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
The Pere of Gbaramatu has appealed to the entire Kunukunuma federated communities to suspend its planned shutdown of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) operation.
The protest had been scheduled to hold this Friday, March 10, 2017 at Odidi field, Delta State.
The Pere of Gbaramatu, who spoke through his Spokesperson, Godspower Gbenekama, said: "We appeal to the Kunukunuma Federated communities to suspend their planned protest against NPDC at the Odidi field slated for the 10th of this month.
"This is because the Pere has waded into the matter and also set up a committee headed by Chief Philip Tonfawei to look into their issues and also engage the company to ensure that there is lasting peace in the kingdom."
Godspower Gbenekama,who is also the Ibe-Benemowei of Gbaramatu kingdom, said, the appeal became necessary to avert crisis in his kingdom.
"The Pere would also want the company to look at the merit of their demands and do the needful, as development of the communities they operate is their cooperate social responsibility."
The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, called on the Federal Government to complete the dualization of Benin-Ugo-Niyekorhionmwon-Abraka road in Edo.
The call followed the resolution of the house on a motion by Rep. Patrick Aisowieren (Edo-APC).
Moving the motion earlier, Aisowieren said that the Benin-Ugo-Abraka road was the shortest route between Benin City, the Edo c apital and Delta.
He also explained that it was about the only Road Project embarked upon by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and was of immense economic and social benefits to the people of Edo and Delta States.
Aisowieren expressed concern that the abandonment of the project had rendered it impassable and was causing hardship on commuters plying the road.
The lawmaker said that the abandonment of the project also hindered the conveyance of agro-allied products around the communities.
The motion was unanimously adopted by members after it was put to vote by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara.
The house, therefore, urged the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to take urgent steps to mobilise the contractors back to site to complete the project.
It mandated the Committee on Niger Delta Affairs to ensure implementation.
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has urged the judiciary to expedite trail of all public office holders indicted of corruption.
National Chairman of the council, Mr Muhammad Nalado, made the call while briefing newsmen at the end of the council's meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.
Nalado said that speedy trial of the cases was necessary to ensure that those found guilty were sanctioned, while the innocent were let off.
He described the judiciary as the last hope of all aggrieved people and said that it was imperative for judiciary officers "like Ceaser' s wife'' to live above suspicion.
"As the temple of justice, Nigerians expect men and women of integrity, credibility and nobility to serve and dispense justice in our court of law.
Judges
"The National Judiciary Council should sanction any erring judiciary officer immediately to reinforce Nigerians' confidence in our judicial system,'' Nalado said.
He expressed IPAC's satisfaction on ongoing war against corruption and commended various anti-graft agencies for their efforts to rid the nation of corrupt practices.
He also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for properly transferring power to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to act on his behalf.
The action, according to the IPAC chairman, has saved the nation from avoidable constitutional crisis as obtained in the past. "This is democracy in action that should be emulated by all public office holders.''
Nalado also commended the recent of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in disciplining its erring staff members who were alleged to be involved in corrupt and electoral malpractices. He said that such discipline would go a long way in sanitising the electoral system of the country.
He said that the council was working assiduously with INEC to strengthen the capacity of political parties through voters' education and sensitisation of the public to improve the country's electoral system.
The IPAC chairman also urged the Constitutional and Electoral Review Committee to work with the National Assembly to ensure effective and prompt amendment of the 2010 Electoral Act before the 2019 general elections.
He further called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the 2017 budget consideration to ensure its quick passage.
Newsmen report that IPAC members prayed for quick recovery of Buhari, his safe return to the country and for the nation.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has redeployed a corps member, Mr Michael Uwakwe, serving in Zamfara to Anambra, following his assault by a police officer.
Mrs Victoria Okakwu, the NYSC Director, Corps Welfare and Inspectorate, made this known to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.
Okakwu explained that the corps member was redeployed to ensure his safety and security while carrying out his national assignment.
The briefing was designed to keep the public abreast on the outcome of investigations conducted by the scheme on the slapping of a corps member serving in Zamfara as earlier reported by some media.
The reports had alleged that Uwakwe was brutalised and manhandled by the police for punishing a student who happened to be a rich man's ward by simply asking him to go on his knees.
Okakwu said that after proper investigations and resolution of the matter the scheme has also ordered the immediate withdrawal of 11 other corps members who were serving along with Uwakwe at Nasara Standard Academy, Gusau.
She said that the 11 corps members have been re-posted to serve in other establishments in Gusau as a proactive measure to ensure their safety and security.
"On Wednesday last week we got information from Zamfara state that a corps member was beaten by the police, arrested, detained and later released.
"When we got this information I had to speak to the state coordinator to investigate the matter thoroughly. From our investigations, the corps member had a problem in the school he was posted to serve.
"He came into the class and said he was going to give the students a test asking them to put their books away and get ready but that this student was not just cooperative.
"In the process of doing the test she hissed and he asked why she will hiss in the class because it was a rude behaviour but she had nothing to say after a while she hissed again and he went to her to ask why again.
"The next thing he saw written on her script was `Nonsense Tes'. That got him infuriated and he asked the student if the questions he set were out of what he had taught them.
"The girl will not answer so he instructed her to kneel down. In the process he asked her to crawl with her knees and after that he left; later he came to look for the girl and she was no where to be found.
"The girl went home, spoke to her father and he went to the police. The corps member was in the staff room when he was called that he was needed in the principal's office.
"When he got there he was asked to go with the police but he declined stating that he was just doing his job but he later agreed to go to the police station if the principal will go with him.
"He went with the principal to the police station and in the station he was slapped and detained for six hours," Okakwu said.
She said that the scheme made a formal report to the state commissioner of police expressing dissatisfaction over the way the police handled the matter as the police was meant to maintain peace and not cause harm.
Okakwu explained that with efforts of the NYSC State Coordinator, the local government and zonal inspector, the state commissioner of police waded into the matter and it was settled amicably among all parties.
According to her, the commissioner said this is not an issue for the police but one that would have been settled in the school.
The police commissioner apologised for the way his personnel handled the matter, she said.
She said that Uwakwe was redeployed to Anambra state in order to ensure his safety and protect him from any further harm and any phobia which would prevent him from carrying out his duties.
However, the director maintained that Uwakwe was not brutalised as speculated but just slapped as he did not have any bruises on his body.
Okakwu said the scheme was very concerned with the security, safety and wellbeing of its corps members, assuring that wherever corps members are serving in the country the scheme will continue to ensure their welfare and security.
Minna- A village, Tungan Magajiya in Rijau local government area of Niger state was on Wednesday invaded by some suspected ritualists who slaughtered four boys in an Islamic school and made away with their blood.
The rijualists who are said to be mainly out for human blood stormed the Islamic school around 3am yesterday and attacked five boys during which they succeeded in killing three immediately while the fourth eventually died few hours later while the fifth is in the hospital recuperating.
The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) said it had set up a six-member committee to ensure a hitch free travel experience for tourists at the Kaduna International Airport.
Th Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja has been closed for six weeks for minor repairs. The Assistant Director, Press Unit of the corporation, Mrs Adamma Afanga disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja.
The statement quoted the acting Director-General of the corporation, Mrs Mariel Rae-Omoh as soliciting the support of the management of the airport when she and the six-member committee visited the airport.
"The six-man committee will ensure easy and safe travel experience for both foreign and domestic tourists.
"The NTDC sought for the support of the airport management to set up Tourism Information Desks at the arrival and departure halls, through which the corporation promotes tourism in Nigeria to both the foreign and domestic tourists."
Rae-Omoh said that the corporation also inspected some hotels in Kaduna to ascertain their readiness to receive tourists.
The Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led Government of Osun state has declared a two day curfew in the entire Ile-Ife City over alleged clashes between Hausa and Yoruba communities in the state that have claimed at least five lives with over a hundred injured.
In a statement signed by Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the Director of Communications and Strategy, office of the Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, it said “the curfew, which will be between 6pm to 7am, takes effect from today WednesdayMarch, 8th, 2017 and will be in force till Friday.”
It said the curfew was necessitated by the breach of the peace in the area which has led to avoidable destruction of lives and properties.
Recall that Vanguard had earlier reported that at least five persons were alleged to have died in the clash.
5 dead as Hausa, Yoruba communities clash in Osun
According to the reports, areas that were most volatile with the clashes were the Sabo, Lagere and Olaoluwa areas of Ile-Ife, Osun state.
Reports equally alleged that some Hausa men were accused of raping and harassing wives of Yoruba men in the Sabo area of Ile-Ife. As a result, the Yoruba men attacked the Hausa community in a clash that erupted Tuesday and culminated into a deadly one on Wednesday.
In the pictures available so far, some of the victims are seen burnt to ashes with a tyre still hanging on one of them in the street. The report also has it that the Sabo area has been completely locked down as all the stalls belonging to the Hausas situated in Lagere area have been completely destroyed along with the goods.
5 dead as Hausa, Yoruba communities clash in Osun
It also said Security agencies comprising the Police and the Army have moved in to contain the situation. Confirming the incidence, Imam Muhammed Basir, the Senior Special Assistant to Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Arewa Matter, said the situation has taken a very dangerous dimension.
He confirmed that one person was shot dead. He also told newsmen that reports from the state claimed that more than three persons had been killed. He called for more deployment of security agencies from Osogbo to intervene since the situation seemed beyond the Divisional Police unit.
5 dead as Hausa, Yoruba communities clash in Osun
Basir also said that he has notified the Governor and the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Fimihan Adeoye as well as the Director of the Department of State Security Service (DSS). Confirming the incidence too, the acting Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Muhammed Abubakar Koji who spoke through the Police Public Relation Officer, (PPRO) SP Folasade Odoro said necessary steps have been taken to curtail the situation. He said mobile policemen have been deployed to Ile-Ife.
At least 19 people died in a fire at a children’s shelter in Guatemala on Wednesday, a spokesman for the local fire service said.
Commanders have “informed us that they have already counted 19 people deceased” in the Virgen de la Asuncion facility located in San Jose Pinula, just to the east of the capital, the spokesman, Mario Cruz, told reporters.
It was not immediately known how many of the bodies were those of children.
The center, supervised by state social welfare authorities, hosts minors who are victims of family mistreatment.
The facility has been the target of multiple complaints alleging abuse, and several children have run away.
Some women in Ilorin on Wednesday called for an end to discrimination against girls, as the world commemorates the 2017 International Women's Day (IWD).
Some of the women told journalists in separate interviews that the time had come for the girl child to receive due recognition as her male counterpart.
A business woman, Mrs Janet Adekeye, said it was unfortunate that the Nigerian society had not deemed it necessary to ensure gender equality.
"Discrimination against girl child is not what we should still be debating in this age because the world has gone past this.
"Women are doing great things throughout the world now, but if our girls have been given out in marriage at a tender age, how do they achieve this?
A civil servant, Mrs Aisha Ajala, said in spite of the public outcry against the evils of child marriage, some parents were adamant on perpetuating the practice in certain parts of the country.
Women
"I saw on the internet last week that somewhere in Borno state, a girl of around 11 to 12 years was given out in marriage and it was even a big wedding.
"The person that posted it online said the groom is his uncle's son, so I have just been wondering what the girl will be going through because she was not looking happy.
"So, it will be good if the government use the celebration of this day to stop child marriage by all means and punish offenders to serve as deterrent to others," Ajala said.
A teacher, Mrs Taiwo Tanimola, said feminism was an issue that should be discussed and even celebrated, but added that matters of gender were never on the front burner.
"The contributionsof the female gender cannot be over-emphasised, so the girl child that will grow to be a woman should be well nurtured.
"But it is a pity that some fathers still insist that they cannot educate a girl as she will become another man's property, not knowing that they are gradually spoiling their own future.
"A girl that has been exposed to motherly duty at a tender age when she also needs a mother's affection cannot be useful to herself nor the society.
"So, it is better if we change our mindset for our female children to attain a reputable position in life," she said.
Newsmen report that the IWD is celebrated on March 8 annually throughout the world to promote the cause of women.
By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA-Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has said that his life has been the work of God’s grace.
Ag Pres OsinbajoHe made the remarks in an interview with State House correspondents after members of cabinet celebrated with cutting of cake at the presidential Villa, Abuja
Osinbajo said, “Frankly speaking, there is no difference between today and yesterday. It is really a work of grace.
“It is worth thanking God that one is 60 and one is in good health and that one is able to serve one’s country.
“I am happy and fulfilled. I am thankful to God.”
Earlier, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh who coordinated the cake-cutting described Osinbajo as an unusual man, wishing him more fruitful years.
ABUJA- SENATORS of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP have resolved to meet with the governors elected on the platform of the party as a way of settling for a political solution to nip in the bud, the lingering political quagmire the opposition political party was at the moment, going through.
The Senators who met Wednesday at Hearing Room 1, Senate Wing, also discussed the letter they received from the National Chairman of PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff intimating them of the need for him to meet with the lawmakers.
The PDP Senate Caucus considered it imperative to meet today to brainstorm on the letter and the need to meet with governors of the party before they would honour the invitation extended to them by Ali Modu Sheriff.
Addressing Journalists after the meeting, Senate Minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio who confirmed receipt of a letter from Sheriff inviting the caucus to a meeting with him at the party headquarters, said that the said letter was dated March 6, 2017.
Akpabio who noted that they were looking for a political solution to solving the problem the party was confronted with, said that the Senators would first meet with the governors, intimate them of the invitation and if it was desirable to meet with Sheriff with the forum of PDP Governors .
According to him, the caucus would also meet with other organs of the party as well as the Ahmed Markafi led Caretaker Committee of the party before it would honour the invitation from the National Chairman, adding that it would then meet with the Board of Trustees, BoT of the party, former governors, the National Assembly members, just as it was however not clear when the meeting between Sheriff and the lawmakers would take place.
Akpabio said, “We held this meeting because there was a letter from Sen. Sheriff to the caucus and so we had to meet first to know whether this is the right time, whether the meeting is right or not and what we agreed is that let the leadership first, thereafter we meet with the Sheriff group then we meet with the Makarfi group then the BOT and then see whether all can to a consensus and not just we running to the party office to go and meet him, that will look like sectionalism.
“We discussed about the overall wellbeing of the nation, we also discussed about the ongoing issues in our party and then we discussed the way forward. We also used that opportunity to pray and wish the President quick recovery and quick return to the country.
“As a caucus, we believe strongly in peace and we believe that the Peoples Democratic Party so that Nigeria can have a robust democracy. We believe that without the PDP being strong and united, Nigeria may slide into a one party state and democracy may be in peril.
“We also said if it is possible that while the judicial processes are on, that as a caucus we should also pursue the alternative platform of having out of court settlement and this can only start with us meeting with our governors and thereafter meeting with the leadership of the party, the two groups and all the other strata of the party, that is the Board of Trustees, former governors, the National Assembly members and of course the National Caretaker Committee, the recently pronounced Chairman by the Court of Appeal so that we can spearhead a major political turnaround that will involve the whole stakeholders and bring holistic peace to the party
“If we succeed in doing so, this could even be a major way out instead of continuous processes in court. We will pursue that option without prejudice to the ongoing court processes until we can arrive at a solution where we could at the end of the day use what we have with the totality of all agreeing as consent judgment.”
When asked on the cases of defection, Akpabio who noted that there was no such case, but interest playing out, said, I don't see any “defection'' happening, I only see interest playing out. PDP in the senate is still very strong and very robust. We started with 49 senators and we are still well over 44 and we are still going to get more.
“So how can you say defection of two or three senators who have interest outside the chambers will affect the unity and strength of the caucus. That is not true. Please ignore some of those things because every politics is local.
“There are local circumstances that may make everybody to decide the party to go to. Even if there were no wrangling in PDP there will still be defections. If you access your chances of a re-election in 2019 in your locality and then you see that a would be opponent is five times your size, what do you do, you have to start looking for an alternative platform so that you don't lose out in 2019 and would that mean that it is PDP issue, no, it means personal issues.
“So, anything that has to do with the strength of the PDP dwindling is propaganda and I don't want you to engage in that.
“Let me use this opportunity to assure our teeming supporters across the nation that the party is still very strong and as you know every politics is local. So the struggle for chairmanship at the party secretariat does not in any way diminish the strength of the party in all the wards of the nation , in the 774 local government. So PDP remains a veritable, strong and viable alternative. It is only PDP that will assist the APC in deepening democracy and that is what we must all work on.”
Arsenal forward Theo Walcott has acknowledged the disharmony within the club’s ranks by declaring it is time for Arsene Wenger’s players to stop “fighting each other”.
Reports emerged last week that star player Alexis Sanchez had become involved in a blazing training-ground row with some of his team-mates.
Wenger said the reports were “completely false”, but speaking after Arsenal’s humiliating Champions League exit against Bayern Munich, Walcott admitted all was not well within the camp.
Theo Walcott
“There are certain things that happen at training grounds,” Walcott said, in comments published by the London Evening Standard newspaper on Wednesday.
“I’m sure it happens at every other training ground, most of the time, really. You don’t see it often at Arsenal.
“Things have happened. They need to stay in the dressing room and the players and staff need to sort it out. We are in it together here. We can’t be fighting each other.”
Sanchez came in for criticism on social media after television pictures appeared to show him laughing following his substitution during Arsenal’s 5-1 home defeat by Bayern on Tuesday.
The result completed a 10-2 aggregate defeat that saw Wenger’s side eliminated from the competition in the round of 16 for the seventh season in a row.
Wenger, Arsenal’s manager since September 1996, is out of contract at the end of the season and is due to make an announcement about his future either this month or next.
Some fans have called for him to step down, but Walcott said the players had to take responsibility for the club’s predicament as well.
“He (Wenger) will take this on himself, but us players need to look at ourselves,” said the England forward, who put Arsenal 1-0 up in Tuesday’s second leg.
“The manager has been taking a lot of flak in recent weeks and us players have been accepting it, but we can’t.
“We need to take the pressure off the manager and that will happen by performances. Who knows what the manager will do? Players just want to play football for this club and do well for the manager.”
Some MTN subscribers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday lamented poor services from the mobile network operator in the past few weeks.
The subscribers, who spoke to journalists in Abuja, said that they have been experiencing poor and unreliable services both in receiving calls and messages.
They are also complaining of receiving unsolicited calls and messages in spite of the fact that the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) had warned Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to stop sending such messages and calls or face sanction of N5 million or N500, 000 per day for as long as the contravention persists.
Mrs Justina Sunday, a subscriber resident of Zuba, FCT, lamented that for the past two weeks or more, she had been finding it difficult to make or receive calls because of the poor network by MTN. "I have been finding it difficult to either make or receive calls.
"In fact, some people will say they have been calling me since morning, why did I switch off my phone,?'' she said.
Sifiso Dabengwa, MTN CEO
She said that although after trying so many times to make calls, it would eventually connect, adding "this can be frustrating''.
"We know that there are times when some of these network providers have problems with their network, but it should not be a regular thing,'' she said.
Mrs Ogechukwu Udeh, a trader at Lugbe Market, FCT, told NAN that she was tired of receiving calls from MTN that she did not solicit for, worse still calls came in languages she could not understand.
Udeh said that some of the calls were spoken in Hausa or some strange languages. "Please I am appealing to MTN to stop disturbing me with such calls,'' she said.
She added that at times, the quality of service was so bad that people would find it difficult to hear each other's conversations.
Mr Johnson Madu, a banker and resident of Kubwa, said most of the network lines used in his office for data was that of MTN.
"In my place of work, the major line we use for accessing the internet is MTN and the network has been very poor.
"Sometimes, it takes a while before you can finish attending to a customer thereby keeping the rest people on the queue waiting. "The most annoying part of it is that we need the internet to work," he said.
Mrs Grace Akinwale, an MTN subscriber resident in Gwarinpa, said that her experience with the provider had been unpleasant in the past few weeks.
She said that she loaded her phone with credit of N1, 200 only for a message to be sent to her that it was N200. "I had to quickly call the Call Centre, because I wanted to use it for data.
"It was later that my data was credited but not before I actually lost about N1, 500 credit sent to me by my daugther.
"The credit was mistakenly uploaded in the MTN promo `yafu yafu', which is supposed to last till April 1, but in two days, I was told it had finished,'' she said.
Akinwale said that recently, receiving calls had been a big issue as people keep asking if her phone had problems.
Mr Victor Olajide, a resident of Lugbe in FCT told newsmen that he had been receiving messages from MTN that she did not ask for.
He said that MTN had been sending messages asking him to send stop to 2442 but he had not done it yet.
"Why can't MTN stop the messages themselves instead of bothering me when I have many important things to do,''? he said.
Mr Joseph Odebala, a civil servant also said that he was tired of getting messages and calls he did not ask for.
"Sometimes when he picks the numbers they will be speaking a language I don't understand and they say they are waiting for my response. "Response for what, don't I know what they are talking about,'' he said.
He said that he had tried calling the customer care line but they put him on hold for very long time until he got tired.
However, Mr Nuhu Garuba, a resident of Dawaki, observed that he never had issues with his MTN network. He said that it was a long time in the past that he had any issues with connecting his contacts.
Garuba said that he would always have a backup network line to substitute the one he had in case there were network challenges with any of the network providers.
Newsmen however, spoke with an official of MTN in the Maitama office, Abuja, he said he could not respond to the issues and advised that the public relations officer at its headquarters in Lagos would be able to response to the queries. Newsmen made several calls to the number given there was no response.
However, Mr Hassan Jamil, the Chief Technical Officer of MTN Nigeria, in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by NCC said at an interactive forum that the problems faced by service providers were due to scarcity of FOREX.
"Demand for both voice and data services are on the rise but we are unable to catch up on investment because of scarce FOREX availability.
"We planned 100 sites for Abuja but after a very long time we were only able to build six because of the bottlenecks of getting approvals and until we resolve these, quality of service will be a mirage, " Jamil said.
Ibadan – Dr Yemisi Bamgbose, former President, Radio, Television Theatre and Art Workers' Union (RATTAWU), has stated that workers in media organisations and other employees in the country would soon smile over their salaries.
He made the disclosure in Ibadan on Wednesday at a Merit Award ceremony organised by the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Ibadan National station.
Bamgbose stated that RATTAWU and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) were working assiduously on the media salary scale, adding that efforts had reached advanced stage on the issue.
''The two issues: the Media Salary Structure (MSS) and the review of workers' salary are in the pipeline.
''We have started the work on MSS before I left as RATTAWU President and the unions are still working seriously on it.
''The main issue is that, we don't want to make noise until we get it.
''I can assure you that work is going on seriously on it and I am very sure something good is coming,'' he said.
He further stated that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), under the leadership of Mr Ayuba Wabba, was also not leaving any stone unturned in achieving better pay for the Nigerian workers.
Bamgbose said that the salary earned by workers in the country was not worth it, considering the present economic situation in the country.
''Apart from foreign exchange, there are several other factors that have rendered the salary earned by workers; it is nothing to write home about.
''I am sure something good will come out of the efforts too and workers will smile,'' he said.
He further said government was aware that the salary earned by workers in the country today was nothing to write home about, noting that they were just enduring the hardship.
''I know government too is not happy with the situation and it is working with the NLC to bring smiles to the faces of workers in the country.''
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) University of Ibadan Chapter, says it is awaiting the approval of its national body to embark on a one-week warning strike.
The union, at an emergency meeting presided over by its Chairman, Dr Deji Omole, on Wednesday in Ibadan, threatened to proceed on an indefinite strike to protest illegal pension deductions and shortfall of salaries.
Omole gave the management up to March 10, to address the issues or face an indefinite strike.
ASUU asked the Governing Council to mandate the Vice-Chancellor to present to the staff unions the budget, detailing the personnel cost, capital and recurrent expenditures as presented to the university Senate.
According to the union, all joint unions of the institution are convinced that pensions deductions hitherto are illegal, the university must be refunded since 2004.
"While ASUU awaits the approval of the national body of the union to proceed on its strike, its Non Academic Staff counterparts have also resolved to proceed on an indefinite strike unless the issues are resolved favourably.
"Failure to implement all the items stated above by Friday, the staff unions in the university, arising from the warning strike earlier issued in August, 2016, will embark on an indefinite strike," Omole said.
ABUJA-No fewer than six students of Veritas University, Abuja today smiled home with first class degrees in the combined fourth and fifth convocation ceremonies of Veritas University, Abuja.
Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Michael Kwanashie, disclosed this to journalists at the institution in Abuja.
He said, “We are graduating six first class and I can tell you that if you meet any of them outside, you will know there is no doubt in the quality of our products. In all, we are graduating 180 in the combined convocation ceremonies tomorrow (today).
The Professor of Economics noted that the Catholic-owned University aims to provide all round quality education to Nigerians, especially the poor, adding that despite the incessant increment in the cost of running the institution; standards would not be compromised as the church is providing the necessary subsidy.
At a pre-convocation lecture, the former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donal Duke, asked Nigerians to excercise more faith in God as a means of solving the myriads of challenges facing the nation.
Speaking on the theme of the lecture, “We the creatures and the Lord of all creation”, Mr Donald Duke, lamented the increasing lack of faith by man in the affairs of God.
The former governor said, “In this wise, ants, creatures we dismiss and describe as the least of creatures in creation have proven to be smarter and more attune with the will of the Almighty than the human specie.
Duke said that no event in the world can take God by surprise and drew attention of the audience to some of the recent events which defied world’s expectation because God wanted them to go a different way to prove a point.
Recalling some political events which defied the odds particularly the emergence of Yahaya Bello as governor of Kogi State and the elections of Barrack Obama and Donald Trump as Presidents of United States as a message from God, Duke asked rhetorically “If we are not of faith as human beings gifted with intellect, shouldn't we at least ponder these events?" He urged the graduating students not to settle for less by being mere onlookers, adding that they must strive to be change agent by trusting in God whose ways differ from the ways of men.
The convocation lecture attracted dignitaries from far and near including the Chancellor of the University and Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, John Cardinal Onayeikan, Pro-chancellor of the institution, Archbishop Anthony Obinna, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, among others.
An Enugu High Court presided over by Justice A. O. Onovo, on Wednesday adjourned hearing on the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo leadership crisis due to irregular application by the plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs had through their Counsel, Mr Simeon Ogbu, applied to regularise their process, including their written address and writ of summons.
Ruling on a counter application by the defence counsel, Chief James Ukenyi (SAN), the court held that a process which the plaintiffs sought to regularise their application was non-existent in the eye of the law.
However, Ukenyi had opposed the motion on the grounds that the documents they sought to regularise were not before the court.
"I refer your lordship to the written address of the counsel which does not have a stamp and is at variance with Order 39, Rule 1 (2)," he said.
The defence counsel said that any process which did not comply with the aforementioned authority could not be deemed to be before the court.
"The written address has not been authenticated and filed before the court and cannot even carry the weight of a document that can be sought to be regularised," Ukenyi said.
Responding, Ogbu applied for an adjournment to enable the plaintiffs to properly bring the processes before the court.
He said that the motion paper was properly filed as it had their seal and signature as expected by law.
Ogbu, however, agreed that their written address had no seal as they thought it could not exist independent of the motion which was properly filed.
The matter was adjourned to April 12 for the plaintiffs to regularise their process and a cost of N10, 000 preferred against them.
The court had earlier ruled against the appearance of Chief Elechi Onyia (SAN) as the plaintiffs lead counsel.
Ruling in an application brought by the defence counsel, Onovo held that the appearance of Onyia as lead counsel midway into the matter amounted to change of counsel.
The judge said that Onyia's appearance did not follow due process and was against Order 48, Rule 4 of the court.
The defence counsel had drawn the attention of the court to the sudden representation of the plaintiffs by Onyia, which he said, amounted to change of counsel without due process.
"On Jan. 11 the plaintiffs appeared with a different counsel and that is the man we know because allowing Onyia will amount to using double counsel with different addresses," Ukenyi said.
The plaintiffs are Dr Haron Ajah, Chief Ralph Okafor and one other for themselves and on behalf of caretaker executives of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo led by Chief Ralph Obioha.
The respondents are Chief Enwo Igariwey and executive members of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo.
The plaintiffs had prior to the conduct of the election of the apex Igbo socio-cultural association that produced Chief John Nnia Nwodo as President General, obtained an injunction against the election.
Their reason was that the association had a parallel leadership and needed to harmonise after a truce was called by Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo in the interest of the people.
Lafia: Justice Agatha A. Okeke of the Federal High Court sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State has convicted and sentenced four suspected members of an oil syndicate Olusegun Gbenga, Yusuf Muhammed, Abass Auwal and Olanipekun Olagoke to 10 years imprisonment on each of the 12-count charge of oil theft preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The offence was allegedly committed in May 2014 at a military checkpoint in Nasarawa State.
One of the counts reads:
"That you, Olusegun Gbenga, Yusuf Muhammed, Abass Auwal and Olanipekun Olagoke on the 12th day of May, 2014 at Toto Military check point in Nasarawa State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, did without lawful authority or an appropriate licence, deal in crude oil and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (17) (a) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004".
The convicts had pleaded not guilty on arraignment, but after diligent prosecution by the EFCC, they were found guilty and sentenced.
Prosecution counsel, Salisu Majidadi, citing Section 1 (17) (a) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, drew the attention of the court to the fact that: "The vehicle that was used in conveying the crude oil should automatically be forfeited to the Federal Government."
In view of this argument, Justice Okeke, who had earlier wanted the EFCC to formally apply to the court for the forfeiture of the products, thereafter, ordered the EFCC to evacuate the crude oil and return same to the NNPC, while the truck be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone 'A' Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted contraband valued at N713.8 million in January and February 2017.
The Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Haruna Mamudu, said this in the performance report made available on Wednesday in Lagos by the Public Relations Officer, Mr Jerry Attah.
According to Mamudu, the unit through its interventions recovered N650.31 million from duty payments and Demand Notices on general goods that tried to beat the system in the guise of false declaration, transfer of value and underpayment of duty.
The controller commended Officers and Men of the unit for living up to their statutory responsibilities in suppression of smuggling, blocking all revenue leakages and enhancing trade facilitation toward sustaining best international standards.
Comptroller General Of the Nigerian Custom Service(NCS),Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi
Mamudu thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs, Retired Col. Hameed Ali, for his efforts in recognising hard work and diligence to duty without any compromise.
He said that in the months under review, 197 different seizures were recorded comprising foreign parboiled rice, frozen poultry products, vegetable oil, smuggled vehicles, Indian hemp, arms and ammunition, fake pharmaceutical/medicaments and various general merchandise.
"Notably, 23,000 bags of rice with a Duty Paid Value of N149.5 million were still under seal in an unnamed warehouse in Lagos awaiting relevant import document for further necessary action.
"Also, Demand Notices of over N100 million has been issued to two auto dealers/assemblers under Customs seal awaiting payment for infractions on their import transactions, while some are still undergoing court trials.
"Over 16 x 40ft containers under detention are on thorough investigation and appropriate Demand Notices would be raised and seizures effected where applicable,'' Mamudu said.
"You will recall that the unit evacuated 1,870 bags of smuggled rice and 43 jerry cans of vegetable oil from the front of an unnamed warehouse in Sango Ota Motor park in Ogun State by our field operatives based on information,'' he said.
Following the tactical operation and successful evacuation of the rice, which later led to protests and breakdown of law and order by some angry traders, the controller advised those who might have genuine importation document from the seaport to come forward for their claims rather than breaching the law.
He said that the unit's action was in conformity with the law of the Federation of Nigeria as enshrined in Sections 147, 148, and 158 of the Customs & Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap C45 LFN 2004.
The controller said there were also monitoring and trailing of some smugglers, who passed through unapproved routes, using commercial motorcycles popularly known as 'okada' and smaller vehicles.
He appealed to all well-meaning Nigerians to see smuggling as a crime, evil and threat to national development and security.
Mamudu said that the war against these economic saboteurs "is a collective responsibility of every patriotic Nigerians''. He advised that all hands should be on deck in the fight against smuggling.
Former Senate Leader, Sen. Mohammed Ndume, on Wednesday advised the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) to fish out the source of fake import duty documents issued to car owners, rather than embarking on seizure of vehicles with fake documents.
Ndume gave the advice while addressing newsmen in Maiduguri on a recent circular by Assistant Comptroller of Customs Joseph Auta.
He expressed support for the Senate's resolution calling for the suspension of the impending seizure of vehicles with fake import duty documents by the service.
According to Ndume, the planned action of the service is tantamount to undue harassment of motorists plying the highways.
"The NCS said that they will be seizing people's vehicles on the road instead of the borders, the Custom has no business going to town to ask anybody anything.
"They should stand at the borders and do their job; where is the fake import duty coming from; is it not from the Custom?" he asked.
Ndume said that the service should look into its operations and fish out the bad eggs rather than checking for culprits in the larger society.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Oyo/Osun Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr. Oteri Richard, in front leading other Customs officers into Agbaja forest, during inspection of the seizures of 40 vehicles loaded with rice, intercepted in the forest by his Command.
"They should make sure that there is no fake import duty document around." "What does an innocent buyer has to do with fake import duty?
"In fact, Nigerians are buying second hand cars because they cannot afford the new ones, why suffer them the more?" He urged the Service to set aside their plan or else they face stiff opposition from Nigerians.
"From the information that I have gathered, some human right lawyers are already wading into the issue so as to ensure that poor Nigerians are well protected. "Laws are not applied in retrogression," Ndume said.
The Senate passed a resolution directing the Nigerian Customs Service to halt its plan to penalise Nigerians who did not pay duties on their vehicles within one month.
The resolution, on Tuesday, followed a motion by the Deputy Leader, Sen. Bala Na'Allah, who said the new Customs policy was "a serious matter".
In his contribution, Kogi sSnator, Dino Melaye, said it was not possible to import vehicle without clearance or "collaboration" of the customs.
The Senate resolved that Customs should halt actions until the agency appeared before its Committee on Customs.
Senate President Bukola Saraki said it was the responsibility of the senate to ensure welfare of Nigerians. Customs had threatened to impound vehicles without duty papers, and to prosecute their owners.
