Immediate Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday failed again to appear before the House of Assembly ad-hoc Committee probing the activities of the last administration, especially the purchase of 820 buses for mass transit.

The 16-man committee is chaired by Hon. Fatai Mojeed.

Also absent was the immediate past Commissioners for Finance, Akinyemi Ashade and Special duties Oladejo Seye.

They however wrote to be excused, claiming to be outside the country.

The next option, according to Speaker Mudasiru Obasa when the matter appeared at plenary, is to send Ambode’s invitation publicly through newspaper publications.

He vowed if the ex-governor fails to appear after then, the House would issue a warrant for his arrest.

Proceedings from the sitting indicated that quite a lot of contracts and even major procurements were made by the last administration without following laid down rules and regulation with financial rules and regulations jettisoned.

Most of the ex- commissioners stated the former Governor carried out major activities without their knowledge, claiming to be mere figureheads.

Former Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget Olusegun Banjo revealed that the purchase of the 820 buses by Ambode “was not rooted through its ministry.”

Banjo, who stated that he became commissioner in February 2018, said he followed the system he met on ground, which according to him was responsible for shady transactions on the buses that were procured.

“The way the ministry is structured, it did not allow us to function well.

“The N24 billion did not come to my ministry. We didn’t have a running system.

“As a commissioner, I could not approve one naira. All the MDAs approached the Governor directly.”

He pointed out that the way the operation went during the last administration, “a lot of things could be done without the knowledge of the commissioners. It was not transparent.”

Banjo confirmed that there was no provision for the purchase of the 820 buses in the 2018 and 2019 budgets, stating no VOC was issued from his office for the purchase.

On unbudgeted funds, he said: “I don’t know what happens to unbudgeted funds when it comes because the ministry of finance does not inform my ministry, we don’t have a running system”.

He however said that he would make available his handing over notes where he identified the lapses in the system and ways to address them.

When the Accountant-General of the State, Mrs. Shukrat Umar was asked if the budget for the purchase of the buses was approved by the State Executive Council, she said: “The State Treasury Office acted on exco approval.

“The buses were in line with Exco’s approval. I would not know whether the Paris Refund Club was discussed or not.”

The Committee alleged the Imota rice mill, light-up Lagos project and procurement of LASEMA Rapid Response equipment and engagement of the consultants were done under shady circumstances as revealed by the heads of the MDAs during questioning.

All the projects, including the Oshodi interchange, it was also discovered were never captured in the budget, the committee stated according to former Commissioners Toyin Suarau(Agriculture) and Wale Oluwo(Energy).

It said Ambode defied laid down constitutional provisions, awarding contracts without open bidding.
https://thenationonlineng.net/ambode-defies-lagos-assembly-fails-to-appear-before-committee/

No govt assisting us, they insist

Eleven days after the kidnap of six students and two teachers of Engravers College, Kakau Daji, Kaduna State, the parents of the victims have said that Governor Nasir el-Rufai has compounded their travails.

During a press briefing at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat in Kaduna yesterday, the parents lamented that their children were yet to be released because el-Rufai’s public pronouncement that he was in touch with the kidnappers hardened them.

Spokesman for the parents, Chukwuemeka Adindu, said, “We want to state clearly that the six students and staff kidnapped have not been released.”

He said the parents would also want the world to know that they were the only ones interfacing with the kidnappers, stressing that government had not come out clear on the role it was playing.

Despite the public statement made by the governor that the government was on top of the situation, the school children are still wallowing in anguish, he added.

“We were talking with the kidnappers of our children; suddenly the kidnappers said that they the government had come into the case. They said government should settle them. The governor’s pronouncement in Abuja that the government was on top of the situation has compounded our problem.

“The kidnappers went to the extent of playing the video about the comment made by the governor concerning the children. The school is private, and government is not negotiating. No government is involved in this. It is only us, the parents,” he added.

According to him, the parents of the students and staff do not know who is negotiating on behalf of the government because the kidnappers are still threatening them.

“We have been under torment for the past 11 days. We are letting the whole world know that we are not with the government. No one is helping us; we are alone on this cause,” he added.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/guardian.ng/news/parents-of-six-kidnapped-students-accuse-el-rufai-of-worsening-ordeal/amp
Lalasticlala mynd44 oam4j Seun

GUNMEN yesterday struck at Issele-Azagba near Asaba, the capital of Delta State, and whisked away two children from a private school.

Daily Sun learnt that the armed men stormed the school premises at about 10am in a black Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).

They beat up the security men and tied them up, before heading straight to the classroom where the two children said to be of the same parents were taken away.

According to a source, “the gunmen shot sporadically into the air while holding on to the children, apparently to scare away any resistance.

“The children were sandwiched at the back of the SUV by some of the abductors before they drove menacingly from the school compound.”

The source wondered how the abductors were able to beat the school security.

As at the time of filing this report, effort was still being made to reach the school management.

When contacted, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adeyinka Adeleke, could not confirm the report.

He said: “My men are in the field now working so I cannot confirm anything to you now.”


https://www.sunnewsonline.com/gunmen-storm-delta-school-abduct-2-siblings/
Lalasticlala mynd44 oam4j Seun

A teenager has killed his step-mother with a knife. The incident happened Saturday morning in Agyaragu area of Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State.

Eyewitnesses said, he cut her throat with a kitchen knife.

Our reporter said children of the deceased have armed themselves and are in search of their half brother to avenge the death of their mother.

We are yet to ascertain what transpired between the duo before the incident.

Police have cordoned off the house already.

A police officer, who preferred anonymity, said they were about to file a report to their headquarters who will address the press afterwards.

Details soon.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/just-in-teenager-kills-step-mum-in-lafia.html

A community in Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State, was submerged in flood water, trapping some students in a Nursery and Primary school in the area following the persistent heavy downpour yesterday.

The heavy rainfall, which started as early as 8 am, paralysed both human and vehicular activities as most parts of the state was taken over by flash floods. As a result, motorists and commuters were trapped in traffic across the state.

According to a concerned resident of Orile-Agege, one of the worst hit areas said the pupils of Ladoje Nursery and Primary School in the area could not leave the premises because of the intensity of the rain.

Meanwhile, the State Government earlier assured residents not to panic at the sight of the flood, as it would soon recede as all efforts are on ground to ensure the safety of lives and property as well as flood-free Lagos, in spite of persistent rainfall.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu added that there’s no excuse for road users to break traffic rules by taking one-way and going against traffic.
https://m.guardian.ng/news/flood-overruns-lagos-community-traps-pupils-in-school/
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Mynd44

Abductors of the six female students and two staff of Engravers College, Kakau Daji, in Chikun Local government area of Kaduna state, are yet to release their victims.

The victims are still in custody after their captors have collected a ransom of N3.6 million, according to sources close to the families of the victims.

The parents reportedly said there had been no communication from the bandits since the ransom was delivered some days ago.

The development is said to have further heightened fears among parents who have been anxious since their children were abducted on October 3.

“Parents of the girls contributed N3.6 million and it was delivered to the kidnappers, but they have not released the girls,” a source said.

“As it is, the parents are helpless and apprehensive. There has been no communication with the bandits after the money was delivered, so everybody is worried.

“We have been praying day and night to God to touch the hearts of the kidnappers and free the children and the staff.

“The parents have been in trauma since the incident happened and they were hoping that the girls would be released after the payment of the ransom.”

Also, the abductors of four students of the Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) Gwagwada, in the same LGA, have demanded for a ransom of N2 million.

On Thursday, troops of operation Thunderstrike had rescued six of the abducted students but four of them remained in captivity.
https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/10/11/female-students-still-in-kidnappers-den-despite-n3-6m-ransom/amp/
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Mynd44
Oam4j
Seun

Counter suspensions hit party

The post primary election crisis rocking the Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the November 16 governorship poll has deepened following counter suspensions by two camps of the party.

It was gathered that the development has widened the disunity in the party, which is facing two litigations from two aggrieved frontline governorship aspirants in the concluded internal poll, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and Preye Aganaba.

The fresh crisis was said to have started following the decision of the State Working Committee (SWC) led by its Chairman, Jothan Amos, to suspend some executive members loyal to Lokpobiri.

The Amos committee after its deliberation suspended the Deputy Chairman of the party, Ogeibiri Orubebe; the Legal Adviser, Chris Olorogun; the party’s chairman in Ekeremor Local Government Area, Amasighan Azikiwe; Ekeremor’s Secretary, Olorogun Isaac and Chairman, Sagbama, Peter Bofumu.

Amos accused the suspended members of the executive committee of gross misconduct and anti-party activities, saying they were indicted after investigations.

He said following the emergence of Chief David Lyon as the party’s candidate in a direct primary poll, party members were expected to forego their grievances in the overall interest of the APC.

He said the refusal of the suspended members to drop their grievances was an indication they were against the party adding that their actions could hamper the victory of APC.

The Assistant Organising Secretary of the party, Tari Emberru, who raised the motion for their suspension, insisted that the affected persons were undermining the unity and constituted authority of the party and should be shown the way out.

Also the state party Auditor, Doumo Ogbomani argued that the affected persons acted against article 31 section A; subsection 7 of the APC constitution, stressing that a house divided against itself could not stand.

But in a swift reaction, the affected executive members convened an emergency meeting and announced the suspension of the party Chairman, Jothan Amos, and six other executive members.

Others suspended by the camp are Mr. Martins Alabo, State Secretary; Mr. Peres Oyadongha, Senatorial Youth Leader; Mr. Iniekenimi Senator Mitin, LGA Youth Leader Ekeremor; Mr. John K. Williams, LGA Organizing Secretary Ekeremor; Mr. Osadebe Ezinrin, LGA Treasurer Ekeremor; and Lovely Agwor, LGA Organizing Secretary Sagbama.

The camp said the action was in pursuant to the report of the State four-man Disciplinary Committee, which investigated and indicted them for abuse of office.

The camp in the meeting presided over by the State Deputy Chairman, Orubebe Ogeibiri, said it resolved that their suspension would serve as deterrent to others and instill discipline and loyalty among party members.

According to a copy of the resolution, the suspended party chairman, was accused of “refusal to account for millions of naira that accrued to the state chapter of the party as administrative charges on National and State Assembly aspirants.”

Amos was also accused of conniving with the state party secretary, Martins Alabo to violate rules on withdrawal of the party’s money lodged in the bank.

APC State Secretary, Mr. Martins Alabo was “accused of flagrantly breaching the party’s constitution by presiding over State Executive Committee meetings and inaugurating a purported Disciplinary, Contact and Reconciliation Committees contrary to Article 14(3)(vii) of the APC constitution.

Others were accused of impersonation and connivance to deliberately create divisions among party members.

The camp said the party appointed the State Vice-Chairman, Bayelsa Central, Chief Fala Ebierein Etubo as Acting Chairman in line with the APC constitution.

https://thenationonlineng.net/apc-post-primary-crisis-deepens-in-bayelsa/

A 64-year-old man, Bassey Archibong, of No. 10 Kunle Dipo Street, Majidun, Owutu, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, has been arraigned for having carnal knowledge of his four daughters aged between 12 and 20.

It was learnt that Archibong had been having incestuous sexual relationship with the girls since 2016.

Archibong was arraigned on three counts of continuous sexual relationship with his daughters, failure to get their consent and involvement in amoral relationship with the victims before the Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court 1, Lagos.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, John Iberedem, said Archibong used food as bait to get the girls to consent to his amorous desire.

Iberedem said whenever the children objected, he would refer to Lot in the Bible, who had sex with his daughters and was not punished by God.

Iberedem stated that the offences were punishable under Section 265 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2019.

He said, “The defendant beat the children and starved them whenever they confronted him on why he was sleeping with them.

“He would tell them that intercourse between fathers and daughters were normal and approved by God.

“He told the children that God did not punish Lot, who had sexual intercourse with his children, meaning that He approves of the act.”

The charges read in part, “That you, Bassey Archibong, between the years 2016 and 2019 at No. 10 Kunle Dipo Street, Majidun, Owutu, Ikorodu, Lagos State, in the Ikorodu Magisterial District, did engage your four daughters between the ages of 12 and 20 in sexual activities by having carnal knowledge of them continuously without their consent, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 265 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

“That you, Bassey Archibong, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did have unlawful carnal knowledge of your 20-year-old daughter without her consent even when you knew that it was morally wrong, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 260 (1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs F. A. Azeez, remanded the accused person in a correctional facility pending advice by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

She adjourned the matter till October 30, 2019.


https://punchng.com/man-arraigned-for-sleeping-with-four-daughters/
Lalasticlala
Seun
Mynd44
Oam4j

•Probe absolves VP, indicts some aides
•All issues being resolved –VP’s office

Notwithstanding public appearances and statements to the contrary, political permutations and maneuvering for the 2023 presidential race may have finally come between the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.

This became glaring following some developments in the presidency, which appeared to have reduced the influence of the VP within government. About three weeks ago, government agencies under the supervision of Vice President Osinbajo were directed to be seeking their approvals from the President, and same period, the Prof. Doyin Salami-led economic advisory council was set up to replace the Osinbajo-led economic management team. A presidential directive sacking the VP’s aides from the villa capped that; they are now to operate from a rented apartment in the Abuja metropolis.

While there have been many political interpretations given to the gathering storm, ranging from alleged complicity in some activities to attempts to shove him aside or whittle down his influence ahead of 2023, Saturday Sun gathered exclusively that the storm the VP is battling against is three-pronged.

Trouble began for the brilliant professor of law when some officials working with him were fingered in the purchase of some houses abroad especially the United States. It was learnt that in all, the VP has about 80 officials as aides. With the exception of a few, most of the aides were being paid salaries by agencies under the supervision of the Vice President’s office.

A probe of the development was said to have absolved Osinbajo of any complicity in the activities of some of the indicted aides. This, those opposed to the VP in APC, government and within the opposition ranks twisted against him.

Presidential sources disclosed that this was responsible for the decision to relocate over 70 officials working with the VP from Aso Rock villa to a rented apartment within the capital city as well as the issuance of the directive to seek President Buhari’s approval by certain agencies under the direct supervision of the VP.

For Osinbajo and Tinubu, the relationship started going down south when the APC leader and former governor of Lagos state began to get feelers that the number two citizen might equally be nursing the ambition to succeed his boss in 2023. The latter is believed to have nominated the former for his current position in the run-up to the 2015 presidential election. Some persons close to Tinubu were said to have made some snipe remarks about the suspected ambition of the VP to the hearing of security agents in an open discussion at the 11th Bola Tinubu birthday colloquium held March in Abuja, an incident that later became part of a security report on the programme.

It was further gathered that Tinubu has not been too pleased with the VP because he has not been consulting him on a number of issues, while “some of their people in government like the FIRS man have been working more towards the political ambition of the VP than that of Asiwaju.” The APC leader was said to have been restrained by friends and aides from releasing a press statement endorsing recent presidential actions viewed as whittling down the VP’s influence before jetting out to London over a week ago.

He equally has a Buhari ally and former governor of the state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun to contend with. All the major federal political appointments going to Ogun since the inauguration of President Buhari’s second term in May had been clinched by persons nominated by Amosun. For instance, Amosun’s childhood friend and Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure during his eight-year term as governor of Ogun, Olamilekan Adegbite, was recently appointed the Minister of Mine and Steel Development.

Amosun has also succeeded in pushing his ally, Adeleke Moronfolu Adewolu, to be appointed as the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Engagement, at the Nigerian Communications Commission. He replaced Sunday Dare, who is now the Minister of Youths and Sports Development. Adewolu had contested but lost the House of Representatives seat in Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency on the platform of APM, a party openly supported by Amosun. In addition, Amosun has been able to push for his former Commissioner for Agric and Urban and Physical Planning, Mrs Ronke Sokefun, to be appointed as the chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Three weeks ago, President Buhari constituted an economic advisory council and named Prof Doyin Salami as chairman. Salami, from Ijebu Ode, Ogun state, is Amosun’s close friend. Few days before his appointment, he was in Owo, Ondo state with Amosun for Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s daughter’s wedding ceremony.

Meanwhile, a top official in the VP’s office, who preferred anonymity, told Saturday Sun “ The vice president can’t be seen to be a local champion. Yes, his camp produced the governor of Ogun State and you must also remember that Amosun’s relationship with the president predates the APC. They were together in ANPP and, since the vice president’s camp has produced the governor, it was only fair that Amosun’s camp nominate for other appointments. Appointments are at the president’s discretion.”

Asked why Tinubu is yet to publicly defend Osinbajo, the official replied: “People are free to make extrapolations based on their interests. Besides, some of these issues are better sorted locally. Now, let’s remember that whenever (former President Jonathan) Goodluck had any issues with Sambo, did they discuss it publicly? Any issue will still be resolved locally.”

Speaking on record however, Senior Technical Assistant on Media to the Vice President, Louis Odion denied some aides were indicted in any probe set up by the presidency. He said: “I think President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo deserve not to be distracted in their efforts to find solutions to our numerous national problems with rumour mongering like this.

“I am glad you said a panel set up absolved the Vice President. I don’t know of any secret probe. I only know of a committee of the House of Representatives that looked into the funds spent by NEMA and it came out with a report that the Vice President was above board. You need to understand that Professor Osinbajo is a man of impeccable integrity who is very loyal to his boss and has the fear of God and whose guiding principle in public office is to serve the interest of the greatest number. To answer your question directly, I am not aware of any secret probe of any of his aides or their indictment.”

While also responding to the issue of some VP aides being paid salaries by agencies under the office, Odion said “I doubt if such is impossible. You need to understand that it is a single presidency. We all are appointees of President Buhari. Civil servants are under the head of service while the Secretary to the Government of the Federation signs letters of employment for political appointees. It is only after you are engaged that you get deployed in the office, department or agency where your service is needed. Salaries are paid through a unified system. In fact, through reforms introduced by the Buhari administration, tens of thousand of ghost workers have been weeded out of the system. This was achieved through the integrated payroll system.”

Reacting to the removal of 70 out of the over 80 aides working with the VP from the Villa, Odion said: “I think President Muhammadu Buhari offered sufficient clarity to this in his October 1 national broadcast. The government thought it necessary to create a new ministry to respond to new realities and dynamics. I think there is a consensus today that the social investment programme, which has been supervised by Vice President Osinbajo in the last three years, has been quite impactful and beneficial to a large segment of our population. “The TraderMoni and MarketMoni initiatives have benefitted more than two million Nigerians. The school feeding programme has touched more than 10 million pupils in public schools across the country.

Also, the conditional cash transfer has offered succour directly to more than 600,000 vulnerable Nigerians.

“These programmes were incubated and nurtured under the Vice President. Until now, these initiatives were more like interventionist. Now, what President Buhari has done is to try and institutionalise them. To this end, a ministry has been created called Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. So, the implication is that officers or aides as you call them, whose duties or responsibilities pertain to the agencies I earlier mentioned, are to be moved to another location where the ministry is constituted.”

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/2023-presidency-splits-tinubu-osinbajo/

A former Vice-Chancellor of the African University in Bayelsa State, Professor Valentine Aleto, has been abducted by gunmen along Elegbeka/Ipele Road in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Professor Aleto also was said to be travelling from Yenagoa in his personal vehicle along the road at about 6:45 am on Thursday.

The suspected kidnappers reportedly appeared on the road and forced him into a shop before he was taken into the bush.

Channels Television gathered that the abductors have demanded N20 million as ransom from the victim’s family to release him.

Sources said by the time the police got the information about the incident, the assailants had escaped with the professor.

However, the security operatives have recovered the former vice chancellor’s vehicle to the Police Station in Ifon.

The police authorities in Ondo State confirmed the incident to Channels Television.

According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Femi Joseph, the police have commenced investigations into the incident.

He said “Yes, I can confirm to you that one professor traveling in his personal car was kidnapped along the Elegbeka Area in Ose Local Government Area of the State.”

But Joseph said he would get the details of the incident from the Divisional Police Officer in the area.

He explained that as soon as they got the information, the Command dispatched men of the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad to the scene of the crime.

The Command’s spokesman added that full-scale investigation was ongoing and was hopeful that the professor would soon be rescued.

https://www.channelstv.com/2019/10/04/gunmen-kidnap-ex-vice-chancellor-in-ondo/
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Lalasticlala
Mynd44

The Kano state election petitions tribunal has upheld the victory of Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Ganduje, who contested the last gubernatorial poll under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the election but Abba Yusuf, his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rival, challenged his victory.

Yusuf had asked the tribunal to set aside the election on the grounds that it was fraught with irregularities.

But Ganduje, through his lawyers, told the court that the petitioners failed to prove that the election was rigged.

The governor and his party argued that the exhibits that were tendered by the petitioners were not certified true copies (CTC), asking the tribunal to dismiss the petition in its entirety.

Offiong Offiong, Ganduje’s counsel, submitted that Yusuf invoked presumptions in attempt to prove to the court that he was elected as Kano state governor.

Responding to the submissions made by the respondent, Kanu Agabi, counsel to the petitioners, urged the court to ignore the response from the respondents on the issues raised.

Agabi said the PDP candidate scored the highest number of votes during the March 9 election, but INEC refused to declare him the winner.

He pleaded that the rerun election held on March 23 be declared null and void, asking the tribunal to use results of the March 9 poll and return Yusuf as the winner of the election.

In its ruling, the tribunal headed by Halima Shamaki dismissed the petition of Yusuf and upheld the victory of the governor

More to follow…

https://www.thecable.ng/breaking-ganduje-floors-pdp-opponent-at-tribunal

The Sokoto State Governorship election petition tribunal has dismissed all preliminary objections brought before the tribunal by all parties in the matter.

Justice Abbas Bawale-led tribunal dismissed preliminary objections filed by the PDP, APC and INEC.

The tribunal is now on a 30-minute recess before the substantial matter would be dealt with.

Daily Trust had reliably gathered that the judgement would be delivered in Abuja.

No reason was given on why the judgement would be delivered in Abuja, but it was generally believed that it was due to security threat.

Reacting, the Publicity Secretary of the ruling PDP, Abdullahi Hausawa expressed optimism that the judgement would be delivered in their favour.

“We are confident that by God’s Grace, the judgement will be in our favour,” he said.

Hausawa said they were told that the judgement would be delivered in Abuja because of security threat.

The chairman of APC in the state, Isa Sadiq Achida, said the judges had their own reason for taking the judgement to Abuja.

“Our hope is that they will be just and fair in their judgement,” he said. Ahmed Aliyu, governorship candidate of APC, and the party, had on April 11, 2019, dragged INEC, Tambuwal and PDP before the tribunal, sitting in Sokoto, challenging the declaration of Tambuwal as winner of the poll.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/breaking-sokoto-election-petition-tribunal-dismisses-all-preliminary-objections.html

Lalasticlala Seun

The first of October 1960 is a date to which for two years every Nigerian has been eagerly looking forward. At last, our great day has arrived, and Nigeria is now indeed an independent sovereign nation.

Words cannot adequately express my joy and pride at being the Nigerian citizen privileged to accept from Her Royal Highness these Constitutional Instruments which are the symbols of Nigeria’s Independence.

It is a unique privilege which I shall remember for ever, and it gives me strength and courage as I dedicate my life to the service of our country.

This is a wonderful day, and it is all the more wonderful because we have awaited it with increasing impatience, compelled to watch one country after another overtaking us on the road when we had so nearly reached our goal.

But now we have acquired our rightful status, and I feel sure that history will show that the building of our nation proceeded at the wisest pace: it has been thorough, and Nigeria now stands well-built upon firm foundations.
Today’s ceremony marks the culmination of a process which began fifteen years ago and has now reached a happy and successful conclusion.

It is with justifiable pride that we claim the achievement of our Independence to be unparalleled in the annals of history.
Each step of our constitutional advance has been purposefully and peacefully planned with full and open consultation, not only between representatives of all the various interests in Nigeria but in harmonious cooperation with the administering power which has today relinquished its authority.

At the time when our constitutional development entered upon its final phase, the emphasis was largely upon self-government.

We, the elected representatives of the people of Nigeria, concentrated on proving that we were fully capable of managing our own affairs both internally and as a nation.
However, we were not to be allowed the selfish luxury of focusing our interest on our own homes.

In these days of rapid communications we cannot live in isolation, apart from the rest of the world, even if we wished to do so.

All too soon it has become evident that for us Independence implies a great deal more than self-government.
This great country, which has now emerged without bitterness or bloodshed, finds that she must at once be ready to deal with grave international issues.

This fact has of recent months been unhappily emphasised by the startling events which have occurred in this continent.
I shall not labour the point but it would be unrealistic not to draw attention first to the awe-inspiring task confronting us at the very start of our nationhood.

When this day in October 1960 was chosen for our Independence it seemed that we were destined to move with quiet dignity to place on the world stage.

Recent events have changed the scene beyond recognition, so that we find ourselves today being tested to the utmost.
We are called upon immediately to show that our claims to responsible government are well-founded, and having been accepted as an independent state we must at once play an active part in maintaining the peace of the world and in preserving civilisation.

I promise you, we shall not fail for want of determination.
And we come to this task better-equipped than many.
For this, I pay tribute to the manner in which successive British Governments have gradually transferred the burden of responsibility to our shoulders.

The assistance and unfailing encouragement which we have received from each Secretary of State for the Colonies and their intense personal interest in our development has immeasurably lightened that burden.

All our friends in the Colonial Office must today be proud of their handiwork and in the knowledge that they have helped to lay the foundations of a lasting friendship between our two nations.

I have indeed every confidence that, based on the happy experience of a successful partnership, our future relations with the United Kingdom will be more cordial than ever, bound together, as we shall be in the Commonwealth, by a common allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, whom today we proudly acclaim as Queen of Nigeria and Head of the Commonwealth.

Time will not permit the individual mention of all those friends, many of them Nigerians, whose selfless labours have contributed to our Independence.

Some have not lived to see the fulfilment of their hopes on them be peace, but nevertheless they are remembered here, and the names of buildings and streets and roads and bridges throughout the country recall to our minds their achievements, some of them on a national scale.

Others confined, perhaps, to a small area in one Division, are more humble but of equal value in the sum-total.

Today, we have with us representatives of those who have made Nigeria: Representatives of the Regional Governments, of former Central Governments, of the Missionary Societies, and of the Banking and Commercial enterprises, and members, both past and present, of the Public Service.

We welcome you, and we rejoice that you have been able to come and share in our celebrations.

We wish that it could have been possible for all of those whom you represent to be here today: Many, I know, will be disappointed to be absent, but if they are listening to me now, I say to them, Thank you for your devoted service which helped build up Nigeria into a nation.

Today we are reaping the harvest which you sowed, and the quality of the harvest is equalled only by our gratitude to you.
May God bless you all.

Image result for 1960 independence picturesThis is an occasion when our hearts are filled with conflicting emotions: we are, indeed, proud to have achieved our independence, and proud that our efforts should have contributed to this happy event.

But do not mistake our pride for arrogance.

It is tempered by feelings of sincere gratitude to all who have shared in the task of developing Nigeria politically, socially and economically.

We are grateful to the British officers whom we have known, first as masters, and then as leaders, and finally as partners, but always as friends. And there have been countless missionaries who have laboured unceasingly in the cause of education and to whom we owe many of our medical services.

We are grateful also to those who have brought modern methods of banking and of commerce, and new industries.

I wish to pay tribute to all of these people and to declare our everlasting admiration of their devotion to duty.

And, finally, I must express our gratitude to Her Royal Highness the Princess Alexandra of Kent for personally bringing to us these symbols of our freedom, and especially for delivering the gracious message from Her Majesty The Queen.

And so, with the words “God save our Queen”, I open a new chapter in the history of Nigeria, and of the Commonwealth, and indeed of the world.
https://tvcnews.tv/flashback-tafawa-belewas-speech-on-october-1st-1960/
Lalasticlala Seun

The Department of State Service has twice on Friday blocked a bailiff of the Federal High Court in Abuja from effecting a fresh service of the court order for the release of the convener of #RevolutionNow protest Omowole Sowore.

It was learnt that the bailiff first arrived the DSS headquarters in Abuja, where he (Sowore) had been held since August 3, 2019, around 9.30 a.m. on Friday, but was asked to return by 12 noon when the Director-General of DSS, Yusuf Bichi, would be around.

But it was learnt that the bailiff returned to the DSS headquarters at 12.14 p.m. on Friday, but was denied access.

One of Sowore’s lawyer, Sam Ogala, who was at the main gate of the DSS office during the bailiff’s attempt to serve the security agency, confirmed the development to our correspondent.

Sowore’s legal team led by Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), had on Thursday expressed shock over DSS’ claim that it had not been served with the order issued by Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja granting bail to Sowore.

On Thursday, after DSS’ spokesperson denied that the agency had been served with the court order, Falana said, Ayuba Adam of the Legal Department of the DSS received the court order on behalf of the agency on September 24, 2019 (Tuesday).

The DSS’ denial came after news broke that Sowore’s legal team had commenced a contempt suit against the DSS boss for failing to comply with the court order for Sowore’s release.

The DSS, on August 3, arrested Sowore, the publisher of SaharaReporters and former presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections over his call for a revolution protest scheduled to hold on August 5.

Justice Taiwo, on August 8, granted an ex parte application by the DSS permitting the security agency to keep the activist for 45 days.

Barely 24 hours to the expiration of the 45-day detention order, the Attorney-General of the Federation’s office filed charges of treasonable felony, cybercrime offences and money laundering against him before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

On Tuesday, following Falana’s application, Justice Taiwo ordered the release of Sowore, from the custody of the DSS pending his arraignment in court.

The judge ordered him to submit his passport in the court’s registry as the sole condition for the bail.

Sowore’s lawyers have said that the terms of his bail have since been fulfiled, however, he has yet to be released.
https://punchng.com/breaking-sowore-dss-blocks-two-attempts-by-court-bailiff-to-re-serve-court-order/
Lalasticlala
Mynd44

Two former close associates of Biodun Fatonyinbo, the senior pastor of Common Wealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) have spoken out in support of Busola Dakolo after she made allegations of rape against him.
Pastor Busola Olotu of Daughters of Deborah International Ministry, Ilorin and Reverend Emmanuel Oset of Canan Ministry, Ilorin, both of whom were close associates of Fatoyinbo, have said they have had to interact with many women who had made similar accusations against him while he was still in Ilorin.
Speaking on Arise Television, Olotu said she was first made aware of the rape incident in 2011 when Busola’s elder sister told her that Biodun had allegedly raped her.
Olotu said that from her interaction with Busola and the fact that three other women had made similar allegations against him, she knew that the allegations were true.
“I have known Fatoyinbo and his wife for many years and I was like a spiritual mentor to him while he was in Ilorin.
In 2011, Funmi Ayeni, my spiritual daughter told me that her younger sister, Busola, was raped by Fatoyinbo. I was shocked because I could not reconcile the allegations to the person I knew. But when I spoke to Busola on phone, I could feel her pain and trauma and I knew she was speaking the truth.
“Sometime after that, I had a dream and I saw Fatoyinbo in that dream in bed with a woman who was not his wife and I confronted him in the dream and he told me that God’s grace was protecting him.
“After that, I went to meet his father in the Lord, Rev Oset and told him about my dream and he said did it mean that Biodun hadn’t stopped what he was doing? It was then I knew that he had done similar things in the past,” Olotu said.
After she narrated her experience, Oset confirmed that Olotu told him about the dream she had about Fatonyinbo and said he had also had to wade in, in the past when similar allegations were brought against Fatonyinbo.
Oset confirmed that after Fatonyibo started his church, he reached out to him to pray for him and he became his spiritual father but said he had to end their relationship after allegations of adultery were levelled against him (Fatonyinbo) in 2013 by Ese Walters, a former member of his church.
“I had been Fatonyibo’s spiritual mentor for years and have had to wade in when similar allegations were made against him. I investigated and the evidence against him was overwhelming but at the end, he promised that he would change.
“I had to cut off from him after a member of his church accused him in 2013 of having an extra marital affair. When that incident happened, I called him and told him that I wanted us to talk, but he kept avoiding me for many months.
From August 2013 to April 2014, I kept putting pressure on him to come so we could discuss the issue but he avoided me. So I had to write him a letter telling him that I was no longer interested in being his mentor,” Oset said.
https://www.sunnewsonline.com/coza-busola-didnt-lie-about-her-rape-olotu-bioduns-friend/
Lalasticlala
Dominique

The Blaugrana have avoided serious consequences for an alleged breach of rules during their negotiations to lure the World Cup winner to Camp Nou
Barcelona have been fined just €300 by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for their actions in the signing of Atletico Madrid forward Antione Griezmann.
Atletico claim that Barcelona reached an agreement to sign the France international when his release clause stood at €200 million (£178m/$221m).
Griezmann ended up completing a €120m (£107m/$134m) move to Camp Nou on July 12, with his buy-out clause reduced at the start of the same month.

And Barca have now been sanctioned by the RFEF on Thursday, with the club now due to pay a v300 fine for a breach of rules.
It had been suggested that the Spanish champions may be forced to play a fixture behind closed doors, but no ban on supporters has been issued.
The RFEF have released an official statement, which reads: "It is evident that the amount of economic sanction does not bear any proportion to the importance of the facts that have given rise to this file.
"Taking into account the economic capacity of the club and the amount of the economic operation, this committee is aware that the payment of €300, beyond its merely symbolic nature (the fine is imposed because the issued club has been considered the author of a disciplinary infraction), will not contribute to the sanctioned club in particular and, probably, other clubs that may be in the same situation in the future, adapt their behaviour to what is required by regulation.
"However, this is not a sufficient reason for this committee to opt for the imposition of a sanction - the closing of the stadium by a party - which, as stated, seems to be intended for infractions of another nature."
Atletico have ultimately missed out on the €80m ($87m/£71m) they feel they are owed, but club boss Diego Simeone will likely be unaffected by the news.
The Argentine stated that he "was not interested" in any new findings regarding Griezmann's transfer ahead of a clash with Celta Vigo on Saturday.
Spanish publication El Mundo lifted the lid on Barca's alleged wrong-doings, claiming they had access to emails which proved that the club finalised an agreement with Griezmann back in March.
The 28-year-old has settled in quickly at Camp Nou, netting three goals in his first six La Liga appearances.
Greizmann will likely retain his place in Ernesto Valverde's line up for a trip to Getafe on Saturday, before Barca prepare for a Champions League clash against Inter four days later.
https://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/barcelona-ordered-to-pay-just-300-as-punishment-for/dwxrsj1yz7c21kk326eiujzbq

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended indefinitely the interview for judicial officers into the bench of the Supreme Court.

The Council’s Committee on Interview for Appointment of Judicial Officers into the Supreme Courts of Records was to have conduct the said interview on Tuesday, September 24.

Although no reason was adduced for the suspension, it may not be unconnected to the exclusive report by Daily Sun on the subject matter in its August 23 Monday edition.

Daily Sun had exclusively reported that the Court of Appeal is embroiled in crisis as a result of scheming over who replaces Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa as president of the court. She is to retire in the next coming months.

The crisis is occasioned by an attempt to stop the next most senior Justice of the Court, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem from becoming the next President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), in favour of Justice Muhammad Garba.

Her name has been sent to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for promotion to the bench of the Supreme Court.

She was expected to appear for an interview on Tuesday at the NJC alongside Justice Muhammad Garba, whose name is also on the list.

Daily Sun however learnt that the decision to promote her to the Supreme Court is ill-intended as it is laced with ethnic, political and religious colouration.

Besides, according to sources, the inclusion of Justice Garba’s name for the interview is a mere gimmick as the main target for the job is Justice Dongban- Mensem, a Christian from Plateau State, who is currently the presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Enugu division.

According to a document by the National Judicial Council (NJC), Committee on Interview for Appointment of Judicial Officers into the Supreme Courts of Records, dated September 17, Justice Dongban-Mensem and Justice Garba were among the six candidates that made the list, while six others made the reserve list.

Others are Justice Adamu Jauro, Justice Mohammed L. Garba, Justice Emmanuel A. Agim, Justice Biobeli A. Georgewill and Justice Helen M. Ogunwumiju, while on the reserve are Justice Ridam M. Abdullahi, Justice Tijani Abubakar, Justice Abdu Aboki, Justice Rita Pemu, Justice C. Oseji and Justice O.K. Oyewole.

Daily Sun was told that Justice Dongban- Mensem was stopped from becoming a Justice of the Supreme Court many years ago by some forces within the judiciary.

Justice Muhammad Garba was Chairman of the five member presidential election petition tribunal that dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, against the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Daily Sun learnt that the clandestine plot to scheme out Justice Dongban-Mensem from becoming the next President of the Court at the Court of Appeal by some forces, became glaring after the President of the court, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa withdrew from the presidential panel as its chairman.

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/njc-suspends-interview-of-supreme-court-justices/

Suspected gunmen believed to be bandit have laid ambushed and attacked military personnel on patrol in Gudu Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

A source in the local government area told our correspondent that the suspected gunmen stormed Balle town, the local government headquarters on Tuesday and attacked soldiers on routine patrol in the local government.

The affected troops were said to be part of Operation Habin Kunama III deployed to tackle banditry in the state.

All efforts to contact the military for confirmation proved abortive as the Public Relations Officer attached to 8th Division, Nigerian Army refused to respond to telephone calls to his mobile line.

But the source who could not confirm the number of casualties in the attack revealed that the affected soldiers were rushed to the Gudu General Hospital before they are later transferred to Usmanu Danfodio Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) for better medical attention.

“No civilian was affected by the attack, but villagers were terrified and scamper for safety during the attack.” The source further added.

A security source who is not authorised to speak confirmed the attack, but could not ascertain the number of casualties.

Recall that in May this year, suspected bandits attacked Gudu and killed a traditional ruler, the Sarkin Yamman Ballet who doubles as District Head of Gudu and also destroyed parts of the police division in the local government.

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/suspected-bandits-kill-soldiers-in-sokoto-ambush-attack/
Mynd44 oam4j
Seun
Lalasticlala

Immediate past Senator who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, Senator Shehu Sani, has described Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s enrolment of his son in a public school as a political stunt for 2023.

He said the action is clownish, comical and deceptive.

Addressing journalists in Kaduna, Senator Sani said, “His action was simply a 2023 political stunt set up for the media and people who reside outside Kaduna.

“For people who reside in Kaduna, they know what public primary school look like in the state, they know where they are located and the problems they are facing.

“It is not because I have a political difference with him, no, but for whoever lives in Kaduna state knew that what the governor did with his son by enrolling him into public school was just a comedy.

“It was a badly written Kannywood or Nolywood script. I know the governor likes Kannywood and Nolywood actors and actresses, but as far as l am concerned, that was a bad and poorly written script for the media in preparatory for 2023 and nothing else.

“He would have done better by upgrading schools in Kaduna, you cannot spend N195m in a particular school and then take your son and the media to that school and think you have done anything different.

“Let me tell you, we had a governor in this state, Balarabe Musa, who has never lived in government house during his reign and all that while he was a governor he lived in his private house and I also know that the children of former governor Ahmed Makarfi attended this same Capital School. I also know that other public officials’ children go to that school too. So if you are not been corny, deceptive and comical, you would have allowed all your children to enrol into public schools. Public school doesn’t mean primary schools alone, there are public secondary schools and public universities.

“We have Kaduna State University, KASU which is a public University and we have several public secondary schools in the state. During Sallah, we saw the governor with a lot of his children and all of a sudden, you picked one of them and said oh, take him to Capital School, I think the governor is becoming a bad representation of Baba Sala, I Go Die and Basket Mouth, a kind of comedy situation. He is not new in this kind of drama. It was the same person who was moving around Kaduna—Abuja road and he went with cameras that he was chasing kidnappers, so this is a new script but as far as am concerned, that is comedy.

“Since we are in an era in this state of using public utilities, public hospitals,and now public schools, so it is also in order that public officials, both elected and appointed should also patronise public toilets in Kaduna. That is the highest form of patriotism and selfless service. You should use what the masses are using which is public toilets.

“As a governor of the state and as a leader, if it is good to patronise public schools by public servants, politicians and all of us should patronise public toilets like the one that is not far away from my office.”

https://dailypost.ng/2019/09/25/shehu-sani-mocks-gov-el-rufai-enrolling-son-public-school/

The UEFA Executive Committee met today in Ljubljana, Slovenia and took decisions covering a wide range of topics.

UEFA Nations League

The UEFA Nations League will have a new league structure comprising 16 teams in Leagues A, B and C and 7 teams in League D, as of the 2020/21 edition. The teams are allocated to leagues based on the overall ranking following the 2018/19 inaugural UEFA Nations League.

This change to the format follows a consultation process which involved all of UEFA's 55 national associations and reflects upon their desire to further minimise the number of friendly matches.

In addition, it enhances sporting fairness as all teams in the same group will play their last match on the same day and at the same time.

The successful concept of the Finals remains untouched, with the four group winners of League A playing each other to determine the UEFA Nations League winners.

The committee furthermore confirmed that the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League draw will take place in Amsterdam on 3 March 2020, same day and same place as the UEFA Congress 2020.

Hosts of UEFA Competitions

The UEFA Executive Committee appointed the hosts for several club and national team competitions as follows:

2021 UEFA Champions League Final – Saint Petersburg
2022 UEFA Champions League Final – Munich
2023 UEFA Champions League Final – London (Wembley)

2021 UEFA Europa League Final – Sevilla (Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán)

2021 UEFA Super Cup – Belfast, Northern Ireland

UEFA Futsal EURO 2022 – The Netherlands

UEFA European Under-17 Championship – Cyprus 2021; Israel 2022

UEFA European Under-19 Championship – Romania 2021; Slovakia 2022

UEFA Women's Under-17 Championships – Faroe Islands 2021; Bosnia-Herzegovina 2022

UEFA Women's Under-19 Championships – Belarus 2021; Czech Republic 2022

VAR and Goal-Line technology

The UEFA Executive Committee also decided to implement VAR from the knockout stage of the 2019/20 UEFA Europa League; at the finals of the UEFA Women's Champions League from the 2019/20 final onwards; as well as at the final tournament of the 2021 UEFA Women's EURO, where it will work alongside goal-line technology.

UEFA Europa Conference League

The name of the third UEFA club competition was approved as UEFA Europa Conference League and its commercial concept was also ratified. The new competition, which will start in 2021, will have matches played on Thursdays with kick-off times at 18:45 CET and 21:00 CET, similar to the UEFA Europa League. The new early kick-off time will also be used for UEFA Champions League matches on Tuesdays and Wednesdays as of 2021 repalcing the current 18:55 CET kick-off.

Concussion

The Executive Committee welcomed the fact that FIFA took note of UEFA's official request to change the protocol in case of concussion – which aims at better protecting players' health - and that the matter will be discussed at the next IFAB meeting.

Competitive balance

The committee discussed a report which studied the impact of the revenues raised by the top five leagues from the other 50 countries in Europe on competitive balance in the game. The report demonstrates that, in the absence of any solidarity payments going back into the 50 markets, the money taken by the top five leagues is a major contributor to the erosion of competitive balance across Europe.

Draw procedure

The draw procedure for the European Qualifiers play-offs and the procedure for the UEFA EURO 2020 final draw were approved.

Sustainability

UEFA decided, as part of its commitment to sustainability, as well as to celebrate the 60 years of the European Championship, to plant 600,000 trees in the 12 UEFA EURO 2020 host cities.

Match-fixing

UEFA also announced that it will launch a feasibility study to create an independent European agency against match-fixing.

Anti-piracy

A new anti-piracy strategy aiming at protecting the rights of broadcasters was presented to the members of the UEFA Executive Committee.

Women's access to stadiums

The Executive Committee will recommend its 55 national associations and all European clubs not to play matches in countries where women have restricted access to stadiums.

Next meeting

The next meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee will take place at the House of European Football, in Nyon, Switzerland on 4 December 2019.

https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsid=2625412.html
Lalasticlala
Dominique
MissyB3
fynestboi

The Federal Government has reached an agreement with Gallaudet University in the United States for the establishment of a University for the Deaf either in Abuja or Sagamu, Ogun State.

The Nigerian National Association of the Deaf, which broke the news, also said that a series of meetings had been held with the National Universities Commission, Federal Ministry of Education, National Assembly leadership and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on the proposed university.

Others involved in the meetings included the African Democratic Bank, Tertiary Education Trust Fund and many other stakeholders.

The promoters of the institution said that a site visit to Gallaudet University had also been scheduled to take place between October 28 and November 1, 2019.

The National Vice President of NNAD, Mohammed Adelani, stated this in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Monday in Abuja, during a programme to commemorate the international day of sign languages.

The event was organised by Disability Inclusive Development, Christoffel Blinden Mission, Inclusive Friends Association, Abuja Association of the Deaf and Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities, with support from the National Human Rights Commission and British Council.

Adelani said, “Gallaudet University in the United States of America is the only Deaf University in the world. Many people with hearing impairment in Nigeria and Africa attend the university. It is the dream of everyone with this challenge in the world to have Gallaudet experience.

“So, to make it accessible to such class of people, Gallaudet University is making efforts to collaborate with Wesley University and Nigerian National Association of the Deaf to establish Gallaudet University campus in Nigeria so that they can have access to Gallaudet experience of all-round education.

“We are still at the foundation stage to get other relevant stakeholders from government and the international community. A series of meetings have been held with the NUC, FME, NASS, JAMB, World Bank, AfDB, TETFUND and many others.

“A site visit to Gallaudet University has been scheduled for between October 28 and November 1 2019 with many others willing to attend. It is expected to be the established at Abuja or Shagamu in Ogun State. The NUC is very much aware about the project and series of meetings have been held with the commission; they are very committed to the project.”

A joint communique issued after the event also called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, establish a commission for persons with disabilities to expedite action on inclusion process and mainstreaming disability in governance for the next level agenda.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/fg-to-establish-varsity-for-deaf-people/amp/

After three years of a ‘technical suspension’, from the bench of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta has now resumed his duties.

Indication of his resumption emerged on Monday as he joined the members of the Supreme Court’s bench at the special court session marking the commencement of the new 2019/2020 legal year of the apex court.

Thirty-eight lawyers are to be sworn in as Senior Advocates of Nigeria during the ceremony.

He sat on the bench as the third most senior judge, behind the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, and Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour.

Next to Justice Ngwuta in terms of seniority on the bench of 14 judges is Justice Mary Peter-Odili.

Ngwuta with some judges whose houses were raided by the operatives of the Department of State Service in August 2016, was asked to step down from the bench pending the conclusion of the criminal trial against him.

The National Judicial Council had said the affected judges were not suspended as they continued to earn their pay for the period but were only barred from judicial functions.

Some of the judges had been recalled.

But Justice Ngwuta and some of the judges were subsequently charged with corruption.

Ngwuta was charged with money laundering before the Federal High Court in Abuja, and with assets declaration breaches before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

But both cases were dismissed in 2018 following a Court of Appeal’s verdict which prohibited the trial of a serving judge without being first disciplined by the National Judicial Council.

Ngwuta has not been part of any sitting or ceremony of the court from 2016 until Monday.
https://punchng.com/breaking-supreme-court-judge-justice-ngwuta-who-faced-failed-corruption-cases-resumes-work/
Lalasticlala
Mynd44

Nigerian Chef, Folashade Shoyonbo, on Sunday in Lagos emerged winner of a Jolof Rice Contest after beating chefs from two other West African countries.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shoyonbo beat several others from Nigeria, Togo and Benin Republic during the contest at the 15th AKWAABA African Travel and Tourism Market which opened on Sunday in Lagos.

NAN reports that the Jollof Rice Contest, which was organised to promote culinary tourism in Africa, saw two other Nigerians, Deborah Esene Fatima Lawal, clinching second and third positions, respectively.

Shoyonbo said she was surprised over her victory and never envisaged winning the contest as she left immediately she presented her cuisine to the judges only to be called back.

She advised other chefs to stay tenacious and dedicated to their work, saying that success awaits those who persevered.

She thanked the organisers for encouraging African chefs and for giving her the platform to showcase her cooking talent.

“Am so happy right now; I never saw it coming, in fact it is a surprise for me and I could not hold my tears when I was told I emerged the winner.

“I appreciate the organisers of this fair and everyone who had encouraged me since I embraced this profession and I will advise everyone to remain dedicated and focused on their chosen career.

“I was determined to be successful in this profession and here I am today,” she said.

Shoyonbo, a graduate of Accounting who also had Diploma in Catering, is a chef with Lagos Continental Hotel.

“I am a graduate of Accounting but was not fulfilled until I embraced this profession; there is huge gain in doing what you love,” she said.

NAN reports that Shoyonbo won the trophy and a fridge while her first and second runners up went home with generator and a set of dishes, respectively.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/09/just-in-nigerian-wins-jolof-rice-contest/

A yet-to-be-identified woman has reportedly stolen a two-month-old baby boy from his mother in Ado Ekiti

The incident occurred on Friday around 1 pm at the State Secretariat in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state capital.

A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the woman tricked the baby’s mother, Funmilayo Sunday to follow her to the State Secretariat under the guise to help collect some relief materials being given by government to flood victims.

“On getting there, she sent the mother to help her to procure recharge card but ran away with the baby before the arrival of the woman, a source said.

Narrating her ordeal, Funmilayo who was drenched in tears explained that the abductor whom she suspected to be from the Eastern part of the country, had been patronizing her consistently at the Oja-Oba market, where she sells soup ingredients.

She said the woman informed her on Wednesday that she would take her to the State Secretariat where her husband works and that the husband would facilitate the relief materials for her.

The woman, who preferred to be anonymous, explained that the woman came to her shop with a list of possible beneficiaries and included her name making her believe that she was being favoured.

According to her, “the woman who had become a regular customer had this morning invited me to the Secretariat and pretended to be waiting for someone, having entered one or two offices under the pretence of making some arrangements.

“She later took my baby and sent from me and asked me to go and buy recharge cards and before I came back, she had fled with my baby”, she stated.

The poor woman, who claimed she had lost a child recently before the delivery of the stolen boy, said the suspect collected her phone to prevent her from contacting the police for her immediate arrest after perpetrating the crime.

When contacted to confirm the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, could not be reached with his mobile phone line switched off as at the time of filing this report.
https://thenationonlineng.net/just-in-unidentified-woman-steals-two-month-old-baby-in-ekiti/
Lalasticlala
Oam4j
Mynd44

This is Agege in Lagos flooded as people go about the struggle for daily bread.
The Sanwo-Olu government can do better.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/lagos-people-go-about-their-activities-in-agege-flooded-streets.html





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=462_zk_TBi4

Three suspected members of a notorious kidnap gang have been arrested in Abia State, the police said.

Two of the suspects were arrested by mobile policemen on stop and search operation along the busy Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, the third by regular police through intelligence.

Also recovered from the suspects were a mobile phone and an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card later discovered to belong to a kidnapped victim, a woman, who was still in their custody when they were arrested.

Two of the suspects were nabbed while ransom negotiations were going on with the kidnapped woman’s husband, said to be a banker.

Police sources told our reporter that the mobile policemen flagged down a commercial bus in which the suspects were travelling, and upon interrogation, determined that the two men were members of a notorious kidnap gang.

The kidnap was later released by police, while the suspected third member of the gang was picked up.

The three suspects were said to have made confessional statements of being behind a series of kidnappings in Aba and other parts of the state.

The state police boss Mr Etim Okon confirmed the three suspects were in custody and would be arraigned once investigations were over.

https://thenationonlineng.net/three-kidnappers-held-in-abia/
Lalasticlala
Mynd44
Oam4j