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Hypertension: Know your status to avoid untimely death – NASFAT urges Nigerians

Hypertension

By Muftau Ogunyemi

Akure, Sept. 24, 2018 (NAN) A Muslim group, Nasrul-Lahi-Fatih-Society (NASFAT) on Monday urged Nigerians to always check their blood pressure and be aware of their hypertension status to avoid untimely death.

Alhaja Sherifat Salaudeen, the Women Secretary, NASFAT, Akure Branch, made the appeal during a free medical checkup it organised for the Ijigba community in Akure South Local Government Area, Ondo State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the free medical checkup was organised by the NASFAT to mark its 19^th annual women’s week programme, which focused primarily on: “Hypertension.”

“This gesture became imperative to create awareness and sensitise people on how to manage hypertension in the society.

“People need to know their Blood Pressure (BP) in order to avoid early death.

“Hypertension is a general disease. We want people to know about it and not be afraid to check their status regularly in order to avoid untimely death,” the NASFAT scribe said.

The Guest Lecturer, Dr Taiwo Oyelade of the Emergency Department, State Specialist Hospital, Akure, said hypertension had killed many people due to ignorance.

Oyelade said people needed to know how to handle it before complications set in.

He explained that people could have hypertension from any age, be it 40 years to 45 years, or one year to two years old baby, depending on the type of hypertension.

“Hypertension has no cure but it can be controlled and managed, if the sufferer takes his or her drugs as prescribed by the doctor.

“However, if it is not managed well it can result to heart failure, kidney failure, stroke, blindness and headaches.

“If, the sufferer takes to the doctor’s advice, such a person can live up to 120 years of normal life without any problem,” Oyelade said.

He admonished people to shun junk food, excessive intake of salt, smoking and consumption of alcohol.

The medical practitioner urged Nigerians to engage in exercise, eat fruits and vegetables and go for regular medical checkup.

Also speaking, Chief Luyi Rotimi, the traditional ruler of Ijigba, appreciated the NASFAT for initiating the health talk and medical screening for his community.

Oba Rotimi, also a participant, said he had been hypertensive for 40 years, and that he adhered to the doctor’s advice and used his drugs as prescribed.

“Forty years ago I was diagnosed as hypertensive, so, I was put on drugs and since then I have been using the drugs faithfully.

“People must not feel shy to check their status and if they prove to be hypertensive to take their medicines faithfully as prescribed.

“I believe that high blood pressure is not a death sentence, provided you manage it well and are prayerful,” the monarch said.

Two of the participants, Mrs Esther Ogunsuyi and Mrs Christiana Suleiman, appreciated NASFAT for the initiative and called on other religious groups to emulate the organisation. (NAN)

OMA/COF/SA

Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Salif Atojoko

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Flood
By Ebere Agozie
Abuja, Sep. 24, 2018 (NAN) Nigeria National Parks Service has appealed to the public to assist the service in facilitating the recapture of wild animals that strayed from parks due to flood incidents across the country.

Alhaji Ibrahim Goni, the Conservator-General of the Parks Service, made the appeal in Abuja via a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Yakubu Zull, on Monday.

Goni, who sympathised with the flood victims and affected states, however, urged the general public not to kill any stray wild animal displaced by floods from wildlife parks, saying that they should instead call on experts for quick intervention.

He thanked Gov. Abubakar Bagudu and the people of Kebbi for inviting the officials of the service when they sighted four stray elephants and a calf in Danten swamp in Bagudu Local Government Area of the state.

He urged other citizens to emulate the governor in efforts to protect wildlife regardless of the location of the wild animals because of their value to a balanced and sustainable ecosystem.

“In Nigeria at present, the destruction of natural habitats continues unabated, resulting in the depletion of the country’s wildlife resources.

“Several species of wildlife have been lost, while some are threatened with extinction due to factors such as climate change, human population and pollution,’’ he added.

The conservator-general said that there were over 100 forest and game reserves across the country but noted that the current state of the reserves was quite unsatisfactory.

“This is the reason why the few remaining wild animals maraud with no habitat to protect them.

“The cases of a colony of chimpanzees killed in Enugu, elephants killed in Ondo and Kwara (Jebba), the marauding elephants in Ijebu Ode and the recent case of an elephant killed in Kebbi are fresh in mind,’’ he said.

Goni pushed for the review of the state laws that stipulated highly insignificant punishments for the killing of endangered animal species like elephants, for example.

“The fine is a tap on the wrist for such grievous offences, so the government should review the archaic wildlife laws in order to come up with effective protection and management policies for wildlife resources.

“The revised laws would avert the indiscriminate and wanton killing of these species,’’ he added. (NAN)
EPA/CHOM/OOK
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Edited by Chioma Ugboma and Dayo Komolafe

2 men in court for allegedly belonging to gang

By Nana Musa

Abuja, Sept. 24, 2018 (NAN) The police on Monday arraigned two men, Tony Ujo, 27, and Joseph Azuanagu, 25, in a Wuse Zone 2 Magistrates’ Court in Abuja for allegedly belonging to a gang of thieves.

The Ujo resides at Jahi in the FCT while Azuanagu resides at Mabuchi also in Abuja.

The two men, however, pleaded not guilty to the count charge of stealing levelled against them.

The Prosecutor, Mr Stanley Ifeanyi, told the court that the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja reported that on June 25, the two men conspired with two other men, James Hernme and Jamilu Mohammed to snatch cars.

The News Agency to Nigeria (NAN) reports that Hernme and Mohammed, currently facing trial had confessed that Ujo and Azuanagu were their members, which led to their arrest.

The prosecutor said that during interrogation, the suspects had confessed that they belonged to a gang of thieves and that they had snatched phones, bags and cars from people.

Ifeanyi said that the offences contravened Section 306 of the Penal Code.

The Magistrate, Mr Raphael Egbe, granted bail to the suspects in the sum of N100, 000 each with one surety each in like sum.

Egbe said that the surety must be a grade level nine officer and above in the federal civil service in the FCT and must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

He adjourned the case until Oct. 11 for hearing. (NAN)

NHM/SN

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Edited by Silas Nwoha

Range

By Auwalu Yusuf

Sandamu (Katsina state) Sept. 24, 2018 (NAN) Katsina State Government has completed the demarcation of 905 kilometers of  cattle routes to promote peaceful coexistence between farmers and herdsmen, an official said on Monday

Alhaji Abdulaziz Lawal, Chairman of the state committee on settlement of disputes between farmers and herdsmen made the disclosure in Sandamu at a sensitisation workshop.

The workshop was organized by the state chapter of Miyetti Allah Kautal-Hore to promote peaceful coexistence between pastoralists and farmers.

He disclosed that the committee had within two years, recovered over 30,000 cattle from rustlers and handed them over to their rightful owners.

Lawal urged herdsmen to report any case of routes encroachment, assuring that the committee “will not hesitate to take every necessary action against such eventualities.”

The chairman said that the state government had signed an MOU with the government of the state of Maradi in Niger Republic on movement of cattle and herdsmen as well as the tracking of cattle rustlers and other criminals.

“The Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) forms part of the preservation of the cattle routes between the two states,” he added.

In his address, the state Chairman of Miyetti Allah Kautal-Hore, Alhaji Hassan Kuraye said they would commence state-wide vaccination of animals soon.

Kuraye urged Fulani people in the state to collect their permanent voter cards to enable them vote for good leaders that would safeguard their dignity and trade.

He cautioned them against any act that would breach the peace, saying, “we expect you to be peaceful and respectful in your conducts.”

Alhaji Alto Yanduna, Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria in Sandamu, urged farmers and herders to work in unity and learn to solve problems amicably.

He commended the Federal Government for its massive investment in agriculture, security and youth empowerment, stressing that Nigeria was now back on track.

Earlier, Sandamu Council Chairman, Sani Jarkuka appreciated the existing peace between farmers and herdsmen in the local government area. (NAN)

BKD/MZA

Railway

By Kazeem Akande
Lagos, Sept. 24 (NAN) The Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has said that the ongoing construction of the new Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line would reduce traffic pressure on expressways in the country.

Alhaji Muhammed Musa, the Lagos State Chairman of RTEAN, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the project would reduce the pressure and hassles people face on highways on the daily basis.

Musa said that the development would also reduce the amount spent on road maintenance annually when completed.

“We are happy for the development of the new standard gauge railway projects. The development will give passengers the option of travelling either by road or by rail as it is in advanced countries.

“It will also reduce pressure placed on the roads by articulated vehicles and petrol tankers,’’ Musa said.

According to him, the standard gauge will modernise the country’s transportation system and boost the economies of various communities and inter-state business activities.

The RTEAN chairman said that the railway would also enhance freight services, thereby reducing the number of trailers and tankers on the expressway.

He, however, advised government to embark on general rehabilitation of federal roads to curb crashes and robbery cases on the highways.

“There are constant accidents along Owo-Okenne-Lokoja road which government has to be proactive in its rehabilitation to avoid further loss of lives on the axis on regular basis,’’ the RTEAN boss said.

The chairman also urged the people to give more support to the government to ensure more developmental projects.

“The railway projects are for the progress of the citizens and we have been praying for it for a long time.

“And God has finally brought it through this government that is why we have to give them support so as to do more for the benefit of the people,” he said.

According to him, more than 10,000 articulated vehicles and tankers flood Apapa Lagos for haulage and freight movement which should not be so, with train in place, goods transportation will be easier,” he said.

NAN reports that Mr Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transport in August said that construction on the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Rail Gauge had reached about 90 per cent completion.

Amaechi made the disclosure this while inspecting the project at the Ewekoro-Papalanto axis of the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway.

“We are progressing but there is no way they can fast-track the project during the rains but 90 per cent of the construction works has been done.

“I have told them to work day and night, to ensure the project keeps moving as expected, especially on the bridges and construction of modern station at Ebuta-Meta Lagos,” Amechi had said.

NAN reports that the 1.5 billion dollars (about 458 billion sdollars) railway Spanning 156.65 kilometres, which construction began last year is expected to end in December 2018 has been shifted to first quart of 2019.

It is being carried out in partnership with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

The Federal Government and the CCECC had last year signed the contract for the construction of both the new Lagos-Ibadan and Calabar-Port Harcourt rail lines after the two parties agreed to cut down the cost of the projects from $11.917 billion dollars to 11.117 billion dollars. (NAN)
AKA/CHOM/PDE
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(Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Peter Ejiofor)

Security guard, 2 others in court over alleged theft of employer’s N1.6m necklace

Necklace

By Tomisin Erogbogbo

Lagos, Sept. 24, 2018 (NAN) A security guard, Mohammed Amodu, 21, and two of his accomplice on Monday, appeared in a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, over alleged theft of his employer’s gold necklace worth N1.6 million.

Amodu and his accomplices, Mohammed Usman, 26, and Jubril Adamu, 61, of no fix address, are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, theft and receipt of stolen item.

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

The Prosecutor, Insp. Ben Ekundayo, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on Sept. 2, at 2:30 p.m. at   Ikota Lane, Lekki County Homes, Ikota, Lagos.

He said that Amodu, broke into the apartment of his employer, Mr Olawale Adagunduro, while he was at work and stole his  gold necklace worth N1.6 million.

Ekundayo added that Usman, a friend to Amodu, took him to Adamu’s shop who bought the necklace from them at N540, 000, knowing that it was stolen.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 287, 326 (1) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Section 287 stipulates three years imprisonment while section 326 prescribes 14 years imprisonment and section 411 carries two years imprisonment for offenders.

The Magistrate, Mrs Olumide Fusika, granted the three defendants N500, 000 bail with two sureties each in like sum.

She adjourned the case until Oct. 30 for mention. (NAN)

TME/HS/EMO

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Edited by Halima Sheji/Ejike Obeta

Businessman

By Moji Eniola
Ikeja, Sept. 24, 2018 (NAN) The trial of Mohammed Gobir, a businessman and former Kwara Hotels boss, charged with defrauding
the Kwara Government of N277 million, was on Monday stalled at an Ikeja High Court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during the scheduled proceedings on Monday, Mr Y. A. Bayero, Gobir’s lawyer, told the
court that the defendant was absent because of his mother’s ill-health.

“Yesterday, the first defendant called me that his mother who had been in a coma for two months had become worse and he had to
rush her from a private hospital to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.

“I don’t want to believe the information that was passed to me this morning that his mother has died.

“I want to urge this honourable court to kindly indulge us with an adjournment in view of the facts just stated,” he said.

Bayero, in his submission, also brought to the court’s attention that it was the first time that Gobir will be absent from trial.

Responding, Mr F. Ofoma, the prosecuting counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), opposed the
defence’s request for an adjournment.

Ofoma said their third prosecution witness, Mrs Funmilola Adejulu, was in court and that the anti-graft agency had to make a
formal application to ensure that she came to court to be cross-examined by the defence.

“We are just hearing the reason why the defendant is not in court, I don’t know when else our witness will be available,” the
EFCC prosecutor said.

Following their submissions, Justice Oyefeso acceded to the request of the defence: “I will grant the adjournment because
this is the first time the defendant will be absent in court.

“This case is adjourned until Oct. 29, Nov. 5 and Nov. 6 for continuation of trial.”

NAN reports that reports that Gobir, an indigene of Kwara, and his company, Mondial Defence Systems Ltd., are facing a five-count
charge of stealing and forgery slammed against them by the EFCC.

According to Mrs Zainab Ettu, the lead EFCC prosecutor, the offences were committed between November 2012 and January
2014 in Ikeja.

Ettu said: “In November 2012, the defendants dishonestly converted to their use the N92.3 million, property of the Kwara
State Government.

“Sometime in 2013, the defendants dishonestly converted N184 million, also belonging to the Kwara State Government.

“The monies were collected under the guise of supplying three units of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) to the Kwara State
Government but the APCs were never supplied.

“The defendants forged three documents, the first on Oct. 10, 2013 titled Letter of Award of Contract with reference
no. S/GS/157/7/123.

“The second was on Dec. 28, 2013 a letter titled, Letter of Award of Contract with reference number S/GS/157/VII/535.

“The third was on Jan. 17, 2014 titled Letter of Intent with reference number: S/GS/157/T/15.

“The three letters were purportedly from the Office of the Secretary to the Kwara State Government, in relation to the
bogus contracts.”

On June 25, Adejulu, an EFCC investigator, in a lengthy testimony, had revealed how Gobir diverted the funds meant for the
purchase of Armoured Personnel Carriers for the policing the state to his personal use.

She was to be cross-examined by the defence during Monday’s proceedings which were stalled by Gobir’s absence.

The offences contravened Sections 285 (9)(b) and 363 (2) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. (NAN)

MAE/DA
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Edited by Dele Akinsola

Police arraign farmer for allegedly causing grievous hurt

Hurt

By Ugochi Ugochukwu

Abuja, Sept. 24, 2018 (NAN) The Police on Monday arraigned a farmer, Emmanuel Yohanna, in a Lugbe Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, for  allegedly  causing grievous hurt.

Yohanna who resides at Lugbe village, Abuja, was docked on charges bordering  on joint act and causing grievous hurt, offences he denied committing.

The prosecuting counsel, Mrs Ukoha Ndidi, had told the court that the matter was reported on Sept. 13, at Utako Police Station, Abuja, by one Abdulkareem Ibrahim of Lugbe village.

Ndidi said that on the same date at about 10: 30a.m. Yohanna and one other now at large, jointly accosted the complainant and beat him up without any reason.

She said that in the process, Yohanna stoned the complainant, which caused him injuries on the head.

According to the prosecutor, the complainant raised an alarm which attracted other people, while Yohanna was caught and handed over to the police.

The offence contravened the provisions of Sections 79 and 246 of the Penal Code.

The Magistrate, Mr Idharhi Samuel, granted Yohanna bail in the sum of N200, 000, with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case until Oct. 2 for hearing. (NAN)

UGO/HS/OU

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Edited by Halima Sheji/Obike Ukoh

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Group trains 30 police, prisons, judicial officers on human rights violation

Training

By Awayi Kuje

Keffi (Nasarawa State), Sept. 24, 2018 (NAN) An Abuja-based Prison and Human Rights group, Uchefem Consult, on Monday commenced the training of 30 police, prisons and judicial officers on the Administration of Criminal Justice (ACJA) to avoid human rights violation.

The consult Chief Executive Officer, Uche Owete, said at the opening of the five-day training at Keffi, Nasarawa State, that the training would increase the cross-sectorial coordination, competences and capacities of major criminal justice actors.

Owete said the training organized for the officials in the FCT, was meant to effect serious and durable changes in the sector for the overall benefit of prison and justice systems.

“It will ensure police observance of human rights standards during interrogation, detention and trial, and highlight the major innovations in criminal administration in Nigeria, among others objectives,” he said.

He said that the training was aimed at bringing together the police, the lower courts, particularly Magistrates’ Courts, the prisons where human rights violations were likely to occur.

“They will share experiences and knowledge of human rights issues and devise strategies of improving criminal justice delivery devoid of human rights violations,” he added.

Owete said the training was organised with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland and German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

The chief executive officer commended the Swiss Government for its support and funding of the training.

He also thanked the Chief Judge of the FCT, Justice Ishaq Bello, Controller of Prisons and the Inspector-General of Police for the release of their officials to take part in the training.

The FCT Chief Judge, Justice I.U. Bello, said that a fair and consistent application of the law would put to an end the unacceptable and unjustifiable delays in the disposal of criminal matters.

Bello, represented by the FCT Director of Magistrates, Josephine Obanor, said that the law also addressed the weak records system and judicial oversight over remands.

He said the law also addressed the practice of extracting confessional statements under torture and other oppressive methods of interrogation.

“That the primary concern to the ACJA is the mindless hauling of crime suspects into court before investigations are completed and the excessive time taken to conduct and conclude investigations.

“This consequentially leads to the remand of accused persons pending the conclusion of such investigation and trials,” he said.

Bello expressed hope that the workshop would bridge the wide gap between understanding ACJA and the effective implementation of the reforms contained therein.

Anne-Beatrice Buccinger, Deputy Head of Mission, Switzerland Embassy, said the Swiss government supported the development of training manuals and capacity building for the police and prisons on human rights and criminal administration of justice.

Buccinger said the Swiss government had partnered with several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and civil society in Nigeria.

She said the partnership was in the provision of technical and financial support for projects in the field of human rights and capacity building in the criminal justice administration.

She urged the participant to take the training serious and make sure that the got the best for speedy administration of justice. (NAN)

AKW/OFN/EMO

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Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Ejike Obeta

Failure to issue warrant stalls Ajudua’s trial for allegedly defrauding Bamaiyi of $8.4m

By Moji Eniola

Ikeja, Sept. 24, 2018 (NAN) The failure of court registrars to issue a production warrant to the authorities of Kirikiri Prisons in Lagos,stalled the fraud trial of Fred Ajudua at an Ikeja High Court on Monday.

Ajudua, a socialite and suspected fraudster is accused of defrauding a retired former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi of $8.4 million.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Josephine Oyefeso was to give a ruling on Ajudua’s application to quash the fraud charges proffered against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The production warrant, which was not issued was a necessary documentation to ensure Ajudua’s attendance in court for his trial.

Reacting to the development, Ajudua’s Defence Counsel, Mr Alex Agbaka said: “we are aware that the necessary documents to ensure the defendant’s attendance were not served on the prison authorities.”

Responding, Oyefeso enquired if the court registrars had issued an apology to Agbaka and Mr Temitope Banjo, the Prosecution Counsel for the EFCC.

When the court registrars answered in the affirmative, Oyefeso cautioned them against a repeat of the omission.

She adjourned the case until Sept. 27 for the ruling.

NAN reports that Ajudua, allegedly defrauded the former chief of army staff to the tune of $8.4 million while they were both in custody in Kirikiri Prisons in 2004.

Bamaiyi was in custody for treason while Ajudua was in custody for fraud-related offences.

Ajudua, alongside some accomplices, had allegedly approached Bamaiyi and convinced him that he could hire the legal services of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), to help secure his freedom, prompting Bamaiyi to give Ajudua $8.4 million as legal fees.

When the fraud came to light, the law chambers of Afe Babalola and Co. issued a disclaimer disassociating itself from the case. (NAN)

MAE/SN
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Edited by Silas Nwoha