A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
By: Luka Binniyat KADUNA – The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, a Fulani, Monday distanced himself from killer herdsmen, and called for their arrest and prosecution.
This was even as the estimated population of women and children made widows and orphans from the Boko Haram carnage in the in Maiduguri town has hit 68,600, according to the Governor of the state, Alh. Kashim Shetima.
The Sultan who spoke at the opening ceremony of the 2-Day Annual Pan-Northern Groups Summit on Security, Socio-economic and political development in Kaduna said that killer herdsmen should be mistaken to be representing Fulani of Muslims Interest in Nigeria:The Sultan of Sokoto at that Installation ceremony of Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi 51th Ooni of Ife
He said: “There are very terrible herdsmen who kill. But they are acting on their own, they are criminals and they must be treated as criminals. Therefore the Federal Government should prosecute them.
“It is disheartening to hear when people say Fulani herdsmen want to Islamise Nigeria and that is why they are killing.
Any Fulani herdsman who kills is not acting the script of Fulani community in Nigeria, neither is he working for the Muslim community,” he said.
Speaking on the state of Northern Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto said, unity of Northern Nigeria is non-negotiable if the region must develop and have a common front.
He lamented that, the North of today was not the North that Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello left behind, adding that, there is ethnic awareness among northerners now, than ever before.
Fast rising music artist Koker, who has carved a name for himself in the music scene has been on a low making power moves for a while now; the latest and most thrilling we've heard of, is his new single titled 'Give Them'.
The song is produced by newly signed Chocolate City Artiste-Producer, CKay.
Also, the music act who has carved his name in the music scene with songs like 'Do something, "Kolewerk" among others has already been termed as the ultimate party starter by music experts, as DJs seem to already have their work cut in half with the highly energetic tune garnished with lots of hitting.
Abuja – President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday saluted the Super Eagles for recording an away victory over Zambia on Sunday.
The Nigerian National Team had begun its qualifying campaign for Russia 2018 World Cup by beating Zambia 2-1 in Ndola, Zambia, a development President Buhari described as "soul-lifting."
The President made his position known in a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.
He said "the away victory was not only tonic for Nigeria at a time like this, but also a confidence booster that the indomitable Nigerian spirit is well and alive.''
He said it was a sign of good things to come and urged the team not to rest on its oars until it eventually qualified for the global soccer fiesta.
"This is but the first step in a long journey. However, that step has been well taken. An away victory at this level, in which the stakes are quite high, is remarkable.
"The ultimate is to qualify for Russia 2018 and fly Nigeria's flag alongside those of other giant soccer playing nations. I look forward to that,'' he said
President Buhari urged the team and their handlers to always keep their eyes on the ball to achieve victory in their subsequent matches.
Lagos – The Naira on Monday consolidated its gain against the dollar at the forex market.
Since the resumption of the sale of Diaspora remittances to Bureau De Change (BDCs) by Travelex, the Naira had continued to appreciate.
At the official inter bank market, the Naira closed at N304.75 from N306.71 posted on Friday.
It firmed against the dollar and other currencies at the parallel market as it closed at N470, N580 and N510 from N473, N590 and N512 posted on Friday.
Trading at the BDCs segment saw an upward review of the official price of the dollar to N380 by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
In his remarks, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, said that the regulatory authority had to review the official selling price of dollars to BDCs to encourage Nigerians in Diaspora, whose remittances was being sold to BDCs.
Gwadabe, who is the President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), said that the move was to discourage speculators.
He said that the sustained appreciation of the nation currency would discourage the patronage of parallel market traders.
Gwadabe said that the activities of parallel market traders had continued to widen the gap between the official and parallel market rate. ============
Abuja – Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Monday in Port Harcourt, said he would uphold the welfare of workers at all levels and at all times.
Wike said this in a statement released to newsmen by Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, his Special Assistant Electronic Media.
According to him, before any security vote is released or spent, the welfare of workers in the state must first be taken care of.
He promised that his administration will monitor the pattern of expenditure of the local government councils to ensure that funds were deployed to areas that would promote the interest of the people.Gov. Wike
The governor directed that the local government caretaker committee chairmen must get approval before they access their security votes and subvention.
"All salaries owed local government workers must be settled before any security votes are released to the caretaker chairmen.
"We must uphold the welfare of workers at all levels,'' he stressed.
He warned local government heads of personnel management and treasurers against colluding with caretaker committee chairmen to negatively manipulate the financial process in the councils.
He said, "if any Local Government Head of Personnel Management or Treasurer colludes with a caretaker committee chairman to release unauthorised funds, such official will be sanctioned.''
The governor directed the councils' caretaker committees to always remit taxes deducted after the payment of salaries.
While congratulating the caretaker chairmen on their respective appointments, he advised them to interface with security agencies to promote law and order in their areas.
President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated the determination of his administration to diversify the economy through increased local production of goods and services.
President Buhari reiterated this in Abuja on Monday at the opening of the 22nd Nigerian Economic Summit.
He said that with a diversified economy, Nigeria would not have to depend on a single commodity to survive as a nation.
"As I have said in the past, we need to diversify the economy so that we will never again have to rely on one commodity to survive as a country so that we can produce the food we eat, make our own textiles work; produce most of the things we use and create the right environment for our young people to be able to innovate and create jobs through technology.
"This has been the commitment and the mandate of this administration and I have remained focused on it each day, since this administration assumed office.
"There is clearly no better way to achieve this without building our economic foundation on made-in-Nigeria goods and services.''
According to him, the theme of the summit: `Made in Nigeria`, lies at the heart of so many efforts his administration is making to lead the nation through the moment of recession and lay a firm foundation for the future.
He said that some of the stakeholders at the summit were champions of made-in-Nigeria products.
He said such champions had defied the odds over the years to produce goods locally and contribute to the growth of the economy.
Buhari stated that his administration will continue to encourage increased local production of goods and services to ensure self-sufficiency.
"My greatest desire is that Nigeria moves from import dependence to self-sufficiency in local production and become an export-led economy in goods and services.
"I strongly believe that this summit will bring all stakeholders on board to stay on that course."
The President expressed the hope that at the end of the summit, the participants would make useful and realistic recommendations that would provide solutions to the socio-economic challenges facing the country.
In his remarks, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Mr Udoma Udo Udoma assured that the government will continue to improve the environment conducive for businesses to thrive.
"We will continue, amongst other things, to prioritise our spending towards critical infrastructure to improve Nigeria's competitiveness.
"Government agencies will work with the private sector to support research with a view to developing high quality indigenous products and technologies.''
He said many of the government's programmes had been structured to stimulate domestic production.
The minister said only locally produced food items would be used for the School Feeding Programme of the government.
He, however, said that much more needed to be done by both the public and private sectors to encourage and support local production.
Udoma expressed the hope that the summit will provide an opportunity to examine what more can be done.
"How do we promote the consumption of more Made-in-Nigeria goods and services?
"How do we improve the quality of Made-in-Nigeria goods to international standards so they can be exported?
"How can we support our SMEs to be able to compete?
"It is our expectation that this summit will provide a platform to sharpen the focus of the conversation and also offer recommendations that will help reinvigorate our industries and services,'' he said.
He said a productive indigenous manufacturing sector would curtail the growing demand for foreign exchange for imported end-user goods.
By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA – Following the frequent bombings and destruction of oil and gas installation in the Niger Delta region, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the intention of the militants allegedly behind the attacks was to colonize Nigeria economically.
This was even as he solicited the help of Germany to curb oil theft in Nigeria through assistance in the areas of equipment, training, and sharing of intelligence with the Nigeria Navy.
The President spoke Monday when he received the Foreign Minister of Federal Republic of Germany, Dr Frank-Walters Steinmeier, at State House, Abuja.
“Nigeria’s oil is stolen and taken away through the Gulf of Guinea. Adequate training and equipping of our navy will prevent this,” the President said.
He told the visiting minister that the security challenge in the North-east of the country was under control, with Boko Haram largely defeated, “but another serious form of insecurity has reared its head in the Niger Delta. The objective is to colonize the country economically by sabotaging oil and gas installations. We are trying to speak with their leaders, to know how many groups there are, and we are also working with the oil companies."
R-L; President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Communication Adebayo Shittu, Minister of Trade, Investment and Industry, Mr Okechukwu Enelamah, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma and Chairman of NESG, Alhaji Kyari Bukar after President Buhari opens the 22nd National Economic Summit Group (NESG) taking place in Transcorp Hilton Abuja
"The militants engage in sophisticated sabotage, using skills they had gained from trainings either by government, or the oil companies, to vandalize installations deep in the sea. We need to understand who the real agitators are, and engage with them, so that confidence can be restored in the region," the President added.
President Buhari said the Niger Delta situation was more complex, since the militants had no central command, and some of them were mere extortioners, but promised that a handle would be found to the unrest soon.
Dr Steinmeier, in his response, said Germany was happy to hear of the strides taken by the Buhari administration against insurgents in the North-east, adding that they were equally willing to lend a helping hand in resolving the crisis in the Niger Delta.
Applauding the war against corruption, Dr. Steinmeier said it had his country’s support, adding that Germany was also interested in investing in renewable energy, gas exploration, mining, among others, to boost Nigeria’s economy.
“Germany will support development in Nigeria. We want closer cooperation on migration issues, urbanization, and supporting the navy with equipment, training and intelligence, “the Foreign Minister said.
President Muhammadu Buhari, has handed over two Ballistics defence capabilities aircrafts from the presidential fleet to the Nigerian Air Force, in line with his plans to cut down on expenditure. The handover took place at the Presidential wing of the Abuja Airport on Monday. The Chief of Air Staff, AVM Abubakar who received the aircrafts said one of the aircrafts would be configured and deployed as ambulance while the second would be deployed as troop carrier.
Abubakar said: "It is with a big sense of appreciation that I accept these helicopters into the Air Force." "One of the helicopters will be configured and deployed as an Air Ambulance, while 2nd will be deployed as a Troop Carrier"
"The two Helicopters will be immediately reconfigured and deployed to the Northeast for the use of Nigerian troops." "The Air Ambulance will carry a Trauma Unit,to ensure that injured troops get immediate medical assistance during airlift" "These helicopters are some of the most sophisticated, most comfortable and most equipped in the world."
"We can't wait to fly our new aircraft. That's why we're all dressed in combat gear" The two helicopters were acquired by the Federal Government between October 20, 2014 and May 21, 2015 respectively.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had carried out the first handover of some aircrafts to the Air Force in 2015, shortly after he took over. The first handover of Presidential Air Fleet aircraft involved two Helicopters, handed over to Air Force in 2015 to boost operations in the Northeast.
The two aircraft being handed over in the second phase are AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters. The aircrafts are also equipped against certain forms of missile attacks.
Head Coach Florence Omagbemi has invited 30 players to the Abuja camp of the senior women national football team to heighten Nigeria's preparations for the 10th African Women Championship (AWC).
The players are made up of eight overseas-based professionals and 22 home-based players.
Reigning African Woman Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala is the most prominent of the overseas-based contingent while Osinachi Ohale leads the home-based group.
The AWC, also known as the Women Africa Cup of Nations, holds in Cameroon from Nov. 19 to December 3.
Nigeria team celebrating their 7th African championship
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) says it will soon embark on a nationwide audit of journalists in order to rid itself of quacks.
The President of NUJ, Mr Waheed Odusile, told newsmen on Monday in Lagos that impostors interested in joining the profession should enrol in a school of journalism.
"Quackery is something that is of major concern to us in NUJ and one of the ways we want to fight it is to have a proper register of journalists in Nigeria.
"We'll build a data bank of journalists; we give them a proper identity card, such that when their identity is being called to question, we can use that card to verify whether actually they are journalists or not because, most of these people parading themselves as journalists and truly they are quacks.
"They do not have valid identity cards; we believe if we start with that we would have been able to rid the union of about half of these quacks.
"And some of those quacks really want to practice as journalists but they do not know how to go about it.
"So we'll make it possible for them, anybody that want to be journalist, we welcome them but they should come and train first as journalists.
"And that is where we want to upgrade our International Institute of Journalism in Abuja to be like a post-graduate school for training of journalists in Nigeria, such that that when you come there you know you are being trained as a journalist.
"The same way lawyers go to law school, the same way we want people to either go to Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Lagos or IIJ in Abuja.
"By the time we upgrade the training this issue of quackery would have been reduced to the barest minimum.''
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Monday morning, arrested the President of Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited, Mr. Uche Ogah after he stepped out of the courtroom where a forgery charge filed against him by the Police were withdrawn.
Ogah was arrested around the Lagos State Magistrates' Court in Tinubu, Lagos Island. Recall that Ogah was declared winner of the last governorship election in Abia State by Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja on June 27 was. He was then arraigned on June 16 by the Police for alleged forgery.
The Police prosecutor, Henry Obiazi, told the presiding magistrate, Mrs. Kikelomo Ayeye, when the case was called upon that he had the instruction of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to withdraw the charges against Ogah, his company, Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited and an ex-employee of United Bank for Africa, Deji Somoye.
"I am instructed by the IGP to withdraw this case, as the issue is pending with the SFU," Obiazi said. The charges were consequently struck out by the court." However, as soon as Ogah stepped out of the court room, he was arrested by the waiting EFCC operatives who drove him away in their van.
An EFCC source said the commission had received a petition against Ogah hence, his arrest. He said Ogah was being interrogated. In the suit filed against them, Ogah and his co-defendants were accused of conspiring with some persons still at large to forge a Memorandum of Understanding between Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited and Mut-Hass Petroleum Limited sometime in March 2011.
Ogah and some other persons still at large were alleged to have forged the signature of one Mrs. Bridget Adeosun.
The charges read, "That you, Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited, Uche Ogah, and others at large sometime in March 2011 at Ikeja, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to wit: forgery.
"That you, Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited, Uche Ogah, and others at large, on the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned magisterial district, did forge the signature of one Mrs. Bridget Adeosun and a document known as MoU between Mut-Hass Petroleum Limited and Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited, with an intent that it may be in any way used or acted upon as genuine. "That you, Deji Somoye, United Bank for Africa and others still at large, sometime in August 2011, at UBA regional office, Palmgrove, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did knowing that Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited designed to commit an offence, failed to use all reasonable means to prevent the commission or the completion of the crime."
But they pleaded not guilty; after which they were admitted to bail in the sum of N200,000 each, with one surety each in like sum.
Dr Adaora Ukoh, an Abuja based gynaecologist, has warned that untreated Chlamydia could lead to infertility.
Ukoh said this in an interview on Monday in Abuja.
She described Chlamydia as an infection that is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia which is spread through sexual contact.
She said that the infection could affect anyone, but pointed out that it was common in young women.
According to her, anyone who is sexually active can contract Chlamydia, noting that there are high risks of contracting it if there is a new sexual partner and without the use of condom.
The gynaecologist stressed that the infection, if left untreated, could spread to other parts of the body and lead to other health problems such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), among others.
However, she said that preventing the infection starts from using condom during sexual intercourse as well as oral sex.
Ukoh advised that sharing of sex toys should be avoided in order to prevent Chlamydia.
Besides, Ukoh said that Chlamydia could be treated for a week with oral medication such as antibiotics.
She suggested abstinence from sex until the patient and her partner had completed the treatment.
"If you have one-day course treatment, avoid having sex for a week or two in order to help treat it.
"It is important that your partner and other sexual partners in the last six months also get tested and treated to avoid further spread of the infection,'' she said.
She also recommended that young adults under age of 25, who have had Chlamydia, should go for another test after 3 months of being treated, cautioning that they are at high risk of contracting it again.
The Nigerian Police force have, Monday, paraded Nine Kidnappers of CBN Governor's Wife, and displayed huge amount of money as well as items recovered from them. Gang of Nine (9) Men Kidnappers of CBN Governor's Wife was paraded at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters Abuja.
The money recovered from the kidnappersPolice parade kidnappers of Emefiele’s wife, display recovered loots
Standing from left to Right is the gang of Nine (9) Men Kidnappers... i. Lance Corporal Musa Maidabra 'M' 28 years ii. Lance Corporal Edwin George 'M' iii. Ernest Anthony Uduefe 'M' 32 years (dismissed Soldier) iv. Mohammed Abubakar A.K.A Dogo 'M' 29 years (Gang Leader) v. Mohammed Musa 'M' 26 years vi. Mohammed Sule 'M' 26 years vii. Ibrahim Abdullahi 'M' 30 years viii. Aliyu Musa 'M' 30 years ix. Mohammed Yusuf 'M' 36 years
By Chinonso Alozie, Owerri Thugs on Monday stopped the evacuation of the over one month dumped refuse along Douglas Road, Owerri in the state.
The drama started when the member representing Owerri Federal Constituency at the House of Representative, Hon Ezenwa Onyewuchi came in to clear the refuse.
As the tipper moving to the dump site, some thugs allegedly intimidated the driver and ordered the driver of the tipper to reverse and return the refuse back to Douglas Road.REFUSE-The refuse dump along Douglas Road, Owerri, Imo State.
This show of power triggered anger from the indigens and non indigenes in the area including traders from the Ekeukwu market who abandoned their businesses to demand the reason behind the order from the above.
Meanwhile, there is tension in the state capital, as everybody affected by the continue delay in the evacuation of the refuse have alleged that since the government could not dispose the refuse, the same government should not stop individuals who are willing to do it.
President Buhari participates at the 22nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NESG 2016) themed “Made in Nigeria” at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on 10th October, 2016.President Buhari participates at the 22nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NESG 2016) themed “Made in Nigeria” at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on 10th October, 2016.President Buhari participates at the 22nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NESG 2016) themed “Made in Nigeria” at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on 10th October, 2016.President Buhari participates at the 22nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NESG 2016) themed “Made in Nigeria” at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on 10th October, 2016.
The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has adjourned a case of alleged breach of human rights filed by Movement Against Fulani Occupation (MAFO) against the Federal Government till Nov. 9.
The presiding judge, Justice Friday Nwoke, adjourned the case on Monday for hearing, following a motion on notice for an extension of time filed by the defendants.
Nwoke, however, declined the request for cost by the applicant.
Earlier, Counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr Terence Vembe, did not oppose the motion of notice and requested for a cost of 500 thousand naira.
Joined in the suit are: Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai as first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth defendants respectively.
The suit was filed in April on behalf of Rev. Fr. Solomon Mba, and 11 others, representing the victims of attacks by herdsmen in Benue.
The plaintiffs are asking for an order directing the defendants to pay a compensation of N500 billion for unlawful violation of their rights.
They also prayed the court to direct the defendants to pay the sum of N25 million as cost of prosecuting this suit.
The plaintiffs also want the court to direct the first and second defendants to set up an Investigative Panel to investigate attacks committed by herdsmen over the years and implement its findings.
They alleged that herdsmen had carried out more than 50 major attacks on Benue communities within the last three years.
They also claimed that more than 1000 people had been killed; hundreds of thousands displaced and living in deplorable make shift camps and properties worth billions of naira were destroyed from attacks by herdsmen in 2016 alone.
They similarly claimed that the most prominent attacks were carried out in 15 out of 23 local government areas of the state.
They claimed that communities, where these attacks were carried out, had become desolate and devastated due to wanton destruction of lives and property.
The plaintiffs also alleged that the Federal Government carried out a sustained violation of their human rights as enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights by not providing security and protection to the communities against the attacks.
They said even when the locations of the perpetrators of these attacks were known to the security agencies but they refused to accost the attackers and prevent further attacks.
More reactions have continued to trail the arrest of some judges at the weekend in Abuja and some parts of the country by men of the Department of State Service (DSS).
Some lawyers, who spoke to newsmen in Lagos on Monday, lauded the action of the DSS, while others condemned the invasion of their homes on the grounds that it contravened the provisions of the law.
The DSS had on Oct. 7 raided the residences of seven judges of the Supreme, Federal and State High Courts across the country over allegations of corrupt practices.
On Oct. 8, the service in a statement, said it had recovered over N360 million from the homes of three of the judges (names withheld) following the raid.
The DSS had said that the raid was aimed at restoring "sanity and sanctity'' to the esteemed third arm of government in the interest of the society.
Human rights lawyer, Mr Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa described the arrest as a worrisome development.
His words:"I read with great amazement and total disbelief, the news of the invasion of the homes of judicial officers in Port Harcourt and in Abuja by the DSS.
"It is highly condemnable for the DSS to be breathing down on the judicial arm of government under the guise of fighting corruption.
"In a democracy, the rule of law prescribes the independence of the judiciary, whereby judges must be allowed the unfettered right of taking decision according to law and according to their consciences.
"It is in this regard that the mindless invasion of the homes of judges by the DSS is totally condemnable; the judiciary is the arm of government that stabilizes democracy and so, should not be exposed to ridicule or opprobrium."
According to Adegboruwa, any fight against corruption must be done in accordance with acceptable standards and principles of law.
In the same vein, a constitutional lawyer, Mr Paul Umuzuruigbo, believed that the fight against corruption must follow laid down rules and procedures.
"Any fight against corruption must be done under the rule of law, and there is no law that authorizes the invasion of the home of a judge at an unholy hour of the night.
"Being public officers, there is no way these judicial officers would have absconded or run away from normal arrest during the day, if need be.
"It is the height of lawlessness and gross intolerance to go about the arrest of judicial officers in the way and manner played out by the DSS," he said.
But another Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Justice Chimezie, reacted differently, urging the DSS to ensure that investigations were carried out to the letter about the corruption allegations.
He said:"Whether the arrest is constitutional or not, the fact still remains that there are allegations of corruptions hanging on the necks of these judges.
"The onus resides with them to establish their innocence of the allegations.
"I think we must learn to put aside sentiments in dealing with issues that touches on national consciousness."
Chimezie stressed the need for such investigations to be done bearing in mind the principles of fundamental human rights.
To another lawyer and social critic, Mr Emenike Nnoromlele, the action of the DSS cannot be faulted.
"I keep wondering why a good number of members of the NBA are crying foul with regards to this issue; the DSS possesses every power to dispense its duties as it deems fit.
"To my mind, the fight against corruption should leave no stone unturned. There should be no sacred cows and no anointed hands; the fight must be holistic."
Nnoromlele noted that where a case had been referred to the National Judicial Council for disciplinary measures, such a case could still be investigated by security agencies particularly if the outcome is unsatisfactory.
An 84-year old man, Muazu Isa, his son and grandchild, have been arraigned before a Magistrates' Court in Kaduna, over alleged serial rape of a 10-year-old orphan.
The prosecutor, Insp. Anthony Idoko, told the court that the case was reported to the police on Aug. 1.
He said that the other accused persons are the man's son, Bashir, 24, and his grandchild, Ya'u.
The accused was the former Village Head of Angwan Dosa in Kaduna, but was dethroned by the Zazzau Emirate Council over the rape scandal.
Idoko explained that the girl was in the care of Muazu when they took turn to rape her.
The prosecution said the offence contravened Section 283 of the Penal Code.
"The police are still investigating the matter. I therefore urge the court to adjourn the case to Oct. 14 when Bashir, his son is expected to appear before the court, for further mention.
"I equally appeal that the accused be remanded in prison custody," Idoko said.
The Magistrate, Abdulazeez Ibrahim granted the prosecution's request and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison, and adjourned the case till Oct. 14, for further mention.
NAN reports that the case was instituted by an NGO, Arrida Relief Foundation of Nigeria (ARFON).
Its President, Hajiya Rabi Ibraheem, said that the rape victim was found wandering and was brought to Mu'azu by the police, to locate and hand the girl over to her parents.
"It seems the girl was an orphan and was adopted by the people she called her parents, who took her to Abuja to work as house help from where she ran away and was found by the police.
"The girl told the police that she is from Angwan Dosa, Kaduna, so they brought her to the accused to help locate her parents."
According to her, the accused's own daughter caught him having canal knowledge of the girl and the matter was taken to local vigilante groups in the area.
"The vigilante took the girl from him and handed her over to Falinga Foundation, who equally handed her over to us before we took the case to the police."
Also, Bukola Ajao, state Chairperson, International Federation of Women Lawyers, said they would ensure that the law takes its course.
No comments:
Post a Comment