₦airaland Forum

A 20-year old man, Gbenga Adeniyi, who allegedly attempted to kill his biological mother for money making ritual, has been remanded in prison by an Akure Magistrate Court.

The magistrate ordered that Mr. Adeniyi should be kept in Olokuta Prison custody pending the time police will come up with a medical report.

The incident according to Police Prosecutor, Isah Atanegbe, took place on May 9 at about 3 a.m. at Abiribiri Street, Isolo, Akure.

Read details here: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/133915-man-20-arraigned-for-attempting-to-use-mother-for-ritual.html

The Nigerian Governors Forum has rejected any planned declaration of a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and other troubled states.

The governors stated this in a statement by their Chairman, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, on Monday. They advised the federal government to reject any advice to make such a declaration in the troubled states.

Read more here: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/133973-breaking-nigerian-governors-reject-state-of-emergency-in-borno-yobe-others.html

The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to assure Nigerians that he is fully in charge of affairs in the country by bringing the likes of Asari Dokubo- public figures who make inciting comments and cause problem in the country- to order.

The Vice President of the NLC, Issa Aremu, said this at a rally organized by the congress in Kaduna on Thursday.

Mr. Dokubo, a former militant leader in the Niger Delta had threatened chaos in the region if President Goodluck Jonathan was not re-elected in 2015.

Details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/133513-call-asari-dokubo-to-order-nlc-tells-jonathan.html

The Yobe State House of Assembly on Thursday said it would enact a law making HIV test compulsory among intending couples in the state.

The Speaker, Dala Dogo, stated this in Damaturu when the ‘Network for People Living with HIV’ paid him a courtesy visit.

“The assembly will next week initiate a bill on compulsory HIV screening for intending couples and, it will receive accelerated hearing for passage into law before the end of the year,” he said.

See details of their visit at: http://premiumtimesng.com/regional/132428-yobe-assembly-to-enact-law-mandating-hiv-test-for-intending-couples-speaker.html

A Karu Upper Area Court, Abuja, on Thursday denied a 40-year-old married man, Godwin Ochapa, bail for allegedly collecting N2.9 million from his lover with a promise to marry her.

The prosecutor, Bulus Samuel, said the case was reported at the State Criminal Investigation Department by one Nebo Ogochukwu.

The accused was arraigned before the presiding judge, Umar Kagarko, on a four-count-charge, which Samuel said were committed in 2010.

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/132404-married-man-promises-lover-marriage-dupes-her-of-n2-9mn.html

The party chairman said PDP has no plans to impeach the Rivers State governor.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State on Wednesday denied any plan to impeach governor Rotimi Amaechi.

The State Chairman of the party, Felix Obuah, told newsmen in Port Harcourt that the allegation was frivolous and unfounded.

“I’m a law abiding citizen of Nigeria; I know that as a party chairman, I have no constitutional right to impeach a governor.

“We are not the legislature that checks the excesses of the executive, we have no such plans because, we have come to unite the state and the party,’’ he said.

Mr. Obuah urged the governor to run a transparent and accountable leadership, aimed at transforming the state.

He called on the people to disregard the alarm raised by some lawmakers who had called for protest against the PDP-led executive.

The PDP chairman said that he suspended the lawmakers to deter others who might be planning any form of anti-party activities.

“Disciplinary measures are meant for offenders,” he said.

He urged the loyal party members to continue to support the leadership of the party.

He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for ensuring the prevalence of the rule of law and discipline in the party.

“The PDP is big enough to accommodate everyone, including the aggrieved members.

“There was no time that we individually or collectively planned to plunge the state into chaos or political restiveness as being peddled by some aggrieved members,” he said.


http://premiumtimesng.com/news/132273-no-plans-to-impeach-amaechi-pdp.html

As the 2015 election steadily approaches, and campaign strategies by various politicians and political offices holders already in full gear, women are being charged to gear up to vie for elective positions in the country.

But the odds are stacked against them despite president Goodluck Jonathan’s much touted 35 per cent representation of women in government; and the 1995 Beijing conference-recommended 35 per cent allocation for women in political positions, power and decision.

Aisha Osori, the CEO of the Nigerian Women’s Trust Fund, spoke to PREMIUM TIMES, on the challenges a woman faces when she attempts to go into politics.

“The constitution is biased against women,” Ms. Osori said.

Find out details of these challenges at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/132182-challenges-nigerian-women-face-in-politics.html

President Goodluck Jonathan, Wednesday, derided the Labour unions saying many of its members at all levels engage in high level of corruption despite their clamour for good governance.

“Labour has been in the fore front for the demand of good governance and increase action against corruption and these issues are being vigorously tackled from various fronts. Prosecutions are being pursued in matters arising from petroleum subsidy fraud, embezzlement of pension fund and other serious long-standing malpractices demystified by this administration.

“Given that some of these perpetrators are senior and junior members of labour unions, greater attention to peer review action on the part of labour will be much more appreciated”, the President said.

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/132265-jonathan-tasks-nigerian-labour-congress-to-check-corruption-among-its-members.html

The Peoples Democratic Party on Monday described the All Progressives Congress, APC, the mega party formed by some opposition parties in the country, as a “time bomb’’ that would soon explode.

The Chairman of the PDP in Ekiti State, Makanjuola Ogundipe, said this in Ado-Ekiti while receiving a letter of intent to contest the governorship poll in the state from Dayo Adeyeye.

Mr. Adeyeye was the former Chairman of Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board.

Mr. Ogundipe, who accused APC leaders of selfishness, warned Nigerians to steer clear of the proposed party.

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/national/131943-apc-a-time-bomb-that-will-explode-soon-pdp.html

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described the Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, as “a rampaging evil.”

The party stated this in its response to Thursday’s cancellation of council elections in Esan North East Local Government Area by the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC. The PDP claimed the cancellation was “the express directive of Governor Adams Oshiomhole,” describing it “as a rampaging evil and another evidence of rabid desperation by the opposition to truncate the wishes of the people.”

See details with the party's claims at: http://premiumtimesng.com/regional/131527-oshiomhole-needs-deliverance-for-evil-electoral-actions-pdp.html

The United States has for the umpteenth time told President Goodluck Jonathan to be serious about the fight against corruption, saying only if the president does so, will he be seen as serious about good governance.

The American Ambassador to Nigeria, Terence McCulley, stated this in an editorial published on the U.S. embassy website.

Find out details:=====>http://premiumtimesng.com/news/131390-again-u-s-tells-jonathan-to-be-serious-about-fight-against-corruption.html

President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the release of a total sum of N5. 7 billion to nine states for direct disbursement to assist those who suffered losses of property and whose means of livelihood and places of worship were destroyed in the post election violence of 2011.

It would be recalled that the President, following the post election violence and civil disturbances in some states after the April 2011 elections, set up a Panel of Enquiry headed by Ahmed Lemu to, among other things, identify the spread and extent of losses suffered across the country.

Find out the beneficiary states and amount allotted to them at:http://premiumtimesng.com/news/131399-jonathan-approves-n5-7bn-for-victims-of-2011-post-election-violence.html

The National Economic Council, NEC, on Thursday approved the conversion of one university in each of the six geo-political zones to a ‘Mega University.”

The recommendation for the conversion was part of those contained in the report of the Peter Obi-led Technical Committee on the recommendations of the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Universities, CNANU. All the recommendations were approved, Mr. Obi, Governor of Anambra State told journalists after the meeting.

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/131416-nigeria-to-create-six-mega-universities.html

An Omu-Aran Upper Area Court in Kwara State, on Thursday admitted a cleric, Kunle Odafe, to N50, 000 bail with two sureties in like sum for allegedly defiling a minor.

Mr. Odafe, 31, a pastor who lives at Obagunke Area, Omu-Aran, had earlier been refused bail on his arraignment on April 12 on a one-count charge of gross indecent act to which he had pleaded guilty.

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/131306-pastor-granted-bail-after-pleading-guilty-to-defiling-12-year-old-girl.html

A 35-year-old Pastor, Segun Fasina, on Monday pleaded with an Orile-Agege Customary Court in Lagos, to dissolve his four-year-old marriage over wife’s alleged wayward life.

But his wife shot back in court saying the pastor was adulterous and that she once caught him having sex with a church member on their matrimonial bed.

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/regional/131089-i-caught-my-pastor-husband-having-sex-with-church-member-woman-tells-court.html

In a bid to deepen competition and force mobile phone operators to provide better service to their customers, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, on Monday launched the Nigerian Mobile Number Portability service to guarantee freedom for telecoms subscribers.

Here are 15 things you need to understand how the service can better work for you:

1. MNP allows subscribers to migrate from one mobile service provider to another without changing their mobile phone number. It empowers subscribers to terminate their relationship with their current network service provider if they are dissatisfied with the quality of services provided.

See others at: http://premiumtimesng.com/business/131102-15-things-nigerians-need-to-know-about-how-mobile-number-portability-works.html

As four opposition political parties inch towards dissolving into a single political party, lawyers say the new party, if registered, will inherit the suits they are party to, either as defendants or plaintiffs.

They also said that the suits hitherto existing between any of the four parties will be struck out by the courts or election petition tribunals entertaining such suits.

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/131098-apcll-inherit-suits-involving-cpc-acn-anpp-lawyers.html

Teidi Shuaibu and 39 other persons jointly standing trial for allegedly siphoning N12 billion federal civil servants’ pension funds were on Tuesday discharged by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Teidi, a former Director of Pension Administration in the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation and others were also standing trial for the missing funds.

Find out details of the court judgement and why the accused were re-arrested by EFCC ====> http://premiumtimesng.com/news/130999-n12b-pension-scam-court-discharges-40-accused-efcc-re-arrests-them.html

The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, has called on people he said use social media to ‘slander’ the government, to search their conscience and stop the practice.

Mr. Maku, who spoke via his Press Secretary, Joseph Mutah, in a release on Tuesday, was reacting to a publication he said appeared on an online medium.

See details of his statement at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/131065-social-media-critics-should-fear-god-information-minister-maku-says.html

More people were killed than earlier reported in the small village of Baga, which sits along the shores of Lake Chad in Borno State, in a deadly fighting between suspected members of the Boko Haram sect and a military task force, the Red Cross has said.

Initial reports said 185 people were killed either in the crossfire, or were burnt to death after the Joint Task Force razed the entire community down. Military authorities have denied the figures, claiming they were exaggerated.

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/130809-red-cross-says-187-not-185-died-in-borno-village-baga-during-jtf-boko-haram-fight.html

Efforts by the Special Task Force, STF, on Jos crisis to end the incessant killings in Plateau State might have been thwarted, as one of the warring communities refused to attend a security meeting organised to resolve the lingering issues causing unrest in the state.

The Task Force, Monday, convened an emergency security meeting between Fulani herdsmen and Berom indigenes to deliberate on solving the increasing insecurity in Riyom and Barkinladi Local Government Area of the State. But the Fulanis did not attend the meeting.

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/regional/130774-fulani-boycott-security-meeting-to-resolve-plateau-crisis.html

Yes, there is corruption within Nigerian government, but it has been over amplified, President Goodluck Jonathan said on Monday.

The president said this at the signing of the Power Reform Transaction contracts at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“Let me continue to assure Nigerians that yes, there are issues of corruption in this country but somehow it has been over-amplified,” Mr. Jonathan said. “People should watch how we have been conducting government business. We have been bringing down the issues of corruption gradually.”

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/130756-corruption-in-nigeria-is-over-amplified-president-jonathan-says.html

More than 48 hours after Nigerian soldiers hunting for Boko Haram insurgents leveled Baga town in Borno State, killing 185 civilians and wounding several others, President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to comment on the tragedy.

The president’s silence is a sharp contrast with the way his United States counterpart, Barack Obama, acts whenever even a single American is killed.

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/130748-president-jonathan-quiet-more-than-48-hours-after-soldiers-massacred-185-civilians-in-borno.html

Nigeria’s notorious jails and detention centres hold an estimated 6,000 children and minors, many of whom were born there and now serve terms with their parents despite a government’s order to effect their release, the United States country human rights report on Nigeria says.

Although Nigerian law forbids the imprisonment of children, by the end of 2012, the government has taken no clear step to implement its order to release and rehabilitate the children, the report, quoting an African Union study, says.

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/130661-6000-innocent-children-held-in-nigerian-prisons-report-says.html

The Police Service Commission has dismissed Olusegun Fabunmi, a Chief Superintendent of Police who shot and killed one Ademola Aderinto in Ogba, Lagos during the January 2012 fuel subsidy protest, the Punch Newspaper is reporting.

During the commission’s plenary meeting held on April 3 in Abuja, Mr. Fabunmi was dismissed for act unbecoming of a senior police officer.

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/130134-police-dismiss-fuel-subsidy-killer-cop.html

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bamanga Tukur, said on Tuesday night that no right thinking Nigerian would abandon the party to pitch his tent with the opposition parties.

He stated this while felicitating with the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, who received the “Best Governor” award from the Leadership Newspaper.

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/130090-nobody-will-leave-pdp-for-opposition-says-tukur.html

The African Peoples Congress, APC, whose application for registration was turned down by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, last month, has asked the Commission to halt the National Convention of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, holding in Lagos on Thursday.

In a petition to INEC on Wednesday, the association premised its request on the suit it filed in court challenging the rejection of its application, which it said has not been disposed of.

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/130075-stop-acns-convention-rival-apc-tells-inec.html

A suspected bomber has been lynched by Kano residents during an unsuccessful attempt to detonate a bomb at Kofar Kwaru, near the Emir of Kano’s palace on Wednesday night.

A witness, who pleaded anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that no casualty was recorded when the bomber threw what was suspected to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/130109-suspected-bomber-lynched-in-kano.html

A gynaecologist Fred Achem, on Wednesday advised women in their child- bearing age to give themselves two years in between pregnancies before having another child.

Mr. Achem gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

He said that it was important that women recovered their blood level after childbirth which usually required a minimum of two years.

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/129976-give-yourself-two-years-in-between-pregnancies-gynaecologist-advises-women.html

A former presidential candidate, Olu Falae, has described the proposed amnesty for members of the Boko Haram by the federal government as a misplaced priority.

Mr. Falae in an Interview with PREMIUM TIMES in Akure, the Ondo State capital, said granting amnesty to people whose identity remain unknown is ludicrous.

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/129887-falae-kicks-against-amnesty-for-boko-haram.html

A former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has described the Federal Government as ‘deluded, irresponsible and insensitive’ for considering granting amnesty to the insurgent group, Boko Haram.

Mr. Fani-Kayode stated this in an opinion sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday morning.

The former minister said Nigerian’s were living in denial by suggesting amnesty for a group that has clearly rejected it and continues to “kill, maim and destroy.”

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/129563-jonathan-continues-to-drink-champagne-while-boko-haram-kills-nigerians-fani-kayode.html

The 60th general council meeting of the Evangelical Church Winning All [ECWA] has frowned at those calling for amnesty for the Boko Haram sect, saying the group is faceless and does not deserve pardon.

ECWA President, Jeremiah Gado, made the church’s position known Friday in Jos while reading the communiqué for the 60thgeneral council meeting held at the ECWA headquarters in Jos.

Read details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/129282-ecwa-rejects-amnesty-for-boko-haram-seeks-compensation-for-damaged-churches.html