Author: Isah Mukhtar

1. Taraba Commissioner for Environment addresses newsmen on the acute shortage of public toilets in the state.
2. Nasarawa State Commissioner for Finance meets Local Government Directors of Finance to discussion issues on Treasury Single Account.
3. Benue Commissioner for Trade and Investment addresses journalists on alleged illegal taxes in the markets in the state.
4. Enugu State Commissioner for Information briefs journalists in Enugu on the outcome of the weekly state executive council meeting.
5. National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment continues its 8th regular meeting in Abeokuta.
6. Ruling on the bail applications made by some of the accused in the alleged N8 billion CBN currency scam suit comes up at the Federal High Court, Ibadan.
7. Special memorial court session in honour of the late Justice John Ige holds at the State High Court, Ibadan.
8. Katsina State Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the administration of former Gov. Ibrahim Shema resumes sitting in Katsina.
9. NAF Games continue in Katsina.
10. Meeting of stakeholders on the need for peaceful coexistence in Katsina State begins in Malumfashi Local Government Area.
11. Federal Ministry of Interior Games continue in Kaduna.
12. The Federal High Court, Abuja continues hearing in a case of alleged money laundering, possession of firearms and violation of official secret act filed against former Chief of Air Staff, Umar Mohammed and others.
13. An FCT High Court continues hearing in a case of alleged violation of fundamental human rights filed by Ifeanyi Nwosu and another against the Nigeria Police.
14. FCT High Court continues hearing in the case of former Plateau Governor, Joshua Dariye, who allegedly diverted N1.16 billion ecological fund.
15. INEC electoral institute holds roundtable on smart card reader in Abuja.
16. Senate resumes plenary to consider a motion on inland container port in Onitsha and Enugu.

NAN-H-2
CAN
By Iliya Rita
Minna, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger has advised the Federal Government to involve seasoned, experienced and informed clergymen to assist in counselling the released 21 Chibok girls.

The CAN Chairman in the state, Dr Mathias Echioda, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Tuesday.

Echioda said that the call became necessary to help rebuild their morals and lives of the affected girls.

“I appeal to the Federal Government to involve clergymen that will use their professional based knowledge and faith to counsel the girls.

“Government should involve seasoned, experienced and informed clergymen to assist in counselling the girls to rebuild their morals and lives,” he said.

He added that the effort would help the girls to overcome the physiological trauma they went through in the hands of their abductors.

The CAN chairman described the release of the girls as a welcome development to Nigerians in particular and the world at large.

“It is a welcome development because it is a miracle that Nigerians and the world have been expecting to happen, long ago. It came at a time when there was no clear knowledge of it coming.

“Our continuous prayer is that the remaining girls be released and reunited with their loved ones.”

Echioda expressed delight on the dialogue for the release of the remaining missing girls.

“We all know that some parents of these girls died of depression and shock and the 21 girls released will only refresh the wounds on the mind of the parents whose children are still missing.

“Negotiation does not mean yes immediately or no, it is a diplomacy and a civilised world should negotiate or dialogue, considering certain terms of reference and agreement.

“Nigeria should not be looked at in the eyes of the world as not developing. I suggest that government should weigh the pros and cons of whatever decision to take in the process of dialogue.” (NAN)
RIS/DUA/OFN
Edited by Dada Ahmed//Felix Nwadioha

Jo’burg prevails in Kenya varsities Sevens rugby event

NAN-S-7
Rugby
Nairobi, Oct. 25, 2016 (PANA/NAN) Visiting University of Johannesburg won the thrilling Kenya Universities’ “Kings of Rugby Sevens’’ series.

The series was concluded over the weekend at Egerton University of Njoro, near Nakuru, 181 kilometres west of the capital city Nairobi.

The South Africans beat Kenya’s most improved rugby playing college, Kenyatta University 17-14 in the finals. (PANA/NAN)
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Kenyan premier club, AFC Leopards, get new coach

NAN-S-6
Coach
Nairobi, Oct. 25, 2016 (PANA/NAN) Englishman Stewart John Hall will take charge of the Kenyan Premier League side, AFC Leopards, from Nov. 1, following sack of its coach, club sources told PANA in Nairobi.

The incoming coach, Ivan Minnaert, is a Belgian.

Although the Kenyan Premier League season ends mid-November, Leopards are bringing Coach Hall, believing that he will change the club’s declining fortunes in the 2017 season.

Leopards have dropped to 13th in the 16-team league after being thrashed 2-0 by arch-rivals and defending champions Gor Mahia 2-0.

The match was a well-attended Nairobi derby at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.

Tusker are perched atop the table with 52 points, followed by Gor Mahia with 48, while Chemelil Sugar are third with 43 points.

Hall is not a stranger in Kenya, having handled a Premier League side Sofapaka in 2012.

He is currently coaching Tanzania Premier League side, Azam, after his first stint in 2012-13

Hall was also the Zanzibar National team coach in 2012 and an Academy Director at Birmingham FC in England. (PANA/NAN)
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FG to support farmers to boost Irish potato production, value chain

NAN-AE-3
Potato
By Kudirat Ogunyemi
Abuja, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government has expressed its determination to support Irish potato farmers toward increasing their productivity and modifying value chain in 2017.

Chief Daniel Okafor, the National President, Potato Farmers Association of Nigeria (POFAN) told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

Okafor said that the Irish potato value chain programme would be launched in January 2017.

He said that the Federal Government had already put POFAN into its programme and ready to distribute disease resistance seeds by January to farmers.

Okafor stressed the need for the potato farmers to capture their data, including the size of their crop land, location and the number of the existing farmers.

According to him, government is going to give every state what it deserves to increase potato production.

“It is not going to be business as usual because farmer will be working with Central Bank of Nigeria and Bank of Agriculture.

“All the government is going to do is allocate certain amount of money to Irish potato value chain products, give farm inputs, tractors and create tractor hiring centre in each Local Government.

“Government does not want to manage it but ready to give stakeholders to drive the farmers to form cooperative within themselves to access loans and farm inputs.

“The company we are going to use will control the tractors as a centre.

“ In that centre we will have people in charge of mechanization, all types of input, irrigation pump, disease control and anything that is going to help us the centre will provide.

POFAN president said that whenever farmers need anything like fund and technical services, the centre would provide the support.

“The company that is buying our produce will come and buy at our price, and after buying the centre will collect the money and give us our balance.

“The centre will serve as a link between farmers and the company, so that farmers will not be cheated because we should have a say on our products,’’ Okafor said. (NAN)
ROK/AOM/AFA
Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed/Felix Ajide
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Kenyan judokas in Bujumbura for regional Cadet, Junior Championships

NAN-S-5
Judo
Nairobi, Oct. 25, 2016 (PANA/NAN) Kenya looks forward to winning the inaugural East African Cadets and Junior Judo Championships which kick off on Tuesday, Oct. 25, in Bujumbura, Burundi.

The Kenyan Judo Association (KJA) Secretary-General, Joan Githua, told PANA shortly before departing for Bujumbura that the association will use the event as a build up to the 2017 African Judo Championships, also be held in Bujumbura in April.

“This will also be the start of our Road to Tokyo 2020 programme,’’ she said in reference to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Githua said those falling under the junior category in the regional championships in Bujumbura, will have come of age, and will be eligible to participate in the Tokyo Olympics as seniors.

Cadets are boys and girls in the 15-18 age group, while juniors are young adults aged below 21 (18-20 age backet).

The Kenyan team comprises 28 judokas and 12 officials, including two referees. Kenya Judo Association (KJA) chairman Shadrack Maluki is leading the delegation. (PANA/NAN)
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adidas ending financial support for German anti-doping agency

NAN-S-4
Support
Dusseldorf, Oct. 25, 2016 (dpa/NAN) German sportswear giant adidas is ending its financial support for the country’s anti-doping agency NADA at the end of the year.

Company spokesman Oliver Brueggen told dpa on Tuesday it had informed NADA early in the year it would not be extending the sponsoring contract beyond 2016.

Brueggen said Adidas was in talks with NADA over “alternative forms of cooperation.’’

The company’s stance against doping in sport remains unaltered, Brueggen said.

“In all the contracts with our athletes it states that we will immediately end the contractual collaboration with a proven doping offence,’’ he said.

According to Bild newspaper, the current contract between adidas and NADA is worth 300,000 euros (326,600 dollars) a year.

It quoted NADA executive board chief Lars Mortsiefer as saying the agency was “very sorry’’ to be losing an original partner. No reason was given for the decision, he said.
(dpa/NAN)
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1.Nigeria Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Ibadan, holds annual seminar entitled
“ Women Bigamists in South-East Nigeria: The Social Contradictions of the Feminist Struggles’’.

2.Plenary on Anti-Grazing Bill comes up at the Osun State House of Assembly.

3.Public lecture entitled “ Deconstructing the National Development Agenda: The Role of Information and Communication Technology,’’ holds at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun.

4.Gov. Lalong of Plateau meets with farmers’ representatives over post-harvest losses in the state.

5.Gov. Almakura of Nasarawa State meets with first class traditional rulers in Lafia over security matters.

5.NSCDC, Taraba Command, briefs newsmen in Jalingo on power cable vandalism in the state.

6. Kogi Governor’s wife inaugurates immunisation campaign in Lokoja.

7. Benue Commissioner for Trade and Investment meets with leaders of markets associations in Makurdi.

8. First International Transportation Conference holds at Sheraton Hotels, Abuja.

8. UNFPA launches 2016 State of the World Population report at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

9.NYSC FC to face State House FC, while Police Machine FC will meet Medav FC in group A in the ongoing FCT Super League.‎

10.‎The Miners Association of Nigeria holds 3-day mining week in Abuja.

11.House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta organises public hearing on a Bill to review the Presidential Amnesty programme.

12. House of Representatives resumes plenary to debate on Bills and motions.

Commercial tricyclist remanded over N2.2m bank fraud

NAN-H-23
Fraud
By Chinyere Omeire
Lagos, Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Monday remanded a commercial tricyclist at a prison after he pleaded guilty to hacking into another person’s bank account to withdraw N2.2 million.

The Magistrate, Mrs A. T. Omeyele, said the fraudster should be kept behind bars at Ikoyi Prisons
The accused, Nurudeen Samilu, 35, who resides at No. 23, Owoyele St., Ijegun, a Lagos suburb, was arraigned on a five-count charge of conspiracy, impersonation, forgery, stealing and fraud.

“The accused committed the offences on Oct. 10 12:00 p.m. at Admiralty Way Branch of Skye Bank, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

“The accused falsely represented himself as one Kazeem Dele, as the owner of a Skye Bank account number 1018716553 and withdrew N2.2 million.

“He also forged Dele’s signature on a fund transfer form to withdraw the sum of N2.2 million belonging to him, ”Prosecutor Cyriacus Osuji told the court.

To perfect the fraud, the accused diverted the bank’s SMS alert to his own phone.

The offences contravened Sections 78, 285, 335 (a), 363 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Oct. 26 was fixed for judgment.(NAN)
OCC/ENN/DA
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Dele Akinsola

NAN-H-17
Kidnapping
By Chinyere Omeire
Lagos,  Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) Four men, who allegedly kidnapped Oba Goriola Oseni, the traditional ruler of Iba in Lagos State, were on Monday remanded in prison custody by a Lagos High Court.

The accused: Duba Furejo, Ododomo Isaiah, Reuben Anthony and Yerin Fresh, are standing trial before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of a Lagos High Court in Igbosere, Lagos on eight-count charge.

The charges are: conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, armed robbery and kidnapping.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 74-year-old monarch, who celebrated his 40 years on the throne on Nov. 22, 2015, was abducted in his palace at Iba ‎on July 16 at about 8.00 p.m.

NAN also reports that four days after the abduction, the kidnappers demanded for N500 million as ransom, which the family claimed they could not raise.

The Prosecutor, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, the Attorney-General of Lagos State and Commissioner for Justice, told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 16 at the oba’s palace in Iba.

Kazeem, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said that the accused conspired with others at large and kidnapped the traditional ruler.

He also alleged that the accused murdered two people- a palace guard, Sunday Okanlawon, and a commercial motorcyclist, Joseph Okeke.

The prosecutor said that the accused also attempted to murder Abosede Oseni, wife of the oba.

He said that the accused were armed with guns and robbed the oba’s wife of her Cell phone.

Kazeem said that the offences contravened Sections 223, 230, 297, 299, 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Each of the accused persons denied the charges.

The attorney-general, however, urged the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody.

A defence counsel, Mr Seliowei Baidu, represented the first, second and third accused, while Mr J. O. Eguraoje, represented the fourth accused in court.

The judge, consequently, adjourned the case till Nov. 4, 11 and 18 for trial.

Kazeem, had in a statement on Sunday, expressed the resolve of the present administration to rid the state of all forms of criminality.

“The swift commencement of trial of the accused in the kidnap of the monarch is a strong signal by the administration of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode that the state does not have any room for criminals.

“Ambode, as part of his commitment to make the state a safe place to live in and do business, will continue to support law enforcement agencies in the investigation and apprehension of all criminals.

“The governor is also committed to ensuring that Lagos State becomes a no-go area for criminals who target innocent citizens for kidnapping and collection of ransom in an effort to get rich quick,” he said. (NAN)
OCC/ENN/GOK
(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Olagoke Olatoye)
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