₦airaland Forum

he Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, says the government is prepared to provide funding for any research endeavour that can lead to finding a cure for the Ebola Virus Disease.

The governor, who challenged scholars in the country to move beyond earning titles to contributing meaningfully to the development of Nigeria, spoke on Monday during the disbursement of grants to 31 beneficiaries.

The beneficiaries are those whose research proposals have been approved by the Lagos State Research and Development Council.

The governor urged Prof. Maurice Iwu to come up with a lucid proposal on his Bitter Kola theory, adding that the government would be willing to sponsor it.

Fashola said, “Ph.D holders and scholars are respected not because of the finery of their titles, but because of their intelligence and what they have to offer the society. The state has taken a giant step by disbursing research grants to scientists and researchers who have proposals on what can move our society forward.

“I am curious about Prof. Maurice Iwu’s research on how Bitter Kola can help cure some diseases. I am challenging him that he should reopen the frontiers of that research and present it to us. It is something that we would be looking at.”

The governor said it was disappointing that when the country was faced with the problem of Ebola, none of the much talked about probable solutions came from Nigeria or Africa. He added that Ebola scourge presented opportunities for researchers and scholars to write their names in the book of history.

“If you look at the last epidemic challenge that we faced, all of the offers and solutions ─ ZMapp and Dan ─ among others, came from outside Africa where the problem is. And we have scientists here who carry all sorts of titles.

“This is the time to earn your titles. All the Ph.D and professors must now live up to their names. There will be no more excuses. I don’t have even masters, I am ordinary. We must know the people that have contributed to the development of our country ─ Not all these awards that are given, all these doctorates that have not really advanced our development,” he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the state research council, Prof. Olufemi Bamiro, said the grant ranged between N3m and N5m per beneficiary.

eye4eye: Says the clueless man. Ikimi is as dead as a snake crawling slowly on highway. Ikimi pulls no crowd. Less than 30,000 Nigerians know who Ikimi is. Ikimi is a worthless thief.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday described the defection of a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tom IKmi, from All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Democratic Party as spelling the end of the APC.

He also vowed that the Peoples Democratic Party would win Edo and Rivers states in the 2015 and 2016 general and governorship elections in the two states.

President Jonathan spoke during the PDP South-South unity rally held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, the Edo State capital.

While welcoming Tom Ikimi and other former members of the APC, including national and state assembly members, back to the party, he stated that the defection from the APC to the PDP, led by Ikimi, meant that “the last oxygen has been removed.”

The president said, “We formally welcome Chief Tom Ikimi and others that have joined the PDP today. They have come back to their original party, a standing-stable party; a party that does not change. From the name to the motto, to the logo, everything is the same.

“They left because of some internal things that were not too good. Now, we have corrected all those things. Every party member is seated equally; no discrimination, no imposition. No godfather, no godmother.

“They have come to work with us and having listened to Chief Ikimi, their leaving the APC means that the last oxygen has been removed. So, Edo State will fall to PDP.

“For Rivers State, we know that the only party there is PDP; others exist only on sign boards. So, allow their signboards to stay. But we know the party that is controlling Rivers State.”

Present at the rally were the governors of Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa and Abia states.

Others were the Senate President, David Mark; Senator Udoma Egba, ministers from the South-South and top functionaries of the party.

Jonathan said, “For South-South, at the beginning of this democracy, on May 29, 1999, when I took the oath of office, as a deputy governor, the whole South-South was PDP; from Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, we were all PDP.

“But today, two states have ‘K’ legs. But from 2015 to 2016, we will get all our states back.”

He explained that the rally was not organised as a political campaign but as an avenue to unite members of the PDP from Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Rivers states ahead of the 2015 presidential elections and beyond.

He said, “We are here in Edo State for a unity rally, as the National Chairman has told you. We are not here for campaign yet; we will come back for a campaign. We are here for a unity rally because we must bring our party together, especially as elections are coming.

“This is South-South unity rally and I am happy that the South-South, from Cross River to Edo States, we are all here.”

Also speaking, the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, commended the party in the zone for being the first to endorse President Jonathan as its sole candidate for the 2015 presidential election.

While noting that the President had facilitated development to the states, he assured that the Federal Government would do more to develop the coastal areas in the zone.

In his remarks, the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Adamu Mu’azu, stated that the PDP would not reverse the endorsement of the president.

He said the party would remain united and focused towards winning next year’s election.

Mu’azu, who noted that the party was willing to accept more defectors, said that the PDP remained the destination for democracy in Nigeria.

The Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, commended the zone for making sacrifices for the unity of the country and being a strong ally of the North.

He called for the support of all Nigerians in the re-election bid of President Jonathan.

Max24: First, Fayemi conceded defeat only to later recant. With no pictures of the torn robe i refuse to believe. The propaganda concerning Ikedi Ohakin/ Rev Fathers beating readily comes to mind, only for penitence to be sought from God and the people after someone has used it to get electoral victory. And mind you the dramattis personae were priests. So let the source show pictures of the judge or its just another propaganda to paint the peoples choice, Fayose, in bad light. Unfortunately, all the propaganda against Fayose did not work before the elections and i dont see it work now. Fayoses will not be like Ikedi Ohakims - a case of mistaken identity.

For the second time in four days, people suspected to be political thugs on Thursday disrupted proceedings at the Ekiti State High Court in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday.

A sitting judge, Justice John Adeyeye, was beaten up and his suit torn by the thugs.

The record book of the Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, was also torn into pieces by the thugs who also disrupted proceedings at the state Election Petitions Tribunal.

The tribunal sits on the high court premises in Ado-Ekiti.

The tension in the court forced Daramola to order the immediate closure of all the state high courts.

It was gathered that Adeyeye, who was presiding over a case that had nothing to do with the last Ekiti governorship election, courted trouble when he called on the Governor-elect, Ayo Fayose, to caution the people following him to the tribunal.

“The people following Fayose were making noise close to the courtroom when the judge came out and saw the governor-elect. He challenged him to control the youths but an argument ensued between them and suddenly some of them who are definitely political thugs descended on him and tore his suit.

‘‘They also tore the record book of the Chief Judge.”

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Wale Fapohunda and the Chief Registrar of the high court, Obafemi Fasanmi, confirmed the attack on Adeyeye.

Fapohunda, at a news conference alleged that those who carried out the act did it on Fayose’s instructions, whom he accused of going round the court premises with a large number of supporters.

He said that Adeyeye had accosted Fayose and advised him to desist from moving around with machete-wielding thugs and causing disruption of court proceedings.

According to the commissioner, the advice led to exchange of hot words which degenerated into the manhandling of the judge.

But Fayose also told journalists that the allegation was not only unfounded, but spurious.

He said, “I am not aware that a judge was beaten. In fact, this is strange to me. Though I visited the Election Petitions Tribunal as a party to a case and I was the only one that was allowed passage by security agents to the tribunal.

“ To the best of my knowledge, the three judges at the tribunal handling the case actually sat.

“How can I order the people to beat up a judge that is handling a case that has nothing to do with me ? I ask, at what point was the judge beaten? Is he a member of the tribunal? I went to the tribunal and not the regular court.

“But I want to point out that a situation whereby judges or judicial officers’ who should be custodians of the law get compromised by politicians, breeds anarchy . The judge handling the suit against my qualification dropped the case because of tension and because he lacks the confidence to continue.

“It would have been better for him to insist that he would try the case based on its merit. It is sad that most of our judges have compromised.

“If you have been defeated in all the 16 Local Government Areas and you now want to come through the window, it won’t be like ice cream party for the APC(All Progressives Congress). I would not be too cheap like that of Segun Oni(a former governor of the state). I am not going to be cheap at all because I was elected by the people.

“I don’t care about what they write about me because I have grown a thick skin. The strategy of the APC will not work. Nobody, no matter how highly placed, would remove me cheaply.”

Fasanmi, in a statement, announced the closure of the courts. He explained that the increasing concern over the spate of attacks by political thugs and their persistent presence on the premises of the court in the past few days were responsible for the action.

The chief registrar said the courts would remain shut until adequate and effective security measures were put in place to protect “our judges, magistrates, members of the bar, members of staff of the judiciary and other court users.”

He said it was regrettable that another set of political thugs would invade the court premises and beat him up Justice Adeyeye and tear his suit into shreds.”

Indicting the police for their role, he said, “The police officers on guard looked unconcerned as judges, magistrates and other members of staff had to run for their dear lives while court properties were either damaged or completely destroyed.

“The courtroom of the Chief Judge was not spared in the assault and destruction.Some members of staff attached to the CJ’s office were beaten up and his court record book torn into pieces by the political thugs who also invaded and disrupted proceedings at the election petitions tribunal within the high court premises in Ado-Ekiti.”

The thugs, including Okada riders and artisans became unruly during the hearing of the petition filed by the APC against the June 21 victory of Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party.

As soon as the panel chaired by Justice Muhammad Sirajo rose to write a ruling on the schedule order, they got out of control and started hurling stones at the APC lead Counsel, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

The presence of armed policemen, operatives of Department of State Service and Armoured Personnel Carrier did not deter them.

Holding tree branches, the surging crowd threatened to deal with other lawyers representing the APC.

Efforts by Fayose to control the crowd failed.

When he noticed that the policemen were becoming overwhelmed by the people, Fayose moved out to talk to them but only got their attention for a while .

Calling Akeredolu and other APC lawyers unprintable names, they attempted to enter the tribunal’s sitting room through the window while at the same time throwing objects.

The arrival of the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, however, brought the situation under control.

The tribunal, following a motion by Akeredolu, commended Lakanu for bringing the situation under control.

The police boss, who arrived at the venue with more policemen and escort vehicles dispersed the crowd by firing tear gas canisters.

Angered by the police action, the mob picked up some of the canisters and threw them back at the policemen.

The tension on the court premises heightened when one of the fired canisters shattered the windscreen of a Toyota Camry marked Abia, ABSJ 62 belonging to a member of the tribunal.

People in some courtrooms almost rushed out thinking the car would explode.

Justice Sirajo, who was shocked by the incident said, “All of us are Nigerians. We know ourselves well. We will do what we have taken oath to do. Once in a while, we experience this drawback. For those affected , I’m sorry.”

Lakanu supervised the evacuation of the tribunal judges and the lawyers with a promise to lead them out of town.

In an interview with journalists, the Police boss said, “Actually it was rowdy.I had to leave my office and we have cleared everybody. The judges are happy and we are going to escort them out of town.”

Referring to the Monday attack on Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi, who is handling a case on the eligibility of Fayose, he said, “You can see that the court is very porous. The people came in torrents. We tried to save the lives of the judge first; nobody was injured; the judge was protected and we even effected arrest.

“They were too many, and of course politicians are allowed to go about with their supporters. Initially, they were peaceful but when we discovered they were getting rowdy, we had to react.

“I will personally lead the team that will lead the judges and lawyers out of town. “

Before adjourning till October 14 for hearing, the tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to provide enabling environment for parties in the matter to inspect electoral materials.

It refused the decision of the commission to reduce the number of people allowed for each of the parties to four.

The tribunal said its ruling on the subject provided no limit on the number of experts that could be brought for inspection.

Mondisweets: yes and you were about 40yrs old when i took it

Mondisweets:

There was confusion on the premises of the Ekiti State High Court on Monday as hoodlums invaded the place to disrupt proceedings in a case challenging the eligibility of the Governor-elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, to contest the June 21 governorship election.

However, Fayose has since won the election.

The invasion took place shortly after the judge, Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi, refused an application to set aside an order abridging the time for the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate to file his defence in the case filed on behalf of socio-political group, Ekiti-11 by a member, Mr. Femi Ajakaiye.

The judge had adjourned sitting till 12 noon to prepare a ruling in a similar matter filed by the Citizen Popular Party before trouble started.

As he was preparing to return for the continuation of the matter, angry youths besieged the court. The judge was smuggled out of the chambers through the back door to avoid being lynched by the aggressors.

Judges, lawyers and others in court, including journalists, ran for their lives as the protesters went berserk and went after perceived opponents of the PDP.

It could not be confirmed if the police made any arrest.

The hoodlums numbering about a hundred were aggrieved about the perceived partiality of the judge handling the case.

In the ensuing melee, the Chairman of Ado West Local Council Development Authority, Mr. Sunday Ibitoye, and Ajakaye, were attacked.

The hoodlums had earlier engaged in an argument with securitry officials in the court room for preventing some of them from entering the court while allowing others in.

The rampaging youths, who called the trial judge all sorts of unprintable names, alleged that he was partial in handling the matter for showing interest beyond official reasons.

The judge, who had assumed jurisdiction in the case had ruled that he could not reverse his decision to abridge the time as the court had become “functus officio” having taken a decision on the issue.

Contrary to the argument by the PDP, the court said the decision to abridge the time did not contravene Section 32 of the 1999 Constitution.

Justice Ogunyemi said the PDP and Fayose failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt the reasons why the court could not hear the substantive suit.

The judge consequently dismissed the PDP’s application, saying the court could not set aside its own ruling of June 6, and that the time frame had been overtaken by events, which he maintained had rendered the whole exercise a mere academic exercise.

Commenting, the Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Jide Awe, said, “We are back to the Idi Amin era in Ekiti where judges and lawyers are attacked in court. This is terrible.

“But the APC has no case in the court and we were not there to witness the attack.”

Also commenting, the PDP Publicity Secretary, Kola Oluwawole, urged Justice Ogunyemi to steer clear of the case alleging that he had connived with the ruling APC.

Accusing the judge of bias, Oluwawole said, “The judge openly demonstrated in his ruling that he has jurisdiction on the matter and simultaneously commenced hearing of the matter without giving the respondent the opportunity to signify an appeal.

“The PDP also condemns the barbaric action of the APC thugs who attacked voters that voluntarily voted for Ayo Fayose in the last governorship election.”

darnley16: ok now I understand, I take my comment back

nairalife2013: well dont8, to be sincere, I am not sure d hard evidence witness story came from credible sources. I only got it from a colleague at tea break recess time at my work place. I catch ya point. Thanks for yur ardent follow up. U must be a good man. I hereby giv up on d issué for those Well-informd to comment, lest I contribute(God 4bid) indirectly to d spillage of innocent blood.

nairalife2013: it was established by creditable witnesses, backed by hard evidence, dat they fired shots at d GOC and his Car. Datz enoff, no matter d motif.

tit: I do not know what "rules of evidence" the military uses.
I read in daily Trust (?) some details of the trial.
The prosecution is so sorry, they did not even attempt to prove their case of mutiny.

1)The GOC had no gunshot wounds to evidence that 20 of his trained marksmen tried to gun him down.
(Did he train them so badly they could not hit the target at stone throw distance?)

nairalife2013: If they are guilty and they are pardoned, it will affect d military foundations. Mutiny? Were they insane? They had already decided to die for sure. Fire a gun at an officer? a GOC for dat matter? Well I don't want any1 to die but dis is military not boys'scout. They should hav known better. Freeing dem will set an antecedent, datz d established theory and fear dat wil ensure they go six feet down. God be wid dem. They used their own hands to make their own wives and kids widows and the fatherless, not even in battlefield warfront! but wid their own leader. Oh insurbodination where is thy pride? Oh death where is thy sting?

barcanista: The Law Must be served to the latter!!! Mutiny is a serious offence... God bless the Military

LordMecuzy: Really Sad.

Mutiny is a Serious Offence in the Army Tradition

ome retired senior military officers have backed the death sentence passed on 12 soldiers of the Nigerian Army for committing mutiny.

The officers told SUNDAY PUNCH that it was necessary for the military to maintain its age-long rules on discipline.

The soldiers were court-martialled for a variety of offences, including firing shots at the General Officer Commanding, 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Ahmed Mohammed, in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The military court, which convicted the soldiers in Abuja, found 13 out of the 18 soldiers guilty of mutiny, criminal conspiracy, attempted murder (shooting at the vehicle of the GOC); insubordination and false accusation.

Twelve of the convicted soldiers were sentenced to death, five were discharged and acquitted, while the remaining one was jailed for 28 days with hard labour.

Those sentenced to death were Jasper Braidolor, David Musa, Friday Onuh, Yusuf Shuaibu, Igonmu Emmanuel, Andrew Ugbede, Nurudeen Ahmed, Ifeanyi Alukagba, Alao Samuel, Amadi Chukwuma, Alan Linus, and Stephen Clement.

In the aftermath of the conviction, some prominent Nigerians and pressure groups have urged the military not to carry out the sentences.

But the retired senior military officers who spoke to our correspondents hailed the judgment and said it would have to be carried out.

A former Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Brig.-Gen. Williams Obene (retd.), said, “I commend the boldness of the Army authorities to follow the terms and conditions of service – the extant laws that established the armed forces, particularly the Army– and for trying to uphold discipline at the highest level.

“When politicians and highly influential Nigerians interfere in the daily administration of the military, things become difficult. That situation is very prevalent under democracy.”

Also, a former Adjutant-General of the Nigerian Army, Major General David Jemibewon (retd.), said the court martial must have considered available evidence and circumstances before reaching its decision on the soldiers.

Jemibewon who is a former Minister of Police Affairs said, “The military does not operate on sentiments or on people expressing either sympathy or lack of sympathy. Most of the things (we do) in the military are based on laws. It is difficult for me to align with people calling for clemency or pardon.

“The court martial has the facts and they have now come to conclusion after allowing evidence.”

In the same vein, retired Colonel Anthony Nyiam also hailed the judgment. Nyiam, was one of those sentenced to death by the regime of former head of state, Ibrahim Babangida, said, “As a soldier, and respecter of the law and tradition, the worst thing a soldier can do is to mutiny. And the penalty, as the law says, should be served. If you interrupt the traditions of the military, you’re interfering with the foundations.”

Similarly, a former military administrator of Bauchi and Osun states, Col. Theophilus Bamigboye (retd.), backed the sentence, adding that it was in line with military rules and regulations.

He said, “The court has followed the laid down procedure and military etiquette. They (the court) must have looked at the entire situations before arriving at the sentence.

“We have our own laws and so many things regulating our conduct in the military. I will not want anybody to die but we are talking of military procedure, which has to be followed.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has said it is waiting for the approval of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, on the death sentence given to the soldiers.

In an interview with one of our correspondents, the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Olajide Laleye, insisted that the military must handle its matters in line with stipulated procedures even in the face of contrary public opinion.

He said, “The issues are these: was an offence committed; did the military follow due process in prosecuting those involved in the offence; were the cases duly prosecuted in a court of law recognised by the law?

“The Army followed standard military procedures, set up a court that is recognised by the laws of the country and carried out the trial in line with the procedures of the military.

“But why are people even jumping the gun. The judgment is still awaiting confirmation by the Chief of Army Staff.”

Is this the cause of her marriage breakdown

9 What shall it profit a guy to have six packs, nice abs, pink lips and only to be ... IMPOTENT ☹— Comedienne Princess (@PrincesComedian)October 29, 2013

timawoku: hmmm...*rushes to jump on another band wagon*...#teamwelovedadsthebest

timawoku: #teamdadrocks

rawpadgin: purity wasn't cute wen she was a month old ;Dpurity wasn't cute wen she was a month old

Time shall tell

Elantracey: lol



NO WAY!!

It's a matter of time dear.

But hope when you do, your boy wont do this


https://www.guzer.com/pictures/kissing_mom.jpg

Elantracey: lol , pretty pics , patiently waiting for that of mine

SeaGold: Do you have any proof that 200+ school girls were railed off without any casualty?

Do u need proof as to how few of the girls could escape with the terrorists guarding?

Do you still want me to believe that some of the interviewed students sitting for physics examination cannot speak a common "disjointed" English?

SeaGold: APC is a satanic movement. They created the confusion in the country and currently using the Boko Haram as a weapon to dismantle political institutions to their advantage. The govt of President Goodluck Jonathan is trying so hard to clean up their mess with the phantom Chibok kidnap.

Do you know that the present administration is dancing towards that deceit of "kidnap" just to placate the international community who'd been involved in the whole saga. Ordinarily, there wasn't any kidnap just an orchestrated activities of a disgruntled group.

mrvance: Parties are just tools to steal our money... I deal with individuals..shiii..can we jst give oda parties a chance