WordPress

Blog

  • Man, 32, docked for allegedly falsely parading himself as lawyer

  • 2 guards arraigned for allegedly stealing couple’s phones, laptop

    Stealing
    By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
    Ibadan, June 14, 2024 (NAN) Two security guards, Taiwo Olapade, 24 and Austin Aminu, 42, were on Friday arraigned before a Grade ‘A’ Customary, Court, Ibadan, for allegedly stealing a couple’s phones and laptop.
    The duo whose addresses were not provided were charged with conspiracy and stealing.
    They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
    The Prosecutor, Mr Philip Amusan, told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offence on June 11, at about 4.00 a.m., at Iyaganku GRA, Ibadan.
    Amusan alleged that the defendants stole phones and laptop worth N520,000, belonging to one Mr Olaoye and Mrs Anthonia Aduragbemi.
    Amusan also alleged that the defendants failed to prevent felony as security guards at their place of work.
    He said the offences contravened Sections 516 and 390(9) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
    The Court President, Mrs Sukurat Yusuf, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N300,000 each with two reliable sureties in like sum.
    Yusuf, thereafter, adjourned the case until July 9 for hearing. (NAN)
    CC/JNC
    =======
    Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

  • Israeli polls show Netanyahu party narrowing gap behind Gantz

    Israeli polls show Netanyahu party narrowing gap behind Gantz

    Polls

    Jerusalem, June 14, 2024 (Reuters/NAN) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party has reduced the gap behind the centrist party of former minister Benny Gantz, who quit the wartime unity government on Sunday, two polls showed on Friday.
    The polls, for the left-wing Ma’ariv daily and the right-wing Israel Hayom newspaper, showed Likud winning 21 seats behind the National Unity Party on 24.
    The Ma’ariv poll last week showed Gantz’s party on 27 seats, while at the start of the year, it was regularly polling in the high 30s.
    The Ma’ariv poll shows the current ruling coalition winning 52 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, against 58 for the main opposition parties, with the balance of 10 seats held by the United Arab List and the left-wing Hadash-Ta’al alliance.
    The Israel Hayom poll put the coalition on 50 seats against 61 for the opposition parties and 9 for the UAL and Hadash-Ta’al.
    Both polls showed a majority of voters would prefer Gantz as prime minister in a head-to-head choice with Netanyahu.
    However, the Israel Hayom poll showed that if former prime minister Naftali Bennett were to join forces with Avigdor Liberman and Gideon Saar, two other centre-right politicians from outside the Likud camp, their alliance could beat both Likud and Gantz’s National Unity Party.
    Gantz, a former army general and defence minister in the last government, joined Netanyahu’s coalition last year as a gesture of national unity following the devastating attack by Hamas on Oct 7.
    However, he clashed repeatedly with other ministers and quit the government after demanding Netanyahu articulate a clear strategic plan for the war in Gaza, now in its ninth month.
    Netanyahu, who was widely blamed for the security failures that allowed the Oct. 7 attack to take place, has refused to call early elections and would not normally face voters until 2026 if his coalition with a clutch of religious and right-wing pro-settler parties holds. (Reuters/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    YEE
    ===
    (Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)

  • Sallah: FRSC deploys 520 personnel, vehicles in Cross River

    FRSC officials addressing drivers at the popular Peace Park on Friday in Calabar

     

     

    Sallah: FRSC deploys 520 personnel, vehicles in Cross River

    Sallah
    By Christian Njoku
    Calabar, June 14, 2024 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has deployed 520 personnel including the regular and special marshals to various locations in Cross River to ensure safety during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
    This was disclosed by Corp Commander Istifanus Ibrahim, Sector Commander, FRSC Cross River in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Calabar.
    NAN reports that the Corp had earlier embarked on sensitisation campaign in parks and around major cities in the state to enlighten the people on the importance of ensuring their safety as they travel during the festive period.
    Ibrahim said the Sallah celebration which would be for two days was a public holiday and so, a lot of human and material resources would be on the road.
    He said due to the anticipated high volume of vehicular movement, the commission had also deployed three ambulances and tow trucks to seven locations in the state from Ogoja to Calabar.
    “FRSC is always proactive when it comes to emergency, we already had a tow truck in Odukpani before now but we are putting in more to ensure that there is no congestion on the roads during the festivities.
    “The Calabar Itu road is under construction and we experience a lot of vehicular breakdown on that axis so we have stationed our tow trucks, we have also deployed patrol teams for the purpose of traffic control and emergency response, he said.
    FRSC officials sensitising a mini bus driver on Friday in Calabar 
    Speaking further, the sector commander assured Nigerians of the corp’s commitment in solving the challenges faced by motorists in the area of obtaining driver’s license and number plates.
    While appealing to Nigerians to use the corps’s toll free number, 122 and the national emergency number, 112 in the case of an emergency, he added that the new leadership of the commission was assessing the current challenges of the Corp to address them soon.
    Similarly, Mr Chibuike Chukwuemeka, a commercial driver in one of the parks in Calabar who spoke to NAN said he was very grateful with the sensitisation carried out by the commission urging that it should be regular.
    According to Chukwuemeka, some of the challenges they encountered in their daily work was the deplorable state of the roads between Calabar and Akwa Ibom and the excess luggage carried by some passengers embarking on journeys.
    He appealed to the Federal Government to promptly fix the Calabar/Itu road as it was damaging their vehicles and making travelling difficult. (NAN))
    CBN/EAL
    ========
    Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

  • Rhema University earns full accreditation in Medicine, Surgery and others

    Rhema University earns full accreditation in Medicine, Surgery and others
    Accreditation
    By Leonard Okachie
    Umuahia June 14, 2024(NAN) Rhema University Nigeria, Aba, has received full accreditation for all courses offered by the university, including Medicine and Surgery.
    This is contained in a statement Issued on Friday, by the university’s Public Relation Officer, Mr Earl Okezie.
    Okezie stated that the development was sequel to October/November 2023 accreditation visits by the National Universities Commission(NUC).
    He said that the accreditation was contained a letter by NUC and signed by the Acting Director of Accreditation on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Abraham Chundusu.
    He listed the courses offered full accreditation to include Accounting, Banking and Finance, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Human Anatomy, Mass Communication, Medicine and Surgery, Biochemistry and Chemistry.
    Okezie recalled that the Commission had earlier offered full accreditation to the university’s Nursing Science Department.
    He explained that it came in the heels of the accreditation received from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, as well as the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria for Medicine and Surgery.
    According to him, “we had equally received accreditation from the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria for our Medical Laboratory Science programme.
    The statement quoted the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ogbonnaya Onwudike, as saying that the cheery news would further boost the university’s continual quest to equip humanity for excellence.
    Okezie stated that the university opened its gates for admissions 14 years ago, when it received the Federal Government’s license to operate as one of the private universities in Nigeria.(NAN)(www.nanews.ng)
    LEO/EAL
    =======
    Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

  • France supports ECOWAS’ decision on Mali, Niger, B/Faso – Envoy

    France supports ECOWAS’ decision on Mali, Niger, B/Faso – Envoy

    French Charge d’Affairs to Nigeria, Jean-Francois Hasperue speaking in an interview at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) headquarters in Abuja.

    Decision

    By Mark Longyen

    Abuja, June 14, 2024  (NAN) The French Chargé d’affaires in Nigeria, Jean-Francois Hasperue, says his country supports the decision of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in February lifting sanctions on Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

    The French envoy stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    It will be recalled that ECOWAS had slammed sanctions on three of the Sahelian countries in 2023 following the takeover of power by the military in their countries.

    ECOWAS leaders, however, rescinded the decision in February, barely a month after the three countries declared their intention to quit the sub-regional bloc and form the Alliance of Sahel States, a parallel group.

    Hasperue stated that France is in support of ECOWAS in whatever it is doing to resolve the Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso imbroglio, to retain them in the sub-regional organization.

    “So, when ECOWAS decided to make a diplomatic gesture towards these countries in February, we supported the decision.

    “As a matter of principle, France and the European Union support political decisions by sub-regional organisations like ECOWAS.

    “We did the same for the East African Community, for example, when the community was mandated to try and help in the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC.

    “So, regions decide their political orientation and the international community supports.

    “That’s how we address issues and crises in Africa – in partnership.

    “We’ve been supporting ECOWAS and all its member states in whatever they try to do to alleviate the situation, to help resolve the issues,” he said.

    The French envoy explained that the decision of ECOWAS heads of state to apply sanctions on the three Sahelian countries in August 2023 was not influenced by France.

    “I mean, they, ECOWAS, just looked at the situation in the Sahara region and decided that it was too much.

    “The military coups d’etat were becoming too much, so they decided to try to end that, but France didn’t influence and had nothing to do with the decisions.

    “I mean they (ECOWAS members) are sovereign states that make unanimous decisions for the organisation.

    “They considered that the sub-region was threatened due to the series of coups d’etat.

    “What these military junta were doing was a threat to the security and stability of the sub-region in terms of fighting terrorism, which they were not able to fight efficiently.

    There was also the belief that there could be a spread of the terrorist groups’ activities to other countries in the region.

    “And, as I said earlier, whatever ECOWAS decides, as friends, we will support the decision.

    “That’s the orientation we have taken together,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    YEN/YEE

    ========

    (Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)

  • Conflict of interest hinders implementation of AfDB’s anti-corruption fund- Adesina

     

    Fund

    By Lucy Ogalue

    Abuja, June 14, 2024 (NAN) The African Development Bank (AfDB) President, Akinwumi Adesina, says conflict of interest is hindering implementation of the bank’s anti-corruption fund.

    Adesina, in an interview, said the bank established an anti-corruption fund of about 55 million dollars seven years ago, which had yet to be tapped into.

    “The point is, we have the funds. However, when implementing that fund, we found that there were conflicts of interest on how the fund was set up.

    “As president of the bank, I will not mingle with the bank’s funds.

    “And we said, no, we cannot do that. We need to find a way to give that to third parties. The money is there, and the money is going to third parties.

    “And just so you know, the AfDB was ranked in 2023 as the most transparent institution in the world,’’ he said.

    Adesina restated that the bank had an independent anti-corruption unit that sanctions companies with non-competitive behaviour.

    According to him, corruption is not unique to Africa, and there is no doubt about the need for improved governance, transparency, and accountability anywhere in the world.

    He said to curb the challenge of corruption, the bank established a programme called SEGA, which centred on economic governance in Africa.

    “It has to do with public financial management. It has to do with debt management. It has to do with reducing illicit capital flows.

    “Now, I agree with you. Today, we have illicit capital flows out of Africa, which amounts to about 89 billion dollars annually. Sometimes, it is like pouring water into a basket, It needs to be able to hold it.

    “But this much I will say, even as I agree with all of that, corruption is not unique to Africa,’’ he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    LCN/EEE

    =======

    Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

     

  • Trader jailed 2 years for stealing security safe

    Trader jailed 2 years for stealing security safe

    Sentence

    By Zainab Oyekan
    Jos, June 14, 2024 ( NAN) A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Friday, sentenced a 19-year-old trader, Ahmad Umar to two years imprisonment for trespassing and stealing a security safe from a fuel station.

    The Magistrate, Shawomi Bokkos, summarily tried and sentenced the defendant after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

    The magistrate, however, gave the convict an option to pay N100,000 .

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp Ijuptil Thawal told the court that the case was reported on Jan. 7, at the “A” Police station Jos by one Cecilia Ali, the complaint.

    The prosecutor said the convict trespassed into the fuel station office and stole the safe containing N361,000 before he was caught.

    The offence, according to him, is punishable under the Plateau state Penal Code Law. (NAN)

    OIZ/SH

    =======
    edited by Sadiya Hamza

    08035015718

  • Education: Katsina State Govt inaugurates community transition committees

    Education: Katsina State Govt inaugurates community transition committees

     

     

    Committees

    By Abbas Bamalli

    Katsina, June 14, 2024 (NAN) The Katsina State Government has inaugurated community school transition monitors’ committees to ensure the transition of students from primary to secondary schools.

    The transition is from primary to Junior Secondary School (JSS), from JSS to Senior Secondary level (SSS).

    Speaking at the inauguration in Kankara, Hajiya Hadiza Aminu, one of the facilitators said the terms and references of the committee include to identify barriers hindering smooth transition from one level of education to another level and develop strategies to minimise and to eradicate the barriers.

    The two-day exercise which held on in Kankara, Baure and Kafur local government areas was supported by UNICEF’s Kano field office, through its REACH project.

    Other terms of reference, she said, include to conduct sensitisation campaigns to create awareness on the need for continuous schooling for students, especially girls. Constant monitoring and mentoring of the students within and outside the school.

    Others are to conduct a headcount of students every term, keep  proper records and to develop action plan for monitoring and mentoring of the students.

    The facilitator said every child has a right to education.

    ”There is a law that provides jail term for parents who deny their children access to education,” he said.

    She also said that as part of efforts to provide children with quality education in rural areas, about 50 communities were provided with access to a radio learning hub.

    According to her, it is a programme to provide children with access to quality education, especially for Internally Displaced People (IDPs).

    Also speaking, Hajiya Hadiza Ahmed, another facilitator, appealed to stakeholders to sensitise communities on the importance of education, especially among female children.

    She called on the SBMC leaders, mothers association, religious, community and traditional leaders to do the needful towards promoting education in their areas.

    NAN reports that stakeholders at the event mostly attributed the low enrollment in school to poverty and insecurity among other factors.

    Alhaji Haruna Mani, a representative of Jama’atul Izalatil Bidi’a Wa’iqamatu Sunna (JIBWIS), called on government to return the school feeding.

    This, he said, will lead to improved number of enrollment.

    According to him, they are doing everything possible during gatherings to enlighten the public on the importance of education. (NAN)
    AABS/SH

    =======
    edited by Sadiya Hamza

  • Inspire children with disabilities to actualise their dreams- Official

    Inspire children with disabilities to actualise their dreams- Official

    Children

    By Priscilla Osaje

    Abuja, June 14, 2024 (NAN) Ms Habiba Yakubu, Culture and Event Officer, Korea Cultural Centre in Nigeria (KCCN), has called on relevant authorities to inspire children living with disabilities in the country to actualise their dreams.

    Yakubu made the call at an event organised for children with disabilities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to commemorate the International Day of the African children on Thursday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abuja School for the deaf Kuje, FCT School for the blind Children, Jabi and FCT School for Children with Special Needs Kuje participated at the event.

    According to her, the event with the title:’ The African Child Can Dream’, seeks to celebrate the African child with special needs among six different schools within the FCT.

    She said the event was designed to inspire the children to be creative, help them to discover themselves and come up with their future dreams.

    “The centre decided to celebrate these children because they will not want to leave the children living with special needs out of the case.

    “We created an event that was not just for their creativity but also to motivate them and inspire their dreams.

    “We came up with the idea of them dreaming with the theme of the event which says an ‘African child can dream’.

    “KCCN had researched some stories of amazing people in Korean culture and Korean society that had certain disabilities of different varieties, but found a way to navigate their lives by doing their best in making an impact in their generation,” she said.

    Yakubu said that the children were amazing with the skill of drawing, with an idea on what their future would look like.

    She said that it was exciting to see that some of them actually had really amazing ideas like wanting to be a medical doctor.

    “It was really exciting that they can relate their future dream in pictures in their drawing, even though they did not have the right words.

    “We see the future life from the perspective of these children and how they were able to communicate it in their own unique ways,” she said.

    The event officer said that the children with disabilities communication and pictures could be passed across discrimination.

    “Honestly we will start from the fact that we have to understand that having special needs is not a limitation but actually a superpower in itself,“she said.

    She urged people to stop any form of discrimination, rather they should treat them with the highest level of value and respect as they do to any other person.

    Also speaking, Mrs Isioma Okafor, Deputy Director on Cultural and Creative Art, FCT Universal Basic Education Board(UBEB), said celebrating the African child with love goes a long way in helping them fulfill their future dreams.

    Okafor said that UBEB collaboration with KCCN had been remarkable, especially in the aspect of drawing competition among the 200 children from the six Area Councils in FCT.

    She said  the children were at the centre to feel as one body without discrimination in spite of their challenges.

    “We commend KCCN for this memorable event for these children, we admonish them not to relent, rather they should continue their good work.

    “We appeal to them to organise a talent hunt for us in addition to a creative drawing competition,” she said.

    Mrs Dorcas Utsaha, a teacher, School for the blind children, appreciated the KCCN for organising such a wonderful and colourful event for children with special needs.

    ” I sincerely appreciate them for giving school for the blind children the opportunity to showcase their creativity in spite of their challenges.

    “When the children started printing the masks, I thought they would not perform well, but to my great surprise they did it excellently,” she said.

    Another teacher, Mr Mojhood Adebayo, Abuja School for the deaf, said the KCCN had made the children to express their ideas in their own way with love.

    According to him, coming up with such programmes makes the children feel good, loved, useful and creative.

    Miss Rita Ugwu, a student of school for the blind in FCT, thanked KCCN for involving their school in such a remarkable event that made them feel belonged and welcome.

    “Even when we cannot see, at least we were able to design the masks given to us to the surprise of everyone,” she said.

     

    The highlight of the event was a presentation of song by the FCT School for the blind children, Jabi with the title ‘African Children no more Discrimination.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

     

    PO/CHOMJPE

    ===========

    Edited by   Chioma Ugboma/Joseph Edeh