₦airaland Forum

A group consisting of Peoples Democratic Party youths and some human rights lawyers have called on Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to expedite action on the trial of a former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, currently before the court.
Kalu is currently standing trial on allegation of fraud levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

He is expected to resume his defence on Monday (today).
But the leader of the group, Uche Okoroafor, alleged in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Sunday that the former governor was planning to further stall the resumed trial by embarking on another foreign medical trip.

Okoroafor urged the court not to give room for such excuse again since Kalu had earlier secured the court’s nod to embark on a similar medical foreign trip in the past.

He urged the court to expedite action on the trial “in order to restore public confidence in the anti-corruption crusade of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.”

He argued that any further delay in handling the case would make a huge joke of the trial and anti-graft war.

He expressed the group’s opposition to any attempt on the part of the former governor to travel for medical attention again.

Okoroafor added, “We urge the court to keep to its last decision to give accelerated hearing on the alleged N7.6bn fraud case against Kalu

“We are monitoring the court proceedings and some of our people will be in court on Monday (today) to observe.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1566812172/group-tells-court-expedite-action-orji-trial

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday held his first face-to-face talks with Donald Trump since taking office, with the US President backing him as the “right man” to deliver Brexit for Britain.

Trump and Johnson met on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit hosted by France in Biarritz. Asked what his advice was for Brexit, Trump replied: “He (Johnson) needs no advice, he is the right man for the job.”

“I’ve been saying that for a long time,” added Trump, noting that such comments had not made his predecessor Theresa May happy while she was still in office up to July.

Johnson had in the run-up to the meeting urged Trump to remove the “considerable barriers” for UK companies seeking to export to the American market, saying they risked impeding a free-trade deal after Brexit.

But the American president said: “We’re working on a very big trade deal (with Britain) and I think it’s going to work out.”

He boasted that a “a very big trade deal, bigger than we’ve ever had” would be realised “quickly”.

Johnson congratulated Trump on the strength of the US economy which he said was “fantastic”. But while holding back from strong criticism, he expressed alarm over the trade tensions between the US and China.

“Just to register a faint, sheep-like note of our view on the trade war — we are in favour of trade peace on the whole,” Johnson told Trump.

Johnson added: “The UK has profited massively in the last 200 years from free trade.”

Trump also said the US is “very close to a major deal with Japan.” He said the two sides have “been working on it for five months.”

He was speaking shortly before holding talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the G7 summit.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1566720961/brexit-boris-johnson-the-right-man-for

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There are indications that the Federal Government may soon ask the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to invite for questioning some past group managing directors of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, among others, over the stalled $9bn gas deal between Nigeria and the foreign firm, Process & Industrial Developments Limited.

The development came barely 48 hours after the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), said that the Federal Government would bring to book former and current government officials who caused the award of $9bn by a British court against Nigeria.

“As a government that has the mandate of the people and their interest at heart, we shall not fold our arms and allow this injustice to go unpunished as all efforts, actions and steps shall be taken to bring to book all private individuals, corporate entities and government officials – home or abroad and past or present – who played direct and indirect roles in the conception, negotiation, signing, formation as well as prosecution of the purported agreement,” Malami said.

Although the Federal Government has yet to make any pronouncement, sources close to the government said the process of handing over the matter to the EFCC might commence soon.

London’s Commercial Court on August 16, 2019 granted P&ID the right to seek to seize some $9bn in assets from the Nigerian government over the aborted gas project.

The Federal Government has, however, appealed the judgment.

The case involves a 2010 deal in which the Nigerian government agreed to supply gas to a processing plant in Calabar that P&ID would build and run.

In 2012, P&ID took the government to arbitration over the failure of the deal.

The tribunal, made up of Lord Hoffman (presiding arbitrator), Chief Bayo Ojo (Nigeria’s arbitrator) and Sir Anthony Evans (P&ID’s), was organised in London under the rules of the Nigerian Arbitration and Conciliation Act as part of the original contractual agreement between parties.

In January 2017, the tribunal ordered the Nigeria government to pay P&ID the sum of $6.597bn together with interest at the rate of seven per cent from March 20, 2013 until the date of the award and at the same rate thereafter until payment.

But Ojo did not sign the award as he dissented from the majority opinion.

Findings on Saturday showed that aside from the past NNPC GMDs and ministers of Petroleum Resources between 2007 and 2012, other government officials who might have played direct and indirect roles in the proposed project included the heads of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services and the Department of Petroleum Resources.

Among the ex-NNPC bosses is the current Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Dr Mohammed Barkindo, who was GMD of the national oil firm between January 2009 and early April 2010. His predecessor was Mr Abubakar Yar’Adua (August 2007 to January 2009)

Alhaji Shehu Ladan, who took over from Barkindo, was at the helm of the corporation between April 2010 and May 2010. He was replaced by Mr Austin Oniwon, who led the corporation between May 2010 and June 2012, while Mr Andrew Yakubu, who was appointed on June 26, 2012, left the position in August 2014.

P&ID said the gas project was proposed by its then chairman, Michael Quinn, to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua in August 2008 and the Gas Supply and Processing Agreement was signed by the late Alhaji Rilwan Lukman, who was the Minister of Petroleum Resources between December 2007 and March 2010.

One of the key officials at the ministry who worked with Lukman was his Special Technical Adviser, Mr Taofiq Tijani, who later became a Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources in Lagos State.

The ex-DPR directors are Mr Godwin Agha (January 2009 – April 2010); Mr Andrew Obaji (April 2010 – November 2011) and Mr Osten Olorunsola (November 2011 – June 2013). Alhaji Aliyu Sabon Birni, who replaced Tony Chukwudi after the latter’s suspension by the Federal Government in June 2008, died in February 2009.

During the President Goodluck Jonathan government, Alison-Madueke served as the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1566719030/9bn-award-may-invite-nnpc-bosses-diezani

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The presidency has reacted to the list of 80 Nigerians arrested by the United States government for fraud-related crimes.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in a press statement released in Los Angeles, California on Thursday by US attorney Nick Hanna, announced the arrest of “many Nigerians” in an ongoing investigation related to fraud cases.
DAILY POSY had reported that FBI named Valentine Iro, 31, and Chukwudi Christogunus Igbokwe, 38, both Nigerian citizens as lead suspects, adding that the duo allegedly coordinated with others to launder the funds from victims.

The arrest of ‘80 Nigerians’ has stirred diverse reactions from Nigerians on social media even as some described the list of Nigerians as partial and tribalistic.

But, Buhari’s Special Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmaad reacting on his Twitter page, said the names are not in any way one-sided.

Ahmaad noted that the names are just a list of Nigerians who have brought shame to the country.

He wrote: “Nigeria is one, FBI and American media didn’t call them by any name but Nigerians, and they are right. They are Nigerians who brought shame to their country.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1566562996/presidency-speaks-list-nigerians-arrested-fbi

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The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has urged Nigerians to be ready at all times to share opinions with government on how best to tackle the various security challenges facing the country.
Aregbesola, who was inaugurated and assigned a portfolio alongside 42 other ministers by President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, made the call while speaking at a reception organised in his honour by some of his associates later in the day in Abuja.
Acknowledging internal insecurity as one of the major challenges facing Nigeria, the minister said the present administration would appreciate suggestions that could help in the formulation of new government policies aimed at tackling the challenges.

He said, “We appeal to all of you with ideas. Nobody is a repository of ideas because nobody has all the ideas on earth.

“We are appealing to you to share ideas, opinions, suggestions and strategies that can help us to remove, reduce and totally eliminate all the security threats facing our nation.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1566548138/rauf-aregbesola-wants-support-fight-insecurity

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A staff member of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mr Ikpong Inyang, on Thursday, told the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, that the petitioners’ 44th witness, William Ndarake, was an imposter.
The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in the 2019 elections, Nsima Ekere, is challenging the re-election of Governor Udom Emmanuel of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Inyang, who was the Supervising Officer for Ward 4, Obot Akara Local Government Area, presented the list of presiding officers, supervisory presiding and polling unit booklet while testifying as a subpoenaed witness for the first respondent, Emmanuel.
He said the witness, who claimed to be an INEC ad hoc staff member and presented video evidence of massive fingerprinting for the PDP, was not on the list of ad hoc staff in the election.

Ndarake had alleged that as an Assistant Presiding Officer in Ward 4, Unit 005 in the Obot Akara LGA, he was abducted to the house of Senator Chris Ekpenyong and threatened at gunpoint to manipulate election results in support of the PDP.

He further alleged that he recorded the video of the abduction with his phone while the gunmen were still threatening to kill him if he failed to cooperate.

But the INEC worker, while being cross-examined by counsel for the PDP, Uko Udom (SAN), said another man in the video, whom Ndarake had claimed was the Presiding Officer for Unit 004, Ward 4 in Obot Akara, was also an alleged imposter.

According to Inyang, the Presiding Officer for that unit was a woman, Priscilla Ifeanyinwa.

He also identified Exhibit RSA564 as the result for Unit 004, which Ifeanyinwa signed as Presiding Officer.

The witness added that he was given the list of all the officials for the Obot Akara LGA and took attendance as the Supervisory Presiding Officer in Ward 4.

His testimony brought to an end the defence by the first respondent in the petition.

A digital forensic expert, Edidiong Udoh, had described the video evidence earlier tendered by the petitioners’ 44th witness, Mr William Ndarake, as an alleged scam stage-managed to mislead the tribunal.

In a related development, the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Inter-party Advisory Council, comprising 65 political parties, on Thursday, said the call for the prosecution of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Mike Igini, was unfounded and coming from “a selfish minority part of the APC.”

According to the council, the elections were not only credible but transparent.

The state Legal Adviser, IPAC, Mfon Peters, who spoke to our correspondent in Uyo, lauded the REC for the electoral reforms he had brought to the state.

Peters said, “More than 60 political parties agreed that the elections were transparent and credible in Akwa Ibom State. Igini did not compromise the election.

“We are therefore passing a vote of confidence in Mike Igini that he is the first that has ever conducted the best election in the state. The call for Igini’s prosecution and investigation is unfounded and coming from a very selfish minority part of the APC.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1566548021/akwa-ibom-apc-witness-accused-impersonation

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The Indigenous People of Biafra on Wednesday said it had no regret attacking a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekeremadu, in Nuremberg, Germany.
It said the next target would be the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, if he failed to retrace his steps.

An official of the group, China Edoziem, said this in a statement made available to our correspondent in Awka, Anambra State.
It described those condemning the attack on Ekweremadu as sycophants and “Fulani apologies”.

The statement reads in part,” The Indigenous People of Biafra, led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, will continue in the avowed pursuit of our right of existence as a people, independent of the evil enclave called Nigeria.

“We’ll be unhindered, unperturbed and unfazed by the cacophony of morally bankrupt manufactured voices that appear to rally round one of them, Ike Ekweremadu.

“Going through the vomit of some of these faceless sycophants with no iota of influence on the ground in Biafraland apart from dishing out meaningless drivel in the name of press statements, one is confronted with the mindset of a people living in a Banana Republic in which all forms of freedom of expression is brutally repressed and mediocrity extolled to high heavens.”

The statement added, “It is imperative to state that in making that choice, there will be no differentiating between the subservient Biafran politician(s) who see nothing and hear nothing wrong when Biafraland is under Fulani military siege and their caliphate masters that dehumanise, abduct, torture and murder at will.

“Very soon, we shall show Dave Umahi, the governor of Ebonyi State that IPOB has not only the capacity and reach but also the power to achieve our set objectives and fulfil our promise to the living and the dead.

“We are waiting for them and their trumpeters in all the civilized nations of the world. The story of their humiliation will become a subject of study in foreign institutions. Our struggle has shifted to the international arena where every eye will be watching and taking note”.

Meanwhile, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, has said the attack on Ekweremadu was a wake-up call for all corrupt and ’unrepentant’ Igbo leaders.

The President-General of the youth group, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement read in part, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide observed that tension is building up in many quarters in the South-East as many Igbo leaders had hurriedly cancelled their trips abroad over the recent harassment and mob action against a respected Igbo son and politician, Sen Ike Ekweremadu, at the New Yam Festival at Nuremberg Germany recently.

“ONYC pleads with our angry Igbo youths and agitators to shelve any planned violent mob action against Igbo leaders here in Nigeria and abroad at the moment and wait to see how many leaders will turn a new leaf as we feel the anger in the air.

“But Ekweremadu’s assault is a wake-up call for the unrepentant Igbo leaders who had betrayed the confidence of our people in governance. Igbo leaders should be mindful of their utterances, actions and decisions on issues affecting the Igbo.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1566463472/ipob-justifies-attack-ekweremadu
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Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo have criticised the allocation of ministries by President Muhammadu Buhari, with all nine ministers from the North-West receiving senior positions.

Among the six geopolitical zones in the country, the North-West, which consists of Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara, had the highest number of ministers, all of which received senior portfolios.

The President, who hails from Katsina State, also garnered the highest number of votes from the North-West.
The nine cabinet members from the North-West include Suleiman Adamu (Jigawa State), who was appointed Minister of Water Resources; Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna State), Minister of Finance; Muhammad Mahmood (Kaduna State), Minister of Environment; and Sabo Nanono (Kano State), Minister of Agriculture and Development.

Others are Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (Kano State), Minister of Defence; Hadi Sirika (Katsina State), Minister of Aviation; Abubakar Malami (Kebbi State), Minister of Justice; Maigarai Dingyadi (Sokoto State), Minister of Police Affairs; and Sadiya Umar Faruk (Zamfara State), Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said the appointment of the ministers was a reflection of alleged sectionalism on the part of the President.

Odumakin said, “That is next level of sectionalism, in your face, and incorrigibility. There have been complaints about all these things since the first term. Now, it has been done in super way. So, that is the next level. Welcome to the next level.”

The National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Uche Achi-Okpoga, said his group was not surprised by the development.

He said, “ We are already used to the antics of the Presidency. We were not expecting anything less. We have a President that does not mince words. He stated it in his first tenure that he would not sacrifice those who gave him 97 per cent votes to those who gave him may be five per cent. So, why should we be surprised that he gave juicy and senior positions to his kinsmen?”
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1566459748/afenifere-ohanaeze-kicks-north-west-gets-nine
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Thousands of Catholic faithful as well as Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, on Tuesday, gathered at the Holy Ghost Cathedral, Enugu, to bid the slain priest, Rev. Fr. Paul Offu, a final farewell.
Until his gruesome murder by herdsmen, Fr. Offu, 49, who hailed from Okpatu in the Udi Local Government Area of the state, was the Parish Priest of the St. James The Great Church, Ugbawka, in the Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state.

Offu’s corpse was brought to the church premises around 9am, where he was buried after a requiem mass officiated by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Calistus Onaga.
Onaga said the death of the priest had sent a message not just to the people of Enugu State, but to the entire country and the world.

The bishop charged Christians and all Nigerians to realise that the responsibility for security of the country was not just for those in power, but for everybody.

While commending the governor and the security agencies for their efforts in arresting the killer herdsmen, Onaga pointed out that God answered the prayers of Christians on the priest’s murder.

He advised priests and residents of the state to avoid unnecessary movement after 6pm.

“Those who killed Fr Paul Offu have been caught. Not only that, those who killed Fr. Clement earlier have been caught as well. God is answering our prayers. Mr Governor, thank you so much, we are praying for you too and we shall continue to work together,” the bishop stated.

In a sermon, the Parish Priest of the Holy Innocent Parish, Amagunze, Nkanu East, Very Rev. Fr. Sylvester Nwodo, lamented the continuous attack on priests, saying the diocese had to bid farewell to another priest some weeks earlier.

He described Fr Offu as an active pastoral priest, a game changer, a man of charisma and a soul winner for God.

In attendance were Bishop of the Awgu Diocese, Most Rev. John Okoye , who offered prayers for the repose of the soul of the deceased; Bishop of the Nsukka Diocese, Most Rev. Godfrey Onah; and other bishops and priests as well as the deputy governor of the state, members of the National Assembly from the state and the 17 local government council chairmen in the state.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1566377838/catholic-priest-killed-gunmen-buried-enugu

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Lightning has killed a shepherd and 19 buffaloes in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province, local media reported on Wednesday.
Police said Sinto Habeyan, 23, was lighting a bonfire in a cattle barn in the Central Tapanuli district late Monday when lightning struck amid heavy rain, the Kompas daily reported.
Habeyan and the 19 buffaloes died immediately, district police chief Sukamat said.

“We never had an incident like this before in this area,” he said.
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1566375204/shepherd-buffaloes-killed-lightning
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Big Brother Naija housemate, Tacha and Mike on Tuesday morning engaged in war of words.
The argument broke out after Tacha warned Mike to stop cheering her at the gym but he continued.

This led to a serious argument with some housemates taking sides and others trying to calm the situation.
Tacha who was upset that Mike refused to listen to her ‘rained’ insults at him.

She said, ”You don’t want to have sense, you carried ‘busy-body’ from secondary school to Big Brother House.

”I have been saying the same thing every time. Keep your freaking encouragement to yourself, I don’t want it,” she added.

But, Mike in reaction, maintained that there was nothing wrong in cheering Tacha.

According to him, cheering is a way of showing team spirit.

DAILY POST had last month reported that following the return of Tacha and Seyi into the house, Mike had lamented Tacha’s attitude.

Mike said he never liked Tacha’s energy while she was in the house, adding that other housemates also felt happy when she left.

“Tacha, I’m going to keep it hundred with you.

“Before you left, I didn’t like your energy, and when you left, I felt elated, even the house could agree,” he said.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1566307735/bbnaija-tacha-mike-engage-war-words
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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has said it has deployed its Tactical Squad to tackle kidnapping and banditry in some parts of Niger State, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Philip Ayuba, revealed this in Minna on Monday
Ayuba said the officers would collaborate with other security agencies to flush criminals out of Shiroro, Rafi, Munya , Gurara and Paikoro local government areas.

He said, “We have already identified the black spots as part of our proactive measures and deployed our well-trained personnel to ensure their arrest and prosecution.

“I am assuring the good people of Niger that the security measures already in place will end the activities of kidnapping and banditry in the state.

“All we require from the public is information about any suspicious characters in their areas for action.”

The commandant said they had already deployed plainclothes officers on Suleja-Agaiye-Bida highway, Minna- Kontagora-Nasko road and Minna-Munya-Shiroro road.
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1566293467/nscdc-fights-banditry-niger
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The grandmother to a suspected drug addict, Florence Adebimpe, on Monday, pleaded with an Osun State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Osogbo to remand her grandson, Ayomide Solomon, in prison as he often assaulted her.
Her plea was, however, rejected by the court, as the accused, who was considered unfit to stand trial, was instead sent to a rehabilitation home.

Appearing before Magistrate Rofiat Olayemi, Solomon, 20, looked shabby and was incoherent while answering questions directed at him by the court.
The one count of assault preferred against him read, “That you, Ayomide Solomon, on August 17, 2019, around 3am at the Halleluya area, Osogbo, did assault one Florence Adebimpe, who happens to be your grandmother, by beating her all over her body, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 351 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34 Vol. II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.”

When asked what led to the arrest of the accused, Adebimpe, who complained of body ache and could not stand to address the court, said she took custody of Solomon following the death of his mother.

She said the accused often assaulted her and steal her things, adding that Solomon again beat her up for no reason last Saturday and urged the court to remand him to save her from further assault.

The Investigating Police Officer, Josephine Edrah, when asked to shed light on the circumstances leading to the arrest of the suspect, explained that Solomon had been apprehended twice in the past for assaulting his grandmother.

While responding to questions by the court, Solomon, who claimed to be a rap artiste, denied assaulting his granny, but was largely incoherent in his response to other questions.

Ruling on the matter, Olayemi ordered that Solomon be transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s rehabilitation centre in Osogbo.

She said the centre should send a report on his treatment by September 23, when the court would sit again on the matter.
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1566288864/woman-appeal-court-remand-grandson-prison
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Big Brother Naija, BBNaija housemate, Tacha on Sunday night gave some details about her relationship outside the house
Tacha, while speaking to Mike after Sunday live eviction show which had Ebuka as the official host, said she is in a serious relationship with her boyfriend but did not flaunt him on Instagram because of the fear of breaking up.

She stated that this is one of the reasons why she would not love to share the Head of House room with any male housemate for a week.
Tacha, however, disclosed that she is ready to show him off and start up a YouTube page with him after the BBNaija show.

The Head of House, according to BBNaija rules, is expected to pick a partner every week to share the designated room.

Tacha told Mike: “I don’t see any reason why I should be in a room with any male housemate for a week alone, I have a serious relationship outside and I intend to keep it that way.

“That is the reason I rejected Seyi’s offer to share the Head of House room with him. Though we talk a lot, I don’t see it necessary and again I love my personal space and bed.”

DAILY POST recalls that Tacha had turned down Seyi’s proposal to share the Head of House room with him.

Seyi had asked: “I want to cuddle. Would it be a bad idea for you to sleep in my bed?”

Tacha, in response, declined his offer as she called Seyi a ‘Yoruba demon’.
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1566213313/bbnaija-tacha-told-mike-about-her-relationship
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The National Health Insurance Scheme has formally accredited the Health Maintenance Organisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, thereby enabling the oil firm to provide healthcare services to Nigerians.
According to the oil firm, the accreditation granted NNPC the authority to establish and operate a functional HMO, adding that this was a forerunner to the plan by the corporation to activate a medical delivery system across the country.
Receiving the certificate of accreditation at the NHIS headquarters in Abuja, the Managing Director, NNPC HMO, Musa Ribadu, said the corporation was ready to improve the scheme and offer real-time value to the prospective beneficiaries of its packages.

He was quoted in a statement as saying, “We are confident that our entry into the market will increase the national coverage statistics by at least one to two digits.

“We have better knowledge of the oil and gas sector that can attract active participation within this sector for the scheme.”

Ribadu said the initiative to invest in the venture was part of NNPC’s plan to diversify its revenue base and contribute to the corporation’s bottom line.
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1566205149/nnpc-provide-medical-services
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A former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Maurice Iwu, has regained his freedom after spending a week at Ikoyi Prison in Lagos
Iwu, who is facing N1.23bn fraud charges, left the prison on Friday after meeting the N1bn bail with two sureties which the court imposed on him.

The ex-INEC chairman was on August 8 arraigned on four counts before Justice Chuka Obiozor at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Justice Obiozor admitted him to bail in the sum of N1bn with two sureties in like sum.

The judge said one of the sureties must be a landed property owner in Lagos, while the other must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 16 or a professor in any Nigerian university.

He said both sureties must show evidence of three years’ tax clearance and were also required to furnish the court with their statements of accounts.

Iwu was ordered to submit his passport into the court’s custody, with an order that he could not travel except with the permission of the court.

Iwu’s lawyer, Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN), confirmed to our correspondent that his client had met the bail conditions and had left the prison since Friday.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had on August 8 arraigned Iwu on four counts, in which he was accused of laundering N1.23bn in the build-up to the 2015 general elections.

The anti-graft agency alleged that between December 2014 and March 27, 2015, Iwu “aided the concealment of N1.23bn in the account of Bioresources Institute of Nigeria Limited with number 1018603119, domiciled in the United Bank for Africa.”

It said he “ought to have reasonably known that the N1.23bn formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: fraud.”

The prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the ex-INEC chairman acted contrary to sections 18(a) and 15 (2) (a) of the Money Laundering ((Prohibition) Act 2011 and was liable to be punished under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

But Iwu pleaded not guilty.
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1566202462/maurice-iwu-regains-freedom-she-meets-n1bn
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The House of Representatives has summoned the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele; Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari; and Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.); and the Director-General, Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi.
The Federal Government officials were summoned for failing to attend an investigative hearing organised by the House on the moribund state of ports in the country, leading to the congestion and perennial gridlock at the Apapa Port, Lagos State.

The hearing held in Abuja on Thursday was organised by the House ad hoc set up to ‘determine why the Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Onne and Onitsha inland ports complexes are not being put to maximal use.’
Also absent from the hearing was the Bureau of Public Enterprises and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, according to the roll call of invited stakeholders taken at the opening of the event.

Chairman of the committee, Mr Buba Yakub, had frowned at the non-appearance by the officials, who he described as critical stakeholders in the maritime sector, a major part of the country’s economy.

“This is a slap on the face of the institution, we will not condone it,” Yakub stated.

The committee, at the close of the hearing, after stakeholders in attendance had made their presentations, resolved that the absent officials must appear before the panel on Monday.

Yakub warned that the lawmakers would be forced to invoke their constitutional powers if those summoned failed to attend the next sitting by the panel.
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1565951831/absence-house-reps-summon-emefiele-nnpc-dss

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A 46-year-old nanny, Kemi Odetayo, has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing her employer’s foreign currencies.
Odetayo, who lives at No. 2 Akanni Dosumu Street, Ilupeju, Lagos, was alleged to have stolen $1,300, €2,300 and £200.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the two counts of unlawful entry and stealing preferred against her.
The police prosecutor, Mike Unah, alleged that the nanny broke into her employer’s bedroom and stole the money, which belonged to one Babatunde Sofola.

According to him, the defendant also stole Korres Summer Wood Cologne valued at N12,000, as well as a pair of trousers, one T-shirt and a pair of navy shorts.

Unah stated that the offences contravened the provisions of sections 287 and 308 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

It was learnt that the offences were allegedly committed on May 20 and May 25, this year.

The presiding Magistrate A. A. Fashola, admitted Odetayo to bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The magistrate adjourned the case till September 11 for hearing.
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1565942252/nanny-court-for-stealing-employer-foreign-currencies
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The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, has spoken on alleged threat to stop supply of cattle to the southern part of the country.
Its Katsina State chapter debunked the rumors on Wednesday, explaining that it was not aware of such decision.

State Chairman, Atiku Abubakar, told Vanguard that he had not heard or received any communication from its national leadership.
The offical, however, assured that any information on the directive, if any, would be made public.

Meanwhile, MACBAN has condemned what it called blanket criminalization of herdsmen nationwide.

The group said there were good people among them, and that people should not take advantage of the infiltration of the group by some criminal elements to label all herdsmen as killers.

Chairman of MACBAN, South East zone Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, in a statement, pleaded for “better understanding in information peddling, so as to avoid the often misinformation, half-truths and outright falsehood that the gullible public very often gets fed with.

“I plead with Governments, Traditional and Religious leaders, as well as other influential groups in the South East not to relent in their advocacy for peaceful coexistence amongst Nigerians wherever they choose to live and ply their legitimate businesses.

“I plead for truthfulness, fairness and restraints in information management so as to avoid tendencies of unfair blanket criminalization of any group of people.

Siddiki advocated that criminals, wherever they are identified, should be made to face the full wrath of the laws of the land.
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1565867923/miyetti-allah-reacts-threat-stop-cattle-supply
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The panel set up by the Defence Headquarters to investigate the killing of three police officers and a civilian in Taraba by soldiers last week visited Governor Darius Ishaku on Wednesday.
The panel led by Rear Admiral I.T. Olaiya arrived at the Taraba Government House at about 1.50pm and proceeded to the Governor’s office.

Governor Darius Ishaku, who received the panel at about 1.49pm, requested journalists to vacate the venue of the meeting.
But a source in the meeting told one of our correspondents that Olaiya told the governor that the seven-man panel was in the state to investigate the unfortunate killing of the police officers and a civilian in the state.

The police source added that Ishaku urged the panel to do a good job as Nigerians were watching with keen interest the outcome of investigation.

Meanwhile, parents and relations of the fleeing kidnap kingpin, Wadume, have fled their homes in Ibi.

One of our correspondents gathered that Wadume’s house in Ibi and the place he was picked up by the police had been deserted.

Residents of the area told one of our correspondents that the fear of arrest had made the suspected kidnapper’s parents and relations to flee his house.

“We are shocked to discover that Bala Hamisu Wadume is a criminal. He used to sell fish here and all of a sudden he became so rich that he could buy cars and built houses for people.

“Wadume is a gentle and kind-hearted person who doesn’t want to see people suffer. I am indeed taken aback about the revelations about him, But his people have deserted the house since the news broke out, “one of the residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told one of our correspondents.

Another resident, Musa Maijama’a, told one of our correspondents that the suspected kidnapper had over 12 mini buses and five speed boats he was using to ferry people across the River Benue in Ibi.

A police source told one of our correspondents that two of the buses seized from his house were in custody of the police in Jalingo while five were impounded in Ibi.

“We are trailing the remaining buses and hopefully we will get them all. The panel investigating the case has arrived but that won’t stop us from going on with our investigations.”

The seven-man panel which is expected to be in Taraba for three days is expected to visit Ibi on Thursday (today) to interact with relevant sources for on an on-the-spot assessment of the incident.

Taraba: Family of two killed relations demands probe

Meanwhile, the family of Inspector Mark Ediale has demanded an independent investigation into the killing of three members of the Intelligence Response Team by soldiers in Taraba State.

They said only an independent probe and justice would assuage their loss of two family members in the incident.

Three policemen and a civilian were killed after they came under attack from soldiers while conveying Wadume to the state command headquarters in Jalingo on August 6.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Mark’s elder brother, Andrew, identified the civilian who died in the attack as Olajide Owolabi, his nephew, adding that he had been working with the IRT for about two years.

While condemning the killing of the policemen and his nephew, he also asked the Army to explain the reason for the attack as well as the release of the kidnap suspect by the soldiers.

Andrew said, “The inglorious killing of our brother in Taraba State while on official duty for this country, which he has served for 16 years, is unfortunate.

“We vehemently speak against the heinous act carried out by the Nigerian Army; We demand a very thorough investigation not only by the Nigerian government, but by international and independent bodies as well.

“Why was the kidnap kingpin released? The effort of the gallant police officers was not only compromised, their lives were equally cut short; we demand justice.”

The aggrieved family described the incident as a conspiracy, insisting that the law must take its course against the perpetrators, noting that the blood of the slain men was crying for justice.

Andrew added, “In spite of what they (police and military investigating panels) are doing, we want an independent investigation, it is not about compensation, we what justice to be done.

“The civilian that was killed is my younger sister’s son, Olajide Owolabi. He has been working with them (IRT) for the past two years now.”

We are interrogating suspects —DHQ

However, the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, has said more arrests and interrogations of some civilians, soldiers and policemen are ongoing, as “the dragnet is being widened for Wadume’s arrest.”

It was learnt that the joint operatives were closing in on the wanted kidnap kingpin after his last location was traced to Lafia, Nasarawa State, on Tuesday.

A top police source on the team in Taraba State confirmed this, noting that the kingpin would be nabbed shortly as escape routes out of Nasarawa, Taraba and contiguous states had been blocked.

One of our correspondents reported on Wednesday that the DHQ panel was extending its interrogations to officers at the Nigerian Army 23 Brigade in Yola, Adamawa State, which controls 93 Battalion, Takum, Taraba State, who are alleged to have issued instructions to the commanding officer at the unit in Ibi.

It had also been reported that the army headquarters was already considering the rotation of most of the troops in Adamawa and Taraba states, as the allegations of connivance with criminals were becoming more rampant.

The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, told our correspondent on Wednesday that more arrests and interrogations were ongoing for Wadume’s arrest.

An authoritative source said, “Investigation is ongoing. There are lots of insinuations about what an army captain or another has said. These are all insinuations. Arrests and more suspects have to be brought into the dragnet of the investigation. When you say a seven-man panel, it is more than seven.

“The panel has operatives working with them tracking and trailing these suspects through various intelligence channels.”

A police source added, “After the operatives trailed him (Wadume) to Lafia, Nasarawa State, it is believed that he is still within that axis. His arrest may be made highly secretive to prevent larger criminal networks from waylaying operatives.”
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1565854176/wadume-relations-flee-dhq-committee-visits-taraba
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Over 17 million Nigerian children and youths between the ages of 15 and 17 are out of school a report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Institute for Statistics has said.
This was contained in a statement by Executive Director of Mothers and Marginalised Advocacy Centre, Ola Onyegbula, on Wednesday.
Onyegbula called for the full implementation of the various regulations and laws backing child rights, including access to quality education, to encourage and reinstall personal liberty and dignity of girl child at all levels in Nigeria.

She said, “We are worried that half of youths between the ages of 15 and 17 in Sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria included) are not in school, totalling more than 93 million children and youths of primary and secondary school age out of school across the region, as reported by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics.”

The group added, “We are not unaware that about 17 million Nigerian children and youths do not have access to education and many more are without access to good education despite the growing importance of quality education to individual personal development and socio-economic prosperity.”

Meanwhile, reports have indicated that girls are particularly disadvantaged across Sub-Saharan Africa with nine million girls who will never attend school compared to six million boys.
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1565858607/million-nigerian-children-youths-are-out-school
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The Southwest chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to conduct a proper audit of what transpired during the tenure of the immediate past governor of the state, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi.
The party said that the audit exercise would help the new government to ascertain all the initiatives carried out under the last administration.

This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Ibadan by Mr Ayo Fadaka, the South-West PDP Publicity Secretary.
The party was reacting to a statement allegedly credited to the former governor that the issue of missing government vehicles was a “minor issue”.

PDP said: “The Oyo State Government continues to maintain that many of the cars procured in February 2019 by the Ajimobi administration remain missing and such vehicles, in view of their age, cannot be classified and described as unserviceable.

”We, therefore, demand of Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, to take due cognisance of what posterity will say concerning him and his tenure and to immediately impress it on his appointees to return those vehicles, ” the statement said.

The party, which called for proper investigation of the administration’s initiatives, lauded the giant strides already being recorded less than 100 days in office of Makinde.

It stated that the people of Oyo state were indeed under a new lease of life during Makinde’s short tenure so far.

”We congratulate Gov. Makinde for bringing laughter back to the lips of the state workers, especially pensioners, through his administration’s payment of 100 per cent of their emoluments, which demonstrates his respect for the people he governs,” it said.
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1565781674/ajimobi-should-probed-pdp
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The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has warned applicants that it is not recruiting any cadre of staff through any online platform.
This warning came on the heels of a gale of misinformation in circulation that there was an ongoing recruitment exercise at NIMASA.The agency, in a statement made available to our correspondent on Tuesday, indicated that it had not embarked on any recruitment exercise at the moment; and was not associated with any of the adverts being brandished on various social media platforms to defraud members of the public.
The statement read in part, “The attention of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has been drawn to the misinformation making the round on some online platforms, that there is an ongoing recruitment exercise in the agency.“It is important to state that the Agency has not embarked on any recruitment exercise at the moment; and not associated with any of the adverts being brandished on various social media platforms to defraud members of the public.”The agency said the scammers claiming to be consultants to NIMASA had been involved in the use of social media and/or text messages, e-mails, as well as letters inviting job seekers for job interviews at different locations across the country.It stated that it had not hired anyone for such purpose.The management appealed to the public to ignore such advertisement from these unscrupulous elements, warning that the relevant authorities had been contacted to track their activities and deal with them decisively.
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1565773340/nimasa-warns-applicants-employment-scam
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A journalist with the Port Harcourt-based Nigeria Info radio station, Mr Koffi Bartels, has dragged the Nigeria Police to court seeking the sum of N650m as punitive and exemplary damages.

Bartels was on June 4, 2019, rushed to hospital after he was allegedly tortured and brutalised by personnel of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Rivers State.

The journalist said he suffered a swollen knee after he was hit several times with wooden bars, while trying to take photographs of the harassment of a boy by the SARS officers at Mgbuoba in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
Bartels said the requested N650m would compensate for his ordeal in the hands of the SARS personnel.

The journalists, had through a document dated July 29, 2019, filed at the Rivers State High Court, Port Harcourt Judicial Division, sued the Inspector-General of Police, Rivers State Commissioner of Police and Attorney-General of the Federation as first, second and third respondents, respectively.

Bartels, in the document signed by his lawyer, Festus Ogwuche and six others, also sought reliefs bordering on the enforcement of his fundamental human rights and freedom as enshrined in the constitution.

He also sought the order of the court to mandate the respondents to initiate criminal proceedings against all the SARS officers involved in the abuse of his rights through torture.

Other reliefs sought by Bartels are, “An order of this honourable court restraining the respondents by themselves, their privies, agents, assigns and servants from further summoning, harassing, torturing, arresting, intimidating and detaining the applicant in any detention centre, including that of the SARS.

“The sum of N650m, being punitive and exemplary damages against the respondents, and for such other orders that the honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstance.”

Ogwuche pointed out that the initial show of remorse by the police was not sustained, a development that forced his client to seek redress in court.
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1565769616/rivers-broadcaster-sues-police-demands-n650m-over
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Security guards on Monday beat up the Chairman of the Ovia South-West Local Government Area, Destiny Enabulele who allegedly tried to force his way into the reception venue for the 80th birthday of a former chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Chief John Odigie Oyegun.
Enabulele, who approached the entrance of the venue in company with his aides, was asked to produce his invitation card but was unable to do so.

Attempts by his aides to introduce him were rebuffed by the guards who insisted on seeing the access card.
When he was asked to turn back Enabulele insisted on having his way.

He was immediately grabbed by the neck by the security guards and thrown out.

The situation almost turned into a fight as both Enabulele and his aides took on the security guards who were pushing the duo out of the premises.

It took the intervention of the protocol who knew Enabulele before the situation was brought under control and he was allowed into the reception venue while his aides were locked outside
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1565689484/security-guards-beat-edo-boss
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Athletic Bilbao striker Inaki Williams has signed a new nine-year contract that will increase his release clause to 135 million euros, the club announced on Monday
Williams’ previous release clause had been set at 80 million euros and the 25-year-old was linked with a move to Manchester United during the summer transfer window.

“Inaki Williams has prolonged his contract with Athletic Club until June 30, 2028,” read a statement from the club. “His termination clause is set at 135 million.”
The Bilbao-born striker ended a run of 40 league games at home without scoring in January by hitting two against Sevilla at San Mames.

He went on to score a career-best 12 goals last season in La Liga.

“I’m very happy. It is a pride for me to continue to be tied to this great club that has given me everything,” Williams said.

“Thank you for supporting me, above all for always being with me during the bad times. It’s a day to be happy and hopefully, great things will come because what I want is to make this club, if it’s possible, even bigger.”

Bilbao plays La Liga champions Barcelona at home on Friday in the opening fixture of the season.
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1565609328/williams-signs-nine-year-contract-with-athletic
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The House of Representatives is considering a bill seeking to amend the Sexual Offences Act 2015, to specify age of consent and who is a minor in sexual crimes prosecution.
The move, according to the Sexual Offences Act (Amendment) Bill 2019, sponsored by the lawmaker representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency of Oyo State, Mr Shina Peller, is to amend the ambiguous definition of a minor in the Sexual Offences Act.
The bill, which passed the first reading on July 24, 2019, is titled, ‘A Bill for an Act to Amend the Sexual Offence Act 2015 and for Other Related Matters, 2019.’

If the amendment bill is passed by the House as proposed, and concurred with by the Senate, anybody younger than 18 would be categorised as a minor under the law regardless of religious, marital and other considerations.

The explanatory note on the bill read, “This bill seeks to amend sections 7(2), 7(3) and 7(4) of the Sexual Offences Act and to delete superfluous provisions which may be misleading and fail to convey the draftsman’s intent, thereby altering the meaning/application of the section and replacing same with a more appropriate provision.”

Peller had in his motion adopted by the House on July 18, 2019, decried the confusion in the principal Act.

The lawmaker, in his lead debate, a copy of which our correspondent obtained, said, “The House is further worried that there is a lack of clarity on the issue of the legal age of consent to sexual activity in Nigeria, which is an issue of grave importance in our society.”
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1565603909/house-reps-defines-minor-new-sexual-offences
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A Canada-based don, Dr. John Ejobowah, says necessary laws on compulsory and free universal basic education must be enforced to punish parents who fail to send their wards to school.
Ejobowah, who is of the Department of Political Science and Global Studies at the Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, in Canada, made the call on Thursday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the don spoke at the National Conference on Exploring the Effectiveness of Quota System Policies in Higher Education in Nigeria.
“There is need for the compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act of 2004 to be enforced, especially in the North to reduce or curb the rate of out-of-school children in the country,’’ Ejobowah said.

He said affirmative action in tertiary universities was lagging and quota system seemed not to be working in Nigeria “because some states do not have a good number of students graduating from secondary schools’’.

“The law of 2004 on compulsory education should be enforced. There should be compliance. Why pass a law if you cannot enforce it?

“The law requires parents to send their kids to schools and if they take them out of schools, they have to be punished.

“I do not think there is any case of a parent being tried in court. The Act provides for the court to try parents who violate these provisions. But, so far, I do not know of any recorded case.

“This is necessary because the universities get their students from secondary schools. So, we have to address the imbalances at that level so that the educationally-disadvantaged states can have more students.’’

Ejobowah further said more attention has to be focused on happenings at the primary and secondary education levels.

“This is in terms of bridging the horizontal imbalances and narrowing the educational gap between the North and the South and so on.’’

He said the primary and secondary schools, which he described as the supply line to the universities, were the major areas where there were problems in the education sector.

The don expressed concern that the supply line to universities was not being addressed. “So, it will be futile to do affirmative action at the university levels.’’

Speaking also at the conference, the Director-General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Garba Abari, said the quota system was introduced in 1975 to address some educational challenges .

Abari, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Mr David Akoji, said there were questions 40 years later if the policy had achieved its objective.

He pointed out that this was because of the rate of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

“Today, we are faced with the problem of out-of-school children, especially in the North, providing a ready army for Boko Haram to recruit.

“Worse still, we are faced with the contradiction of students who have scored 290 and such other good marks in JAMB but cannot get their desired courses to study, while their counterparts with lower marks from other regions are being accommodated into such courses,’’ Abari said.

He said NOA would come up with answers to many questions facing the nation in terms of the quota system and urged other stakeholders at the meeting to contribute their quota.

The Founding Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), Dr Otive Igbuzor, explained the rationale behind the conference being organised.

“This is for us to get the result of research commissioned by the centre on the effectiveness of the affirmative action policies in education.

“Key stakeholders from the government, policy makers, educational administrators, civil society and citizens were invited to examine the content of the policy and its implementation to propose the way forward,’’ Igbuzor said.

He said the conference would also provide an opportunity for suggesting alternative approaches to dealing with the problems and by that ensure improvement and maximisation of the quota system policy.

NAN reports that the conference was organised by the Centre LSD.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1565343819/discipline-parents-out-school-kids-says-don
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Akin Ajagbe, a clergyman, was, on Friday, arraigned in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court by the police for allegedly defrauding a housewife of N180,000 for a UK visa.

Ajagbe was charged with obtaining money under false pretences and stealing.

The Prosecution Counsel, Sgt. Ishola Samuel told the court that Ajagbe, 52, who resides at No. 31, Church St., Oke-odo, Agege, Lagos, with one person at large committed the offence on Aug. 10, 2017.
He alleged that Ajagbe fraudulently obtained N180,000 from the complainant, Mrs Biliki Adesope, to procure a UK visa for her.

The prosecution counsel alleged that Ajagbe ”disappeared” after collecting the money.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 prescribes a three-year jail term for stealing, while Section 314 attracts 15 years for obtaining money under false pretences.

Magistrate A.I Abina admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N300,000 with one surety in like sum.

Abina ordered that the surety must be gainfully employed and show evidences of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government (LASG).

The magistrate adjourned the case until Aug. 28 for hearing.
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1565351534/clergy-arrested-over-alleged-n180-000-visa
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An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, on Thursday, remanded Kolawole Samuel, a businessman for allegedly obtaining N400,000 from a man under the pretext of procuring Canadian visa for him.
The defendant, 40, resides at Ayetoro in Ogun, and is charged with counts of obtaining money under false pretences and stealing of which he pleaded not guilty.

The Prosecutor, ASP Clifford Ogu told the court during the sitting that the defendant committed the offences on Aug. 1 at Ikeja.
He, however, alleged that the defendant fraudulently obtained N400,000 from Mr Boluwaji Boboye under the pretext of procuring Canadian visa for him which he never did.

‘’After the defendant collected the money, he was nowhere to be found.

‘’Efforts made by the complainant to get the visa or retrieve his money were unsuccessful as the defendant could no longer be located and he refused to pick up the complainant’s calls.

‘’The defendant was later apprehended and handed over to the police,’’ the prosecutor said.

”The offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 prescribes three years jail term for stealing, while Section 314 attracts 15 years for obtaining money under false pretences.

Magistrate, Mr J.A Adegun, however, granted the defendant bail of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

He added that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidences of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government (LASG).

He then adjourned the case until Aug. 26 for hearing.
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1565351712/businessman-remanded-over-alleged-canadian-visa-fraud
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Following the lingering and deteriorating communal clashes between the Tiv and Jukuns in parts of Taraba, the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) has evacuated its members serving in crisis affected communities in southern part of Taraba state.
State Coordinator of the service Mrs Florence Yakuugh who disclosed this while addressing journalists in Jalingo on Friday said that the decision became imperative to provide safety for the corps members as their safety could no longer be guaranteed in those areas.

She disclosed that the service has already redeployed corps members serving outside those crisis affected local government headquarters back to their headquarters.

She appealed to warring factions in the area to embrace peace for development of their communities.

According to her stability will allow our youths corps members to contribute their quarter to nation’s building.

“We have received directives from our national headquarters to redeploy our youth corps members serving in crisis affected communities especially in those interior areas back to local government headquarters.

“We have already redeployed them out of those places and taken them to local government headquarters in Wukari, Donga and Takum for their safety.

” We are appealing to the warring factions to embrace peace and allow development of their communities. NYSC is a unifying institution and Corp members can only contribute meaningfully when there is peace in their host communities.

” So we are appealing to the warring factions to give our youth corps members the opportunity to serve and to achieve the goal of nation building”.

The NYSC coordinator enjoined those local government areas that are located across rivers to acquire ‘life jackets’ for the safety of corps members posted to those areas as some of them were not conversant with crossing large volume of water.

Our correspondent recall that the communal crisis that erupted in the southern part of Taraba between Tiv and Jukun has lead to lost of many lives and property and the recent closure of Federal University Wukari after students of the institution were killed in cold blood by tribal militias.
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1565348322/nysc-evacuates-corps-members-from-crisis-affected
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Mexico said Thursday that 122 of its citizens were among the 680 undocumented immigrants detained in a major series of raids at food processing plants in the United States.
Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said the government would provide consular assistance and “guarantee the adequate legal defence of all Mexican nationals” detained in Wednesday’s raids in the southeastern state of Mississippi.

Those who are deported will have the government’s support to access employment, education and health care in Mexico, he told a press briefing.
The raids came after President Donald Trump promised to round up “millions of illegal aliens.”


They left tearful family members, including children, rushing to say goodbye as immigrants lined up to board buses to be driven to detention centres.

Ebrard initially said 107 Mexicans had been detained. The foreign ministry later updated the figure to 122, “of whom 34 have been released and issued a court summons,” it said.

Ebrard, who has the tricky task of handling US relations in the face of Trump’s frequent anti-Mexican attacks, did not criticize Wednesday’s raids, hewing to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s line of avoiding confrontation with Mexico’s crucial neighbour and trading partner.

But he said Mexico would ask the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to inspect the detention centres where the migrants are being held.

He also announced Mexico City would host a meeting of Latin American officials on August 15 to “discuss the defence and promotion of Spanish-speaking civilizations and culture… especially in the United States.”

The raids occurred the same day Trump visited El Paso, Texas, in the wake of a mass shooting by a gunman who killed 22 people after publishing a racist manifesto in which he vowed to fight a “Hispanic invasion” of the US.
https://www.nairapark.com/news/1565340239/122-mexicans-among-680-detained-migration-raids
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