₦airaland Forum

https://www.osundefender.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/ASUU-President-Faggae.jpg

ASUU President, Faggae


A National Executive Council, NEC meeting of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is ongoing at the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Niger State, to decide on when to resume classes.

After five months of strike, ASUU yesterday directed all chairmen of local chapters of the union, the zonal coordinators and past leaders to attend the meeting.

The lecturers, it was learnt, may also use the session to design how to cover the lost grounds for students.

The Federal Government and ASUU reached a compromise during a negotiation brokered by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar.

A source said: “We have been communicated that ASUU may likely hold a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Monday at FUT Minna to take a final decision on the strike action.

“The meeting is going to be a formality because ASUU leadership has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Government.

“ASUU’s National President Dr. Nasir Fagge said the union’s NEC would meet and revert to the Federal Government within a week.

“We will use the meeting to make the MoU available to all the branches and design modalities for monitoring the implementation of the agreement.

“The union will also design ways to cover up for missed lectures by students in such a manner that it would not affect academic standards in all universities.”

The source noted that the NEC meeting was required, in line with the constitution of the union, because Dr Fagge could not unilaterally call off the strike.

https://www.osundefender.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/gulak_1.jpeg
The Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Political Affairs, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, says the defected PDP governors are “prodigal sons” who will soon return to the fold, begging for forgiveness.

Gulak stated this as a special guest at a dinner organised by the “Goodluck Support Group (GSG)’’ in New York on Wednesday.

The event was well attended by Nigerian-Americans, congressmen and the business community.

The night also witnessed formal inauguration of zonal coordinators of GSG with a presentation of a documentary on “See what President Goodluck Jonathan Has Done in 2 Years’’.

“Some of these governors are so unpopular; they cannot win elections in their states, no political analysis can show that Rotimi Amaechi can take Rivers State to APC. It is simply impossible that Amaechi’s APC will take the votes away from the PDP whether at the governorship or presidential levels and other levels for that matter.

“In 2011, Buhari contested on the platform of the party he formed, the CPC while ACN fielded Ribadu and they were again defeated; I assure you that we will always defeat them and come tops,” Gulak said.

“This is a game of politics just like what is happening here in the U.S. where the opposition shut down the government.

“They called the president all manner of names and insisted on budget cuts. Those who jumped ship will come back again.

“Atiku left PDP for ACN and returned to the fold with profuse apology. He was welcomed back like a prodigal son; we will welcome back our prodigal sons because out there, it is nothing but empty shelves full of mediocre,” he said.

He, however, noted that no Nigerian leader had been so qualified to lead Nigeria as Jonathan, adding that the president gave a score-card of his performance in two years.

Gulak stated that the evidence on ground showed that the president’s transformation agenda was real.

BY ONOZURE DANIA


Lagos — Two security men, Samson Obroh, 55 and Joshua Iyeye, 20, were yesterday remanded to Kirikiri Prison by an Ikeja Magistrate Court pending the legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, over alleged robbery and rape.

The defendants who reside at 4a, Atanda Akinremi Street, Orile-Agege and 16, Puposhola Street, Lagos respectively were ordered to be remanded in prison by Magistrate A. O. Akinde.

The defendants and others at large, committed the alleged offence on November 19, 2013, at about 1 a.m at 13, Ben Olakunle Street, Fagba in Iju Ishaga area of Lagos State.

The defendants are facing a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery and stealing and rape, preferred against them by the police.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Chinalu Uwadione, said the defendants while armed with a locally made pistol, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons, robbed one Abiodun Ahmed of one Nokia phone valued at N14,000, jewelleries, N25,000; a radio set valued N15,000 and N4,200 cash.

Uwadione told the court that the defendants also raped Abiodun Ahmed.

The prosecutor further noted that the defendants also robbed one Juliana Akinlade of her N400, two TV sets valued N100,000, laptop worth N80,000, two Nokia phones valued N100,000 and a wedding ring worth N800,000.

According to the prosecutor, the defendants raped one Juliana Akinlade.

He said the offences are contrary to section 1 (2) (a) (b) of Armed Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. 398 Vol. XXii, laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 as amended.

The offence is also punishable under section 285 (1) of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

Earlier, the defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Their plea was not taken as the magistrate ordered that they be remanded pending the DPP’s advice.

She, however, adjourned the case to January 23, 2014.

ADO-EKITI — An Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ court, yesterday, remanded three men, Joseph Linus (23), Sunday Emmanuel (25) and Peter Kehinde in prison custody for allegedly stealing yam and cocoa.

The Police prosecutor, Cpl. Olasunkanmi Bamikole, told the court that the accused persons committed the offence on December 2, at about 12. 20 p.m. at Odo, Ado-Ilawe Road inAdo-Ekiti.

He alleged that the accused unlawfully stole 150 kg of cocoa seeds, valued at N60,000, property of one Johnson Friday.

He added that the accused also stole 32 tubers of yam valued at N15,000, property of one Sikiru Ishola.

According to him, the offence contravenes Section 390(a) of the Criminal Code Cap C 16,Vol.1, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

The accused pleaded not guilty while their counsel, Mrs Stella Okafor, prayed the court to grant them bail, promising that they would not jump bail.

The prosecutor, however, opposed the bail application, saying that the second accused was not a first offender.

The Magistrate, Mrs Taiwo Ajibade, consequently, remanded the accused in prison custody.
She adjourned the case till Jan. 20, 2014 for hearing.

https://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Domingo-Obende.jpg
Domingo Obende is a Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District in Edo State.


BENIN—THERE was ju-bilation in Edo North senatorial district of Edo State, yesterday, following the victory of All Progressives Congress, APC, senator representing the area, Senator Domingo Obende, at the Appeal Court, in Abuja.

The senatorial candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Yisa Braimoh, had filed a suit against Obende, alleging that the primary school certificate presented by Obende for the 2011 National Assembly election was forged.

But the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Abdul Kafarati, dismissed the forgery allegation against Obende on January 25, 2012 and awarded N100,000 costs to him.

Alhaji Braimoh then approached the Appeal Court after the lower court struck out his suit, saying it was wrongly commenced by originating summons instead of writ of summons.

However, in a ruling written by Justice A. Sanusi and Delivered by Justice Tur, the Court of Appeal said the lower court was right in all its submissions on the matter brought before it by Braimoh where it held that the suit was wrongly instituted.

The Appeal Court struck out the suit and reduced the N100,000 earlier awarded by the lower court in favour of Obende to N30,000.

The court declared that the matter in dispute could only be resolved by adducing oral evidence and not mere documentary evidence.

It concurred with the defence counsel, Mr. Moses Ofeashi, that the suit “is meant to harass, intimidate, vex and embarrass his client”.

Besides, the judge ruled that the court lacked “the jurisdiction to entertain the suit as it is a matter of the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal.”

However, while APC members celebrated on the streets of Akoko Edo and Auchi, Senator Obende described the ruling as victory for democracy. According to him, “I am very happy with the ruling because this has confirmed that our judiciary is still the last hope of the common man.

I hope these people will go and rest now and support me to move our senatorial district forward to complement what Governor Adams Oshiomhole, is doing in the state.”

DOYIN OKUPE: > “Nelson Mandela was a great leader, he lived his life for the people of South Africa.

“I check through the history of Nigeria, among the our past and present leaders, the only one we call our Mandela here in Nigeria is President Jonathan. There is no any President in Nigeria that has sacrifice 13 hours to discuss with ASUU.”

Do you agree with Okupe that GEJ is the equivalent of Mandela here in ‪#‎Nigeria‬.?

President Jonathan Is Our
Mandela ~ Doyin Okupe (on AIT) December 6, 2013

DOYIN OKUPE: > "Nelson Mandela was a great leader, he lived his life for the people of South Africa.

"I check through the history of Nigeria, among our past and present leaders, the only one we call our Mandela here in Nigeria is President Jonathan. There is no any President in Nigeria that has sacrifice 13 hours to discuss with ASUU."

FELLOW NAIRALANDERS, Do you agree with Okupe that GEJ is the equivalent of Mandela here in Nigeria.?

https://www.osundefender.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Mandeli-1.jpgThe Governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has re-named Osogbo Freedom Pack after the world Legend, Nelson Mandela.

Mandela who was the South Africa’s first black president died peacefully in company of his family at home in Johannesburg, Jacob Zuma announces on Thursday.

According to Aergbesola, Nelson Mandela, the towering figure of Africa’s struggle for freedom and an hero to millions around the world, has died at the age of 95. “His Struggles and journey from prisoner to a president embodied the promise that African Peoples – and developing countries – can change for the better.”

Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau on Friday in Abuja, renamed the Plateau State University after Chief Solomon Lar, the late first executive Governor of the state.

Jang announced this at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, where the remains of the late politician were formally received on arrival from London.

His corpse arrived at the airport at 6.00 a.m. aboard a British Airways flight BA-O83 from London where he died on Oct. 9, at the age of 80.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lar, who was also the pioneer National Chairman of the PDP, midwifed the formation of the party and led it to victory in the 1999 general elections.

Jang also announced that Dec. 11 to 13 would be observed as mourning days in Plateau to honour the departed.

He declared that Dec. 13, the day Lar would be finally laid to rest, would be observed as a work-free day in the state.

According to Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the PDP National Chairman, the vacuum created by the death of Lar will be difficult to fill.

This, he said, was so because Lar “was an emancipator of the less privileged and a democrat of repute”, adding that the late politician was“the light in the firmament of Nigerian politics’’.

Tukur said that Lar was one among those who openly challenged the military during the military administration in the country.

Mr Danladi Wuyep, a Special Assistant to late Lar for several years, said the deceased preached peace, unity and godliness in his life time.

Wuyep said that even on his sick bed, Lar was worried about the current crisis rocking the PDP and had always prayed that enduring peace and unity was enthroned in the party.

Lar was said to have stood up to the dreaded Abacha regime when he personally handed over a letter from the G-8 (group of eight prominent politicians that formed the PDP) to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.

He studied at the Sudan United Mission Primary School in Langtang and later proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he graduated in 1970 with a law degree and was called to the bar in 1971.

Lar was elected as a councillor in the Langtang Native Authority in January 1959 and was later elected to the Federal Parliament on the platform of United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC) on Dec. 12, 1959.

He was a member of the first National Parliament when Nigeria gained independence in 1960 and was Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa before the January 1966 coup which brought in the military.

At the start of the second republic, Lar was a co-founder of the Nigerian People’s Party, where he was nominated as the party’s presidential candidate in 1978.

He later won the governorship election in Plateau and became the first executive governor of the state on Oct.1 1979.

The late Lar introduced reforms in the state’s employment laws, abolishing the daily pay and contract systems; and introduced payment of allowances for nursing mothers on maternity leave in the state.

He was appointed as Minister of Police Affairs by the government of General Sani Abacha, a position he resigned when he realised that Abacha seemed not to be serious about restoring democracy.

In February 2010, he was appointed as Chairman of the Presidential Committee, tasked with the responsibility of recommending how to prevent further violence in Plateau.

Lar was described by most politicians as a colourful politician whose symbol was his white handkerchief and a peculiar cap.

The PDP national leadership had earlier said that the party would ensure a befitting burial for him.

His remains were received at the airport by the PDP National Chairman, Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau, Prof. Jerry Gana, Mrs Paulin Tallen and the FCT Minister, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan.

Also at the airport were some cabinet members of the Plateau Government, Mrs Sarah Ochepe, Minister of Water Resources, and some Christian associations.

A brief mass was conducted at the airport in his honour before his remains were eventually conveyed to his Abuja Maitama residence.

BY DAYO JOHNSON
AKURE— A 71-year old, Alhaji Ganiyu Kolawole, has been arrested in Akure, the OndoState capital, for allegedly raping a seven-year-old primary one pupil (names withheld).

The suspect, who is a night guard and farmer, is said to be fond of raping children. He was said to have been jailed recently for a similar offence.

Report had it that the suspect lives alone in a dilapidated house on Mission Road, Ayetoro Street, Oba-Ile, Akure where he allegedly committed the act.

Vanguardgathered that the suspect, who is from BenueState, is being detained by the officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.

The victim, who attends St. PaulAnnexPrimary School, Oba-Ile was lured by the suspect into his room with biscuits.

Sources said the unsuspecting girl was returning from school, Tuesday, and said to be famished.

She was said to have crossed the road to drink water from a well along her route but when she discovered that the water was dirty she continued her journey home when the suspect beckoned on her.

The girl reportedly went to the suspect who was sitting in front of his house and was lured into the room where she was defiled.

Vanguardlearnt that the Alhaji, who connived with another suspect now at large, asked the girl what she wanted and promised to give her not only cold water but biscuits.

While the girl was still trying to think of what the Alhaji had promised her, the accomplice reportedly pushed her inside the house while the Alhaji carried her covering her mouth with apiece of cloth when she started shouting.

It was gathered that after defiling the girl, the Alhaji cleaned her up as she was bleeding.

Suspect denies allegation
Confirming the arrest and detention of the suspect, the image maker of the NSCDC, Mr Kayode Balogun, said: “When Alhaji was interviewed, he said the girl approached him to buy her biscuits as she was hungry which he bought for her and denied raping the girl.”

He said during investigation, it was discovered that the suspect is a serial rapist who had been jailed for raping another girl in the community.

He said: “When officers of the corps went to the house of the accused for investigation, the residents of the area testified that the man was fond of raping children and had been jailed before for raping a girl in the area.

Balogun said after the matter was reported to the agency, the girl was taken to the general hospital where it was confirmed she had been defiled.

He said: “Investigation is still ongoing as the man is still in our custody and will be taken to court.”

Vanguardgathered that the girl, whose father died few years ago, lives with her mother in a one-room apartment in Oba-Ile area of the state capital.

https://cdn.thisdaylive.com/0bef99d6-acf5-4e2c-9779-8fa02ba3fcd4/assets/240312F1.Bamanga-Tukur.jpg?maxwidth=400&maxheight=540Bamanga Tukur


*. Oyinlola opts out, insists he is party’s national secretary


By Chuks Okocha


The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed shock over the defection of the five aggrieved governors and some members of the party to the All Progressive Council (APC).

But the suspended national secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who was at the meeting Tuesday morning has opted out of joining the APC, insisting that he is still the national secretary of PDP.

The Chairman said the aggrieved five governors and members of the faction known as the New PDP, went too far by defecting from a ruling party into the opposition camp, more so at a time the doors of negotiations and dialogue were kept wide open by President Jonathan and the party for all.

Tukur, currently in China on the invitation of the government of the Peoples Republic of China said he was in constant touch with the presidency and party leaders on the development.


Details to follow

https://edge.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Fashola2.jpgLagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola


The 11 governors of the All Progressives Congress have congratulated the five governors of the Peoples Democratic Party who defected to the opposition party.

They described the defected governors as “courageous for taking the historic step of leaving the governing, albeit, fast crumbling PDP into the progressives fold.”

A statement signed by the 11 APC governors, including Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Monday night, said that their coming to the APC, “despite all manners of intimidation, harassment and persecution by the Federal Government and the PDP is worthy of commendation and is indicative of a strong personal principles and commitment to the progress of Nigeria.”

They said considering the nature of achievements recorded in their respective states, the defected governors had no business belonging to a party they described as a party that had no democratic traditions.

They said the PDP had no plan for Nigeria beyond wasting public resources and further impoverishing Nigerians in spite of unprecedented oil revenues.

The APC governors, under the aegis of Progressive Governors Forum, said they were welcoming the affected governors.

They said that by coming into the fold of the progressives, the G5 had opted to discard the politics of corruption, nepotism and deception in favour of transparent and accountable leadership that was being governed by the principles of progress, integrity and equity.

“Together, we shall forge stronger alliances by joining forces with other like-minded progressives to rescue Nigeria from imminent collapse,” they added.

theoctopus1: Good riddance to bad rubbish. Now, PDP and GEJ can focus on Nigeria. This is a big blessing for PDP!

THE merger of the G7 governors of the New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) with the All Progressives Congress (APC) is sending jittery down the spines of the Senate leadership.

This was as the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, said the latest development had not affected the PDP caucus in the upper legislative chamber.

Before the merger, on Tuesday, PDP was the majority party, having 74 senators, while APC had 31, with the Labour Party (LP) having three and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) having one senator.

The expectation was that the merger may swell the number of APC senators and thus posing a threat to the present arrangement in the Senate under the PDP leadership.

However, Senator Ndoma-Egba, said the defection of the seven governors to the APC would not affect the configuration.

According to him, since no senator had formally informed the Senate of his defection, then none had moved to another party.

He said the rule guiding defection in the Senate was clear, adding that any senator defecting to another party must state in clear terms his reason(s) for defection.

The Senate Leader described the situation as regretable, but expressed confidence that PDP would overcome it in the end.

He, however, urged the party to close ranks and prevent similar occurrence in the nearest future.

“It is a significant development, though regrettable. It will certainly come with impact. But I believe that PDP is resilient enough to overcome whatever the impact will be.

“PDP has always faced major challenges. If you will recall in 2003, it was not G7, but G19. But in spite of that, PDP still overcame the challenge and went forward to win.

“We also had a situation in 2007, where a sitting vice president defected and we still won. We have always faced challenges. But we have to exert energy to ensure that ranks are closed to prevent similar situation.

“All l can say is that on matters of party unity, there should be a keener sense of urgency. I won’t deceive myself that it will be easy. That was why l told you earlier that we have to develop a keener sense of urgency on matters of party unity,” he said.

Meanwhile, the merger of the five governors with APC revealed a major crack in the rank and file of nPDP senators, as some of them had distanced themselves from the group.

Notably, Senator Simeon Ajibola (Kwara South) also disclosed that no fewer than 10 of the 22 senators in the nPDP had opted out of the arrangement.

Speaking with newsmen after the announcement of the merger, Ajibola said two senators from Niger State and another from Adamawa had never been part of APC since its inception.

He said three senators, Zainab Kure (Niger South), Awaisu Kuta (Niger East) and Bello Tukur (Adamawa Central), had not attended any of the APC meetings since its formation, adding that he was sure they would not go with the party now.

“When they were bandying the news about that 22 senators, including me, were in nPDP in the Senate, 10 out of the 22 were not with them and there is no way we can be said to be with them in the so-called merger.

“Merger or no merger, by 2015, Nigerians will know the grass-roots politicians and the paper tigers,” he said.

Also speaking on the development, Senator Bello Gwarzo (Kano North), dismissed the speculation that the merger would affect PDP.

“I can tell you that the PDP is becoming stronger and stronger everyday. No individual can say he was the one who made PDP.

“The party is a combination of so many politicians coming together to have a common front. Same with other political parties.

“Come 2015, nothing will deter us from winning that election. We will win the majority in the Senate; we will win the majority in the House of Representatives; we will win the presidency on the PDP platform.

“In politics, we believe in permanent ideology, no permanent friend or permanent enemy. It was the decision of the governors to defect. The decision is theirs. To me, it’s all politics. You can belong to any political party you so wish,” he said.

Also reacting to insinuation of a likely change in the leadership of the Senate, another principal officer said even with the merger, the opposition did not have the required two-third majority to effect any change.

“It is not a matter of simple majority; to remove a presiding officer, you need two-third majority.

“They (nPDP) are using the list you people (the media) published before, but some of them have dissociated themselves from the list and the mere fact that they appeared on television, they have to write formally to the Senate to say that they are leaving from one particular party to another.

“Some of the people you saw on television will write. Until we get that letter,we cannot say who is in the majority and who is in the minority,” he said.

donphilopus:

Abuja – The Presidency on Tuesday said that it was not threatened by the defection of the splinter group in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the opposition party, APC.

The Special Adviser to the President on Political Affair, Ahmed Gulak, made this known when he spoke with the State House Correspondence at the Presidential Villa.

The splinter group and the APC in a communiqué on Tuesday agreed to merge.

Gulak, who reacted to the development, said neither the presidency nor the ruling party felt threatened.

“The presidency does not feel threatened and the PDP does not feel threatened.

“PDP is the party to beat. We have had it before even people who had occupied higher offices left the party and came back.

“Outside there, there is nothing, it is empty. PDP is the only party,’’ he said.

He added that the party and the presidency welcomed the development because it would end the distractions that had been going on.

“For a long time, I have said it that their hearts have not been in PDP. It is good that they have told the world that they have taken a stand so that PDP will not be distracted.

“PDP as a party will be focused to build our party because a lot of people are waiting for this moment.

“A lot of people in the APC have contacted me severally that they want to come back to PDP.

“They said they were just waiting for what happened today to happen, and to us, it is a good development,’’ he said.

Gulak, however, said if the group decided to return to the PDP fold, they would be welcomed back.

“We are talking about peace and reconciliation is an ongoing process.

“If they go outside there like those that went there before them and taste that the outside there is empty they are always welcomed back home like we did before,’’ he said.

NAN reports that Edo governor, Adams Oshiomhole of APC, was also at the Presidential Villa shortly after the announcement of the merger.

The governor, who did not spent up to 30 minutes in the Villa, declined to speak with the newsmen. (NAN)

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA


OWERRI—Apparently worried by activities of owners of ‘baby homes or factories,’ in the society, the Imo State Government yesterday revoked the certificates of all motherless babies and foster homes in the state.

Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Nma Onyechere, who announced this yesterday in Owerri, said that buying and selling of human beings were not part of Igbo culture, adding that the heat generated over the issue was enough to get government react to the ugly situation.

Onyechere also warned that any staff of the ministry found to have established such homes would be summarily dismissed from service.

https://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Baby-making-victims.jpg

File: Some of the pregnant teens rescued during one of the raids.

According to her, although the issue of ‘baby factories’ or sale of babies was not only an Imo State affair, it had sadly turned into a national problem that must be tackled urgently.

She said: “Government has revoked the certificates of all foster homes in the state with immediate effect. Similarly, any staff found to be operating any such establishment or in the habit of aiding or abetting ‘baby factories’, would be summarily dismissed from service.

“As at the last count, only 36 homes were registered in the state. Our interest in the re-certification exercise is to save lives and preserve the corporate image of the state.”

According to the commissioner, the issue of ‘baby factories’ had done serious damage to the image of the state, hence the government decided to tackle it frontally.

“In line with the current revocation of the certificates, government has planned fresh re-registration and re-certification of all such homes. Anybody or group of persons found to have defied this policy will be arrested and prosecuted,” the commissioner said.

Answering a question, Mrs. Onyechere said the re-certification had nothing to do with the current commercialisation policy of the state government, as the new fees to be charged would be affordable.

ABEOKUTA — Two men, Muyideen Jubril and Lanre Sofela, who allegedly raped a teenager, Monday, appeared before an Abeokuta Magistrate’s Court sitting at Isabo, Ogun State.

The police charged Jubril and Sofela, aged 23 and 22 respectively, with raping a 17-year-old.

The prosecutor, Inspector Sunday Eigbejiale, told the court that the accused committed the offence on November 8 at Ago Oko in Abeokuta.

He said: “They convinced the girl that they will take her home on their bike. On their way, they blindfolded her with a piece of cloth and raped her.”

The court did not take the pleas of the accused because they did not have legal counsel.

The Magistrate, Mr Matins Akinyemi, however, granted them bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties each and adjourned the case to February 13, 2014.

Doctors who examined and treated President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for the sudden onset of severe abdominal pains in London have certified him fully fit to return home and continue his official duties.

After a thorough evaluation of the President’s symptoms, medically referred to as acute abdomen, the doctors concluded that no surgical intervention was required.

President Jonathan will therefore return to Abuja tomorrow evening and will be at work in the Presidential Villa as usual on Monday.

The President is scheduled to depart from London at about 1400 hours GMT and arrive at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 2000 hours.

He seizes this opportunity to thank all Nigerians once again for their sympathy, support and prayers for his quick recovery following the announcement of his indisposition.


Reuben Abati

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

THE International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has decried the high rate of child abuses and defilement in the South-East geo-political zone of the country, saying that about 15 children in Enugu State alone were raped by their fathers between July and November, this year.

Chairperson of FIDA, Enugu State branch, Nkiru Ugwu-Nwabueze, stated this, on Thursday, during the opening of FIDA Week 2013 in Enugu.

Ugwu-Nwabueze, who expressed regret that the children were defiled by those they call uncles, brothers, advised parents to always give their female children sex education to enable them know some sensitive parts of the body.

According to her, among recent cases which FIDA swung into action to obtain justice was the defilement of a three-year-old girl by her biological father.

She disclosed that the evil father defiled his three-year-old child while changing her pampers, adding that the father, after committing the crime, claimed that his wife, who might have raised the alarm, was mad.

Ugwu-Nwabueze further averred that after investigations carried out by FIDA officials, it was discovered the suspect actually defiled her daughter and that his wife, whom he claimed was mad, only had minor challenges after birth.

She also disclosed that FIDA facilitated the arrest of a man who started defiling a girl when she was five years, adding that there was another case of a nine-year-old girl who was recently defiled by her uncle at Ezeagu, in Enugu State.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Chairperson of FIDA Week/20th Anniversary Planning Committee, Edith Okorie, had said that the theme of the week long event was very apt, saying when “you empower a woman, you have empowered a nation.”

In her paper entitled: ‘Women empowerment, its gains and challenges’ which was presented at the event, the Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Enugu, Mrs A. Onaga, had stated that President Goodluck Jonathan had gone a long way in giving effective representation to women in political and public office appointments.

President Jonathan’s administration, according to her, had scored high marks on the empowerment of women, adding that women now know that they could aspire to the highest office in this country.

The theme of this year’s women legal week, held at Filbon Hotel, Enugu, was entitled: ‘Women Empowerment and Sustainable Development with Emphasis on the Gains/Challenges’.

https://edge.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Floor-of-the-Nigerian-House-of-Representatives-360x225.jpgMembers during plenary at the floor of the Nigeria House of Representatives


A controversial bill seeking to allow public officers operate foreign bank accounts passed the second reading at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Under the extant Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 2004, it is criminal for a public officer to operate a bank account outside Nigeria.

The bill that passed the second reading on Wednesday sought to amend this law “so as to make the leave of the Bureau necessary for a public officer to maintain or operate a bank account outside Nigeria.”

One of the supporters of the bill, Mr. Bamidele Faporosi, argued that the current law was “weak and ineffective,” as no public officer had been successfully prosecuted for flouting it.

He explained that the amendment proposed included a proviso that the public officer must get the approval of the bureau before opening such an account.

He claimed that the disclosure would remove the secrecy surrounding foreign accounts.

Faporosi argued further, “Today, people are operating such accounts by proxy or even in the open because they know that nothing will happen.

“This amendment says you can operate the account but this must be with the leave of the bureau.

“People now know that there will be punishment for non-disclosure.”

Another lawmaker, Mrs. Aisha Dahiru from Adamawa State, told the House that the secrecy surrounding foreign accounts encouraged “the monumental corruption” in the country.

But some members expressed reservations, fearing that the proposal would simply give public officers a licence to stash more government funds in private accounts overseas.

For example, the Deputy House Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, held the view that the bill “stands logic on its head.”

He noted, “This amendment can actually encourage corruption rather than reduce it.

“Why not say public officers should operate domiciliary accounts in the country?”

https://edge.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/INEC-Chairman-Professor-Attahiru-Jega-360x270.jpgINEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega


The leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission may meet in Abuja on Thursday to deliberate on and take decisions on the flawed Anambra State governorship election.

The PUNCH learnt of this on Tuesday as the All Progressives Congress insisted on total cancellationof the poll.

All the National Commissioners and the Resident Electoral Commissioners, who took part in the inconclusive election on Saturday, are expected to be in attendance at the crucial meeting.

Top on the agenda are fixing a date for the conduct of the supplementary election in areas where elections were cancelled and the deployment of officers to carry out the exercise.

The Public Relations Officer of INEC in Awka, Mr. Frank Egbo, referred enquiries on the matter to the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukaogu.

But Onukaogu could not be reached on telephone to comment on both the date for the supplementary election and the fate of the unnamed senior INEC official that was arrested for allegedly sabotaging the poll on Saturday.

However, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, confirmed that a meeting was indeed scheduled.

He said the meeting was a normal operational meeting by the leadership of INEC and was not meant for media coverage.

According to him, there was nothing unusual about meeting to deliberate on issues which affect the operations of the commission, especially at a time a supplementary election is still being planned.

Idowu said, “Yes there is a meeting but it is the normal operational meeting; it is not a media event. It is normal for the commission to meet to review strategies and look at issues which require urgent attention.

“Don’t forget, we just held an election and it is not yet conclusive. There is a need to make plans for the supplementary election.”

However, the APC insisted that INEC should cancel the entire election because about 1.3 million of the 1.7 million registered voters were unable to vote.

In a statement by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party maintained that the commission did not wait for a court to cancel the National Assembly elections in 2011.

It said, “In announcing the cancellation of the National Assembly elections in 2011, INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said, among others, that it was to ‘maintain the integrity of the elections and retain effective overall control of the process.”

The APC said what happened in Anambra State was more disturbing because not only was the voter register tampered with, voting materials were either late or were not delivered at all.

According to the party, it has become pertinent that Nigeria undertake a fresh voter registration because it is now obvious that the 2011 Voter register has been compromised.

It added, “We are calling on Prof. Jega not to withhold the name of the main saboteur in Saturday’s poll, and to also investigate the level to which the voter register has been compromised, fish out all those involved, find out who their sponsors are and make all of them to face justice.”

The APC described the roles of the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party in the ongoing debate over the Anambra election as very strange.

It said conventional wisdom dictated that political parties take their bearing from their candidates on election day but in the case of the PDP and the Presidency, not only did they abandon their candidate, they disowned him by going ahead to describe the poll as free and fair.

The party said, “It is now glaring to all that the disgrace that INEC has suffered from the Anambra debacle is because the electoral body is acting out a script written by the Presidency and the Progressives Grand Alliance for the election.

“The claim by the PDP spokesman that our party is trying to discredit the entire electoral process is as shallow as it is laughable.”

The APC wondered how more one could discredit an election that the organiser –INEC– had admitted was sabotaged by its own officials.

The APC said the fact that even the PDP candidate and members of his immediate family could not find their names on the list of eligible voters proved that the voter register was tampered with.