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
Nigerian journalist, Ahmad Salkida, declared wanted by the authorities for alleged links to Boko Haram has been released from custody, according to a report on Wednesday.
The military said last month it wanted to question Ahmad Salkida for allegedly concealing information on the more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by the Islamists over two years ago.
Ahmad Salkida
Salkida was arrested when he arrived in the capital Abuja on a flight from the United Arab Emirates on Monday.
The report also said he had since sent a text message to the broadcaster’s Hausa-language service saying he was “released in less than 24 hours without any conditions”.
He also denied being arrested at the airport, saying he had been given a “pre-arranged lift” by the authorities, whom he said misunderstood the role of journalists in reporting the conflict.
The army, which also denied the arrest, said on August 15 it wanted to speak to the journalist, after he tweeted about a new video of the captured schoolgirls before it was published on YouTube.
Army spokesman Colonel Sani Usman said at the time there was “no doubt” the reporter and two other individuals “have links with Boko Haram terrorists and have contacts with them”.
Salkida has reported extensively on Boko Haram over the last 10 years and is believed to have high-level contacts within the group and previously been involved in talks to free the remaining 218 kidnapped girls from the Borno state town of Chibok.
He has maintained he has done nothing wrong and that he was prepared to return to Nigeria to speak to the authorities.
Since August, there have been other arrests of high-profile journalists and political commentators in Nigeria.
Iroegbu Emenike, another journalist, was arrested this week and released on Wednesday, said human rights activist Inibehe Effiong.
He was arrested “over alleged defamatory publications,” Effiong said.
“Following our intervention with the support of the media he has just been released from the custody.”
Nigerian civil rights groups have in the past criticised the arrests saying they are unconstitutional and violate the right to free speech.
The Peoples Democratic Party has described as “Shocking, Bizarre, and Confusing” the call by the DSS and the Nigerian police for the postponement of next Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Edo state.
In a statement Wednesday afternoon, the spokesman of the party, Pronce Dayo Adeyeye said the party was “taken aback on this advise coming a day after the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari was present at the Mega Rally of its Party, the APC in Benin City which was concluded without any hitch.
“It is on record that INEC recently conducted a ‘hitch free’ Senatorial By-Election in Borno State which is a high-point of insurgency in the Country but the Security Agencies saw no reason to call-off the Election. It is therefore lamentable to hear from these same security agencies that the Election cannot be held in a State where in less than 24 hours, the President and all the APC leaders and members had an uninterrupted Rally”.
“We are calling on the President, Muhammadu Buhari to caution the security agencies and direct them to provide full security, and also to desist doing anything that will jeopardize this forthcoming Gubernatorial Election in Edo State. We are equally counting on INEC not to succumb to this false alarm by acting independently and holding election as scheduled.
“We hope that this advice from the security agencies are not in concert with the APC of having seen the indices of loosing the Edo State Gubernatorial Election to the PDP”.
“Finally, the Party leadership led by Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, CON, call on our members, teeming supporters, other Edo voters and the international community to remain law-abiding while staying alert on this calculated attempt at scuttling our hard earned democracy”.
Your dream has finally come true: you are getting married! Besides posting your engagement pictures on Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat, the next step is to plan the wedding.
Of course there are so many things to do when planning a wedding (especially if you are having a typical Nigerian wedding) and a lot of it entail shopping. Unfortunately, not every couple can afford a wedding planner and so they have to visit the market, shops and boutiques themselves.
If you are in Lagos and you are faced with the looming stress of 'wedding shopping', don't worry, Jumia travel shares 4 tips for surviving wedding shopping to help you scale through without much ado.
Have a budget, make a list and stick to it
The key to success with any kind of shopping is having a clear list of what you want to buy and sticking to a budget. What are the essentials for your wedding, make a long list with subtitles and for each item, include an estimate for how much you can afford to spend on that item. Going shopping without an idea of what exactly you want to purchase and how much you can spend on each item makes you spend carelessly and find yourself broke even before you have completed your shopping.
Try the local markets
You probably want a designer wedding dress and one-in-a-million shoes for your wedding. While it is okay to want the best for your ceremony, it is important you remain as shrewd as possible when acquiring them. The go-to for such designer items are usually high-end shops and boutique around certain parts of the city and even online, but the truth is that the original versions of these designer fashions items can also be found at local markets and at much cheaper prices than you would find them in the high-end shops. True, you may find it much more hectic walking round Balogun market than strolling along Victoria Island, but in the end, you get the same quality and for a cheaper price. Delegate with caution
When planning a wedding, you find that the list of things to do seem endless and usually, you resort to delegating some chores to friends and relatives. While delegating will bring a measure of relief, it may lead to an even bigger problem if the person a task is delegated to, fails to meet up with your expectations. For instance, the fabrics the person buys for your Asoebi turns out to be a slightly different colour from your wedding colours. Basically, it is important you try to be involved in every aspect of the planning and in areas you feel you must delegate, do so with caution. Take your time, start early
Most people leave their wedding planning till about a few months or even weeks to the wedding and this usually leaves them feeling rushed. They end up making a lot of mistakes and they feel unfulfilled on their wedding day. Unless you plan to elope or have a private wedding with only family, it is important you start planning your wedding at least 6 months before the date. This ensures you have the wedding you always dreamed of in the end.
Kano – A 28-year-old man, Alhassan Musa, on Wednesday appeared in a Magistrates' Court sitting at Audu Bako Secretariat, Kano, for allegedly sexually abusing nine under-age boys.
Musa of Gwammaja Layin Jirgi, Kano, was charged with unnatural offence, contrary to Section 284 of the Penal Code. Prosecutor Suleiman Danladi had told the court that parents of two of the abused minors, Ahmed Musbahu and Fatihu Hibbu, jointly reported the matter on July 24.
Danladi said that on July 18, the accused person lured the nine minors between the ages of 11 and 12 to defile them at separate times. “Your Worship, from our investigation, the accused lured the minor into his Shop at Gwammaja Layin Jirgi Quarters to have unlawful sex with each of them through their anus.
“He had his way at different occasions to perform the unlawful carnal knowledge of the children by offering them N100.
The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Chief Magistrate, Muhammad Jibril, however, remanded the accused in prison custody, and adjourned the case till Sept. 29 for mention.
*IYC mourns; Gbaramatu communities send SOS over oil spillage
By Emma Amaize, Egufe Yafugborhi and Perez Brisibe
WARRI- HIGH CHIEF Thomas Osen Ekpemupolo, 84-year-old father of ex-militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, amputated in July, over a month after soldiers allegedly brutalized him in Kurutie, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, is dead.
A dependable source, who broke the news to Vanguard said: "He died in the early hours of Wednesday at Lily Hospital in Warri South local government area, Warri."
Until his death, he was the Tunteriwei of Gbaramatu kingdom, Warri South-West local government area with traditional headquarters in Oporoza.
Contacted, Chief Executive Officer at Lily Hospital, Dr. Austin Okogun, said he was out of town and could not make a concise statement.
However, a senior medical officer at the hospital, who confirmed the death of Tompolo’s father, declined details of the condition under which he died.
Tompolo, who is still at large, in an open letter, July 22, to President Muhammadu Buhari, bemoaning the siege on his family, said that on May 28, "The military went to Kurutie Town in search of my 84- year-old father and brutalized him."
"We managed to rescue him to Warri and hospitalized him. Sadly, one of his lower limbs was amputated two weeks ago. From the doctor's report, it will be a thing of miracle if he survives this incident, "he asked, adding: "Is this 84-years old man also a member of the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA.?"
Meanwhile, the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, has said that it received with shock the demise of Chief Ekpemupolo, father of Chief Government Ekpemupolo in the early hours of Wednesday September 7, 2016 in Warri Delta State.
Spokesperson of the council, Eric Omare, said: “The death is unfortunate and painful, especially considering the fact that he died suffering from the injuries sustained while running from military rampage on Kurutie community, Gbaramatu Kingdom , early this year.
“Indeed, Chief Ekpemupolo is a victim of military unlawful invasion of innocent people and communities of the Niger Delta region in the name of looking for militants. Chief Ekpemupolo has paid the supreme price for the Niger Delta people and cause.
“The IYC sympathizes with the Ekpemupolo family, the Gbaramatu Kingdom and the Ijaw nation on this untimely death. However, the struggle for the betterment of the Niger Delta people continues,” he said.
This came as Tebujor/Okpele-Ama, Ikpokpo, Okerenkoko-Gbene, Opuedebubor, Opuede, Opuendezion, Atanba, Oto-Gbene, Meke-Ama communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, dispatched a Save Our Soul, SOS, to the state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, over massive oil spillage in their area.
They said the spillage occurred at the NNPC/PPMC truck-line which passes through the communities on August 17 and had continued to spread since then.
The communities in a letter by Yebrade Moses and others, asserted: "Up to this moment, NNPC and PPMC, owners of the facility have not taken steps to stop the continuous spillage and the consequent damage to fishing nets, properties and the environment. "
"The villagers, who rely on fishing along the river for survival, can no longer do so as a result of the effects of the oil spillage which has polluted the entire area," they said.
They added: "Oil spillages have occurred on the same PPMC truck-line due to equipment failure three times in January, April and May. "
According to them: "Instead of PPMC to carry out a proper Joint Investigation Visit comprising of community, company and government representatives, PPMC brought in military men to chase away villagers without carrying out a proper JIV to identify and stop the source of the spill, carryout effective remediation and compensate the affected communities and people. "
The communities, therefore, called on Governor Okowa to prevail on PPMC to carry out a proper JIV to stop further spill, take remediation steps and compensate the affected people and communities.
They requested: "In the interim, relief materials should be provided to the villagers to cushion the immediate effect of the spillage on the people to save them from starvation."
Minna – A corps member serving in Minna, Mr Musa Bello, has designed a road safety awareness and distress call centre? mobile application that can be downloaded on the play store.
At the launch of the application on Wednesday in Minna, Bello said that the application would display the location of the caller so that emergency managers could come to his or her aid faster.
The corps member, who is serving with the Nigeria Television Authority, said that the project was part of his Community Development Service? (CDS).
“I developed this application as part of my personal CDS; it can be used to call all emergency? phone numbers. “The numbers we have now on the app are the national emergency numbers: those of the police, Red Cross, fire service, National Emergency Management Agency and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Niger State,” Bello said.
He said that the initiative would make it easier for people to reach? out to relevant authorities in emergency situations.
“‘The reason I designed this app is that, in some cases, when accidents occur, people find it difficult to get across to relevant agencies for help.
“There was a day I was travelling and an accident occurred; I had to start calling a friend for FRSC toll-free distress numbers.
“But with apps like this, you can easily call and it will even display your location for them to see and come to your aid,” he added.
Bello also said that the application contained safety and rescue tips for children, adding that the application would be simple to use.
In her remarks, the Niger State NYSC Co-ordinator, Mrs Bolade Loto, hailed Bello for the initiative.
Loto, who was represented by Mr Michael Macaulay, urged corps members to execute projects that would meet the needs of their host communities.
Also speaking, a special marshal, Hajiya Maryam Abdulsalam, commended the innovation, and hoped that it would go a long way to save lives. NAN reports that Bello is a graduate of computer science from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna.
London – British Prime Minister Theresa May says Britain will take time to consider what its post-Brexit relationship with the European Union will look like without revealing its hand ahead of time.
She told the British Parliament on Wednesday in London it was clear that many people were keen to see rapid progress and to understand what post-Brexit Britain would look like.
“We will not take decisions until we are ready.
“We will not reveal our hand prematurely, and we will not provide a running commentary on every twist and turn of the negotiation,'' May said.
The Prime Minister said while government was getting on with the vital work, there was still the need to think through the issues in a sober and considered way.
Lagos -The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Wednesday sealed the office of Nokia-Alcatel located in Lekki, Lagos for operating without license.
The Head of Enforcement Unit, NCC, Mr Salisu Abdul, while speaking with newsmen shortly after the sealing in Lagos, said that the company had been operating without license for years.
Abdul said that during one of the commission’s monitoring activities, the team discovered that the company had not obtained the requisite authorisation to render services.
He said that Nokia-Alcatel was involved in equipment manufacturing, supply and installation therefore it could have obtained the “Sale and Installation'' license.
According to him, the license, which barely cost N2 million will give Nokia the authority to operate wireless transmission, manufacturing and sale of equipment, among others.
He said that after notifying the company for the need to be licensed, it only applied for the license about three months ago, but did not complete the process.
”As a matter of fairness and transparency, we decided to pay them a visit, and we however discovered that they only applied for license about three months back and are yet to complete the process for the license.
”Basically, we have decided to seal off the premises of Nokia until it obtains the requisite authorisation. ”The NCC is the sole regulator of the telecom sector in Nigeria and one of our functions is the issuance of telecom licenses.
”It is criminal for any service provider to operate in the country without license. We have sealed the office until they comply,” Abdul said. He said that Nokia-Alcatel had been operating in the country for some years now, and had failed to obtain license.
According to him, there may be attendant consequence for the infraction as the company may be fined before its office will be opened for business.
”We have to charge them based on the number of years they have operated without license. We will use our discretion to charge them,” he said.
CALABAR - PENSIONERS have cried out to President Muhammadu Buhari to save their souls from the pains of poverty following non-payment of their pension arrears which have accumulated for several months.
Making the cry yesterday in Calabar, President of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, Dr Abel Afolayan while addressing journalists listed twelve areas where pensioners have been subjected to severe difficulties which need to be addressed urgently by the President to save the souls of members.
Dr Afolayan listed those areas to include non-compliance with constitutional provision by the yearly review of 5% pension, non harmonisation of old and new pensions, arbitrary deductions from pensions, non remittance of federal government counterpart funding into local government pension fund among others.
"Pension arrears have piled up over the years during the regimes of past administrations with 'mountains of complaint" forms submitted by pensioners and inherited by Pension Transitional Arrangements Directorate which still lie unattended to for several years".
The NUP President who was represented by Elder Tubonimi Sukuyep, the National Vice President South- South of the NUP said the government has not complied with the annual review of pension as stipulated by the Constitution. "1999 Constitution of Nigeria stipulates that pensions shall be reviewed every five years or together with any Federal Civil Service salary reviews whichever is earlier; the last pension review was in July 2010, the pensioners are therefore eagerly waiting for the implementation of the review in compliance with the Constitution".
The pensioners President also complained of arbitrary deductions from stipends of members which is negatively impacting on their welfare because their finances are being severely affected. "We do not pay tax, as pension is tax free therefore our rightful entitlement should be 53.4% but as at now only 33% approved for our members are in arrears of thirty months".
They also complained of non-payment of death benefits to next of kins of deceased pensioners which is subjecting the families of deceased pensioners to unnecessary difficulties and hardships. "We would humbly like to plead that death benefits of deceased pensioners should be paid without any further delay".
ABUJA – Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, fixed September 29 to decide whether or not he should hands-off the legal tussle between two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by Senators Ahmed Makarfi and Ali Modu Sheriff.
The judge had on August 15, issued an order of interlocutory injunction that barred the party from conducting its national convention.
The order, which came barely 48 hours to a convention the party scheduled to take place in Port Harcourt on August 17, equally stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from monitoring the exercise.
He said the party must not sponsor any candidate or conduct election into any of its national offices, pending the determination of a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/464/2016, which Sheriff and seven others lodged before the court.
Meanwhile, at the resumed hearing on the matter on Wednesday, Markafi and six other members of the party, through their lawyer, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, challenged the jurisdiction of Justice Abang to further preside over the matter.
They asked Justice Abang to hands-off the suit and await judgment of the Court of Appeal on three separate appeals that were entered against his previous decisions on the PDP leadership crisis.
Ukala who notified the court that the appeals were filed on July 28, August 15 and 16, respectively, said there was need for Justice Abang to "step aside" from the case.
"Once an appeal has been entered, the court bellow ought to stand aside and allow the Court of Appeal to have the opportunity to exercise its jurisdiction on the matter", Ukala submitted.
However, counsel to the plaintiffs, Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, urged the court to ignore the appellants and go ahead with the substantive suit.
Akintola noted that there was nothing stopping the simultaneous hearing of the three appeals and the suit before the high court.
After listening to both sides, Justice Abang adjourned to rule on the issue.
Aside Sheriff, others listed as plaintiffs in the suit were Prof. Wale Oladapo (National Secretary); Dennis Alonge-Niyi (Deputy National Youth Leader); Alhaji Bashir Maidugu (Deputy National Legal Adviser); Mrs. Hanatu Ulam (Deputy National Women Leader); Alhaji Lawal Dutsima Anchi (Deputy National Auditor); Chief Okey Nnadozie (Deputy National Organising Secretary) and Chief Olisa Metuh (National Publicity Secretary).
The plaintiffs said they filed the suit for themselves and on behalf of the Executive Committee/National Working Committee of the PDP.
Though only PDP and INEC were initially cited as defendants in the case, the court subsequently joined Makarfi and six others as defendants in the suit.
Those also allowed into the matter as 4th to 9th defendants were Senator Ben Obi, Odion Ugbesia, Abdul Ningi, Kabiru Usman, Dayo Adeyeye and Aisha Aliyu.
Abuja – The Federal Government has declared Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 12 and Sept.13 as public holidays to mark the Eid-el-Kabir.
The Minister of Interior, Retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement signed by the acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Muhammadu Maccido.
He enjoined all Muslims and Nigerians in general to support and join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari in his sustained efforts to diversify the economy and progressively accelerate the pace of economic recovery.
The minister said that government was aware of the current economic challenges the nation was facing.
He assured that that appropriate steps were being taken to address the challenges.
The minister said that the Federal Government was working to? revitalise the agriculture sector and the "Youth Empowerment Scheme" in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
He said that other areas of priority to government included the “The "Change Begins with Me", a value re-orientation programme, and other social intervention programmes as well as massive capital releases.
The minister expressed optimism that the current economic difficulties would soon be over, urging all to continue to support the government toward building a new formidable Nigeria.
He wished all Nigerians a happy Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
Popular Lagos monarch, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, Kusenla 111, the Elegushi of Ikateland, in this interview speaks on his role as royal and father and how traditional rulers in Nigeria has helped in the development of their country.
You have been the Elegushi for some years now, how have you been able to fit into your role as royal and father to the people of Ikate Kingdom.
Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi
Royal duties have always been a part of my life, don't forget that the immediate past Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom was my father. We were all groomed consciously and unconsciously on roles and responsibilities of the monarchy. When I say unconsciously, I refer to being in the palace and around the late Kabiyesi, you are bound to pick up something either from observation or participation.
Also working closely with two former Governors of Lagos State has contributed to my understanding, managing and handling of issues and challenges, especially with diverse stakeholder groups. But no matter how prepared you think you are, the most important aspect of this role is to constantly ask the Almighty to grant you the required wisdom, grace, knowledge and understanding to be a just and fair leader with integrity of heart.
Nigeria is witnessing a new era where young, smart and intelligent people are becoming kings, how will this new dispensation help develop the many kingdoms in Nigeria especially Yoruba land.
Before I answer your question, I would like to commend the older Kings for their contributions, upholding our traditional values and remaining true to our cultural standards thus far. It is indeed a herculean task in this modern age to stay steadfast in ensuring that the values that matter are not thrown in the wind. If you take a look at what is happening today, you will agree that there is a lot of moral decadence across all facets and this is not peculiar to Nigeria.
The emergence of 'this new wave of young, smart and intelligent Oba's', using your words, is an opportunity for new role models to be able to impact positive and real values, through a fusion of the old and new. Yes education is very important to help growth and development but we should also not forget our roots. You need to know where you are coming from to understand where you are going and why you are going there. The Government and religious leaders are doing a lot but we all need to do our bit. As Kings the onus is on us to build strong Kingdoms founded on truth, values and integrity. It is easier for us because we are closer to the people, we see them every day.
What will you say has been your distinctive style of rulership
I can't say if anything I am doing is peculiar to me, I can only tell you what I know about my kingdom. I keep an open door policy so my people have access to me. I am abreast of what is happening through my interactions with the people and my Baales are very competent within their domains. I am very passionate about the wellbeing of my people and I strive to ensure that I do the right thing by them. I feel a deep sense of responsibility towards them and this is why the Almighty precedes all that I do. Being an Oba is a call to serve, not a call to be served or a call to lord over the people.
Ikate Kingdom is being enlarged, what informed this decision.
If you compare population figures from 10 years ago to date, you will observe that there is a huge increase in the numbers. Migration is growing at an alarming rate and as such we need to be able to provide the required infrastructure and services that would match the growth figures. We are also at the very center of all major industrial developments in Lagos state and therefore cannot ignore the need to expand.
This is one of the reasons that informed my vision to develop a smart business eco-friendly city, where people can live, work and play. A tourism booster where tourists have the opportunity to experience the rich hospitality of our lands and have access to the best medical facility in Africa. This city also fits into the larger plan of Lagos state on infrastructural development. As I said earlier on we cannot leave everything to the Government, the Private sector can and should play a major role to support building a Lagos of the future.
200 hectares to be dredged off the Lagos Lagoon is a massive, considering worldwide campaign on climate change, what processes have you put in place mitigate flooding and ocean erosion .
A lot of research and thought was put into development of the project. We committed from the onset that this City would be benchmarked against global standards. The inspiration for Imperial City came from many cities that I came across around the world - USA to Asia and the Middle-East. Nigeria has the potential to be on the infrastructure world map and that is what we intend to do with this project in Ikate Kingdom. Imperial city is going to be an eco-friendly City that would pay attention to ensuring that we preserve the environment. In staying true to this, we have selected the best team across the globe to work together on the project. Our contractors and consultants are companies of repute with impeccable track records and this is evident in the projects they have executed.
We are dredging 1.5m above high tides, Royal haskoningDHV will be designing the shoreline protection while BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH will be constructing. I would also like to mention that this project is within the Lagoon side of Ikate Elegushi not the ocean side of the kingdom which I believe addresses one of your environmental concerns.
The new Imperial City sounds like a project for the super-rich, how affordable is the IIBC going to be.
It won't be cheap to build if that is what you mean but a city does not comprise of only rich people. Presently we are conducting off-plan sales, so that people can invest either for development or for profit. However, I believe in giving people opportunities regardless of your socio-economic status, be you rich or poor, old or young, educated or illiterate, artisans, drivers, male or female. I am currently working with the project team to look at how we can give back to some members of society who ordinarily cannot afford to be a part of this project. We are considering a plan where we can give out some plots of land within the residential zone for N1, 000. We are yet to conclude on the number of plots to be given away, but we are definitely giving some plots away for N1, 000.
A middle-aged father, Ojo Adewole on Wednesday told an Ikole Customary Court in Ekiti that he was involved in rape because his wife starved him of sex.
Adewole, who made this known when he testified in a divorce petition by his wife, Omotayo,35, admitted being involved in a rape case but blamed it on the wife.
“Your honour, my wife had always starved me of sex. Instead of taking care of me and the house, she went about partying and making friends. “My wife is simply wayward and the family had always supported her deeds. “Your honour, I may not have the moral justification to ask for the preservation of the marriage, but I am praying the court to reduce my monthly financial obligation to my children to N5,000,'' he begged.
Adewole said: “my prayer for the slashing of the upkeep money hinges on the fact that I have just been released from detention and I do not have any tangible source of livelihood at the moment.''
Omotayo had told the court that Adewole had been “sexually unruly'', adding that he had gambled out their collective property and money. “Your honour, my husband is so addicted to gambling to the extent of using my three cell phones, cooking stove and other house utensils to gamble.
“His habitual drunkenness made him to beat me so often. “He is not also responsible for the upkeep of our five children as he evades paying their school fees. Your honour, I am tired of the marriage and I want it dissolved forthwith,'' she said.
She further said: “the father of my children does not have respect for her family members even though all of us stood by him when he was involved in a rape case.''
The mother of five had sought for the custody of all the children and prayed the court to compel the respondent to assign some amount monthly for their upkeep.
In her Judgment, the President of the court, Mrs Yemisi Ojo, dissolve the 15-years-old marriage between Omotayo and Adewole for promiscuity and gambling lifestyle. Ojo held that the petitioner's request had merit and “in the light of the evidence before the court it is clear that the respondent's lifestyle had put off the feelings the petitioner initially had for him.
“It is appropriate in the circumstance for parties to be allowed to go their separate ways. “I, therefore, order that the custody of the children from the union would remain with the petitioner,'' the president held.
Ojo said: “the respondent is ordered to give his ex-wife the sum of N10, 000 monthly for the upkeep of the children on monthly basis.''
A 28-year-old man, Alhassan Musa, on Wednesday appeared in a Magistrates' Court sitting at Audu Bako Secretariat, Kano, for allegedly sexually abusing nine under-age boys.
Musa of Gwammaja Layin Jirgi, Kano, was charged with unnatural offence, contrary to Section 284 of the Penal Code. Prosecutor Suleiman Danladi had told the court that parents of two of the abused minors, Ahmed Musbahu and Fatihu Hibbu, jointly reported the matter on July 24.
Danladi said that on July 18, the accused person lured the nine minors between the ages of 11 and 12 to defile them at separate times.
“Your Worship, from our investigation, the accused lured the minor into his Shop at Gwammaja Layin Jirgi Quarters to have unlawful sex with each of them through their anus.
“He had his way at different occasions to perform the unlawful carnal knowledge of the children by offering them N100.
The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Chief Magistrate, Muhammad Jibril, however, remanded the accused in prison custody, and adjourned the case till Sept. 29 for mention.
The Federal Government has denied that it had imported and flooded the nation's markets with Genetically Modified rice.
The Director-General of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr Rufus Ebegba made the position of government known at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.
Recall that an online news platform had alleged that the Federal Government through a firm had flooded the nation's market with poisonous GM rice.
Ebegba said that there was no iota of truth in the report, noting that no GM rice had either been imported or released officially into the country.
According to him, `no GMO rice has been commercially released anywhere in the world. He said that the Federal Government had banned the importation of rice and there was no indication that the ban had been lifted.
Ebegba described the online report as a falsehood and imagination of the writer, who “probably used a fake name.'' He added that the report was intended to cause unnecessary panic and called on Nigerians to disregard it.
The director-general also urged them to join hands with the government to ensure safety in the practice of modern biotechnology in the country in line with global best practices. He said NBMA was capable of regulating all GMO products in Nigeria, promising that the agency would not compromise on its mandate.
An Abuja High Court on Wednesday granted bail to Godsday Orubebe, a former Niger Delta Affairs Minister, in the sum of N10 million for allegedly diverting N2.3 billion. The court also granted bail in the sum of N20 million each to Oludare Alaba and Ephraim Zeri, Directors of Contract in the ministry.
Orubebe, Alaba and Zeri were arraigned on a six-count charge by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC). The judge, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, in his ruling, ordered Orubebe to produce one surety in like sum.
Adeniyi said that Orubebe's surety must be a responsible Nigerian with evidence of three years tax payment and land property owner within the FCT. He said Alaba and Zeri should produce one surety each in like sum, who must be an assistant directors in the civil service and a land owner within the courts jurisdiction.
The judge ordered that the sureties must depose to an affidavit of means. Adeniyi said that Orubebe shall remain in the custody of ICPC until his bail conditions were met and adjourned the case till Nov. 10 for hearing. The defendants alleged diverted about N2.3 billion meant for the dualisation of Section IV of the East-West Road.
Orubebe allegedly circumvented a Federal Executive Council approval for the dualisation of the Eket-Oron Road, part of the East-West Road which runs from Edo to Bayelsa. He allegedly instructed the contractor, Gitto Construction, to rehabilitate instead of dualising as approved by the council.
Orubebe and others were also charged with conferring undue advantage on the construction firm when they caused the money meant for compensating residents whose property were marked for demolition paid to Gitto. Orubebe was also accused of making false statements to the ICPC claiming that the decision to rehabilitate the road rather than dualise it was taken after he had left office as the minister.
The Nigeria Police Force ( NPF) and the Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission to postpone the Edo governorship election scheduled for Sept. 10, citing security threat.
The Force Spokesman, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Don Awunah, made the call at a joint news conference by the police and the DSS in Abuja.
He said that credible intelligence available to the agencies indicated plans by insurgent and extremist elements to attack vulnerable communities and soft targets.
Awunah said that Edo was among the states being earmarked for the planned attacks by the extremists between Sept. 12 and 13 respectively.
He said that while election was important, security agencies cannot allow the peace of the country to be disrupted.
” We will continue to be vigilant and ensure consolidation of the successes gained in the current counter-insurgency fight.
“It is in these regard that we we are appealing to INEC which has the legal duty to regulate elections in the country to consider the need for possible postponement of the date of the election,” he said.
He said that the postponement would afford security agencies to deal decisively with the envisaged terrorist threats.
“While the police and DSS remain mindful of the inconveniences this request may cause stakeholders, it is our strong resolve that security agencies need not to be distracted from ensuring a peaceful Nigeria,”he said.
The spokesman assured Nigerians that security agencies in the country would continue to remain focused and committed.
“The attention of security agencies should be drawn to any observed unusual movements or actions by groups or individuals in your neighbourhoods,”he said.
The 81 Division of the Nigerian Army on Wednesday in Lagos started testing the proficiency of its officers on weapon handling, map reading among others for effective military operations.
The competition for warrant officers and senior non-commissioned officers in 9 Brigade, Lagos, will engage them in obstacles crossing, drill and combat swimming from Sept. 7 to Sept. 9.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Isidore Edet, said at the opening that the competition was to improve the officers' leadership traits.
“Leadership at the lowest level is critical to the success of the Nigerian Army and the military in any operation. “If the commanders at the junior level are physically fit, good in the use of their weapons and if the leadership traits are well developed, it means we are on our way to victory in any battle.
“This is because the leadership traits they have will be brought to the table of the troops they command which is part of the importance of this competition. “This competition is aimed at achieving physically fit officers and enhanced leadership qualities.
“This is what they will go through while competing among each other,'' the GOC said. Edet said that the competition would impact positively on the various military operations they were currently undertaking.
“The units partaking in this competition include 9 Brigade, 35 Artillery Brigade, 45 Division Engineers and 81 Division Garrison,'' he said.
The 9 Brigade Commander, Brig.- Gen. Sanni Mohammed, in his address of welcome said the brigade was tasked to host and participate in the competition.
According to Mohammed, training is the bedrock of professionalism and the harder one trains in peace time, the less one bleeds in war.
A corps member serving in Minna, Mr Musa Bello, has designed a road safety awareness and distress call centre? mobile application that can be downloaded on the play store.
At the launch of the application on Wednesday in Minna, Bello said that the application would display the location of the caller so that emergency managers could come to his or her aid faster.
The corps member, who is serving with the Nigeria Television Authority, said that the project was part of his Community Development Service? (CDS).
“I developed this application as part of my personal CDS; it can be used to call all emergency? phone numbers.
“The numbers we have now on the app are the national emergency numbers: those of the police, Red Cross, fire service, National Emergency Management Agency and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Niger State,” Bello said.
He said that the initiative would make it easier for people to reach? out to relevant authorities in emergency situations.
“‘The reason I designed this app is that, in some cases, when accidents occur, people find it difficult to get across to relevant agencies for help.
“There was a day I was travelling and an accident occurred; I had to start calling a friend for FRSC toll-free distress numbers.
“But with apps like this, you can easily call and it will even display your location for them to see and come to your aid,” he added.
Bello also said that the application contained safety and rescue tips for children, adding that the application would be simple to use.
In her remarks, the Niger State NYSC Co-ordinator, Mrs Bolade Loto, hailed Bello for the initiative.
Loto, who was represented by Mr Michael Macaulay, urged corps members to execute projects that would meet the needs of their host communities.
Also speaking, a special marshal, Hajiya Maryam Abdulsalam, commended the innovation, and hoped that it would go a long way to save lives.
Bello is a graduate of computer science from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna.
A man, Jude Atuanya, who allegedly defrauded a Lagos microfinance bank of N21million with others still at large, has been released on bail on the order of a court. An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court presided over by Mrs O. A. Layinka, granted the accused a bail of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.
The 34-year-old trader, who lives at House 23, 3rd Avenue Close, Hotel Estate, Ojo, off Lagos-Badagry Expressway, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing. The accused, however, denied the charge.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Donjor Perezi, told the court that the offences were committed sometime in June 2015 at Addosser Micro Finance Bank on Lagos Island. Perezi said the accused with three others still at large collected a loan from the bank and forged some documents to secure the loan.
“The accused and his accomplices also forged a document used as collateral which they submitted to the bank.'' The offences contravened Sections 285, 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The magistrate adjourned the case to Nov. 22 for mention.
