Global Naija Info

Acting EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday said it had arrested one of its operatives, Uzodinma Kingsley Agbazue, over alleged N15 million bribe. The Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja. Uwujaren noted that the arrest was in line with EFCC’s determination to flush out corrupt operatives aimed at upholding its integrity. He stated that “in furtherance of its avowed commitment to uphold the integrity of its officers, EFCC has arrested one of its operatives. “Uzodinma Kingsley Agbazue was arrested for offences bordering on criminal conspiracy and extortion.’’ According to Uwujaren, the suspect, who is until his arrest a Deputy Detective Superintendent (DSS), collected N15 million from a lawmaker who is under investigation by the commission. He noted that “Agbazue was arrested following a complaint by a lawmaker currently under investigation by the commissi...

A 26-year old housewife, Aishat Kazeem, has urged an Ojaoba Sharia Court of Arbitration to dissolve her 18-month marriage to her husband, Dikrulai, following constant beating by the latter. In her petition before the court, Aishat, a mother of two , said that Dikrulai had already ordered her to pack out of their matrimonial home for alleged consumption of two tins of evaporated milk. “My lord, as Dikrulai always did, he told me to leave his house because his two children and I drank two tins of evaporated milk which he kept in the room. “During the last Ramadan fast, I made use of two out of the six tins of evaporated milk he kept in the room. “Dikrulai battered me severely and pronounced that he doesn’t want to have anything to do with me anymore. “Usually, Kazeem holds grudges with me on minor issues like lateness in cooking his meals. “His relatives had several times settled most of these quarrels, but things are not getting any better. “However, in the latest incident, Kazee...

Boat carrying migrants capsize One hundred and sixty-two bodies have been found after a boat carrying hundreds of migrants capsized off an Egyptian coastal town this week, a provincial official said on Friday. “18 more bodies were retrieved as at this afternoon, bringing the number of victims to 162. “A total of 164 people have been rescued since the boat sank on Wednesday off Beheira’s town of Rosetta,’’ the governor of the Delta Beheira province, Mohamed Sultan, said. He did not provide a breakdown of the survivors’ nationalities. The report said that those rescued were 121 Egyptians, including four crew members, and 43 foreign migrants. “There were many children and women among the victims. “Search operations were ongoing on Friday but no further survivors were reported found that day. “On Thursday, Egyptian authorities jailed the four crew members pending an inquiry into the accident, which is the deadliest of its kind in recent years,’’ it said. Reports gave conflicting ...

University of Ibadan main gate Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan There was a bomb hoax at the University of Ibadan on Friday as an unknown Islamic group, al-wilayat al-Islamiyya Gharb Afriqiyyah, sent a bomb threat text message to some staff of the institution. Security at the premier university which is celebrating its ranking among the top 1000 universities in the world, was beefed up as a result of the threat message. The group in the text message stated: “You people are an embarrassment to Nigeria and are the people that brought in western education to Nigeria. You doomed this nation and in turn you all are going to be doomed. Most of you are going to die before Independence Day. You will not spend the Independence Day in peace, you and your students. Detonation will start going from tomorrow till Independence Day and there is nothing you can do as we are among you. ”Even your little searches at the gate won’t do anything. By the time we are through with you, your government will be sorr...

Naira The Naira on Friday appreciated against the dollar at the interbank market, after sustaining losses for two days. The Nigerian currency gained N5.28 to close at N307.79 from N313.07 posted on Thursday. Trading at the Bureau De Change (BDC) segment of the market showed that the Naira exchanged at N433, N550 and N472 against the dollar, Pound Sterling and the Euro respectively. At the parallel market, the Nigerian currency gained one point to exchange at N435, while it closed at N560 and N475 against the Pound Sterling and the Euro respectively. However, traders at the market are optimistic that the Naira will sustain gains at the market by next week as Travelex commences the sale of forex to BDCs.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said 30 political parties had submitted names of their candidates for the November 26 governorship election in Ondo state. The commission’s Deputy Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Nick Dazang, disclosed this in an interview. Dazang said that all the parties met the Thursday deadline for the submission of names of the candidate as specified by the Electoral Act. He said that the names of the candidates could not be announced until the date specified by the Electoral Act, as they were still subject to change. “As at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22, 30 political parties have submitted the list of their candidates for the Ondo governorship election. “The parties can also substitute these names between now and Oct. 27, that is one month to the election when we will published the final list. “At that point when we published the list, they cannot withdraw or substitute any longer,’’ he e...

Dickson’s four babies The Wife of the Bayelsa Governor, Mrs Rachael Dickson, on Friday gave birth to four babies, a boy and three girls, after 15 years of barrenness. A statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson in Yenagoa, said that Rachael put to bed in the United States of America. According to the statement, the mother and the newborns are doing well. The statement also expressed Governor Dickson’s gratitude to friends, family members and the people of Bayelsa for their prayers and support. The statement quoted him as calling on well-wishers to continue to pray for the family. The latest news has been tagged a double celebration as the governor’s re-election was overwhelmingly upheld by the Appeal Court in Abuja yesterday.

Executive Chairman, LAWMA, Olumuyiwa Adejokun In the face of the recent outbreak of cholera in some parts of the state, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has charged residents of the state to maintain cleaner environment and observe personal hygiene. Executive Chairman, LAWMA, Olumuyiwa Adejokun said improper environmental practices such as waste burning, especially domestic wastes and tyres could be injurious to human health as well as the environment. “We try as much as possible to discourage the burning of tyres, which can be injurious to human health. Basically what we do is we pick the disposed tyres and we have a section where we keep them,” he said in Lagos on Friday. He stated that the agency had adopted various advocacy mechanisms to sensitise residents of the metropolis on the need to maintain effective sanitation and personal hygiene in their surroundings. Adejokun noted that though the rainy season hampered the turn-around time of waste managers’ trucks at the ...

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has accused the former Governor of Edo State, Mr Lucky Igbinedion of diverting N4 billion bank loan in connivance with then Secretary to the State Government and PDP gubernatorial candidate, Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu. In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, Oshiomhole said: “our attention has been drawn to the lies peddled by one Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a factional candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the debt profile Edo State. “We make bold to state, and the facts are clear, that in spite of earning the highest revenues from the Federation Account, the PDP states in the South-South region are the most indebted in the region and not Edo State. “The domestic debt profile released by the DMO as at December 31, 2015, the last time it was issued, lists Delta State as having a debt profile of N320,605 billion; Akwa Ibom had N147,575 billion; Cross River: N115,522...

L-R: Sole Administrator, Lagos Mainland LG, Hon. Rojaye Adedoyin; Representative of Lagos State Governor, Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello; Representative of Oba of Lagos, Chief Lateef Ajose and Representative of Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Olakunle Oladapo during the inauguration of Bornu Way, Ebute Metta in Lagos Mainland Local Government as part of the 114 Roads, Friday Kazeem Ugbodaga Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday said plans are afoot to link inner roads in the State to the Lagos Smart City Project, just as he expressed readiness to commence deployment of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras in October across the State. Governor Ambode, who disclosed this in Coker Aguda area of the State at the commissioning of some of the 114 roads, newly constructed in the 20 Local Government Areas (LGs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), said government would complement the project with strategic security management driven by tec...

A 37-year-old housewife, Rofiat Hussein, on Friday, asked an Ojaoba Sharia Court of Arbitration in Ibadan to dissolve the nine-year-old union with her husband, Nurain, based on sexual starvation and neglect. Narrating her ordeal, Rofiat said that her husband had neglected her in every area of marital life, including sex. “As soon as we wedded, Nurain directed me to become a full-time housewife which meant that I must do nothing to earn a living. “At the same time, there had been little or nothing to cater for the growing responsibilities in the home, especially the educational needs of the children. “I pleaded with him to give me a portion of his shop to start selling some petty things, but Nurain rejected the idea. “I then told him that I secured a teaching job in a private university and it did not go down well with him. “Nurain and I were products of that same university for our degrees, but I have since proceeded for my Masters and I am even on my PH.D. programme now. “Nura...

Nigeria Air Force emblem The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Friday in Abuja inaugurated an Air Force Girls Comprehensive School to improve girl child education in the country. The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, inaugurated the school at the Air Force Base, Abuja. The minister was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan. He commended the Chief of Air Staff and other personnel of the Service for the “remarkable project”. The minister said the present administration had resolved to make education accessible for the good of the country. Adamu noted that one of the major factors militating against girl child education in the country today was poverty as well as cultural and religious believes. “These factors have clearly undermined the role of the girl child who naturally is meant to be a friend, a teacher, a confidant, a councilor, a mother and the hand that feeds. “Available records from the NBS showed that the girl child education ...

NSCDC operatives The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Jigawa said it had arrested five suspected hard drugs sellers. The Spokesperson of the corps in the state, DSC Adamu Abdullahi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Dutse that the suspects were apprehended in Gumel Local Government Area of the state. Abdullahi said that the suspects were arrested in Gumel central market by men of the command operating in the area. He explained that the suspects (names withheld), hailed from Kaura, Dadin Sarki and Rukutu villages in Suletankarkar local government area of the state. The spokesperson added that one of the suspects was from Baure town in katsina state. According to him, a total of 34 sachets of Tramadol, consisting of tablets and capsules were recovered from the suspects. Abdullahi said the tablets are 120 milligrams, while the capsules are 225 milligrams. He added that suspects who confessed to committing the offence had been handed over to th...

The gavel of justice An Osun Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ile-Ife has ordered six defendants to be remanded in prison, pending the perfection of their bail conditions. The defendants, Abiola Lateef, 48; Abanise Omoniyi, 49; Etim Elijah, 38; Wasiu Adepoju, 36; Tajudeen Adeyeba, 31 and Mattew Balogun, 36, were remanded in prison custody over breach of public peace. The Magistrate, Mr Olalekan Ijiyode, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties each in like sum. The defendants were arraigned on a two-count charge of public fight and breach of peace. Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector James Obaletan, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on Sept. 21, 2016, at Odesan Village, Ife South Local Government Area. Obaletan said that the defendants engaged in a fight and inflicted injuries on one another with machetes. He added that the defendants disturbed the peace of the public . According to him, the offence is punishable under sections 83 a...

Mr George Okafor The Ebonyi Police Command on Friday said that the protest at Abakaliki was not carried out by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) but by traders and artisans at the Mechanic Village. IPOB had ordered people in the South East Zone to observe a sit-at -home action on Friday in support of their demand for self-actualisation. But Mr George Okafor, the Police Public Relations Officer, told NAN that the Force ensured that no IPOB protest was carried out in the state. “We are in touch with our divisions across the state and can confirm that the state is peaceful with people going about their businesses. “We only witnessed disturbances at the automobile village in Abakaliki where traders and artisans protested over alleged discrepancies in the levies stipulated by the state government,” he said. The spokesman said that the command had deployed officers to the area in order to restore normalcy. “The traders were protesting that their leaders connived with the contra...

Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) The Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) on Friday confirmed the death of four persons involved in an accident along Auchi-Okene-Highway. Mr Moses Bature, the FRSC Auchi Unit Commander made the confirmation in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Auchi on Friday. Bature said the accident happened at about 11 a.m. at Uluoke-Uzairue in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo. According to him, three persons died on the spot, while the fourth person died at the hospital. He said three vehicles were involved in the accident, namely a Hilux bus, a Toyota Saloon car and an articulated vehicle. He added that the body of the deceased were deposited at the mortuary.

Pastor EA Adeboye, General Overseer of RCCG The National Youth Pastor of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Belemina Obunge, on Friday, urged Nigerian youths to strive and contribute their quota toward nation building. Obunge made the plea while addressing newsmen on the upcoming National Youth Convention. He urged the youths to look inwards and use their various skills to move the nation out of its current challenges. The cleric said that in spite of the current economic challenges confronting the country, youths could still make positive impact that would reflect on the country’s fortunes. According to him, youths are called to live a life of impact and without them there would not be a future for the country. “Nigerian youths should search within and see what they can do in a time like this; they should ask themselves what gift they have that they can make manifest. “Nigerian youths should manifest the skills they have, start small and be the solution in their ...

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce Sen. Ben Murray-Bruce, Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation, on Friday, backed the plan of the Federal Government to concession the four major airports in the country. Murray-Bruce also said his committee was prepared to facilitate whatever laws were required to fast track the process. He spoke at a Stakeholders’ Conference on Privatisation/Concession of Nigerian Airports organised by CheckinNigeria, an aviation and travel consulting firm, in Lagos. The government had indicated interest to concession the Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt Airports, towards increasing their capacity and efficiency. The senator said: “As I speak to you today, all the nations with thriving aviation industries and the best and most successful airports are nations that have privatised their aviation industry and their airports. “My committee is prepared to facilitate whatever laws are required to fast-track the privatisation of our airports. “We are also determined...

Rowdy session in the House of Reps The House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges on Friday in Abuja commenced public investigation into allegations of fraud made by Rep. Abdulmumin Jibrin against the House. This followed Wednesday’s resolution of the House which mandated the committee to investigate the allegations, bordering on breach of privileges of members. It would be recalled that the former Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, accused the leadership of the National Assembly of padding the 2016 budget. In his allegation, Jibrin alluded that the corruption in the House of Representatives outweighed that of the Executive and Judiciary combined, and urged anti-graft agencies to investigate. Testifying before Ethics and Privileges Committee, however, the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Rep. Emmanuel Orker-Jev, described Jibrin’s action as sundry act of misconduct against the House. Orker-Jev, who tendered newspaper copies and video ma...

Four unemployed men, who allegedly defrauded a businesswoman of N5.3 million under the guise of supplying her jewellery, were on Friday arraigned in Lagos. The accused– Joe Nwaneri, 45; Udochi Obimba, 36; Emmanuel Olorunisola, 53; and Jeremiah Omosofe, 26 — are facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and fraud at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court. The prosecutor, Sgt. Innocent Odugbo told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 29 in Egbe area, a Lagos suburb. He said the accused had the intention of defrauding the complainant (name withheld) when they presented themselves as dealers and suppliers of jewellery. “They convinced her that they will supply her with gold jewellery when they collected the money. “When the complainant did not get any feedback from the accused, she called them to refund her money but they refused and she reported the matter to the police.” The offences contravened Sections 312, 316 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2...

Ferdi Moolman, MTN CEO in Nigeria The Chief Executive Officer of MTN, Mr Ferdi Moolman, announced on Friday that the telecommunications giant did not give bribe for the reduction of the N1.04 trillion fine slammed on the company for infraction. Moolman said in a statement in Lagos that MTN’s attention had been drawn to an online report, alleging that a top official in the Presidency took bribe from the company to get the Federal Government to reduce the fine. ”MTN Nigeria has no knowledge of this and the allegation is therefore denied. “The MTN Nigeria fine was ultimately settled with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),” he added. Media reports have alleged that a top presidency official had collected N500 million as bribe from MTN to help the company to mitigate the fine imposed on it by the Federal Government. The NCC had last year reduced the fine to N330 billion. MTN was allowed to pay the fine in a staggered payment plan that would last till May 31, 2019. The f...

Jigawa Mass wedding Birninkudu Local Government Council of Jigawa has asked the state’s committee for mass wedding to determine the number of widows and divorcees in the area. The Information Officer of the council, Alhaji Mustafa Namadi, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Dutse. Namadi said the identification of such persons would enable the state government to conduct mass weddings for them in the 27 Local Government Areas of the state. He said the council would ensure that the committee succeeded in the assignment. The information officer added that the committee is also expected to obtain the consent of both parties for the marriage, as well as establish the trade or profession of the would-be husband. According to the Namadi, the committee is expected to verify the health status of the widows and divorcees as well as obtain vows that will bind them to the Islamic faith, among others. He, therefore, urged members of the commi...

President Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the programme of events for the commemoration of Nigeria’s 56th independence anniversary. Mr Bolaji Adebiyi, Director of Press in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) stated this in a statement on Friday in Abuja. Adebiyi said in the statement that an interdenominational thanksgiving church service had been scheduled for Sept. 25 at the National Worship Centre, Abuja at 4p.m. According to him, a public lecture and Jumma’at prayers are slated for Sept. 30 at 11a.m and 1 p.m. respectively at the National Mosque, Abuja. He said the Church service, public lecture and Jumma’at prayers were open to members of public. Adebiyi added that attendance to the Presidential Change of Guard scheduled for Oct. 1 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja at 3 p.m. would be strictly by invitation.

The Nigerian Port The President, Shippers Association Lagos State, Mr Jonathan Nicol, said the Federal Government had lost about N800 billion to the auto policy on imported vehicles. Nicol disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos. NAN reports that the 70 percent tariff and levy on imported vehicles which took effect in 2015, had reduced vehicle imports by more than 50 percent. He said that other ports outside Nigeria in Benin, Togo and Ghana now accepted the vehicles and developing their economies with proceeds from the imports. According to him, with the auto policy, government will be creating more rooms for smuggling. The shipper said that in other countries, shippers were revered as economic developers. Nicol suggested that government should remove the lid on importation of essential domestic goods which local industries could not produce. “The maritime sector should have acted as a cushion in alleviating the present economic...

Mr Rotimi Amaechi The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, said on Friday that the Federal Government embarked on “restructuring various parastatal agencies to foster an economy that is robust, transparent and accountable”. Amaechi made the statement at the inauguration of the governing boards of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in Abuja. “The FG in its efforts to creating an economy that is vibrant and sustainable and in line with best international practices, embarked on restructuring and repositioning various parastatals under the ministry, including the NPA and NIMASA. “NIMASA has two broad mandates — to promote the development of indigenous commercial shipping capacity in international and coastal shipping trade. “And, to also regulate and promote maritime safety, security, marine pollution and maritime labour. “Your responsibilities as governing board members include setting operational admini...

A Mararaba Upper Area Court in Nasarawa State on Friday sentenced a mechanic, Abubakar Ahmed, to 16 months in jail for stealing a generator valued at N50,000. Ahmed, 30, who resides near Orange market, Mararaba, was arraigned on a three-count charge of criminal breach of trust, cheating and theft. The convict, however,pleaded for leniency, saying “it is the handiwork of the devil.” The judge, Ibrahim Shekaru, sentenced Ahmed after pleading guilty to the charges. He, however, gave the convict an option of N18, 000 fine and ordered him to pay a compensation of N50,000 to the generator owner or serve a prison term of three weeks. Shekaru also ordered the convict to write an undertaking that he would not commit such a crime again. Earlier, Prosecutor Herman Donald told the court that Usman Shuaibu, who resides at Hajiya Crescent Mararaba, reported the incident at the Divisional Police Headquarters, Mararaba, on Sept. 20. According to Donald, sometimes in Aug. 2016, the complainant ...

For allegedly being in possession of fake Naira notes, a 26-year-old unemployed man, Kingsley Egwu, was on Friday hauled up before a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State. The accused, who resides at No. 24 Joseph Dosu Way, Badagry, is facing a charge of being in possession of fake currency. According to the prosecution, the accused was caught with three fake one thousand Naira notes at Calipso Hotel in Ibereko, Badagry. Prosecutor Innocent Uko told the court that the accused was caught while using the notes to pay for a room. “He put the fake notes in the middle of other genuine notes thinking that no one would notice it. “The receptionist detected it and the police were notified immediately.” The offence contravened Section 324 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. Counsel to the accused, Mr Ahmed Abimbola, urged the court to grant him bail, saying he will not jump bail. The Magistrate, Mr Abiodun Etti, granted the...

Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC Spokesperson Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibadan, has arrested Egbedayo Semilore and Elijah Jeremiah alias Jerry, a self-styled fashion director of Datsol Industries Limited for alleged internet fraud. According to a statement from the commission, while Semilore, 26, engages in internet love and romance scams, Jeremiah, 29, surfs the internet for online purchases through auction sites. ”Semilore poses on the internet with 2 American army officers’ identities by the names Sergeant Shaft Pagan and Perrie Edingson who are allegedly serving in Afghanistan. He engages unsuspecting ladies on the internet in a dating and romance scam through which he fleeces them of their money. The last victim being one P. J. (full names withheld) from the United States from whom he claimed to have obtained about four million naira (N4m) in tranches with which he bought himself a car. Jeremiah of No. 3 Adeniyi Avenue, old Bodija, Ibada...

Gov. Sani Bello of Niger State. Alhaji Saidu Kaboji, the Chairman, Mashegu Local Government in Niger, on Friday warned that his administration would not tolerate truancy or lateness to work by employees. Kaboji gave the warning while talking to newsmen at the local government headquarters in Mashegu. The local council boss said that if a staff missed work for a day without any cogent reason, a day’s pay would be deducted from his salary accordingly. “It is not going to be business as usual as the local government staff owe the people of Mashegu the duty to work for the salaries they are paid. “A situation where people come to work when they feel like and close at any time is totally unacceptable and will no longer be condoned. “If you absent yourself from work for a day, your salary for one day will be removed as appropriate. “I have directed the sub-unit heads to start giving schedule of duty to each staff on a daily basis as part of efforts to checkmate this problem,” he sai...

President Muhammadu Buhari Hon. George Daika, a former member of the House of Representatives and PDP Chieftain on Friday said President Muhammadu Buhari is not as corrupt free as he wants Nigerians to believe considering the scandal during his service as the Minister of Petroleum and as the Petroleum Trust Fund Chairman. Daika made this known while speaking with newsmen in Jos saying. Speaking, Daika said “Honestly, I sympathize with Nigerians over the suffering inflicted on them by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) government led by President Muhammadu Buhari. “This self-inflicted suffering on Nigerians is as a result of the clueless and visionless APC government in the country.” The former Lawmaker who represented Shendam, Mikang and Quaan-Pan federal constituency in the sixth assembly described the situation of the ordinary Nigerian as unfortunate saying “stealing of food on stoves and rise in criminality, are now a common occurrence in today’s Nigeria, these are all...

Sogunle’s tweet The two boys found strolling naked on the road in Gwarinpa, Abuja on Saturday, 17 September have been taken to a rehabilitation centre by their mom, assisted by the police. A police officer, Abayomi Sogunle of the Police Complaint Department tweeted on Friday that the two brothers who were of the same parent, have been taken to a rehab by their mom with the assistance of the police. The naked youths The naked youths who were allegedly under the influence of drugs were found holding each other and strolling casually on the road, making many to wonder what was amiss.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State The Sokoto State Government will put up a vibrant mechanism to monitor the performance of its workers to enhance service delivery, the state Head of Service, Dr Buhari Kware, has said. Kware said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Sokoto, that the government would also deal with civil servants found wanting in the discharge of their duties. “In this direction, an effective and vibrant monitoring unit would soon be established, to monitor ministries, departments and agencies in the state. “Very soon, we will commence unscheduled visits to ministries and parastatals to see things for ourselves. “All committed and diligent workers will be rewarded while those found wanting would be punished according to civil service rules,” he vowed. Kware said that the administration would raise the standard of workers through training and enhancement of their welfare. In this respect, the head of service assured that the g...

The gavel of justice A Jos Chief Magistrates’ Court on Friday sentenced a 22-year-old electrician, Abdulgafar Musa to three months in prison for stealing a Nokia phone valued N11,000. Musa, of No. 66, Shehu Street, Jos, was charged with theft. The Magistrate, Mr Jovita Binjin, sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty to the crime and begged for leniency. In his plea, the convict said “It was the devil’s hand work; jobs are not coming and I needed money to eat and also give help to my ailing mum. “I will not do it again, have mercy on me,” he pleaded. Binjin, however, sentenced the convict to three months imprisonment or pay an option of N3,000 fine. The Magistrate added that the sentence is to serve as a deterrent to those who might want to engage in similar acts. Earlier, the police prosecutor, Sgt. Thomas Amuku told the court that one Madina Adamu of the NDLEA, Rikkos, Jos, reported the matter at the A Division police station on Sept. 18. Amuku said that the defendant...

Dr Chidi Lloyd The Rivers Police Command have confirmed arsonists’ attack on the house of Dr Chidi Lloyd, a former leader in Rivers House of Assembly. The building is located at Akpabu in Emohua Local Government area of Rivers State. The spokesman for the command, Mr Nnamdi Omoni, a DSP, told newsmen in Port Harcourt on Friday that the police had received information on the attack. He said details of the incident were still sketchy, but the police were still working hard to get more details on the incident. Lloyd had told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that his house had been burnt. “From the information I gathered, unknown gunmen, numbering about 20 in military uniform, came on motorbikes and went straight to my house in the village and set it ablaze. “It is a new building that I just finished. Everything inside the house was burnt down, but no life was lost,” he said. Lloyd said he had no problem with anybody and wondered why people would con...

Over 60 per cent Nigerian children suffer sexual, physical and other kinds of violence in the society, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday. Ms Ladi Alabi, a Child Protection Specialist with UNICEF, Bauchi Field Office, made the disclosure during her advocacy visit to the Jos Zonal Office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Alabi said, “Statistics has it that 60 per cent of Nigerian children suffer some forms of violence; meaning that, six out of every 10 Nigerian children experience some kind of violence. “Half of all children in Nigeria experience physical violence, and one in four girls and one in 10 boys experiences sexual violence. “Also, one in six girls and one in five boys suffers emotional violence from parents, caregivers or adult relatives,” she said. The child protection specialist added that majority of the children that experience physical, sexual or emotional violence in childhood mostly report multiple incidents. She said girls were signifi...

Patience Jonathan As the trial of former aides of ex-First Lady, Patience Jonathan begins on Tuesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has placed its 13 witnesses in the case under security watch. The witnesses, including a banker and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) are expected to tell the court how four slush accounts were opened for the former First Lady. The Nation newspaper reports that the accounts were opened by the ex-First Lady’s former Senior Special Assistant (Domestic/Household and Social Events to the former President), Dr. Dudafa Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel. Dudafa and six others were last Thursday, September 15 arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos. The others are a lawyer Amajuoyi Briggs, a banker, Adedamola Bolodeoku; Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited; Globus Integrated Service Limited; and Seagate Property Development and Investment Limited. A document attached to the...

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State Anambra government has introduced a Community Farm Development Programme (CFDP) to provide farmers with inputs, tractor services and link them with buyers. Mr Afam Mbanefo, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mechanisation, Processing and Export disclosed this at a forum organised by the State Agricultural Development Project (ADP) in Awka on Friday He said that the programme was aimed at linking the farmers to off-takers for guaranteed market of their agricultural produce. Mbanefo urged the farmers to take agricultural activities serious and to also involve their children and other youths in the venture because of the immense benefits. “Some parents discourage their children from farming because it is stressful, but today, there is money in agriculture,” he said. The commissioner said that the forum had helped the ministry interact with farmers in the state to explain the essence of the new programme, how to key-in and benefit from it. Ac...

The police in Ota, Ogun on Friday arraigned a man, who allegedly defrauded a woman of N500,000 in the guise of helping her to solve spiritual problems. Forty-five-year-old John Ifedole, who lives at 18, Adeyemi St., Osi, Ota, appeared before Senior Magistrate S.O. Banwo on a two-count charge of obtaining money under false pretences. He, however, pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor, Sgt.Chudu Gbesi submitted that the accused defrauded Mrs. Mojisola Olagunju from January 2015 to February 2016 at Osu, Ota. He said that the alleged offences contravened Sections 390(9) and 419 of the Criminal Code, Vol. 1, Laws of Ogun, 2006. The court granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum. The case has been adjourned till Oct.10 for substantive hearing.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State The Sokoto State Local Government Service Commission would soon embark on the training of over 150 council officials in various fields of agriculture, its secretary, Alhaji Haruna Ahmad, has said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ahmad disclosed this in Sokoto on Friday, at a meeting with Directors of Agriculture from the 23 local governments in the state. He said that the training, which would take place at the College of Agriculture, Wurno, was aimed at widening career options for local government staff in the state. “More than 150 staffers from the 23 local governments of the state will be trained in various fields of agriculture at the college to boost manpower at the grassroots level. “This will surely develop their capacities and bolster the socio-economic development of the state,” Ahmad said. He assured that the selection of the benefiting workers would be based on merit and equity. Earlier, the Provost of the Colleg...

Alhaji Umar Tata A chieftain of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Katsina State, Alhaji Umar Tata, on Friday urged Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari with prayers to lead Nigeria out of its present predicaments. Tata, the party’s governorship candidate in 2015, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Funtua, Katsina state. He cautioned Nigerians against over-reliance on the President, saying that “he is human and capable of making mistakes.” According to him, what is required is for all Nigerians, irrespective of any affiliation, to contribute meaningfully to pull the country out of recession and set it on the path of growth and development. The APGA chieftain stressed that every Nigerian must develop a positive attitude to nation building, so as to ensure social and economic stability in the country. “People should support the President with prayers and constructive criticisms, and stop expecting a huge turn around withi...

Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas – Chief of Naval Staff The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Ibok Ibas, says the annual CNS Swimming Competition supported by the force is to foster good relationship between it and the public. The navy chief made the assertion when as the 7th edition of the competition got underway in Lagos on Thursday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. Ibas, represented by Rear Adm. Ferguson Bobai, the Flag Officer, Western Naval Command, Lagos, said the yearly event also served as preparation for the Military Games. “The Nigerian Navy have been supporting this yearly event because we see it as a way of fostering unique bonding between us and the public. “We will not relent in supporting such a competition as this because we are also preparing for the Military Games coming up in Kaduna by December. “The competition has been a great opportunity to see the military competing with others,” he said. The Lagos Sate Government through its Director-G...

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State The Kwara Government on Friday said it had closed down 10 private schools built with wooden slabs and operating without due authorisation from the state government. Hajia Zainab Bello, the Director, Quality Assurance Bureau (QAB) of the Kwara Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin that the schools were unsuitable for child learning. Bello said that these schools were closed down due to poor infrastructure and unconducive learning environment. She said that the pupils could not assimilate well in an untidy environment. The director assured of the state’s government commitment to ensure quality education, stressing that government would continue to close illegal private schools. “These schools are built with wood slabs and the surrounding could not be said to be suitable for human beings, talk-less of little children. “The children are packed and sandwiched in the untidy classr...

A total of 2,535 pilgrims from Kaduna State have arrived home after performing the 2016 Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Abdullahi Bayero, Chairman, Media Sub-committee of the state Hajj Delegation, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makkah on Friday. Bayero said 405 pilgrims and another set of 402 were transported back to Kaduna on Thursday, while 463 others were conveyed home in the early hours of this Friday. NAN reports that the third batch of pilgrims arrived in Kaduna on Wednesday via Max Airline with 474 pilgrims. The first batch of 491 pilgrims and second batch of 300 were transported back to Kaduna on Sunday and Monday respectively. According to Bayero, a total of 5, 575 pilgrims from Kaduna State performed the 2016 Hajj. The chairman advised the remaining pilgrims to cooperate with the airline officials to ensure their successful return home.