Author: Isah Mukhtar

British Council honours 4 Nigerian schools

NAN-H-25

Honour

By Stellamaris Achinze

Lagos Feb. 3, 2017 (NAN) Four Nigerian schools had been honoured by the British Council for implementing core teaching and learning skills that shaped global thinking and built global citizens.

Precious Idaewor, spokesperson of the British Council in Nigeria, said in a statement that the awardees included Hallel College, Port-Harcourt, Oxbridge Tutorial College Lagos, Redeemer’s International School Lagos and Start-Rite School Abuja.

Louisa Waddingham, who presented the awards on behalf of the Council, urged educators to recognise and solve problems in innovative ways that facilitated constructive human relationships.

‎The British Council official said that the programme focused on developing essential leadership skills which were uniquely applied to embedding international dimension into the curriculum and ethos of a school.

In her address, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, former Executive Director, Corona Schools Trust Council, noted that the quality of teaching had significant impact on the success of a child and the society at large.

According to her, ‘‘the school system cannot rise beyond the level of the teachers.” (NAN)
SKA/WOJ
(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)

Court remands butcher in prison custody for alleged rape of a minor

NAN-H-14

Remand

By Ibrahim Kado

Gombe, Feb. 2, 2017 (NAN) A Gombe Magistrates’ Court on Thursday remanded a 25-year-old butcher, Shamsudeen Musa, in prison for alleged rape of a minor.

Musa of Ziringaza quarters, Gombe, was arraigned on a one-count charge of rape.

The Chief Magistrate, Alhaji Bello Sheriff, Who ordered the remand, adjourned the case till March 1 for further mention.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Ismail Adamu, told the court that on Jan. 20, at about 12.30 hours, Musa took the minor of same address to an uncompleted building and had carnal knowledge of  her without her consent.

Adamu said the offence contravened Section 283 of the Penal Code, which attracts 14 years jail term fine or both.

The prosecutor told the court that investigation into the matter was still ongoing and applied for an adjournment to enable the police to conclude investigation into the matter. (NAN)
IMK/MOL/OFN
Edited by Mustapha Lamidi//Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-66
Bridge
By Grace Alegba and Abdulrahman Kadiri
Lagos, Feb. 1, 2017 (NAN) Some motorists on Wednesday appealed to the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to complete the rehabilitation of Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

Motorists, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that the continued delay of the project had caused hardship to road users.

They expressed concern that FERMA had abandoned the site after removing some portions of the road surface which they said had affected driving.

NAN reports that FERMA two weeks ago began sectional milling- removing of asphalt on various portions on the Obalende/CMS bound carriageway.

However, NAN correspondents who took a trip on the bridge on Wednesday report that no worker or equipment or eqiupment on site.

Mr Deji Elumoye, Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), also expressed disappointment that the agency abandoned work after raising the hope of road users.

“Initially, we thought that work was going to start seriously on the Third Mainland Bridge, but after FERMA removed some portions of the road surface, we can’t see workers on site again.

“We can’t see the construction firm or any equipment and we begin to wonder why.

“In the last few weeks, we have been subjected to a lot of hardship on this bridge, now the road is impassable.

“For you to pass through some sections of the bridge, your vehicle has to be in good shape, especially the tyres.

“Government should wake up and do what is expected of it, as regards the repairs of the Third Mainland Bridge, the repair has been abandoned.

“They (FERMA) should go back to site and stop this harrowing experience motorists are going through in Lagos, especially those going to the Island,” he said.

Mrs Titi Awosika, chandler, also appealed to FERMA to go back to site to avert accidents and gridlock.

“I was startled and afraid when my car hit those portions where they removed asphalt, because I took it for granted that the road is smooth.

“Why removing asphalt if there is no immediate plan to resurface the road, an important economic bridge,” she queried.

Also, Mrs Tosin Popoola, a Banker, Mr Aniekan Tebasi, an Event Planner and Senior Apostle Wole Ajayi, a transporter, also appealed to FERMA to return to site to complete the project.

Responding, Mr Tayo Awodun, the engineer in charge of the project told NAN that the agency was still on site cleaning some construction debris adding that it would soon begin the laying of asphalt on the bridge.

“We must mill before we can lay asphalt.

“The equipment we use for milling is different from the ones we use for asphalt, so, we have to remove the ones we used for milling before we bring the ones for asphalt to site.

“We have not left site, men are still on site, what they are doing is cleaning before we begin laying asphalt. They (contractors) will likely lay the asphalt this week,” he said.

Awodun said that plan was ongoing with Righteous Construction Co. Ltd., contractors handling the project, to begin laying asphalt on the bridge during the week.

The bridge was built by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC and opened by President Ibrahim Babangida in 1990, measuring about 11.8 km in length.

The Third Mainland Bridge is the longest of three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the mainland, the other two being the Eko and Carter bridges.

It was also the longest bridge in Africa until 1996 when the 6th October Bridge, located in Cairo was completed, however in 2006, many commuters reported that the bridge was vibrating, indicating that it needed urgent attention. (NAN)
KAE/GA/ENN/DUA
================
Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Dada Ahmed

NAN-H-73
Forgery
By Veronica Dariya
Abuja, Jan.30, 2017 (NAN) The EFCC in Abuja on Monday, arraigned a 41-year-old accountant Mrs Remilekun Momoh in an FCT High Court, Kubwa for allegedly forging the signatures of one Mr Garba Mamu.

Momoh, a staff of the Unity Bank, who was arraigned before Justice Bello Kawu, was alleged to have forged the signatures of Mamu with the intention to defraud him of over N30 million in the amended charge.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendant was first arraigned in the court in November 2016 over alleged fraud of N14 million on a 2-count charge of forgery and fraud but the charges were amended and increased to 15 to accommodate the case of alleged N30m million fraud.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In the amended charges, the prosecution stated that sometime in May, 2014 and 2015, while on duty, the defendant fraudulently forged the signatures of the Mamu, who was a customer of Unity Bank.

The prosecution added that the defendant transferred, in bits, over N30 million through forged letter of transfer of funds into several designated accounts in other banks.

The Counsel to the defendant, Mr Lawrence Alabi, applied to the court to enable the defendant continue on her initial bail terms.

Justice Kawu, while granting the request after the prosecuting counsel Mrs I. Deribe, did not object to adjournment of the matter, but ordered that all the previous witnesses in the matter be recalled on March 15, the adjourned date for continuation of hearing.(NAN)
DVK/HS/DUA

NAN-S-5
Ghana
By Kemi Ajayi
Lagos, Jan. 29, 2017 (NAN) Some Ghanaians in Lagos on Monday hailed the Black Stars of Ghana for reaching the semi-finals stage of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ghana defeated the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 in a quarter-finals match on Sunday.

The Ghanians, who spoke to NAN, said the team had executed all their matches brilliantly in the ongoing tournament and deserved to be in the semi-finals stage.

Bright Amedume, a trader, said he was thrilled with the performance of the Black Stars against their opponents.

Amedume urged the players to remain focused against their next opponents in order to get to the final of the tournament.

“Honestly, I’m proud to be a Ghanaian, the players did excellently well against Congo and I want them to continue until the end of the competition to lift the trophy,’’ he said.

Victor Asamoah, businessman in Ikotun area of Lagos, told NAN that the Black Stars should do everything possible to reach the final tournament.

Asamoah commended the players, especially the Ayew brothers for helping the team to cruise into the semi-finals.

“Our players have been consistent since the beginning of the tournament and it has brought them this far.

“Jordan and Andre Ayew did Ghanaians proud against DRC and I hope they will repeat the same thing in the next match,’’ he said.

In the same vein, Peter Agbasi, another Ghanaian boasted that the team would lift the trophy.

Agbasi noted that it was long overdue for the country to lift the cup again after their 1982 victory, saying the time has come for the crown as “King of Africa’’.

“I’m not a prophet but I strongly believe the trophy is going to Ghana, we have waited too long for this to happen,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the Black Stars will lock horns against the Indomitable Lion of Cameroon on Feb. 2 in Franceville, Gabon.

Ghana won the competition last in 1982 in Libya, making it the fourth time the Black Stars lifted the trophy after 1963, 1965 and 1978. (NAN)
KOA/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)

NAN–H-107

Protest

Lokoja, Jan. 27, 2017 ( NAN) The crisis rocking the Kogi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) took a new turn on Friday when some members protest against the activities of Sen.Dino Melaye and Rep. Abiodun Faleke.

The peaceful protest which was held at Kabba was  led by the state Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria ( ALGON), Mr Taufiq Isah, who denounced Sen. Dino Melaye and Hon. Abiodun Faleke for working against the interest of the party.

Melaye currently represents Kogi West senatorial district in the Senate while Faleke was the running mate to the late Gov.Abubakar Audu and also represents Ifako -Ijaiye Federal constituency of Lagos State in the House of Representatives.

They accused them of working against the interest of the Yoruba speaking people of Kogi State and urged them to desist.

The protesters also carried their grievances to the palaces of traditional rulers in Okunland and appealed to them to call the duo to order.

“Their utterances and actions are against the development of the various communities in the western senatorial district of the state, “ Isa,  said.

The protesters later assembled at Kabba where a communique issued at the end of a stakeholders meeting was read by Isah.

In the communique , the stakeholder “denounce, reject and disown in all ramifications all action, utterances and activities that are inimical to the progress and development of Okun people”.

It denounced actions and utterances against the administrations of President Muhamadu Buhari and Alhaji Yahaya Bello and their new direction policies.

“Their actions are at best, self serving, insensitive to the yearnings of Okun people, a misdirected fight for positions which are of no benefit for the Okun people they claim to be representing,” the communique read.

Addressing the protesters at Kabba, a traditional ruler, the Obadofin of Kabbaland , Chief Michael Yusuf, said anyone working against Bello was an enemy of the people of Okun.

He expressed the support of the entire people of Okunland for Bello and charged him to continue with his programme of charting a new direction for the state.

In his reaction, Melaye described the development as unfortunate, accusing the protesters and the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello of working against the interest of the party.

He also expressed shock that the people opted for protest to celebrate one year in office of Bello, saying that “Kogi is celebrating one year of agony, pain and distress “.

The senator, who spoke through his special assistant on media, Mr Gideon Ayodele, said that the protest was “ a minus for the state government to be celebrating one year in office and the only APC senator from the state is not present.

“ The state chairman of the party is not present, the three zonal chairmen of the party are in Abuja and 16 out of the 21 local government chairmen are in Abuja.

“This is to tell the whole world that the governor is working in isolation of the structure of the party in the state. Whatever they are doing, they are doing it for themselves and it is for their pockets only,” he said. ( NAN)
KKA/YAZ
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Edited by Yusuf Zango

NAN-HE-6
By Aisha Cole
Lagos, Jan. 27, 2017 (NAN) Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Friday said it had intercepted two helicopters and 23 consignments of accessories illegally imported into the country.
Mr Dan Ugo, a Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, told newsmen in Lagos that the two helicopters and accessories, valued at N9.7 billion, were impounded at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport.
“The consignment was detained at SAHCOL cargo shed. Upon examination, the consignment was found to contain two civil models of Bell Helicopters 412 EP, with serial numbers 36608 and 36606.
“The consignment also contains 23 packages of accessories, weighing 11,475kg,” the customs boss said.
He said that the two helicopters and other accessories were seized because the importer could not provide End User Certificate from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
Ugo said that the importer had contravened Section 36 (2) of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA), Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.
According to him, the consignment, which was impounded on Nov. 7, 2016, had a Duty Paid Value of N9, 757,135,240.86.
“This equipment was seized because the importer contravened the Customs Act.
“The Comptroller General of Customs, Retired Col. Hameed Ali, in appreciation of the roles of Air Force has directed that the equipment should be handed over to the Nigerian Air Force.
“When we make seizures, we go through legal process by approaching the court of competent jurisdiction to file for condemnation and forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria, which had been done.

“This falls within the purview of the Nigerian Air Force which will put it to use maximally to protect us as a nation,’’ Ugo said.

He called for continuous synergy between the customs and other government agencies for the safety and security of the nation.
Ugo commended the customs officers who made the seizure and assured them of continued moral support from the customs service.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Air Commodore Hyacinth Eze received the consignment on behalf of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar.
Eze commended the Customs for a job well-done.

“The handing over of these helicopters by Nigerian Customs would go a long way to assist the force,’’ he said.

Eze said that the actual physical examination of the consignment would be done at Nigerian Air Force Base.
Also speaking, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), MMIA command Comptroller Frank Allanah, said that the command generated N55.5 billion between January and December 2016, compared to N42.7 billion collected in the corresponding period of 2015.
Allanah said that the N12.8 billion increase in revenue was recorded in spite of decline in cargo throughput from 76.9 metric tonnes in 2015 to 64.63 metric tonnes in 2016.
He said that the command, in 2016, also made seizures of elephant tusks and foreign currencies.
AIC/WOJ
Edited by Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-S-13
Festival
Kemi Ajayi
Lagos, Jan. 27, 2017 (NAN) Worried by the indefinite postponement of the National Sports Festival, Ojo Adelusi, a former President of the Nigeria Wushu Kungfu Federation, said on Friday that the non-staging of the games was hampering athletes’ development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the biennial Games was last held in 2012 and has suffered at least five postponements.

Lagos State hosted the Games tagged “Eko 2012”, while Cross-River was scheduled to host in 2015. It was, however, postponed because of the 2015 general elections.

Adelusi told NAN that the sports festival over the years had helped to identify talents who had represented the country at major international competitions.

“It is sad that the sports festival has been postponed several times and we can all see the effect of the postponement on our sports.

“We are not discovering talents as we should as a nation even those discovered in the past are not engaged in any competition.

“Failure to stage the festival since 2012 is partly responsible for our poor performance at Rio Olympics,’’ he said.

Adelusi urged the Sports Ministry to do the needful by bringing back the festival.

“I think any state that is ready to host the games should be given the opportunity to do so rather than not staging the festival.

“I know there are states that can host the games in spite of the curreent economic situation,’’ he said.
KOA/ENN/DA
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Dele Akinsola

NMA bans members from treating Kogi political appointees

NAN-HG-3

Ban

Lokoja, Jan. 26, 2017 ( NAN) The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has directed its members to stop treating commissioners , special advisers and other categories of political appointees in Kogi until further notice.

Dr Magnus Ogaraku, the state Chairman of NMA, gave the order at a news conference in Lokoja on Thursday.

He said that the ban also covered the family members and aides of the political appointees.

Ogaraku, who spoke shortly after an emergency meeting of the Executive Steering Committee of the association, also asked doctors in public and private hospitals in the state to immediately comply with the decision.

In addition, the chairman who was assisted by the state Secretary of the NMA, Dr Zubair Kabiru, directed members working in all state-owned hospitals to commence an indefinite strike immediately.

Their counterparts in the Federal Medical Centre will embark on one week sympathy strike from Jan. 30, he said.

He attributed their action to the mass sack of doctors on the payroll of the state government and refusal to pay their salary and allowances as at when due.

According to him, the leadership of the NMA met to review developments and the MoU signed with the government on the issues and discovered that government has failed to keep to its promise.

“The NMA abided by her own side of the MoU by extending the ultimatum by two weeks to allow the state government implement the MoU as signed.

“The Kogi State Government has completely reneged in all aspects of the MoU. The report of the staff screening and verification exercise as released has put doctors in Kogi State in a more miserable situation.

“Several doctors were prematurely sacked, uncleared or declared as ghost workers under very flimsy excuses that are not in conformity with laid down civil service rules,” Ogaraku explained.

The NMA said it had no confidence in the Appeal Screening Committee as composed and will not honour the outcome of its exercise.

“In order to reduce the untold hardship to the innocent patients as a result of the strike action caused by Kogi State Government, Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, and the private clinics shall be available to render services during the period they are not on sympathy strike,” the body stated.

Meanwhile, the state government is yet to react to the action taken by the NMA. (NAN)

KKA/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Lokoja water shortage  over soon, says official

NAN-H-81
Water
Lokoja, Jan. 26,2017 (NAN) The Technical Director, Kogi State Water Corporation, Mr Bala Yusuf , said on Thursday, that the ongoing acute water shortage in the town will soon be a thing of the past.

Yusuf told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  ‎in Lokoja that the completion of  repair work has been set for  February this year.

He said  that all the machinery in the facility were being maintained at the moment.

The director however said that the cause of water shortage was as result of maintenance which had affected supply, and also causing water rationing within the state capital.
‎
He said that the state government was working hard to  ensure that residents had the best of basic amenities in the state.

Yusuf therefore urged residents to be more patient with the corporation as they would resume supply to full capacity by February,.

He commended the governor  for giving priority to every sector in the state.

Yusuf  called on residents to always protect government water pipes so as to reduce incessant seizure in water distribution system. (NAN)

WAL/DO/JIE

Edited by David Onilede/Julius Enehikhuere