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
BENIN CITY-GOVERNORSHIP candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki says the state will regain its lost glory in the area of sports in the nearest future, saying that if elected governor, Bendel Insurance Football club will be supported to gain promotion into the elite division.
Obaseki
Speaking in a live programme on a local television station, in Benin City yesterday, Obaseki said when elected, his government will adopt both long and short term measures to achieve this.
The governorship candidate particularly made reference to Bendel Insurance, where he said the club will be encouraged and supported to gain promotion to the top elite division of the Nigeria professional league.
On the long term plan for sports, he said mini stadium will be contracted across the 18 Local Government Areas of the State, while sporting facilities will be built in public schools.
“We all knows the position of Edo state, which is part of the old Bendel state and the position we used to occupy in sports in Nigeria. Part of our long term plan, we need to look at sport administration in the state.
“School sports will be encouraged. We have to build more sporting facilities across the council areas of the state, because as it is now, Samuel Ogbemudia stadium is just about the only one existing now. In our schools, we have lots of them with enough space to take sports facilities. We will do that to encourage sporting activities. We will also emphasize sport education in schools.
“With all these in place, in no distant time, the state will occupy its place of glory in sporting activities in the country,” he stated.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, on Friday, refuted reports that the governor was stoned during the Jumaat Prayer at the Lokoja Central Mosque to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the creation of Kogi State.
Yahaya-Bello
Fanwo in a statement said: “Our attention has been drawn to the unfortunate incident, which occurred during the Jumaat Prayer at the Lokoja Central Mosque to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the creation of Kogi State.
“It was discovered that some sponsored miscreants caused a mild drama as they were caught with stones while one of them attacked one of the security aides of the Governor.
“The gallant market women at the Lokoja Old Market accosted the perpetrators and stopped them from absconding from the scene in solidarity with the Governor.
“The Governor wishes to thank the market women and security agencies, who rose to the occasion to protect lives and property at the scene of the unfortunate incident. No life was lost and no serious injury was recorded.
“We can also confirm that arrests have been made and those arrested are already giving useful information to security agents investigating the politically motivated attack at the Mosque.
“Governor Yahaya Bello has also urged his supporters to remain calm and not take the law into their hands as he remained committed to the cardinal ideals of his administration. Imported and sponsored miscreants, who have infiltrated the state from neighbouring states should know that Kogi is prepared to protect her citizens from desperate politicians who think they can turn the state to a war zone. The people of Kogi will be protected.
“We are not unaware of scheming by change resistors to sponsor attacks against government officials. The staff verification exercise has come to stay because it has exposed powerful forces, who have been milking the state dry. Sponsoring attacks against the Governor will not stop our march to restore sanity to the polity.
“The administration of Governor Yahaya Bello will soon publish the names of corrupt citizens of the state who are behind the Ghost Workers syndrome.
“Governor Yahaya Bello thanks the people of the state for standing resolutely behind his administration to restore the lost glory of the state.
“We know some failed politicians who have been jolted by the giant strides of the Governor are holding on the last straw. We remain undaunted and committed to the development of the State.”
The naira on Friday strengthened against the dollar at the inter-bank market as the parallel market remained volatile, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The Nigerian currency traded at N314.95 against the dollar in contrast with N338.75 it recorded at the transaction on Thursday.
However, at the parallel market, the naira traded at N412 to a dollar as against N407 it recorded on Thursday, and N530 to Pound Sterling and N455 against Euro, from N425 and N455, respectively on Thursday.
At the Bureau De Change (BDC) segment of the market, the naira exchanged at N407, N520 and N450 against N407, N525 and N450 it posted on Thursday.
Traders at the market said that the market had remained unstable as the directives and counter-directives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on foreign exchange sale was affecting liquidity flow.
Celebration of compositions, colours, designs and formations to stun! No form of human activity appears to have been formed to arrest, entertain and motivate better than calisthenics. That is what the skyline of Osun, South-West Nigeria promises to be resplendent with as the State of the Virtuous marks its 25th anniversary on Saturday 27th, August 2016.
Calisthenics is a body of exercises consisting of a variety of gross motor movements; often rhythmical and generally without equipment or apparatus. They are, essentially, body-weight training tactics.
Wikipedia explains that the word calisthenics has its roots in Greek words kálos, which means "beauty", and sthénos, meaning "strength."
Thus, calisthenics is the art of using one's body weight and qualities of body's motion as a means to develop one's physique as well as an art of aesthetic display.
There are numerous types of this body building exercises which include: lunges, jumping Jacks (star jumps or stride jumps), squat -jumps, sit -ups, crunches, push-ups, pull-ups, dips, leg raises, hyperextensions, planks and so on.
Sports teams and military units often perform leader-directed group calisthenics as a form of synchronized physical training (often including a customized call and response routine to increase group cohesion and discipline.
Calisthenics are also popular as a component of physical education in primary and secondary schools across the world.
Either at its most elementary or at the advanced level, calisthenics' primary motif always resonates whenever it is performed.
To say that it brings out beauty is to say the obvious. Wherever there is calisthenics display, the atmosphere turns into beautiful scenery with competing colours and designs.
It is this component of calisthenics that has been given meaning in Osun under the Government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as part of total package of educational training for young minds.
This kind of extra-curricula development was last exhibited in the Second Republic in the old Oyo State under late Chief Bola Ige as the Governor. The State of Osun is the first in the country to revive this sterling and rewarding initiative in about more than three decades.
The scheme seeks to instill the spirit of collaborative efforts and discipline into school children. This is by combining extra-curricula activities with academic pursuit, thus building their minds and bodies and preparing them for the future.
Besides, calisthenics trainings are also intended to increase body strength, body fitness, and flexibility of the pupils through movements such as pulling or pushing oneself up, bending, jumping, or swinging, using only one's body weight for resistance; usually conducted in concert with stretches.
Again, proper calisthenics training will promote the growth of lean muscle mass, and increase the strength, mobility, flexibility, agility, and endurance. Proper strength training via weight-lifting routine will promote the growth of muscle mass and strength.
When performed vigorously and with variety, calisthenics can provide the benefits of muscular and aerobic conditioning, in addition to improving psycho-motor skills such as balance, agility and coordination. It also teaches the pupils the spirit of cooperation, discipline, organization, concentration and togetherness as they perform as a group thereby working in their minds as one.
In addition to general fitness, calisthenics exercises are often used as baseline physical evaluations to test physical fitness. In other words, pupils who undergo calisthenics training will have sound minds in healthy bodies. Participants become good samples in precision, unity of purpose, social networking and above all, discipline.
This programme was conceived to enhance the emergence of a new generation of students who are physically fit, mentally sound and socially responsible and well-adjusted to the need of the society.
The programme has been so entrenched into the body system of the pupils that it has become a routine exercise and they have, on few occasions, displayed the stuffs they are made of.
On the two previous occasions the state had put up the show, the pupils had dished out breathtaking calisthenics performances at the Osogbo City Stadium.
As Governor Aregbesola would say, "Education has three aspects: the affective, cognitive an psycho-motor. It is this last aspect - the psycho-motor - that had been neglected before our government. Education is meant to be total. As we develop their cognitive and effective senses, so also we must develop their body fitness in order to have a sound mind in a healthy body." In the fullness of time, the child being raised in Osun today must turn out to be a model of good character, innovation and competence; the true Omoluabi to the state's tomorrow.
On a third outing in the state, the 25th anniversary of the creation of the State of Osun awaits another spectacle of performance as colour, arrangement, cooperation, concentration, focus are all to be on display in what promises to be another historic performance in Osun.
*Owolabi, a Media Assistant writes from Osogbo, State of Osun
Nigerian army training for operation crocodile smile in DeltaNigerian army training for operation crocodile smile in DeltaNigerian army training for operation crocodile smile in DeltaNigerian army training for operation crocodile smile in DeltaNigerian army training for operation crocodile smile in DeltaNigerian army training for operation crocodile smile in DeltaNigerian army training for operation crocodile smile in Delta
Nigeria’s Ministry of foreign Affairs on Friday warned the ambassadors of various countries against violating the diplomatic channels of communication between them and their host country. The Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Olusola Enikanolaye, who gave the warning at his maiden meeting with the diplomats in Abuja, urged them to desist from orthodox means of communication with the government.
Enikaonlaye frowned at undiplomatic way of seeking audience with the government where some embassies communicate directly with the presidency and other arms of government rather than going through the ministry “In saying this however we must hasten to note that some diplomats and some missions are in the habit of going above the Ministry of foreign affairs in seeking audiences and engagement with government at even higher levels.
“I need not to stress that this is not what we know as diplomat it is clearly violation of Vienna conventions. “The ministry of foreign affairs is the main means of communication between the diplomatic communities and the host government. “I am aware that we need to put our house in order in the ministry.
“And this is what we are already doing by ensuring that we respond quickly, proactively to your requests to your note verbal," he said. According to him once we do this there will be no reason for you to go above us to get things done. Enikaonlaye vowed to take a very diplomatic review of a nation that thinks the best way to conduct business with Nigeria is not to go through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to him we have served in your countries and we know what happens in those countries. Please I urge you to respect our rules, respect our laws, respect our channels of communication. He also condemned a situation where some nations also wrote note verbal to the presidency.
“I thought you all know that note verbal is the highest form of correspondence between the diplomatic nations and the minister of foreign affairs “You cannot address note verbal to the presidency. It is not done. Please I am appealing to you to desist from such an orthodox means of communication with our government.
“As regard to seeking for audiences, please make you request known to our principal at least a month ahead so as to give room for preparation and respect for authority “It is in our interest and yours that we have sufficient notice," he said.
He stressed that the Ministry and government were committed to their well being and welfare stressing that the ministry operates an open door policy if there were is issue of concern to address.
The Enugu State Police Command has arrested the suspected mastermind of the herdsmen attack on Ndiagu Attakwu Akegbe Ugwu community in Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state. A statement from the command's spokesman, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, in Enugu on Friday gave the name of the suspect as Umaru Isah from Gusau, capital of Zamfara.
Amaraizu said that the arrest of the suspect followed intelligence made available to the command. "The Enugu State Police Command in its resolve to unmask the perpetrators of the attack on Ndiagu Attakwu Akegbe Ugwu has nabbed one Umaru Isah over his alleged involvement in the incident.
"The suspect, who claimed to be 20 years of age, said he came to Enugu from Gusau in Zamfara State to rear cattle, but has none to rear till now. "Investigations are still on with a view to unmasking his gang," he said. The spokesman said the police would, however, stop at nothing to ensure that those involved in the act were apprehended and brought to book.
The community was attacked by suspected herdsmen in the early hours of Thursday during which a Catholic seminarian, identified as Mr Lazarus Nwankwo, was killed. Four other victims from the same family, including a pregnant mother, also received varied degrees of life-threatening machete cuts on their heads and stomach.
The latest attack came exactly four months after suspected herdsmen invaded and killed 11 persons and injured many others in Nimbo community in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of the state.
The Nigerian Army has allayed the fears of people in the South-South geo-political zone that its ongoing training tagged “Exercise Crocodile Smile” in the region was not about guns and boats.
This is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Asaba by Army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman. Usman said it was important to clarify the issues relating to the exercise to avoid misconceptions.
He said the exercise which had started was aimed at training its Special Forces, formations and units located in the region. According to him, the exercise comprises both the strategy perfection and public confidence building.
Usman said the Army’s Medical Corps was involved in the exercise through a medical holding in Sapele, Delta.
“It will be recalled that we have shown you the massing up of the troops yesterday, today, the build up of logistics has commenced. "The human side of the ongoing exercise include free medical outreach for Sapele communities in Delta.
“The Nigerian Army Medical Corps has fully deployed to the area attending to medical needs of the communities free of charge,” he said.
President Buhari departs Abuja for Kenya to attend 6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) in Nairobi on 26th AUg 2016President Buhari departs Abuja for Kenya to attend 6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) in Nairobi on 26th AUg 2016President Buhari departs Abuja for Kenya to attend 6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) in Nairobi on 26th AUg 2016
WARRI- THE Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, today, accepted that former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark, ?should head the pan Niger Delta group that will dialogue with the Federal Government.
The group conveyed its readiness to disband its Aaron Team 2, ?headed by Odein Ajumogobia and work with Chief Clark.
Secretary of Aaron Team 2, Timipa Okponipere, who conveyed MEND’s position to the elder statesman? in Warri, however, gave some conditions.
Chief Clark, who commended MEND for accepting the outcome of the meeting of Niger Delta monarchs, leaders and stakeholders , last Friday, in Warri, said that leaders of the region would appraise it’s request.
“But be rest assured that we are together,” he added.
Chief Clark and other leaders, who were with him during the visit of the Aaron Team delegation, denounced the Ijaw leaders, who, Thursday, met with the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, without authorisation from ?other ethnic nationalities.
By Emma Amaize and Akpokona Omafuaire WARRI- THE people of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, raised a fresh alarm on Friday that the Nigerian Army was deploying troops in the riverine areas of the state.
Acting Secretary of the Gbaramatu Traditional Council, GTC, Chief Godspower Gbenekema, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard on phone, said the massive deployment sparked fears among residents, especially in the troubled Oporoza in Gbaramatu kingdom, Warri South Local Government Area of the state that soldiers were planning to bombard the people.
However, Defence Headquarters had announced weeks back that the army would carry out 'Operation Crocodile Smile' in the creeks Defence spokesperson, Brigadier Rabe Abubakar, explained that military would deploy in the region on training to ensure security of oil infrastructure.
“The fact of the matter is that we are very much aware that negotiation is ongoing with our leaders; let us be hopeful that there could be an agreement. So, our presence there does not in any way translate to mean that it’s a signal to internal security actions against the militants,” Abubakar had stated.
However, Chief Gbenekama called on Niger Delta sons and daughters to speak up and do the needful "to save our people from impending holocaust."
The Secretary to the Abia Government (SSG), Dr. Eme Okoro, has said that the state lacked the financial capacity to handle emergencies that may arise from possibe flood disaster in the area. Okoro made this known in an interview with newsmenin Umuahia on Friday.
He spoke against the backdrop of the recent forecast of possible flood disaster in many states of the federation in 2016. He said that the intervention from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) would not be able to tackle flood disaster in any part of the state
He said, “the funds for the immediate intervention in the event of flooding are not readily available because funds from NEMA have whittled down. “If we are faced with the magnitude of flooding that requires evacuation of the affected communities, we shall beckon on the Federal Government for its intervention,” Okoro said.
Okoro said that states lacked the logistics to handle flood disasters, and urged the Federal Government “to plan ahead to be able to intervene in states with flood disasters”. He said that the Abia State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), which operates directly from his office, had a group called the “Rapid Response Team.”
According to him, the team regularly monitors situations in flood-prone areas and bring feedback to his office. He said that “feelers from the team will help the state government to react timeously in the event that flooding reaches a level of catastrophe in any part of the state.”
He also said that the state SEMA “is in constant communication with NEMA” and was “poised to react positively in case of any disaster”. Okoro said that the state government had begun the enforcement of the Land Use Management and Land Use Capability Classification Act.
“This is to ensure that before we do anything on a piece of land, we have to assess it’s capability so that we do not defoliate the land and expose it to erosion,” he said. The SSG also spoke on the implication of the lingering governorship tussle in the state, saying that it had slowed down the pace of development.
He said that the series of legal battles Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu had faced since his inauguration as the governor had posed serious distraction to him. He, however, said that Ikpeazu remained focused and committed to deliver on his campaign promises to the people.
“If those challenging his election in court stopped us from doing N10 projects, we do N4 project. “This administration is positively concerned about our people and Ikpeazu is determined to transform all his vision to reality,” he said.
A self-acclaimed prophet, David Babalola, who gave false information to the police about his landlord, was on Friday docked before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court.
The accused, 43, who claimed to be a minister with the Presence Redemption Ministry, is facing trial on a charge of false testimony. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
The prosecutor, Insp. Cousin Adams, said that the accused committed the offence on Nov. 4, at No. 13, Folorunsho St., Off Ajayi Road, Aguda-Ogba. He alleged that the accused gave false information against his landlord, Joseph Agaga, which led to his arrest and detention at the police station.
“The accused had falsely given information that his landlord wanted to forcefully occupy the land where his church was located. “Upon investigation by the police, it was discovered that the land actually belonged to Agaga,” he said.
Adams said the offence contravened Section 95(C) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011. Section 95 (C) prescribes seven years imprisonment if found guilty.
Counsel to the accused, Mr O. Quadri, urged the court to grant bail to his client, saying that, as a man of God, he would not evade trial nor tamper with evidence.
Quadri also informed the court that he would stand as surety for his client in the case. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Helen Omisore, granted the accused N200,000 bail with one surety in like sum.
She said that the surety must provide evidence of tax payment to the state government and adjourned the case till Sept. 14 for mention.
A majority of Nigerians travel out of the country on a regular basis, in search of greener pasture. With the current economic situation, the percentage of citizens struggling to leave the nation has skyrocketed. From applying to menial jobs abroad, travelling to marry foreign women for papers, to acquiring fake travel documents, some Nigerians (mostly members of the labour force) now adopt all sorts of desperate measures to ensure they find a life across the borders. The belief is that abroad, jobs are easier to get, transportation is cheaper and faster, electricity is constant, health care is top priority and security is much more guaranteed..but how true are these beliefs?
Jumia Travel, Africa's No.1 online hotel booking portal reveals top 3 myths about life outside Nigeria.
It is easier to get a job abroad A large percentage of Nigerian graduates are currently either unemployed or doing derogatory jobs. The blame is placed on lack of jobs, high expectations from employers and corruption in the sense that you basically need connection to make it in Nigeria. What these people who believe this notion fail to consider is that there are even more unemployed people in most of these foreign countries and also, as you need connection to make it in Nigeria, you need to be connected to the right people to get quality information that will elevate your status in those foreign countries too. They travel and end up stranded without jobs and worse, unable to return home.
You have access to basic amenities The first thing anyone looking to travel out to maybe the US, the UK or even Australia would tell you is that they would at least have access to basic amenities which include water, light, quality healthcare, easy transportation e.t.c Off course there is a level of truth to this assumption, however, they fail to consider that these amenities are not accessed for free. The bills that are racked up while accessing these basic amenities can be overwhelming for even the rich in those societies. Basically, the amenities are stable and standard, but at what cost? You find in the end that you may never get the opportunity to save as you have to pay bills for everything basically, including water. The hospitals offer proper diagnosis and treatment, but these services are only subsidized for their own citizens and only if they have social security and have good insurance.
Your status and social class appreciates A majority of Nigerians have that firm belief that travelling outside the country automatically elevates their status and they now become of a higher social class. They expect that their families and friends back at home not only expects them to send down more money, but starts to see them in a different light and treats them with more respect and prestige. Unfortunately, this is a myth as migration has little or no effect on a person's status or social class.
Philippine regional military spokesman, Maj. Filemon Tan, confirmed on Friday said eleven Islamist militants were killed in a gun battle with government troops in southern Philippines. Tan said in Manila that 17 soldiers were also injured in the clash in Patikul town on Jolo Island, where the militants beheaded a Filipino hostage two days ago.
He said that the troops were on patrol when they encountered a group of about 100 members of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group. Tan said those killed included a junior leader who was allegedly involved in the kidnapping of two Canadians, a Norwegian and a Filipino on the southern resort island of Samal in September.
“The two Canadians, John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, were executed in April and June, respectively, after a ransom was not paid, while the Filipino was freed in June. “The rebels are still holding captive, a Norwegian, Kjartan Sekkingstad, five Malaysians, eight Indonesians, a Dutch and several Filipinos,'' he said.
Tan said that on Wednesday, Abu Sayyaf beheaded 18-year-old Patrick Almodavar after his family failed to pay a 1-million-peso ransom. He said that the Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte, had directed the military to crush Abu Sayyaf and also warned that the group could be a source of recruitment for the Islamic State extremist group.
Tan quoted the president as saying that he was informed that a 50-million-peso ransom had been paid for Sekkingstand, but that Abu Sayyaf kept on postponing his release. “My order to the police and armed forces against enemies of the state is to seek them out and destroy them, period,'' he said.
..as Magu throws open detention facilities to journalist By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor Appalled by criticism that a detainee, Desmond Nunugwo, died in its detention, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, yesterday, threw open its holding facilities to journalists for assessment and that the commission fear nobody expect GodEFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu
Apparently to prove its innocence in the death of Nunugwu, the Chairman of the commission, Ibrahim Magu, flanked by some of his media managers, conducted journalist round the facilities located in its 'Idiagbon House' by is headquarters in Wuse 2, Abuja.
Facilities shown to journalists were the interrogation room, medical and toilet facilities as well as the cells where detainees are kept pending investigations and prosecution.
Magu boasted that EFCC's detention facility was among the best in the country and asked journalists to take a tour of other holding facilities in the country and compare with those of the commission so as to determine his claim.
"Without boasting, we can say that we have one of the best detention facilities in the country and we do so with purpose because those being kept in our custody are merely being temporarily kept pending interrogation and prosecution.
"We have no intention to keep any detainee under an inhuman condition. That is why we have provided everything that is necessary to provide comfort for those kept in our facilities," Magu said.
Magu, who defended the actions of the commission so far, said that every of its action was done in the overall interest of the nation and not to boost any individual's ego.
"Let me make it very clear that we are driven by nothing but national interest in all that we do and we will continue to work for the interest of this country.
We will continue to investigate and prosecute those who commit financial and economic crimes against this country. We fear nobody except God in the discharge of our national assignment," the chairman said.
The invitation of journalists to view the detention rooms, the first of its kind in the history of the EFCC, revealed the conditions under which the detainees are kept and how they conduct their lives while in solitude.
All of the detainees are provided by 8 inches mattresses strewn on the floor with some of them being paired in a room while as many as four are kept in larger spaces.
Findings also show that all the males share about 6 toilets and similar bathrooms while the female also share their facilities. A small room serves as a mosque for Muslims.
The Head of the EFCC Medical Department, Dr. Haliru, who also conducted journalists round its medical facilities, said that relevant drugs are administered to inmates based on the medical reports of each person being brought into detention.
"We first of all take the vital statistics and conduct relevant tests to determine the medical needs of each detainee before assigning them to their cells. We also provide free of charge the prescribed drugs to the detainees so that they don't suffer any deprivation as a result of being detained.
"We encourage them to come with their prescribed drugs and if they run out of them, we secure for them. We give them free medical attention,"Haliru said.
The death of the protocol officer in EFCC cell has sparked outrage within and outside Nigeria, prompting adverse media commentary, which the EFCC has strongly objected to.
Nunugwo, a former Chief Protocol Officer with the Ministry of Defence, was arrested by some officers of the Intelligence and Special Operations Section (ISOS) of the EFCC on June 9 at about 5.30pm for defrauding one Oleh Nnana Kalu of N63.6 million.
His untimely has death triggered accusations and petitions to the Attorney-General of the Federation, the National Assembly and Amnesty International calling for probe.
The wife of the deceased, Susanne, suspects a foul play in her husband's death and has already petitioned the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigeria Police Force, Amnesty International and other civil society groups to probe the death.
However the EFCC has said that the man died naturally barely two hours after being taken into detention over fraud related petition.
"The EFCC in the early hours of June 10, 2016 released an official statement through its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, announcing the tragic incident, while also informing that the matter had been formally reported to the Nigeria Police which is the relevant agency to investigate matters such as the unfortunate death of Citizen Nunugwo.
"While the nation awaits the outcome of the Police investigation which should include the autopsy report, the family of the deceased suspect appears to have lost their patience with the Police investigation and is pre-empting its outcome with all manner of insinuations.
A 57- year- old man, Innocent Okeke, who allegedly broke into a bank premises and stole 11 toilet seats valued at N85, 000, on Friday appeared before an Ojo Magistrates' Court, Lagos.
Okeke of Ojo area was accused of a two-count offence of breaking into a building and stealing. The prosecutor, Insp. Simeon Uche, told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 29.
He said that the incident occurred in the premises of a new generation bank situated at Ojo-Alaba.
"The accused gained access into their store and took away the items. He was caught by one of the security guards of the bank when he was about to escape," Simeon said. The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Sections 307 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge leveled against him. The Magistrate, Mr Titus Abolarinwa, in view of the accused's plea, granted him a N100, 000 bail with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case till Oct. 24.
Manchester United will come up against their former striker Robin van Persie after being placed in the same group as the Dutchman’s current club Fenerbahce in Friday’s draw for the group stage of the Europa League.PERSIE
Jose Mourinho’s side will also come up against Dutch giants Feyenoord and Zorya Luhansk of Ukraine in Group A.
“It is a good draw for us. We think we are in the Champions League. There are very similar groups in the Champions League,” said Mourinho.
“It is a difficult group but it is good. If you have teams without expression, even fans wouldn’t enjoy Thursdays.
“We all know the competition is not the same as the Champions League but to have Manchester United playing against clubs with tradition like Fenerbahce and Feyenoord is good for us. I don’t have more vision about Ukraine.”
Second in the Turkish league last season to Istanbul rivals Besiktas, Fenerbahce were eliminated from the Champions League by Monaco in the third qualifying round.
They have since sacked coach Vitor Pereira and replaced him with veteran Dutchman Dick Advocaat, whose squad includes Van Persie and ex-Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel.
Van Persie, 33, spent three seasons at Old Trafford before moving to Turkey last year.
United can also look forward to coming up against Van Persie’s hometown team and first club Feyenoord.
The 1970 European Cup winners and twice winners of the UEFA Cup finished third in the Dutch top flight last season and also won the Dutch Cup.
Now coached by former Arsenal and Barcelona left-back Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the Rotterdam side are captained by Dirk Kuyt, formerly of Liverpool and Fenerbahce.
United have faced both of these sides in the Champions League in the past, but the Ukrainians are a new proposition as they feature at this stage of European competition for the first time.
The other English Premier League representative, Southampton, were given a tough draw in Group K along with Italian giants Inter Milan, Sparta Prague of the Czech Republic and Hapoel Beer-Sheva.
The Israeli champions were eliminated from the Champions League play-offs by Celtic.
Meanwhile, Irish champions Dundalk, knocked out of the Champions League play-offs by Legia Warsaw, will face former UEFA Cup winners Zenit St Petersburg, AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands and Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel in Group D.
Mourinho indicated to out-of-favour midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger on Friday that there will be no place for him at Old Trafford this season.
The Germany international has two years to run on a reported £190,000-a-week ($251,000, 222,200 euros) contract, but has been frozen out by United’s new manager.
Schweinsteiger, 32, has declared he will not join another European club and Mourinho suggested that if he stays, he may not even play in the Europa League or the English Football League Cup.
Asked if Schweinsteiger might play this season, Mourinho said: “I think it’s very difficult to happen. I’m not saying it’s impossible. I’m saying it’s very difficult.
“I have Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera, Morgan Schneiderlin, Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick. That’s five players for two positions. It’s difficult that a chance will arise.”
Mourinho admitted he is surprised Schweinsteiger is willing to see out his deal.
“I cannot answer for him,” he said. “It’s his life. It’s his career. He has a contract with Manchester United and has decided to stay. That’s not a problem for us.
“Football is about decisions. I’ve done that throughout my career. Not just me, everyone does. Some players react in a different way.
“Bastian is not speaking a lot, apart from the one statement he has made. He is free to do that in an objective and polite way like he did.”
Mourinho hinted that even the players in the club’s academy have more chance of getting a game than Schweinsteiger this season.
– Pereira loan –
“I have 23 players in the squad and in principle nobody is leaving because I don’t want anyone to leave and no-one is coming, and 23 players is more than enough,” he said.
“If we have any kind of problem or opportunity, I have a few young players in the academy, and I will be more than happy to accelerate their development by bringing them up.
“I think we are going to have a very quiet week in the transfer window, not surrounded by helicopters waiting for people to arrive and leave.”
Schweinsteiger joined United last year from Bayern Munich, whose president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has criticised Mourinho’s treatment of the player.
“I thought after I read some quotes from people at Bayern Munich that they would run to Manchester to bring him back, but no, it did not happen,” Mourinho said.
“I am quite surprised that Mr Rummennigge is not here.”
The United manager, who takes his team to Hull City in the Premier League on Saturday, revealed that midfielder Andreas Pereira will be joining LaLiga club Granada on loan.
Mourinho also welcomed a Europa League group-stage draw that pitted his team against Dutch side Feyenoord, Turkish giants Fenerbahce and Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk.
“It’s good for us because it feels as if we are in the Champions League,” he said. “There are groups of a similar quality in the Champions League. We know it will be a difficult group.
“I think it’s good for the competition, which doesn’t have the same glamour in the Champions League.
“To have Manchester United in the competition playing against clubs such as Fenerbahce and Feyenoord is good for us.”
The Akwa Ibom chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the federal government to prosecute all perpetrators of ghost workers syndrome in the nation's public service.
Chairman of the council in the state, Mr Etim Ukpong, made the call in Uyo on Friday in an interview with newsmen.Ukpong decried that over the years, different tiers of government had complained of ghost workers but that no perpetrator of the act had been identified or punished.
He said that he would like to see the payroll officers and their supervisors prosecuted in the court and jailed if found culpable, to serve as deterrent to others. Ukpong decried a situation where the government could not pay workers and pensioners promptly and regularly, because of bloated wage bill occasioned by ghost workers syndrome.
He expressed the hope that with the use of bank verification number and biometric capturing, the problem of ghost workers would be eliminated in Nigeria. On non-payment of pensioners in the state, Ukpong regretted that primary school teachers, who retired in June, 2015, only got one month's pension a year after.
"We have the issue of pension mostly in local government, direct local government workers and primary school teachers. "Direct state workers in ministries do not have serious problem and the government has been meeting their obligation," Ukpong said.
He, however, disagreed with the state government that pensioners were not owed, saying that the unpleasant condition of the pensioners forced them to form associations like “Local Government Retirees' Pensions Group'' and “Retired Teachers' Pension Group''.
He disclosed that some retirees had been swindled by persons claiming to have access to the state government and would cause their entitlements to be paid. "We want to request our senior citizens, the retired workers, whether from local government, teachers or anywhere, that the NLC is working to ensure that all retirees are paid," Ukpong said.
He commended the state's House of Assembly for intervening in the lingering problem of non-payment of pensioners by setting up a seven-member committee to resolve the problem. "Our position in the NLC is to agitate for workers in the state; I am very happy because the state has really come to listen to these issues.
"The House of Assembly ad hoc committee is headed by a former labour chairman in the state, Udo Kerian-Akpan, now representing Oruk-Anam State Constiuency," Ukpong said. He said that there was another committee working on verification of the actual number of pensioners in the state, and that he would cause the list to be pasted at NLC House.
He expressed the hope that retirees in the state would be paid their entitlements promptly when the verification exercise was completed.
