Global Naija Info

Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) former NBA President The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, adjourned till Nov. 10 hearing in the case filed by Olusegun Abraham, one of the aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Ondo governorship election. The hearing was adjourned due to failure of Abraham to serve the orders of the court on one of the defendants Mr Rotimi Akeredolu. The court had asked Akeredolu to come and show cause why an interim order restraining INEC from recognising him as the candidate of APC in the fourth coming election should not be granted. Abraham had through an ex parte motion to asked the court to declare the process that produced Akeredolu as governorship candidate of APC as illegal. This, he said, was on the grounds that it did not conform with the constitution of the party and guidelines set by the party for the primaries. But the trial judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, had insisted that since the matter was sensitive, it would be fair if all parties t...

Magistrate-court A Wuse Zone 2 Chief Magistrates’ Court on Friday in Abuja, slammed a N500,000 bail on a car dealer, Jafaru Musa for fraudulently obtaining N2.5m to import car. The senior magistrate, Fatima Bukar, who granted him bail, also gave him the order to produce a reasonable surety within the jurisdiction of the court and adjourned the case till Nov. 14, for hearing. The defendant is facing a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating. According to the prosecutor, John Simon, one Mohammed Manko of the Jahi, Abuja, had reported the incident in a petition to the Police Area Command Maitama, FCT, on Oct. 10, 2016. Simon said that in June this year, the complainant entrusted the defendant with the sum N2.5 million to buy a car for him from United States of America for him. He said that the defendant assured the complainant that the car will arrive the country in the next two months. He said that after the two months elapsed, the defendant kept on giving the ...

Man-being-flogged A Gudu Upper Area Court in the FCT on Friday sentenced a 25-year-old man,Obioma Ozokwe, to seven strokes of cane and cleaning of court toilet for stealing N250,000 worth of cables. Ozokwe pleaded guilty and was convicted on a two-count charge of criminal trespass and theft. The Upper Area court judge, Mr Umar Kagarko, cautioned the convict to desist from a life of crime and to learn a trade. The Prosecutor, Mr Gabriel Ayana, had told the court that Gbenga Agani of Apo Resettlement reported the matter at Apo Police Station on Oct. 24. Ayana said that the complainant reported that Ozokwe trespassed into his building site and stole armoured cables valued N250,000. “The cables belonged to the residents of the area who kept them in the site for safety,’’ Ayana said. He also said that during police investigations, the stolen armoured cables were recovered in the convict’s possession. The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 348 and 251 of the Penal Cod...

Lagos Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday flagged off the vector control programme at Obalende Market with the aim of eradicating disease-carrying rodents and other vectors from markets in Lagos State. Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare stated that the move to eliminate disease vectors reinforced the commitment of the administration to bequeath to posterity a safe, secure and hygienic environment that would continue to serve as the bedrock of our prosperity in the state. He stressed that Lagos, as a burgeoning global urban agglomeration with a population of over 22 million people and daily waste generation of 13,000 metric tons, required proactive environmental management to control pests and by extension diseases. “No doubt the alluring feature of our state exposes it to a number of threats that if unchecked can spell doom for the well-being of Lagosians in general. The environmental and health h...

Prof-Oyewusi-Ibidapo-obe A don, Prof. Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, on Friday urged the Federal Government to upgrade the nation’s polytechnics and Colleges of Education, in order to enhance quality education at all levels. Ibidapo-Obe gave advice while delivering a Lecture at 15th Matriculation Ceremony of the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun for the 2016/2017 Academic Session. The Lecture had as its theme: “Attaining Global Relevance and National Socio-Economic Advancement through University Education.” According to him, the upgrading of the Polytechnics and Colleges of Education would offer the nation more degrees that would help to improve its technical manpower and also develop the national economy. The don explained that access and quality of education had become a major challenge in the nation’s tertiary institutions. “Parents want their wards to go to the universities to have a career but there are not enough spaces to accommodate all the admission seekers.” Ibidapo-Obe attribute...

FILE PHOTO: Party faithful during a campaign process. Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission [TSIEC], on Friday, said it had lifted the ban on campaigns and other political activities in the 16 Local Government Areas of the state. Dr Philip Duwe, Chairman of the commission, who made the announcement in a statement issued in Jalingo, said the order takes effect from Oct. 28. He said that the election would hold after 90 days. “I Dr Philip Duwe, the Chairman and Chief Electoral Officer of Taraba, by the powers conferred on me under section 6 of the TSIEC Law no. 6 of 2002 and other relevant provisions of the law and enactments there off; “Do hereby pursuant to sec. 30 of the Electoral Act 2010 declare 90 days notice beginning from the 28 October 2016 for the conduct of local government elections in the state. “By this notice, the ban on political activities on local government elections in the state is hereby lifted,” Duwe said.

Kaffy Dance queen Kaffy has a message for Michael Omani, the dancer who threw tantrums at her yesterday for defending dancers after Davido disrespected them. Read her post: ”I really want to use this medium to address the so called maltreatment allegations of dancers that has been in circulation! It is a pity that it is the same People u fight for with clients for countless hours at meetings . Dancers who mostly get jobs out of the relentless hours of conviction and negotiations not to talk of back and forth that goes on with various deals and clients in order to secure them jobs while they sit at home waiting for a call by we leaders in dance that they are insulting today , in this case am the king pin EVIL QUEEN. You see it is easy for people to see u on top and wish for your position but they are never ready to take the pain and Sacrifice required to get there. A dancer that started today want to earn the same as people that are more experienced and skillful than him just be...

President-Buhari’s-daughters-wedding The ancient city of Daura in Katsina state, witnessed tight security on Friday as President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Fatima, weds. There was heavy deployment of security personnel in and around the residence of the president on Mai’adua road in Daura town. Security personnel were also deployed in strategic locations to protect lives and property during the wedding. Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was stationed at the junction linking to the residence of the president. The venue of the wedding, Low Cost Jumu’at Mosque, also witnessed heavy presence of joint security personnel, who surrounded it. However, worshipers, who trooped to Mosque, had unhindered access to observe their religious obligation. While that was going on, security personnel were seen patrolling the town to guard against any eventuality. from Entertainment – P.M. NEWS Nigeria http://ift.tt/2fmQPJY via IFTTT

The gavel of justice A Gudu Upper Area Court on Friday sentenced a 33-year-old man, Stephen Yainfo, to six weeks imprisonment for stealing a car. Yainfo had pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of theft and begged the court to temper justice with mercy. The Upper Area court judge, Mr. Umar Kagarko, gave the convict an option to pay N6,000 as fine. Kagarko told the court he gave the light sentence due to the convict’s plea for leniency and his promise not to repeat the act. The Prosecutor, Mr. Umoh Inah, had told the court that Jonathan Okpoza of Life Camp, Abuja, had reported the matter at Garki Police Station on April 11. Inah said that the convict criminally removed the complainant’s Toyota 4 Runner Jeep, GG 222 MD, black in colour packed in the premises. “He did this with the intention of selling it before the car was recovered in Kaduna State,” Inah said. The prosecutor said the offence contravened section 288 of the Penal Code.

Kaffy Dance queen Kaffy has a message for Michael Omani, the dancer who threw tantrums at her yesterday for defending dancers after Davido disrespected them. Read her post: ”I really want to use this medium to address the so called maltreatment allegations of dancers that has been in circulation! It is a pity that it is the same People u fight for with clients for countless hours at meetings . Dancers who mostly get jobs out of the relentless hours of conviction and negotiations not to talk of back and forth that goes on with various deals and clients in order to secure them jobs while they sit at home waiting for a call by we leaders in dance that they are insulting today , in this case am the king pin EVIL QUEEN. You see it is easy for people to see u on top and wish for your position but they are never ready to take the pain and Sacrifice required to get there. A dancer that started today want to earn the same as people that are more experienced and skillful than him just be...

court Two suspects, Labaran Abdullahi, 25, and Sani Umar, 35, were on Friday arraigned before a Magistrates’ Court in Kano for allegedly having anal intercourse with a 10-year-old boy. The two men, who reside in Tudun Rubudi Kurnan Asabe Quarters Kano, are facing a two-count charge of unnatural offence and public nuisance. The prosecutor, Mr. Anthony Edward, told the court that one Sagir Muhammad and two members of Vigilante Group attached to Bachirawa Quarters reported the case to Bachirawa Police Division Kano, on Feb. 10. He said on that day at about 11p.m., the two men were caught having anal intercourse with the 10-year-old boy of the same address. The prosecutor said that the victim was rushed to Waziri Shehu Gidado Hospital Kano for treatment. He said the offence contravened sections 284 and 183 of the penal code. The two suspects, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Chief Magistrate, Ibrahim Khaleel ordered that the two men be remanded in prison custody an...

Chief Afe Babalola President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated legal luminary, educationist and philanthropist, Chief Afe Babalola, as he turns 85 on Oct. 30. This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina. The statement said Buhari joined members of Babalola’s family, professional colleagues and the academia in felicitating with the legal luminary. According to the President, Babalola represents the life of a man who epitomizes unique and enviable qualities that every nation will want to be projected in its leadership and citizenry. “The legal luminary’s lifestyle exemplifies discipline, diligence, honesty and wisdom, virtues he employed from childhood to succeed against the vicissitudes of poverty and deprivation and climbed steadily to reach the pinnacle of his career as Senior Advocate of Nigeria,’’ it stated. Buhari maintained that Babalola could look back with pride at his achievement...

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai The Nigerian Army has inaugurated internet protocol desktop telephones at the 8 Task Force Division in Northern Borno to enable troops to communicate with their families with ease. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations Department, stated this on Friday in Maiduguri. Nwachukwu said in a statement that the facility was inaugurated by Brig.-Gen. Abu Nani, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Division in Monguno. “The Nigerian Army has inaugurated the first set of internet protocol desktop telephone in some locations of the 8 Task Force Division in Northern Borno. “The essence is to alleviate the sufferings of troops who spend two to three hours travelling to Maiduguri to communicate with their families on phone. “The telephone system, which comprises of a very small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) and a Grand Stream handset, were installed at the headquarters of the task force in Monguno, in 7 Brigad...

President-Buhari’s-daughters-wedding The ancient city of Daura in Katsina state, witnessed tight security on Friday as President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Fatima, weds. There was heavy deployment of security personnel in and around the residence of the president on Mai’adua road in Daura town. Security personnel were also deployed in strategic locations to protect lives and property during the wedding. Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was stationed at the junction linking to the residence of the president. The venue of the wedding, Low Cost Jumu’at Mosque, also witnessed heavy presence of joint security personnel, who surrounded it. However, worshipers, who trooped to Mosque, had unhindered access to observe their religious obligation. While that was going on, security personnel were seen patrolling the town to guard against any eventuality.

WEPCCOM The World Economic Power Chamber of Commerce (WEPCCOM) on Friday advised the Federal Government to host a duty-free Nigeria International Shopping Festival to promote made-in-Nigeria products. The President of WEPCCOM, Mr Jude Onumajuru, said in Lagos that it was through such fairs that Nigerian made products could be sold to the world. Onumajuru said that WEPCCOM was support the Federal Government’s effort aimed at moving Nigeria from depending on foreign goods to home made products. “Nigerians are too dependent on foreign products; it is time to change our mentality about locally produced goods. “Nigerians have talents and can do things that can sustain them as a nation,’’ he said. “The idea is to showcase made in Nigeria products to the world. It will also attract more local and foreign investors to the country,’’ he said. Onumajuru said that such a festival was expected to have participants from over 40 countries, adding: “We want foreigners to know what we are cap...

Red-cross No fewer than 80 medical personnel’s attended a three-day surgical seminar organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health. ICRC made the disclosure in a statement signed by Ms Eleojo Akpa, its Media Officer and made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja. The statement said that ICRC, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, organised the seminar to improve the skills needed by the personnel to respond to traumatic injuries. Akpa quoted Karl Mattli, ICRC’s Head of Delegation in Nigeria as saying that medical care is one of the most important needs in the North-East apart from food and shelter. “It is quite obvious that one of the most basic needs in the North-East right now is access to adequate medical care, apart from food and shelter, “Since its inception in 2012, nearly 400 Nigerian medical practitioners have attended the surgical seminar. “Presently in its seventh year, the seminar has prov...

Nollywood Miss Jedidiah Oketola, an upcoming gospel musician, on Friday advised the youths to take advantage of the opportunities in the entertainment industry because of the creativity it offered for them to express themselves. Oketola said in Lagos that the industry had created employment for the youths and stemmed hooliganism by cultivating vigour and versatility in them. “The entertainment industry is one of the fastest growing and largest industry in the country, It affords the young ones the opportunity to freely express themselves and their creativity. “That is why I am advising the youths to take advantage of the opportunity that the industry offers to make a living for themselves,” she said. The musician said that apart from being able to build a name in the industry through one’s creative works, a person could also make money from the venture. “A lot of musicians who are new in singing but have produced good works have become popular and made money from the sale of th...

In the file: Prescription drugs The Niger government has called on owners of pharmacy shops (Non-Pharmacy Directors) and patent medicine dealers to stop dispensing drugs without prescriptions from medical practitioners. Non-Pharmacy Directors are non professionals who engaged the services of Pharmacists in pharmacy premises. Dr Mustapha Jibril, the State Commissioner for Health on Friday in Minna, said this would help to curb drug abuse. “The availability of abused drugs in the open market is a major factor contributing to serious drug abuse in Niger state and other parts of the country. “This is why we are calling on the stakeholders to stop dispensing drugs to people without prescription papers and documentation,’’ he said. Jibril decried the level of drug abuse in the state especially among youth, adding that the measure would assists in tackling the menace. He said that the government has inaugurated an agency to monitor drug distribution, safety and efficacy in the state....

Governor Olusegun Mimiko Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State is presently holding a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja over the violence that erupted in the state this morning. Thousands of supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akure, the Ondo State capital, this morning took to the streets to protest the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize Mr Jimoh Ibrahim as the party’s governorship candidate for the November 26 governorship election in the state. The protesters who are from the Senator Ahmed Makarfi faction of the party want INEC to substitute Jimoh Ibrahim’s name with that of Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN. Mimiko who arrived arrived at the villa around 11 am, immediately went into the president’s office to discuss the violence. Tension started building in the state on Thursday when INEC published the name of Ibrahim among a list of 26 candidates participating in the Novembe...

Nigeria-police The police on Friday arraigned a middle-aged man, Dominic Abutu, in a Wuse Zone 2 Chief Magistrates’ Court in Abuja for unlawfully detaining a 20-year-old girl for sexual purpose. Abutu of Karimo, Abuja, was arraigned on a two-count charge of unlawful detention and rape, which he pleaded not guilty. The Prosecutor, John Simon, said that the matter was reported by Jennifer Buba at the Wuse Police Station on Oct. 20. Simon said that the complainant received a call from her niece stating that she was held hostage by the defendant at his house. He said that the victim was staying at Mpape with her Aunt before the defendant got her a job as a housemaid in Maitama. The prosecutor said that after some days the victim called the defendant and complained that she didn’t like the place she was working. Simon said that the defendant asked her to come to his house so that he could take her to another house to work. He said that since then the defendant unlawfully detained ...

Nollywood Miss Jedidiah Oketola, an upcoming gospel musician, on Friday advised the youths to take advantage of the opportunities in the entertainment industry because of the creativity it offered for them to express themselves. Oketola said in Lagos that the industry had created employment for the youths and stemmed hooliganism by cultivating vigour and versatility in them. “The entertainment industry is one of the fastest growing and largest industry in the country, It affords the young ones the opportunity to freely express themselves and their creativity. “That is why I am advising the youths to take advantage of the opportunity that the industry offers to make a living for themselves,” she said. The musician said that apart from being able to build a name in the industry through one’s creative works, a person could also make money from the venture. “A lot of musicians who are new in singing but have produced good works have become popular and made money from the sale of th...

court-of-law An electrician, Ibrahim Ekeolu, has said that his wife, Taiwo, is a first class prostitute. Ekeolu of Iyemetu-Igosun Areas of Ibadan made the assertion on Friday when he testified in a divorce petition institute by his wife at Mapo Customary Court, Ibadan against him. The respondent, who denied the allegations in the petition, accepted the divorce request from his wife. “Your honour, Taiwo is a first class prostitute who thinks she can continue to fool me. “Taiwo goes out and return home at anytime she feels, staying two or three months with her parents. “In this state of constant abandonment, I saw Taiwo cooking very early one morning, she told me that one of her relatives was sick and needed food in the hospital. “She took the food and I carefully trailed her, I saw her entering a hotel with the food. “Though, I couldn’t get the room she entered, but I waited until she came out with her concubine and both of them sighted me and they took another direction out. ...

street-lamp A Wuse Zone 2 Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, on Friday sentenced a 25-year-old applicant, Salisu Ali, to two months imprisonment for stealing a street security lamp. Ali of no fixed address was arraigned on a one-count charge of theft. The Senior Magistrate, Teribo Jim, convicted Ali after he pleaded guilty and begged the court to temper justice with mercy. Jim, however, did not give the convict an option to pay a fine, hold that the sentence would serve as a deterrent to others. Prosecutor Haruna Alfa had told the court that a police patrol team attached to Wuse Police Station arrested the convict on Oct. 19. Alfa said that the convict was arrested at the Wuse axis with a street security lamp that he cut off from the fence. He said the convict was arrested with a plier and could not give satisfactory account of what he was doing with the items. The prosecutor said the offence contravened Sections 297 of the Penal Code.

Police cell A Katsina State High Court in Malumfashi on Friday sentenced a 28-year-old farmer, Yusuf Umar, to 10 years imprisonment for raping 13-year-old hawker. The trial judge, Justice Abbas Bawale, convicted Umar after he was found guilty of unlawfully having carnal knowledge of one Salima Nuhu of the same address on April 13, 2014. Umar is from Ketare village in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State. Delivering judgment, Bawale said the prosecution had successfully established the charge beyond reasonable doubt as required by law. The judge, however, said he had taken into the consideration the ill health of the convict, being a cancer patient in his judgment. He said the punishment for the offence under section 283 of the penal code law attracted a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The judge said the lead prosecution Counsel, Mr Aminu Garba, had led four witnesses and three exhibits, including the medical report on the victim. He sentenced the convict to 1...

FILE PHOTO: A herdsman in Nigeria Farmers and Fulani herdsmen in Afana District of Bajju Chiefdom in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State have resolved to co-exist peacefully irrespective of their differences. This followed a meeting convened on Friday by the District Head of Adana, Mr. Kure Malam, aimed at cementing the peaceful atmosphere between the two communities. Bishop Simon Mutum, spokesperson for the host community, and Alhaji Maigamu Afana, who spoke on behalf of the herdsmen, vowed to uphold the agreement in the interest of peace and development of the area. They, however, cautioned each other against any breach of the agreement, warning that it could lead to sanctions on the defaulting party. In an interview with NAN shortly after the meeting, the District Head said the decision to convene the meeting was to consolidate on the mutual trust and understanding between the two groups. He said it was also to guard against any breach of the peace.

FILE PHOTO: Man snoring in bed A 30-year- old, commercial motorcyclist, Tukur Paul on Friday beat his wife, Mrs Jennifer Paul to stupor over her accusation of snoring. It was the intervention by neighbours and passers-by that saved her from further attack. One of the neighbours, Lawrence Oluwanishola, who witnessed the fight, said that the couple who resides at Masaka, Nasarawa State, were fond of constituting a nuisance to the environment through constant query. According to him, it all started at about 9 p.m. on Thursday when neighbours ran outside at the shout of the wife who was seriously beaten by her husband. “How on earth in this present modern world will a man beat up his wife over a trivial issue? We learnt that the wife preventing the husband from sleeping just because he was snoring,” Oluwanishola said. He said that so many cases of divorce in the society could be prevented if minor issues like this are promptly settled by couples. “This is not a case of extra-marit...

FILE PHOTO: Street Hawkers. The Commissioner for The Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare, made the assertion on the sidelines of the flag off of the “Kill Rats Make Money in Lagos” at the Obalende Market on Thursday. The Kill Rats, Make More Money is a project is designed to rid the state of the vector that transmits Lassa fever as well as other vector-borne diseases. Adejare told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the objective of redesigning of the various markets was to allow for segmentation. He said it was imperative for the government to carry out the redesigning in an effort to discourage street trading in the state. “We will redesign these markets to show what a market should look like. Before now, markets are divided into sectors which enable customers to know where to buy. “Now, things have changed and markets are no more organised but their current state is confusing. We want to go back to the old structure when markets are more defined. “We want the markets to be ...

Gov. Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa State The Jigawa Government on Friday relieved Dr Mahmud Gambo of his position as Director, School of Health Technology, Jahun. This is contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Abba Zakari in Dutse. The statement did not give any reason for the removal but said it was with immediate effect. The statement directed the sacked official to immediately hand over the affairs of the school to the Vice Principal, Academic, of the institution.

court A Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan on Friday dissolved a 22-year-old marriage between Idayat and her husband, Wasiu Adekunbi, for threat to life. The President of the court, Mr Henric Agbaje, held that the court decided to put an end to the union between Idayat and Wasiu in the interest of peaceful coexistence. “Since the relationship between Idayat and Wasiu has now become the relationship of cat and rat, it is the duty of the court to forestall any loss of life. “Therefore, the union between both of you has ceased to be henceforth. “Wasiu shall take custody of the first six children, while Idayat is granted custody of the last child because she is still a legal minor. “Wasiu shall pay a monthly feeding allowance of N3,000 for the upkeep of the child and shall produce them in the court anytime Idayat desires seeing them,” he said. Idayat explained that Wasiu would soon put an end to her life through incessant battery if the court refused to separate them. “My lord, Adeku...

NDLEA operatives A 35-years-old man, Kingsley Oluwanishola, on Friday appeared before a Federal High Court in Lagos over charges of illicit drug deal. Oluwanishola, a commercial motorcyclist, is docked by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on a count charged bordering on the offence. He had no legal representative and pleaded guilty to the charge. Following his plea, the prosecutor, Mr Aliyu Abubakar, prayed the court to remand the accused in custody, while he sought a date for a review of facts. Consequently, the trial judge, Justice Rabiu Shagari, ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody. She fixed Nov. 10 for a review of facts. In the charge, the prosecutor had told the court that the accused was arrested on July 29, at Lado area beside Aradagun town hall in Badagry, Lagos. According to the prosecutor, 700gm of marijuana (Indian hemp) was seized from the accused who was reported to be a supplier of the narcotics to customers. He said that the ac...

         FMC-Owerri The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, on Friday urged the Federal Government to take measures to restore peace at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri. Prof. Balarabe Garko, the President of the association, made the appeal in a press statement made available in Kaduna. The statement was also signed by the association’s Secretary General, Dr Abdulkadir Rafindadi, and Publicity Secretary, Dr Kunle Adesokan. It said the crisis at the hospital was unnecessary and efforts should be made by all to restore normalcy. The association noted that a section of the staff had been protesting the recall of the Medical Director, Dr Angela Uwakwem, after she was cleared of any wrong doing by the federal government. According to the medical consultants, the government must “bring the full weight of the law to bear and promptly institute appropriate measures to immediately restore calm and guarantee security in the hospital.” Is sai...

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday expressed optimism that the $2.6bn Badagry Deep Sea Port Project would be a major turning point that would go a long way to bring about global growth to Nigerian waters and the nation’s economy. The governor, who spoke shortly after another successful meeting with the executive management of APM Terminals (Maersk Group), represented by Mr. Morten Engelstoft, CEO designate of APM Terminals in Copenhagen, Denmark, on the advancement of the Badagry Deep Sea Port, said the project would also complement the emergence of Lagos as the fifth largest economy in Africa. He said the meeting, held alongside Chairman, APM Terminal, Apapa, Chief Ernest Shonekan, was the culmination of a process which begun as far back as 2012 and had been taken on with renewed vigour by his administration which had resulted in significant foreign investment estimated at over US $2.6 billion into Lagos. “This port and...

Kwara state -governor The Kwara Government on Friday said it would blacklist and refuse to pay contractors doing shoddy jobs on road projects in the state. Alhaji Aro Yahaya, the state Commissioner for Works and Transport, gave the warning after inspecting some ongoing road projects in llorin. Yahaya said the state government would not entertain shoddy jobs from any contractor regardless of number kilometres of roads being executed. He directed all contractors currently executing road projects in the state to do them according to the contract specifications. “We are fully ready to blacklist and refuse payment to any road contractor who executes shoddy projects in any part of the state,” he said. The commissioner advised residents of the state to desist from dumping refuse in the drains to prolong the life span of roads. Some of the roads inspected by the commissioner are the Asa Dam road and New Yidi road. Others are in Odota, Oko-erin, Saw mill, Adewole, Wara-Osin areas, amo...

court-of-law A Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan on Friday dissolved a 12-year-old marriage between an Ibadan-based businesswoman, Sekinat and her husband Raufu Abdulakeem, over attempted child sacrifice. The President of the court, Mr Ademola Odunade, held that there was nothing the court could do since Sekinat and Raufu had both concluded to part ways. Odunade, however, awarded custody of the two children produced by the union to Sekinat for proper motherly care. He directed Raufu to pay a monthly feeding allowance of N3,000 for the upkeep of each of the two children in addition to been responsible for their education and other welfare. Sekinat had said that Raufu sent her away from the house in order to be well chanced to offer their 11-year- old child for sacrifice. “My lord, after Raufu, had sent me packing from his home more than a year ago, I came across our 11-year-old child recently and I saw multiple razor mutilation all over his body. “It was a gory sight to behold and...

Simon Lalong, Plateau State Governor In view of the ongoing 2016 Jos Trade Fair, the Plateau Government says the monthly sanitation exercise will not hold in the state on Saturday. Mr Abdullahi Abbas, the State Commissioner of Environment and Solid Minerals Development, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Jos that there would also not be a restriction on human and vehicular movements. Abbas, however, urged the residents of the state to maintain good personal hygiene and clean environment at all times. He said that this would prevent the thriving of vectors and rodents that transmit diseases to humans in dirty and unkempt environment. “Rodents like rats that transmit Lassa fever to humans, thrive in dirty environments while vectors like mosquitoes cause malaria. “The vector, which is also responsible for transmission of cholera, thrives in a dirty and bushy environment. “So, it is important that we all strive to maintain good community and personal hygiene. “Per...

FRSC The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has called on stakeholders in Jigawa to assist in sensitising motorists on the importance of the Speed Limiting Device. The Spokesman of the FRSC Command in the state, Mr Ado Adamu, said the Deputy Corps Marshall In Charge of Operations at the Corps’ headquarters, Abuja, Mrs Ejeme Erukjafor, made the call when she visited the state Sector Command in Dutse. Erukjafor said this would help to reduce loss of lives through road crashes. The spokesperson quoted the deputy corps marshal as saying that road transport unions were part of the decision reached in 2012 to ensure the use of the speed limiters in order to reduce deaths due to speeding. She urged motorists in the state, especially commercial drivers, to comply with the directive. She also called on the state government, religious leaders, traditional rulers and community leaders to assist toward reduction of road accidents in the state. NAN recalls that the state’s Sector Comman...

Government Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed Dec. 13 and Dec. 14 for continuation of trial of an ex-Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, over N47 million fraud. The court fixed the date following a letter from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Counsel, Mr Festus Keyamo, for adjournment. Keyamo stated in the letter that the key prosecution witness was unavailable, and prayed that a new date be given to enable the witness to attend court. Meanwhile, some members of staff of Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd., a company linked with Tompolo, stormed the court’s premises, protesting nonpayment of their salaries. The protesters carried placards with inscriptions indicating that their salaries have not been paid for months due to the prosecution of the company and the freezing of its accounts. The EFCC had arraigned Tompolo in absentia on April 18, on a 22-count charge of fraud. Also arraigned in absentia...

Protesters in Ondo Akure, capital of Ondo State, Southwest Nigeria is boiling as thousands of supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took to the streets to protest the recognition of Mr Jimoh Ibrahim as the party’s governorship candidate by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the November 26 election. Mr Jimoh Ibrahim who is the candidate of the Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff faction of the PDP was chosen by INEC as the party’s candidate against the popular choice, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi faction of the party. The protesters blocked major highways in the capital city and other parts of the state. They made bonfires with disused tyres on the roads and prevented vehicles from moving. Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command has assured the residents of Akure of their safety from the violent protest which erupted in the state in early hours of Friday. Protesters protesting the candidature of Jimoh Ibrahim as PDP candidate Th...

Dakuku Peterside, NIMASA DG The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has assured stakeholders of the agency’s resolve to ensure safety standards in the maritime industry. Peterside, who was represented by the Head of Shipping Development Department, Mr Akin Akinyosoye, gave the assurance at the 10th Oil Trading and Logistics (OTL) Expo held in Lagos. The director-general, who spoke on: “Competitiveness and Standards in Ship and Shore Logistics for Petroleum Products”, said that the logistics of ship and shore served as the gateway for supply of petroleum products, He said that this involved interconnection of different modes of transport. Peterside said the demand and supply equation were central to cost and price differentiation, “thereby necessitating enhanced safety standards regulation’’. The director-general urged ship owners to be mindful of safety and quality standards to enhance competitiveness in the industr...

Igbos A former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maj.- Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, has advocated honest effort by patriotic sons and daughters of Igboland to advance the fortunes of Ndigbo. Nwachukwu, Chairman and co-convener of the 2016 World Igbo Summit, made this known at Gregory University, Uturu (GUU), Abia on Thursday. The three-day conference is expected to produce a road map for economic growth and prosperity in the Southeast and other Igbo-speaking states of Nigeria. The conference was organised by the World Igbo Summit Group (WISG) in collaboration with the Igbo Renaissance Centre of the Gregory University, Uturu (GUU). Nwachukwu said the objectives of the conference included to start “a 50-year visioning for Ndigbo, captured in short term, mid-term and long term strategic perspectives. “This will deal comprehensively with the development of Igboland, the wellbeing of our people in politics, business, education, technology and industry,” Nwachukwu said. Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu,...

JTF men on patrol Troops of the Joint Task Force, also known as Operation Delta Safe, on Thursday, disclosed that it discovered a total of 23 decomposing human skulls and a human skeleton during raids on militant camps belonging to suspected members of the Bakassi Strike Force in Bakassi and Akpabuyo local government areas of Cross River State. A statement issued on Thursday by the Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, Operation Delta Safe, Lieutenant Colonel Olaolu Dauda, said the camps located at Ikot Ene Idem, Abakpa and Ikang Inam communities in the Bakassi and Akpabuyo councils of the state were destroyed on Wednesday. It also said that 44 suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra were arrested during the inauguration of the Bayelsa State chapter of the group. According to the statement, the arrested suspects were apprehended at Lakeview Club, along Mabinton Estate, Okaka Road in Bayelsa State while trying to disrupt public peace. The statement read, “In fulf...

JAMB Nigerians have expressed mixed reactions on the ongoing amendment of the JAMB Act for the elongation of its UTME results validity to three years. While some of the stakeholders, educationists and parents, were in support of the elongation of the validity, other were against the amendment. The bill for the amendment of the Act establishing JAMB last week passed the second reading in the Senate. The amendment to the Act is seeking to validate JAMB UTME’s results for admission into any tertiary institution in Nigeria for three consecutive years. Mr Lekan Shote, a parent, supported the amendment to allow candidates to use the result to seek admission for three consecutive years. Shote, who is the Chairman of the Publica Nigeria Ltd, Lagos, told NAN that the proposed amendment “is a welcome development’’. He said that the number of students that apply for admission every year were far more than the number of vacancies in all the tertiary institutions. “As far as I am concern,...