punching her in the chest, causing her a severe injury. Samuel said that the accused fought the complainant following an argument over disobeying of the traffic light. He said that the offence contravened Section 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty. The Magistrate, A. R. Osunsanmi granted the accused N10,000 bail with one surety in like sum. Osunsanmi adjourned the case to July 17 for trial.

The Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State, Mr. Hassan Hyat, has expressed optimism that the crises rocking the party at the national level would “eventually be resolved amicably”. “The lingering issues that have polarised the national level of the PDP will be resolved amicably. “After all the court cases, members must usually sit together and find a political solution that will take in the interests of all stakeholders because no one can force others to fall in any particular line in a democracy,” Hyat said in Jos. Hyat on Thursday said that court rulings and pronouncements had their limits in a political system. “The court can rule on who is right or wrong. But politically, we need each other; it means that winners and losers must come to the round table to chart a way forward. “So, what we are saying is that, instead of waiting till the courts direct us, let us discuss on our own so as to boost mutual respect and understanding,” he said. He advised senior mem...

The Federal Government has declared July 5 and 6, 2016 as public holidays to mark Eid-el-Fitri Celebrations. Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.), the Minister of Interior made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, on Thursday in Abuja. He urged all Muslim faithful and Nigerians in general to extend the spiritual benefits of Ramadan, which are love, peace and justice to their daily living and through this contribute to the development of the nation. In a statement by Bassey Akpanyung, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, it said Dambazau also urged Nigerians to use the opportunity of “this spiritual rejuvenation to reflect on the imperative of unity and peaceful co-existence in strengthening the bond of togetherness for a strong, virile nation.” The minister, while wishing Nigerians a peaceful celebration, urges total support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s avowed determination to bequeath to the nation an enduring political legacy, it added.

A Consultant Audiologist, Dr. Irene Okeke-Igbokwe, on Thursday, advised parents not to expose their children to cigarette smokers to avoid ear infections. Okeke-Igbokwe, who is also the Director, Nigerian Army Audiology Centre, Yaba, Lagos, gave the advice in Lagos. “Avoid exposing your baby to cigarette smokers, because studies have shown that babies who are around smokers are more prone to ear infections,” Okeke-Igbokwe warned. An Online publication – raisingchildren.net.au, says: “Second-hand smoke is the smoke you breathe in from other people’s cigarettes, cigars or pipes. “It can cause serious health problems for your child. Breathing in second-hand smoke is sometimes known as passive smoking. “Children most commonly come into contact with second-hand smoke when their parents, family and friends smoke.” Okeke-Igbokwe also said that fever, tugging, and fussiness could affect a child’s hearing system. According to her, ear infections are usually caused by bacteria in the envi...

The Kebbi Government would train 500 farmers on modern techniques of fish farming, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Garbage Dandiga, said. The commissioner in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday said that farmers would be drawn from the 21 local government areas of the state for the training. He said that the state government would liaise with local fish farmers association to ensure successful training. He reiterated the state government’s determination to promote agricultural production, stressing that emphasis would be accorded to fish and poultry farming. In a related development, Dandiga said the CBN Anchor Borrowers programme for mass production of rice would be diligently implemented and called on farmers who obtained loan from the programme to repay in good time. He said the state government had procured and distributed improved seeds to farmers for bumper harvest.

Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun on Thursday urged government at all levels to put in place mechanism for waste management to create jobs and to check outbreak of diseases. Amosun gave the advice in Abuja at a two-day summit on asset and waste management tagged: “Resource Efficiency: Asset to Waste, Waste to Wealth, a Sustainable Future.” Represented by the State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Bolaji Oyeleye, the governor said robust waste management could address unemployment in the country. He stressed the urgent need for policymakers to come up with ways to regenerate waste into finished products. “If Nigeria will realise her ambition of being a global player in investment and make giant strides in attracting multinational industries, we need to tackle the issues of waste management with utmost seriousness. “The best principle that is being advocated is the 3Rs, Reduce, Re-use and Recycle. “Reduce, finding ways of minimising the amount of waste generated, re-use means repeated u...

A Vietnamese court has sentenced an elderly Australian woman to death for heroin trafficking, local media reported on Thursday. The officials said that Nguyen Thi Huong, 73, left Ho Chi Minh City airport in December 2014 for Australia. They also found 1.6 kilogrammes of heroin in her luggage disguised as 36 bars of soap. Huong said at her trial that she accepted the bars in good faith from a woman named Helen while holidaying at the beachside city of Vung Tau in southern Vietnam. The court did not find any evidence of Helen or the incident described, meanwhile, Huong was sentenced to death.

The police in Adamawa on Thursday said that the total ban on operations of the motorcycle across the state was still in force. The ban was declared two years ago by the military for security reasons. A statement issued by the police signed by its Public Relations Officer, SP Othman Abubakar, stated that the command had observed that some members of the public, particularly in rural areas, had started using the motorcycle in spite of the existing ban. The statement quoted the police spokesman as saying “the police command in Adamawa wishes to inform the public that it has observed with dismay that despite concerted efforts to ensure the ban on motorcycles in the state, some citizens have consistently indulged in the act in local government areas. “This is an open violation of the ban. “The command, therefore, warns the public to adhere strictly to the ban as culprits will be made to face the full wrath of the law without any further notice.” Meanwhile, many farmers in rural areas ...

Donald Trump French President Francois Hollande has warned that if U.S. Republican candidate Donald Trump is elected President it would “complicate” relations between Washington and Europe. Paris and Washington are close allies, working together in the NATO military alliance and with warm bilateral ties. Hollande paid a state visit to the U.S. in November 2015 after the Paris attacks in which Islamic State militant group (ISIS) gunmen left 130 people dead. But the French leader says that if the Republican nominee enters the Oval Office, that may change. “Those who say that Donald Trump could not possibly become the next president of the United States are the same ones who thought that Brexit would never be voted in,” he said in an interview with French daily newspaper Les Echos published on Thursday, in reference to the historic British referendum vote last week that saw voters back an exit from the European Union. Trump has run a controversial election campaign, calling for a ban...

David Mark, winner The National Assembly election petition tribunal Makurdi on Thursday upheld the election of former Senate President, Senator David Mark of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. In its ruling, the tribunal struck out the petition filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Party, APC, Mr Daniel Onjeh in the Benue South senatorial district poll. Senator David Mark had asked the tribunal to dismiss Mr. Onjeh’s petition for filing outside the 21 days required by law. The judge, while delivering his judgment on preliminary objection, ruled that the petitioner, Onjeh, filed his petition out of time and accordingly, it was thrown out. Meanwhile, the APC candidate says he will appeal the judgment.

An Abuja-based lawyer, Nnamdi Nwokocha-Ahaiwe, withdraws suit seeking disqualification of President Muhammadu Buhari from the 2015 Presidential Poll for allegedly not possessing requisite education qualification. Details soon.

efcc logo The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned an alleged fraudster, Abdulsalam Goni Sanda before Justice Olubunmi Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja on a 4-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence the sum of N11,450,000. Sanda was alleged to have presented himself as an adhoc staff with the Saudi Arabian Embassy and also a travel agent with the capacity to secure visa for the complainant, one Bello Isah and 49 others who wanted to perform the 2014 hajj. However, the suspect gave the petitioners photocopies of the visas and asked for full payment after which he promised that they will get the original copy from one Musa Ibrahim. The said Ibrahim collected the photocopies from the complainant and vanished. Efforts to get him or recover the money proved abortive. One of the charges reads: “Abdulsalam Goni Sanda, on about the 22nd day of September, 2014 in Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the H...

The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday heard that a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (rtd), charged with laundering N21billion, has returned N2.6billion to the Federal Government. His lawyer Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), while arguing Amosu’s bail application after he was arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris, said his client had returned “colossal sums”. The Nation learnt that Amosu has returned N2.6billion to the Federal Government. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned him along with a former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting at the Nigeria Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun, and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo. Companies arraigned with them are Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil And Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Ltd, Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd, Timsegg Investment Ltd and Solomon Health Care Ltd. EFCC accused them of converting N21bil...

File photo of a similar attack against UN convoy in Somalia At least 18 civilians were killed when a roadside bomb went off in Somalia, close to the capital, blowing up a packed minibus, police said. The blast on Thursday in Lafole, which is around 20 kms west of Mogadishu, struck as the bus was passing by. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. “All the 18 people on board the minibus are dead and burnt. A remotely controlled bomb along the road exploded,” Abidkadir Mohamed, a police officer at the scene, said. Nur Ahmed, who was driving along the same road, told the Reuters news agency that the minibus was being escorted by a truck carrying government troops. The government car escaped undamaged, he said. The explosion comes less than a week after an attack on a hotel by the al-Shabab armed group in Mogadishu killed at least 15 people. The group, which wants to topple the government, frequently attacks security forces and civilians.

The Federal Government has hit back at the Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, over statements they made last Tuesday after they were arraigned for allegedly forging the Standing Rules of the upper legislative chamber. The government said it would be better for Saraki and Ekweremadu to either honourably resign or face the judicial process. The Guardian reports that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, said statements issued by both Senate leaders targeting the government and President Muhammadu Buhari as an individual as if the executive arm was the initiator of the forgery case against them was not acceptable. Lawal who also signed a statement yesterday said the separate comments by “the two leaders of the Senate also gave this erroneous impression that by their arraignment, it is the entire Senate and indeed, the legislative arm of government that is on trial. They want the public to believe that their prosecution is i...

The Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Ojo Maduekwe is dead. The Chairman of the PDP BoT, Sen.Walid Jubrin confirmed this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday. Jubrin said he was shocked to learn about the death of Maduekwe. He said that the former Nigeria’s Ambassador to the U.S. passed on at a critical time when the party needed him most. Jubrin said that he was waiting for Maduekwe come back from U.S., where he travelled to so that they could put heads together to address the party’s leadership problem . “I learnt with sadness and great shock about the death of this very devoted member of the party, a very dependable member and a very useful member with whom we have worked very closely together. “We have been trying our best to find a solution to this problem and it is so sad that Maduekwe died at a very critical moment. “It is sad that at this critical moment, Maduekwe had to go and we are definitely going to miss him and his ideas....