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
Sequel to last week’s rescue of 21 Chiboks girls from the captivity of the Boko Haram sect, women from different walks of life on Friday, staged a solidarity rally in Lagos, to commend President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
Gathering under the aegis of African Arise For Change Network, the women staged the peaceful protest around Ikeja axis before marching to office of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to drop a letter of commendation for President Buhari.
Brandishing placards with inscriptions like ”Nigerian Women celebrate return of Chibok Girls, 'Thank You Mr. President And Our Gallant Military', ” Her Excellency Aisha Buhari remains a pillar of support in every sense to the IDPs and true to return of Chibok Girls,” the women said it is backing the administration’s efforts in rescuing the remaining Chibok Girls still held in captivity by the Boko Haram terrorists sect.
Speaking on behalf of the groups at the Government House, the Lagos Coordinator of the coalition, Mrs. Oluwatosin Bolarinwa, said the African Arise for Change Network is happy to receive the news that 21 of the abducted Chibok Girls that have been released from Boko Haram’s captivity following talks initiated by the Federal Government.
Bolarinwa said, "We can only imagine the emotions of the parents whose children have been returned bringing an end to months of harrowing experience for the families of these girls that have been freed.
"We celebrate with these families even as we acknowledge that there are uncertain times ahead as they work with the government to rehabilitate these young ones. The days and months ahead may be testing but we hope for a positive outcome in the reintegration of the girls in the firm belief that the harder part of their ordeal is over.
"We emphasise that no one, should have to live through that harrowing experience whether as the hostage, parents or family members. We are however confident that positive stories will spring from what was once a blot on the conscience of this nation.
"We therefore commend the Federal Government, ably led by President Muhammadu Buhari. His administration has turned around what many Nigerians had given up hope about. Not a few people had said the girls were lost forever but today the story is different. Not only has the first batch of 21 been free, we further have Mr. President’s assurances that we will soon be receiving more of the girls."
They also lauded the Nigerian Army, and other security agencies for their efforts agencies, saying they were all instrumental in decimating the Boko Haram insurgency to the point where negotiation became possible.
" Our particular respect to the families and loved ones of those who paid the supreme price in the course of fighting terrorism to ensure these girls regain their freedom.
"Our rally today is for no other reason than to say thank you to Mr. President, you promised to bring the girls back and some of us were already losing hope when it was taking time but today we are beginning to see the wisdom of focusing on getting the girls out safely as opposed to applying brute force."
Receiving the women at the Lagos House, Ikeja, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Mr. Taiwo Ayedun, who addressed the group, said the government of Lagos State was elated that 21 Chibok Girls were released, saying that the governor will ensure that their letter is delivered to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The number of registered political parties in Nigeria has risen to 40, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The commission said in its official website that 10 new political parties were recently registered, thereby increasing the number of the parties from existing 30.
The parties, according to INEC, are Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP), Democratic Alternative (DA), Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), National Action Council (NAC) and National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP).
Others are Nigeria Elements Progressive Party (NEPP), National Unity Party (NUP), Nigeria Peoples Congress (NPC), Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
Mr Nick Dazang, INEC's Deputy Director of Voter Education and Publicity, explained that the 10 new political parties were among those deregistered sometime ago but were re-registered based on a court order.
"The commission on Sept. 1, approved the acceptance and restoration of 10 political parties in compliance with a court order pending an appeal.
"It also directed that this restoration should be reflected on its website in compliance with court judgments''.
NAN recalls that INEC took similar action shortly before the 2015 general elections by re-registering the Young Democratic Party (YDP).
The action brought the number of political parties in the country to 30 before the elections.
The trials of former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki on corruption charges before two High Courts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been streamlined. This followed the transfer of the two charges into one court for quick and effective trial.
The Chief Judge of the FCT Judiciary, Justice Ishaq Bello ordered the transfer of charges before Justice Peter Affem to the court of Justice Baba Yusuf as the only Judge that will now conduct the trial. Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.): Former NSA Though Sambo Dasuki has been granted bails by all the courts involved in his trials, he has remained in the custody of Department of State Services (DSS) since November 2015.
The movement of the two charges into one court was at the instance of lawyers to the Federal Government and that of all the defendants in the matters.
The lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacob confirmed to Journalist that the two charges in two different courts will now be conducted by a single court to ensure effective and speedy trial of the case. He also also said that with the movement of the charges into one court the issue of consolidation of the charges will no longer arise having being overtaken by event.
Meanwhile Justice Baba Yusuf has fixed November 16, 2016 for the trial.
At the last hearing on October 5, 2016 before Justice Baba Yusuf, the Federal Government agreed to consolidate the criminal charges filed against Dasuki and others before the two different FCT High Courts.
This followed a complaint by Sambo Dasuki that putting him on trial in two different courts on the same issues was abuse of judicial process that would prejudice and cause double jeopardy.
The counsel to the government, Mr. Rotimi Jacob and that of Dasuki, Mr. Joseph Daudu agreed before Justice Baba Yusuf to formally write the chief judge of the FCT judiciary, Justice Ishaq Bello to consolidate the two charges in the interest of Justice.
The two senior counsels then applied to Justice Yusuf to adjourn the matter pending the time the chief judge would consider the application for consolidation. The judge who was then billed to give ruling on Dasuki's motion for consolidation put off the ruling because of understanding between the prosecution and the defence and adjourn the matter till October 21, 2016.
By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke ABUJA- THE Presidency said Friday that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari will start the implementation of the 2017 budget, January 1, just as it stressed that as a government, it has put everything in place to achieve the set goal and target.
According to the Presidency, to ensure that the implementation of the 2017 budget commenced at the chosen date, the Government would ensure that the 2017 Appropriation Bill was presented to the National Assembly before the end of 2016 to enable the lawmakers look at the document and subsequently pass it for Presidential asset.
Addressing Journalists Friday in Abuja, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters( Senate), Senator Ita Enang said that as a prelude to the presentation of the 2017 Appropriation Bill, the President had already forwarded the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, MTEF & FSP to the National Assembly for consideration and subsequent approval.
It would be recalled that in the document, President Buhari projected a total budget of N6,866,335,052,740 for 2017.
Senator Enang who urged Nigerians to be patient with the federal government in its quest to provide food, employment and security, however commended the leadership of the Senate on the speedy consideration given to correspondences from the President, adding, “The dexterity, speed, thorough attention, legal touch and expertise deployed by senate and its committees in considering and handling matters of the executive is worth commendations”.
Abuja – Some men in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Friday said the feministic movement promoting equal rights should give men the right to demand for alimony after a failed marriage.
The men, who spoke in Abuja, said women empowerment should come with some responsibilities and consequences.
Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a legal obligation on an individual to provide financial support to his or her spouse after divorce or marital separation.
Dr Bode Timothy, a marriage counsellor and psychologist, told NAN that men normally do not request for alimony because of the possibility of being scrutinised by society. "Responsible men cherish their ego and refuse to be viewed by people as weak individuals, so they avoid ever having to depend on women for any reason.
"However, with the current clamour for equal rights, current feministic movement and shift in the traditional gender roles; I am not surprised that more men are asking for alimony.
"Many men measure their success by their ability to provide for themselves and the people that depend on them.
"This feeling makes men view spousal support after a divorce as emasculating, and that is why we hardly hear of this payment being made to men by women,'' Timothy said.
Casper Brown, a travel agent, said that he was in full support of men receiving alimony since women had decided to fill the spaces originally designed for men.
"Since women have decided to physically prove that they can carry out masculine roles better than men, I think they should also carry out the financial obligations.
"I cannot ask a woman for spousal support but if a man married a woman that earns more than he does, he should demand for alimony if the marriage fails," Brown said.
Tobi Adeleke, an estate surveyor, told NAN that he felt that society treated Nigerian men unfairly and it was time for men to ignore those pressures.
"Society makes us believe that women can be lazy and all they have to do is get married to a successful man who would take care of her worries.
"Meanwhile, men are forced to get good jobs as there will be nothing for them to fall back on if they fail.
"We watch divorces happen in some countries where the man has to leave his house for the woman and unfairly share his hard-earned money with the woman he no longer loves.
"If he doesn't share the money, he is made to pay the woman alimony for the rest of her life. "Why can't the woman go and get a job or do something as an independent woman?'' Adeleke said.
He said in this age of women empowerment and equal rights, women who earned more than their husbands should start paying alimony in the event of marriage break up.
However, Joseph Ezu, a primary school teacher, was of the opinion that men who received spousal support automatically lose their respect.
"I understand that men are trying to get back at the unfair societal treatment they have received in comparison to women.
"Obviously, it is clear and fair that if women are going to take up the good parts of playing a male role they should also take up the bad parts too.
"However, I feel that a man losses his pride and respect once takes up spousal support from his wife.
"I don't think respectable men should get involved in such a mess," Ezu said. (NAN)
…N28 billion microfinance loan disbursed to 12 states By Gabriel Ewepu GUSAU – AS government reiterates its commitment to ensure rural people have financial inclusion, over 10, 000 Kastina and Zamfara States rural women in the past six years have been rescued out of poverty through the Rural Finance Institution Building Programme, RUFIN.
This was disclosed by the Deputy National Coordinator, RUFIN, Mrs. Ufaruna Unekwu, during a media tour and assessment of the programme in Kastina and Zamfara, where she also stated that N28 billion microfinance loan have been disbursed to the 12 participating states under the programme, while N15 billion have been saved by various women groups trained on financial discipline and investment.
Unekwu said the programme has proven that rural people, particularly women can be faithful in loan repayment, which according to her has been between 95 to 100 per cent, which has been lauded by the microfinance institutions that disburse the loan.
She said: "The programme started in 2010, and the issue while rural people remains poor in Nigeria is lack of access to finance, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, thought it wise to design a programme to help the rural poor to have access to financial services so that it improves their agricultural production and productivity, and micro enterprises. That was the rationale RUFIN was established.
"The theory of change is that if you can strengthen the microfinance institutions and linked them to the rural people, and improve the capital base of the microfinance institutions they will lend more credits to the rural poor and the poor will come out of poverty.
"As of today the programme has been able to facilitate credits to the rural poor of more than N28 billion in the 12 participating states. For savings mobilisation the programme has been able to facilitate mobilisation of N15 billion for the poor in the rural area.
"Before it was believed that the rural poor can't save but that is not true, since we trained them on saving culture they have demonstrated their ability on savings, financial literacy, investment and repayment of loan."
In sharing their success story with the media team at Zamfara and Kastina States one of the women groups in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Tallafi Mata Masu Dubara, the chairperson, Hajia Suwaiba Aliyu, said the group has over 9, 500 members, and have all come out of poverty through financial inclusion via access to microfinance institutions.
Aliyu said, "We are over 9, 500 members in this group. The success story of the group is enormous because after our training by RUFIN, which also linked us with microfinance institutions to access loans by our members had made us to individually expand our businesses, and also as a group. We are into livestock business, groundnut production and processing, millet, sorghum, cassava, rice and maize farming. There other businesses other than agribusiness we do as well."
According to one of the members of the Gangare Multipurpose Group in Dutsinma Local Government Area of Kastina State, Aisha Bishir, who spoke in Hausa said, she was a petty trader selling groundnut oil, but after her training under the programme her living condition positively changed.
"After I became a member of the Gangare Multipurpose Group, I was trained on how to come out of poverty and also improve on my groundnut oil business, which I was linked with some microfinance banks. After accessing loans from them for about nine circles I have successfully stepped out of poverty with my family.
"This is because I am into big time textile business. I use the profit to build our family house, sponsor my children's school expenses and we eat well also", Bishir said.
European football leagues on Friday suspended an accord with UEFA in protest at reforms to the Champions League which gives greater power to major clubs.
By freezing their UEFA deal, the 25 European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) members could organise their own games at the same time as Champions League matches.
Smaller European leagues are furious at UEFA’s reforms agreed in August which guaranteed four Champions League places to England, Spain, Italy and Germany from 2018. It also changed the prize money shareout.
The leagues insist they should have been consulted on the changes.
“There is no other option but to terminate the current memorandum of understanding,” EPFL president Lars-Christer Olsson told a press conference after a meeting of the body.
Twenty-two leagues present at the meeting voted for the suspension which will last until March 15 next year, Olsson, head of Sweden’s professional league, said. Italy’s Serie A voted against and Romania abstained.
“This will give us and UEFA sufficient time to negotiate,” Olsson added.
Olsson said he is to meet the new UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin in November.
No league has yet announced that it will hold matches on Champions League days, but EPFL officials said each country was free to decide its own action.
Many European leagues complain that the Champions League has been turned into a “closed party” and that the prize changes will increase the wealth gap between the continent’s major clubs and the rest.
“It is about preserving the basic values that football fans love,” said Claus Thomsen, chief executive of Denmark’s league.
“Some clubs are making so much money that you don’t have a competitive balance anymore in your own championship,” said Claudius Schafer, chief executive of the Swiss Football League.
– Breakaway leagues mooted –
Swiss side Basel, who earn major income from the Champions League, are already on course to win the national title for the eighth straight season.
Olsson said there should be a system of promotion and relegation to allow smaller countries and clubs to get Champions League places.
The EPFL president also said that UEFA’s new financial distribution proposals were unacceptable.
“Its worse than before,” he told the press conference.
Ceferin and Olsson have already held some talks and UEFA and the EPFL have set up working groups on possible deals.
Ceferin acknowledged after he was elected UEFA president in September that the changes had been badly handled.
He said at the weekend that UEFA would make an effort to help small and medium-sized leagues that suffer from the changes.
The EPFL feels it is getting less say than the European Clubs Association which represent the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United and Bayern Munich.
Following the reforms FC Copenhagen, who are in the Champions League this year, said they were in talks with Malmo in Sweden, Rosenborg in Norway, Ajax and PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands and Celtic in Scotland to set up an Atlantic regional championship.
Chinese conglomerate Wanda, a FIFA partner and part owner of Atletico Madrid, has proposed a rival contest to the Champions League. Media reports say that Europe’s major clubs have considered setting up their own breakaway contest if they do not get more from the Champions League
By Festus Ahon ASABA – Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Friday extolled the virtues of his predecssor in office, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, describing him as a peace advocate.
Okowa in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Charles Aniagwu, congratulated Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan on the occasion of his 62nd birthday today.Uduaghan
While praying God Almighty to continue to bless the former Governor with good health and long life, Okowa said; "It is with profound joy that I write on behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta State, to express very warm felicitations to you.
“Your contributions to the peace and development of Delta State remains indelible in the hearts of Deltans, especially to the families and children who benefited from the free under-5 and maternal care programme which your administration introduced on your assumption of office in 2007.
“As an administration, we have continued to fine tune health programmes in the state with a view to making Delta State the least in Maternal Mortality Rate MMR and fast track our goal of attaining universal health coverage.
"I join your family, friends and well-wishers to thank Almighty God for His continued guidance, protection and provision for you in the past 62 years of a life of service to humanity”.
Brazilian superstar Neymar signed a new five-year contract with Barcelona on Friday that will keep him at the Spanish champions until 2021, saying he felt “at home” at the Camp Nou.
The deal, which was agreed in June, includes a buy-out clause of up to 250 million euros ($272 million) as Barca seek to ward off interest from potential suitors across Europe.Neymar
Manchester United were reportedly chief among a number of clubs wishing to prise the 24-year-old attacker from Barcelona, where he forms part of an acclaimed triumvirate along with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
“I’m very happy to renew with the club, I feel at home,” Neymar told Barcelona’s official television station.
“I thought, with my family, that it was best for me to stay here,” he added.
The Brazilian has hit 91 goals in 150 matches in all competitions for Barcelona since arriving from the Brazilian club Santos in 2013 in a controversial deal.
Barcelona, who underlined their status as European heavyweights with a 4-0 victory over Manchester City in the Champions League during the week, did not give details of how much they would be paying Neymar.
“Neymar Jr extended his deal with FC Barcelona on Friday afternoon, putting pen to paper on his contract at the club's facilities in the presence of president Josep Maria Bartomeu,” the club said on its website.
“As the club announced, Neymar has signed a five-year deal which will keep him at Barca until 30 June 2021.”
In July a Spanish judge ruled that there were irregularities in Neymar’s 2013 transfer to Barcelona from Santos, but said it was an issue for a civil court, not a criminal court to settle.
Last month authorities reopened the case following a successful appeal by Spanish prosecutors.
Burkina Faso’s government said Friday it thwarted a “vast conspiracy” earlier this month by forces loyal to ousted leader Blaise Compaore which aimed to seize power.
Some 30 men from the ex-president’s security unit plotted to free prisoners who were part of a September 2015 coup attempt and then attack the presidential palace, said Interior Minister Simon Compaore, who is no relation to the ex-leader.
According to the minister, the coup was planned for October 8 and called for detaining “certain authorities”.
Blaise Compaore was forced from power in October 2014 following a popular uprising against his attempts to change the constitution to remain in office.
The attempted 2015 coup was staged by troops from the presidential guard loyal to the ex-leader but was blocked by street protesters and by the army, which attacked the plotters’ barracks.
Burkina Faso’s government said Friday it thwarted a “vast conspiracy” earlier this month by forces loyal to ousted leader Blaise Compaore which aimed to seize power.
Some 30 men from the ex-president’s security unit plotted to free prisoners who were part of a September 2015 coup attempt and then attack the presidential palace, said Interior Minister Simon Compaore, who is no relation to the ex-leader.
According to the minister, the coup was planned for October 8 and called for detaining “certain authorities”.
Blaise Compaore was forced from power in October 2014 following a popular uprising against his attempts to change the constitution to remain in office.
The attempted 2015 coup was staged by troops from the presidential guard loyal to the ex-leader but was blocked by street protesters and by the army, which attacked the plotters’ barracks.
Popular singer Lady Gaga has said that she does not want to be compared with American singer Madonna.
Gaga said at a concert in the U.S. that her style is "not just rehearsing over and over again to put on a show."
Lady Gaga
She reiterated she did not intend to be "disrespectful in any way" and said she was not a fan of being compared to another artist.
"I just will not be compared to anyone anymore. My life story is my life story, just like yours is.
"The thing is we all express things in different ways, but my rebellion at my father for him being angry with me, that has ended. It's like finally I can bite back."
Lady Gaga returned to the New York City bar where she performed years ago as an unsigned act on the eve of her new album's release, singing rock and pop songs for an audience including Robert De Niro, Helen Mirren, die-hard fans and music industry insiders.
Gaga sang tracks from "Joanne," released Friday, at The Bitter End, going from piano to guitar.
She was backed by a band that included Mark Ronson, who produced the new album, and Hillary Lindsey, who co-wrote with Gaga.
The Grammy winner, who grew up in New York City, performed songs like "Million Reasons" and "Joanne," an homage to her aunt who died at 19 from lupus before Gaga was born (Joanne is the singer's middle name).
After the performance inside the bar, Gaga performed outside for her feverish fans.
She sang two more songs from the top of the bar's roof, even sitting down on the edge of the roof to belt out the lyrics as fans and residents cheered her on.
A blanket ban on Indian content in Pakistani media came into effect Friday, a Pakistani regulator said, as tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours about the disputed region of Kashmir showed no signs of abating.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said it had ordered television channels and radio stations to stop airing Indian movies and shows.
"We will cancel licences if the ban is violated," PEMRA spokesman Mohamed Tahir told dpa as political tensions infringed the cultural ties between the South Asian nations.
The move comes after Pakistani actors were barred from performing in Indian Bollywood movies following a deadly September 18 attack by militants on an Indian army base in the Himalayan valley of Kashmir, which is divided between the two countries.
New Delhi blamed the assault on a jihadist group allegedly operating from Pakistan. Islamabad denied the charge.
"We will not let any TV channel or radio stations air Indian content anymore," added Tahir.
"We will monitor it digitally and our inspectors will raid the cable service providers to make sure there is no violation."
Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup called the ban an unfortunate development and said New Delhi had not officially banned Pakistani actors, but would stop them "due to security concerns."
Indian and Pakistani entertainment channels have been showing television shows from each other's countries in recent years. The cross-border content has been extremely popular.
PEMRA has also banned the screening of Bollywood movies in Pakistani theatres despite the fact Indian films are watched by millions of people and some megastars such as Shah Rukh Khan are household names.
Hamza Khan, a 21-year-old university student from the capital Islamabad, said he and his family were disappointed they could not watch their favourite movies and shows any more.
"It is like something has gone missing in my life," Khan said.
However, with cheap DVDS still available and people in most Pakistani cities still able to watch some content online, it is unclear what the ban will achieve.
An outbreak of malaria has claimed no fewer than 48 lives in Gandu area, Sokoto North Local Government of Sokoto State in the last one month.
The Officer in Charge of Kofar Kade Clinic, Mrs Rabi Ahmed-Gandi, disclosed this in Sokoto on Friday when she received the second consignment of free anti-malarial drugs from the State Government.
She said: "These deaths were recorded out of the 382 patients who were hospitalised in the hospital during the period under review.
"The problem had hitherto reached an epidemic level, although it had subsided now."
She attributed the problem to the contamination of the environment sequel to the prevalence of toxic refuse heaps.
Ahmed commended the state government for its swift intervention, saying that it has helped to stabilise the ugly situation.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Balarabe Kakale, said that the state government had provided essential drugs and medicament to the area.
Kakale further said that health personnel have also been dispatched to the affected area to augment the staffers at the clinic.
He said: "The Ministry has also commenced a fumigation exercise against mosquitoes.
"In the same vein, sanitary inspectors have been deployed to the affected areas to help in the clean up.
"They are also conducting social mobilisation campaigns on the need for the residents to ensure environmental and personal hygiene.
"We are also partnering the Ministry of Environment and the State Environmental Protection Agency, to team up and evacuate the killer-heaps of refuse."
In a bid to stern the growing spate of the religious extremism being propagated by the Islamic Movement of Nigerian (IMN), a group of Nigerians in the United States has launched a movement under the aegis of More Voices Against Terrorism (MVAT).
Protesters
The movement which was inaugurated by the convener, Cosmas Collins said the activities of the IMN have given Nigeria and Nigerians living abroad negative imagine, saying there was urgent need to draw the attention of the international community to their heinous crimes against the Nigerian state.
In an electronic statement sent to our reporter, the Convener of the MVAT, Cosmas Collins said the non prosecution of the leader of the IMN, El Zakzakky remains a major flaw for the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari which is respected globally in its war against terrorism.
According to him, the campaign against El- Zakzakky and his Iranian counterparts is a patriotic advocacy to defend the sovereignty of Nigeria from re-colonization by imperialists and called for the support of all Nigerians.
In a short video also posted by Collins on the Internet, members of the newly lunched group were seen sharing pamphlets on the streets of the US condemning the IMN extremism and other forms of terrorism in Nigeria
He said Islam is a good religion but El- Zakzakky and his Iranian sponsored IMN are portraying the religion in bad light just to satisfy his foreign masters.
He commended the federal government and the military in its quest to rid the country of the Boko Haram insurgents, saying all efforts by the federal government and the Nigerian military to rescue the Chibok girls are well appreciated by the Nigerian community in the diasporas.
He assured that Nigerians the world over are united in the quest to rid the country of relgious extremism, adding that the movement is committed to ensuring that their advocacy in the USA gets to the President and every Nigerian living at home and abroad.
Former Director of Media and Publicity, campaign committee of ex President Goodluck Jonathan and former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, was, Friday, re-arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, after he stepped out of a court room at Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, where he is standing trial.
FEMI FANI-KAYODE
Fani-Kayode, was charged alongside a former Minister of Finance, Nenandi Usman, Danjuma Yusuf and a company, Joint Trust Dimension Nig. Ltd., on a 17 count charge of unlawful retention, unlawful use and unlawful payment of money in the tune of about N4.9 billion, aa charge brought against them by the EFCC.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail. Friday, the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, opened its case and had wrapped up the witness’ evidence for the day, while the court adjourned the case to November 14 and 15, 2016, for continuation of trial and rose.
However, shortly after Fani-Kayode had walked out of court, two officers of the EFCC dressed in white kaftan, flanked his sides, and requested that he followed them to the commission’s office.
Immediately, the court’s gate was barricaded by a toyota Hiace bus and Fani-Kayode was taken off to the EFCC.
Meanwhile, Friday, EFCC had opened its case for the prosecution and called its first witness, a Media consultant, Mr Idowu Olusegun.
Led him in evidence, the witness, who is media consultant, Paste Posters Company Ltd, told the court that N30 million was paid in cash to him, by the office of the Director of media and publicity, PDP campaign Organisation.
According to Olusegun, he had reached an agreement with the organisation whose office is situated at 14B, Samora Micheal Avenue, Asokoro, Abuja, for the sum of N24m for media consultancy services.
He said that a further negotiation was reached in which N50 would be paid for each size of A2 posters, while N20 would be paid for each size of A4 flyers.
The witness told the court that after the printing job for the posters and flyers was done, he was invited to the office of the organisation and given N30 million in cash.
He further told the court that he had demanded to know why payments was made in cash and was informed by one Mr Oke, that cash was the approved means of payment.
He said that Mr Oke had been the person communicating with him throughout the pendency of his engagement to do the media jobs.
The witness added that apart from the N30 million paid to him, there was also an outstanding payment of N24m which was not paid to his company.
After his testimony and based on agreements of counsel, the court fixed November 14 and 15 for continuation of trial.
Meanwhile, a mild drama played out in court during trial, when the trial judge, Justice Sule Hassan, ordered the seizure of the mobile phone of Fani-kayode.
The accused had held his phones and suddenly, the phone rang out loud and the judge asked: “Who is doing that?”
He ordered the court’s registrar to seize the phones. Similarly, the trial judge also issued a warning to counsel representing the accused, when he sighted him sipping from a bottle water during proceedings.
The judge had warned counsel to seek the permission of the court, whenever, his client was pressed for water.
According to Hassan “The court is not a market place, there must be order and sanity.” In the charge, the accused were alleged to have committed the offences between January and March 2015.
In counts one to seven, they were alleged to have unlawfully retained over N3.8 billion which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of stealing and corruption.
In counts eight to 14, the accused were alleged to have unlawfully used over N970 million which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of an unlawful act of corruption.
Zimbabwe seems to be in a mess as a German company, Giesecke and Devrient, refused to print the country's controversial new currency.
Mugabe
The action of the company has forced President Robert Mugabe's government to delay the introduction of the new currency amid worsening cash shortages.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) announced in May that it will introduce bond notes that will be at par with the United States dollar to address liquidity challenges.
RBZ governor John Mangudya, who initially announced that the notes would be in circulation by October, said a German company had been given the printing contract, Africa Review said on Friday.
The launch of the 'surrogate currency' was moved to next month and on Friday a leading business newspaper in Zimbabwe revealed that the delays were caused by Giesecke and Devrient's refusal to print the notes.
Giesecke and Devrient printed the Zimbabwe dollar until the country abandoned the currency in 2009 after it was ravaged by 500 billion percent inflation.
The German embassy in Harare confirmed that the company had refused to print the new currency.
"According to the information that we have from the said company, it will not print bond notes for the Zimbabwe of Zimbabwe. Other that, I cannot say more," the Zimbabwe Independent quoted an unnamed German embassy official saying.
Officials refused to comment on the issue, but indications point to the fact the notes would be printed outside.
The new currency would be introduced next month and would be backed by a $200 million African Export Bank facility.
Zimbabweans fear the introduction of bond notes will see President Mugabe's government resorting to printing more money in order to extricate itself from a serious cash squeeze and in the process bring back inflation.
Cash shortage in the country has been described as excruciating.
A Gudu Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Friday dissolved a 17-year-old marriage between Hajara Ibrahim and Ibrahim Tanko, and ordered her to pay N10,000 to her ex-husband to free herself.
Divorce Decree
The judge, Mallam Isah Imam, said Tanko who claimed he was still in love with Hajara was granted enough time for settlement, which did not yield positive results.
He said Tanko and his counsel were absent in court severally, adding that where there is disagreement between parties, the judge has discretion to decide on the matter.
Imam, however, dissolved the marriage by way of `Khuli,' adding that any aggrieved party can appeal to the Sharia Court of Appeal within 30 days from Oct. 21.
Under Islamic law, Khuli is when a woman seeking divorce returns the dowry.
Hajara in her claims accused Tanko of negligence, battery and lack of love.
She agreed to refund N5, 000 which was paid on her as dowry and pleaded with the court to grant divorce by way of Khuli.
The marriage produced four children.
It would be recalled that a man should divorce of his own free will, therefore, if someone compels him to divorce his wife, that divorce will be void.
According to the Quran which is the book on which Islam is based, there is a waiting period.
In countries where polygyny is permitted, there is no waiting period before the husband can remarry.
The Central African Republic, CAR, is the worst country in the world to be a young person, an index by a group representing Commonwealth countries showed.
President Faustin-Archange Touadera of CAR. BBC Photo
Central African Republic has been plagued by inter-religious violence since 2013 when the mainly Muslim Seleka militia seized power, prompting reprisals from Christian anti-Balaka forces.
Despite a February election touted as a step toward reconciliation, violence is still frequent.
The index released by the Commonwealth Secretariat on Friday ranked 183 nations on employment, education, health and other prospects for people aged between 15 and 29. CAR scored so low overall because it offers little or no access to education and healthcare, poor job prospects and low participation levels in politics.
Sub-Saharan Africa continued to have the lowest levels of youth development in the world, despite significant progress in the last five years, the index showed.(Read the Full report:2016 Global Youth Development Index.
The 10 countries that score lowest on the index are all from sub-Saharan Africa – the only region where the size of its youth population has not peaked. Nigeria is not among the 10.
According to U.N. estimates, the number of youths globally will rise to 2 billion by 2060 from 1.8 billion in 2015, with most of that growth expected to in sub-Saharan Africa.
"While increases in civic and political participation – though voting or protests for example – in the region are encouraging, they will only get young people so far without corresponding improvements in access to health and education," said Abhik Sen, one of the report's authors.
"Deep inequalities in levels of youth development persist among countries worldwide," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a phone interview.
In North American and European countries, for example, nearly 100 percent of young people can read and write, compared with less than 40 percent in Niger and South Sudan.
Germany topped the index for youth development, followed by Denmark, Australia, Switzerland and Britain.
The report found that youth unemployment was a growing concern with young people at least twice as likely as adults to be jobless worldwide.
Matthew Hobson, a World Bank expert on social protection, said in the report that "global growth and poverty reduction over the next 20 years will be driven by today's young people, yet many of them struggle to find productive employment."
Sudanese billionaire philanthropist Mo Ibrahim said within three generations, 41 percent of the world's youth will be Africans.
"That is a wonderful resource for our continent if it is skilled and employed," he said in the report.
