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Man docked for alleged manslaughter, remanded

Arraignment

Maureen Ojinaka

Enugu, Sept. 26, 2018 [NAN] The police on Wednesday arraigned  38-year-old Obinna Achebe, in an Enugu North Magistrates’ Court for allegedly  causing the death of one  Fred Ogbonna.

The defendant is standing trial before Magistrate C. Ugwu on a count charge of manslaughter.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Bonaventure Nnadozie, told the court that the matter was reported by one Christopher Ogbonna, the deceased brother at the Udi Divisional Police Station on Aug. 8.

Nnadozie said that the deceased had a minor issue over money which the defendant owned  him, which resulted to  a fight.

He alleged that the defendant pushed the deceased and he hit his head on a rod.

The prosecutor alleged that he was rushed to the hospital and two weeks later he was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.

The magistrate who did not take the plea of the defendant as the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case, ordered that he be remanded.

The magistrate also ordered that the case file be transferred to the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice and adjourned the case until Oct. 26 (NAN)

OJI/HS/OU

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Edited by Halima Sheji/Obike Ukoh

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SUBEB

By Modupe Adeloye

Ibadan, Sept. 26, 2018 (NAN) No fewer than 900 primary school teachers in Oyo State have been trained on Jolly Phonics by the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

The board conducted the training in partnership with the Universal Learning Solutions (ULS).

The ULS Project Manager, Mr Augustine Adeoye, said that teachers teaching primaries 1 and 2 classes benefitted for the 10-day training in a statement.

Phonics is a method for teaching reading and writing of the English language to developing learners.

Adeoye said that the training was aimed at improving the literacy level of both the teachers and the pupils in public schools in the state.

Accordingly to Adeoye, “The 10-day training, which began on Sept. 13 to Sept. 22, drew selected teachers from Ogbomosho, Kajola and Saki Local Government Areas of the state.

“With the training, teachers have been equipped with the expertise and tools required to enable them improve on the reading and writing skills in English for primary one and two pupils in government schools across the state,” he said.

The statement described Jolly Phonics as a fun and an interactive teaching methodology recommended by governments around the world to provide children with the skills needed to read and write.

Mr Gary Foxcroft, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ULS, praised the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for its continued support for the adoption of Jolly Phonics in Nigeria’s public schools.

“UBEC has really recognised the tremendous impact that Jolly Phonics has been having on literacy levels in Nigeria’s government schools and has taken it on as one of their flagship programmes.

“This has helped us to initiate new projects across the country. Jolly Phonics will be in all the 36 states, and the FCT before the end of 2018.

“This is truly amazing and it will help to improve the reading and writing abilities of over 2 million children over the next two years,” he said in the statement.

Also, ULS Projects Director, Dr Louise Gittins, described the partnership with Oyo SUBEB as delightful, saying the project would give the children of Oyo State a brighter future.

The statement also quoted the State Chairman of SUBEB, Aderonke Makanjuola, as saying that the entire pupils in the state would benefit from the training.

Makanjuola was represented by Mr Delani Binuyo, the Director of School Services in the board.

He said that the board would set up a monitoring mechanism which would ensure that the teachers trained from the programme implement all they had learnt in their schools. (NAN)

MAM/MAS/PAD

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Edited by Moses Solanke/Peter Dada

A taste of his Sunday best whets Woods’ appetite for battle

Paris, Sept. 26, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) A new cuddly, feely Tiger Woods was on display for the media on Tuesday but after professing his delight at making the team.

He thanked his captain for picking him, the mask eventually slipped to reveal a chilling reminder of Tiger Mark I.

Woods’ triumph on Sunday in the PGA Tour Championship, his first since 2013, has catapulted him spectacularly back into the limelight and, after missing the last two editions of the Europe v U.S. showdown.

In his devastating pomp, Woods had an aura that left many rivals defeated before they walked on to the first tee – though that all too rarely translated into Ryder Cup success.

In the last few years, however, as injury and personal issues sidelined him, a new generation of young players have taken over the game, respecting what they thought was his legacy, but certainly no longer fearing the 42-year-old.

Now, having bared his teeth again to give them a glimpse of what they missed while they were still in school, Tiger is back on the hunt.

“A lot of these younger guys were on their way in when I was on my way out. They had never really played against me when I was playing well,” Woods told a news conference.

“I think that when my game is there… I feel like I’ve always been a tough person to beat. They have jokingly been saying ‘We want to go against you’.

“All right. Here you go,” said Woods of his Sunday showdown, with the knowing smile of a man whose win rate when leading a tournament after three rounds is well over 90 percent.

“And we had a run at it, and it was a blast because I had to beat Rory (McIlroy) in the final group and Rosey (Justin Rose), who was tied with Rory and I hadn’t done it in five years.”

When it comes to the Ryder Cup, however, Tiger’s dry run is far longer: The only time he has been on a winning team was in 1999 – with six defeats alongside that in the locker.

“That record’s not something that I have really enjoyed and I’ve really liked seeing,” he said.

“I’ve played a lot of the matches – in seven Ryder Cups, I’ve sat out one session. We haven’t done well.

“When we won in 2008, I had knee surgery and didn’t play and I was a vice captain in 2016, but it’s different being a player.”

Many of those defeats came as part of Europe’s 25-year home stranglehold on the Cup, a domination that Woods put down to their ability to finish the job.

“I remember being a part of some of the Presidents Cup teams that Jack (Nicklaus) had captained and he said it’s plain and simple: Who wins the 18th hole?,” Woods said.

“If you’re one up, you lose the last hole, go to even, or you win the last hole and you get a point; these little half-point and point swings are enormous over the course of the Cup.

“The winning teams that I’ve been a part of in The Presidents Cup (where the U.S. plays the Rest of the World), we’ve handled the 18th hole well. In The Ryder Cup, we haven’t.” (Reuters/NAN)
ERO/SN
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Edited by Silas Nwoha

Make workers welfare top priority, NLC urges govt.
Workers
By Christian Ogbonna
Yenagoa, Sept. 26, 2018 (NAN) The Bayelsa chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on both Federal and State Governments to make workers welfare top priority in their efforts to promote good governance across the country.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Yenagoa, Mr John Ndiomu, State Chairman of the Congress, reiterated that the importance of workers to nation building could not be over-emphasised.
Ndiomu, who described workers as “engine room of the economy” of a nation, said regular improvement of workers’ welfare packages was necessary to enable them overcome economic hardship.
On the planned nationwide strike by the Labour Union, the Chairman said its members in the state had mobilised for total compliance.
NAN reports that the organised labour union had announced a nationwide strike, beginning from Thursday, over alleged delay by the Federal Government to approve and implement a new minimum wage for workers.
“Of course, the strike is holding in the state as directed by the national body.
“We have mobilised our members for a total shutdown of all the ministries until the Federal and State Governments attend to our demand.
“We, however, call on the governments at all levels to listen to the cries of workers.
“Imagine a situation in 2011, when workers were receiving N18, 000 and look at the imbalance between 2011 and 2018, where workers still earn the same.
“So, let us compare it, what was the cost of bag of rice in 2011, what is obtainable now in the market? There should be a balance.
“Governments at both levels should listen to the plight of workers.
“That is what Labour Union is demanding. We are joining the strike until we get further directions from the national,” Ndiomu stated.
He advised workers to be focused, and that the Union was committed to fighting for the betterment of their welfare. (NAN)
OOC/KTO/SA
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Salif Atojoko
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Football: Cousin named as Gabon coach after Aubame declines offer
Offer
Libreville, Sept.26, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Former Hull City and Rangers striker, Daniel Cousin is the new Gabon coach after the father of the country’s leading player, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, turned down the job.
Cousin’s appointment has been confirmed by the Gabon Football Federation (FEGAFOOT), who were last week heavily criticised by Aubameyang for the arbitrary appointment of his father Pierre Aubame as co-coach alongside Cousin.
Arsenal striker Aubymeyang said his father had not agreed to the job before being announced as a national coach, was ill and did not want the job anyway, leading to an embarrassing retraction by the federation.

Aubameyang, the 2015 African Footballer of the Year, said the original announcement was “another example of the federation’s amateurism” but FEGAFOOT said they were pressured into it by the sports minister, without explaining why.

Aubame also captained the national team, was among Gabon’s first exports to French league football and had previously served as an assistant coach with the Gabon team.

Cousin replaces former Spain manager Juan Antonio Camacho, who was fired after winning just two matches in his two-year spell as Gabon coach.

Cousin takes charge for the first time when Gabon faces South Sudan in Libreville on Oct. 12 and the same opposition in Juba four days later.

The country needs all six points to revive hopes of qualifying for next year’s African Nations Cup finals. (Reuters/NAN)

ERO/SA

Edited by Salif Atojoko

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N9.7bn alleged fraud: FG re-arraigns Suswam, others Nov. 20
Suswam
By Wandoo Sombo
Abuja, Sept. 26, 2019 (NAN) The Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed Nov. 20 for the re-arraignment of former Benue governor, Gabriel Suswam, on a 32-count charge brought against him by the Federal Government.

Justice I.E. Ekwo fixed the date on Wednesday when the matter was brought before him for the first time.

When the matter was called, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Aminu Alilu, told the judge that the matter was starting de novo (afresh), following the elevation to the Court of Appeal of the judge who was handling it.

By agreement of counsel, Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until Nov. 20 and 21.

It will be recalled that Suswam was arraigned before Justice Gabriel Kolawale, alongside his former Commissioner for Finance, Omadachi Oklobia and then Accountant of the State House, Mrs Janet Aluga.

They were arraigned for allegedly diverting N9.7 billion, part of which was meant for Police Reform Programme and Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

The trio allegedly cornered the said funds between 2012 and 2015, while Suswam was governor of the state.

They were also accused of conspiracy, conversion of property derived directly from corruption; collaboration to conceal property derived from corruption; obtaining by false pretence and accepting cash payments, exceeding the amount authorised by law.

The offences are said to be contrary to, and punishable under various provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, and the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act

Kolawale admitted the trio to bail in the sum of N250 million each and one surety each in like sum.(NAN)
WS/OU

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Edited by Obike Ukoh

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Firearms

By Oluwatope Lawanson
Ikeja, Sept. 26, 2018 (NAN) An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday granted bail to a 21-year-old applicant, John Gabriel, charged with illegal possession of firearms.

The accused, who resides at Iyana-Isasi area of Iba along Lagos-Badagry Expressway, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and possession of firearms.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olufunke Sule-Amzat, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000, and asked him to provide two responsible sureties as part of the conditions.

She said that the sureties should show evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Benson Emuerhi, had told the court that the accused committed the offences with others still at large, on Aug. 20, at about 12.30 a.m, at Iyana-Isasi Bus Stop, along Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Lagos.

He said a team of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) arrested the accused with one locally-made pistol and four live cartridges.

“During a stop-and-search by the squad, the items were recovered from the accused,” Emuerhi said.

The offences contravened Sections 51 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 51 stipulates 14 years for illegal possession of firearms.

The case has been adjourned until Nov. 5 for trial. (NAN)

LAW/IKU/SOA

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Edited by Tayo Ikujuni/Oluwole Sogunle

Bonny youths commend FG for Bonny/Bodo road, bridge projects

Project
By Azubuike Okeh
Port Harcourt, Sept. 26, 2018 (NAN) The Bonny Youth Federation (BYF) has commended the Federal Government for the ongoing construction of the Bonny/Bodo road and bridge projects.

Addressing a news conference on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Bonny Kingdom Youth Leader, Mr Simeon Wilcox, said youths on the island were committed to the successful completion of the project.

He said that the entire people of Bonny would contend with anybody who attempted to pose a stumbling block to the completion of the project.

“Every chieftaincy house in Bonny Island is represented in the committee set up by the kingdom to ensure the successful implementation of the project.

“It is our belief that every son and daughter of Bonny Kingdom will support its smooth implementation,’’ he said.

Also speaking, a prominent Bonny youth, Mr Ruchard Abbey, said that the Bonny/Bodo road and bridge projects would would positively affect the economic fortunes of the people.

“Our chiefs are working to ensure their implementation; the youths too are in support; we need everybody to give the company all the support they need,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project had already begun at the Bodo axis in Gokanna Local Government Area of the state.

NAN gathered that the Bonny segment of the project would commence as soon as compensations were paid to those whose property were demolished to give way for the road and bridge construction.(NAN)
AZU/AOS/NKO
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Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Nkechi Okoronkwo

Non-indigenes
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Abakaliki, Sept.26, 2018 (NAN) Non-indigenes in Ebonyi have resolved to mobilise and ensure the success of the 2019 general elections and the continuation of good governance in the state.

Mr Charlse Akpuenika, Leader of the non-indigenes in the state, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abakaliki that they would participate actively in the 2019 elections and ensure its overall success.

Akpuenika, who is the state Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, said that the members participated actively in the recent voters’ registration exercise, adding that majority of them had collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC).

“We are aware of the recent political occurrences in the country and want to identify with Nigerians’ resolve to enshrine good governance and strengthening democracy in the process.”

The commissioner noted that the non-indigenes were gratified with the enabling environment provided by the state government, making them feel part of the state’s polity.

“The present administration of Chief David Umahi ranks highest in the appointment of non-indigenes into political and other sensitive positions in the state since its creation.

“The government adopts a policy which gives all persons equal opportunities in the state, no matter the areas they come from in the country.

“Members who are engaged in various forms of businesses also operate equitably, which has maintained the trend of private businesses especially of non-indigenes, thriving in Ebonyi.”

He noted that the government’s acceptance of non-indigenes extends to the state’s civil service, where the rate of enrolment is appreciably high when compared to other states.

“We encourage our members who have not collected their PVCs to do so before the election, to ensure that the conducive atmosphere in which they operate in the state, is sustained.

“It is only logical that they support continuity in the state’s governance by voting for the governor, to show appreciation for all his gestures towards them,” Akpuenika said. (NAN)
RCO/NKO
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Edited by Nkechi Okoronkwo

Stress, not necessarily bad – Doctor
By Joshua Olaosebikan
Stress
Abuja, Sept. 26, 2018 (NAN) Dr Gregory Mowete, a medical officer in Abuja, says stress is not necessarily a bad health challenge as it has its positive side.

Mowete made this known during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

He defined stress as a normal biological reaction to a potentially dangerous situation, or as a physical, mental or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension.

“There are two stress hormones; one of them is called Adrenaline which is the ‘fight or flight’ response and another stress hormone is known as Cortisol,’’ he said.

According to him, once the body undergoes some form of stress, these hormones are released and they begin to perform various functions in the body.

“Cortisol does a lot of good work; increasing glucose in the bloodstream, helping the brain use glucose more effectively, helping the brain control fear and stimulates perspiration.

“All these are good because it helps you survive but being under stress for a prolonged period of time is mentally and physically harmful.

“Long term stress causes weight gain, high blood pressure, insomnia, lack of energy, depression, diabetes and hypertension which can later lead to damage of blood vessels, headaches, strokes or a heart attack, anxiety and weak bones,” Mowete said.

According to him, there are various symptoms that can help individuals look out for stress both in your immediate environment and out there.

“Emotional symptoms like frustration and moodiness; having difficulty in relaxing, low self-esteem and depression, emotional unbalanced.

“Behavioral symptoms like changes in appetite which can lead to peptic ulcer and ulcer would not heal if the person is under constant stress because the hormones prevent the healing process.

“Cognitive symptoms like constant worrying, forgetfulness, disorganisation and racing thoughts are the other signs,’’ the medical expert said.

According to the physician, if someone is going to manage stress, the person must identify what is causing the stress and once it is identified, solutions on how to cope with it can be found.

He however vadvised Nigerians to maintain healthy diet as a very important way to healthy life

“You should aim to sleep for about seven to eight hours every night, exercising regularly, coffee, caffeine or alcohol should be minimised or stopped totally.

“Caffeine increases adrenaline and alcohol does a lot worse because alcohol worsen the situation of hypertension caused by stressed resulting in cardiomyopathy, liver and heart problems.

“One has to stay socially connected so that you can get and give good support; keeping good company, basic self-care and self-meditation techniques like breathing in and out,” he said.

According to reports by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA, 110 million people die every year or seven people every two seconds as a direct result of stress. (NAN)
OJ/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola