NAN-H-21
Arraignment
Abuja, Nov. 30, 2016 (NAN) A civil engineer, David Moses, was on Wednesday docked at a Wuse Zone 2 Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, for defrauding a man of N15 million.
Moses of Gwarimpa, Abuja, is facing a four-count charge of cheating by impersonation, criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal intimidation.
The prosecutor, Gambo Musa, told the court that one Fidelis Peter had reported the matter through a written petition to the Commissioner of Police and submitted at the Zone 7 Police Station, Abuja on Oct. 26.
He said that the accused sometime in January deceived the complainant that he was a civil engineer working with the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS).
Musa said that the complainant then entrusted the sum of N15 million to the accused to facilitate the approval and begin the construction of a three-storey building in Jabi District of Abuja.
He said that the accused diverted the money to his personal use and did not act as agreed with the complainant.
Musa said that when the complainant asked the defendant about the project, he threatened to send “bad boys’’ to deal with the complainant.
The prosecutor said that during investigation, it was revealed that the defendant was not a member of staff of AGIS as he claimed and that he used part of the money to buy a Lexus jeep.
Musa said that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 324, 312, 322 and 397 of the Penal Code.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges and the prosecutor prayed the court to grant him a date to reopen the case.
Senior Magistrate Mohammed Tahir admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N2.5 million and two sureties in like sum.
Tahir also ordered that the sureties must have fixed addresses within the jurisdiction of the court and adjourned the matter until Dec.13, for hearing. (NAN)
UMD /LAB/PAD
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Edited by Lydia Beshel, Peter Dada

India court orders cinemas to play national anthem

NAN-F-11

Order
New Delhi, Nov.30, 2016 (dpa/NAN) Indian cinema theatres must play the national anthem before each film screening, India’s Supreme Court ordered on Wednesday, according to lawyers linked to the case.

The order comes amid a debate in the country about the rise of aggressive nationalism in India under the Hindu-right wing Bharatiya Janata Party government.

A wheelchair-bound activist was assaulted in the western state of Goa last month for not standing up to the national anthem, sparking widespread criticism.

The court said everyone in the hall should rise for the anthem and the national flag should be displayed on the screen, said lawyer Abhinav Srivastava, who filed a petition on the alleged misuse of the anthem on behalf of a non-governmental organization.

“Time has come that people must feel and show respect to the national anthem, the symbol of constitutional patriotism,” broadcaster NDTV quoted the judges as saying in the order.

While the anthem is on, all theatre exits will be closed. (dpa/NAN)

(Edited by Julius Enehikhuere)

NAN-H-20
Phone
By Oluwatope Lawanson
Lagos, Nov. 30, 2016 (NAN) A 19-year- old phone repairer, Nwafor Chibike, was on Wednesday granted N100,000 bail by an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing a phone, valued at N74,000.
The Magistrate, Mr A.A. Adesanya, also ordered the accused to provide two sureties in like sum.
Adesanya said the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Chibike, a resident of No. 31, Abeokuta St., Okunola, Egbeda, Lagos, is facing a one- count charge of stealing.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Nwosu George, told the court that the complainant, Daniel Jackson, on Nov. 12 gave the accused a phone for repairs but failed to return it.
“Chibike claimed he took the phone to another engineer for further repairs, who allegedly lost the phone.
“All efforts to get back the phone from the accused proved abortive; so, he was arrested,’’ he said.
The offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The magistrate adjourned the case to Dec. 12 for mention. (NAN)
LAW/HS/WOJ
(Edited by Halima Sheji / Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-H-35
Transformation
by Chiazo Ogbolu
Lagos, Nov. 30, 2016 (NAN) Reliance Infosystems Ltd., a  business solution provider in partnership with Microsoft Nigeria, urged organisations to adopt digital transformation for competitiveness.

The Chief Executive Officer of Reliance Infosystems, Mr Olayemi Popoola in a statement in Lagos said that adopting digital transformation would help them make headways in today’s competitive business world.

“It is imperative for organisations to embrace digital transformation if they are going to make headways in today’s competitive business world.

“Organisations also need to adopt technology that connects with people indigenously, while also using same to increase the value and efficiency in all aspects of their business models,” he said.

Popoola said that an initiative of Reliance Infosystems and Microsoft Nigeria, “Christmas-in-the-Cloud’’, was an avenue both organisations used to task organisations to leverage IT solutions for profitability.

According to him, Christmas-in-the-Cloud is an annual end-of-year event that brings together C-Level executives across various verticals to share ideas on how to widen the impact of technology input in companies’ performance.

The Head of Legal Affairs at Microsoft Nigeria, Mr John Edokpolo, said that today’s realities had conditioned organisations to take their businesses beyond what it used to be in the past.

He said that more businesses all over the world were seeing the need to be in the cloud.

Edokpolo urged organisations to entrust their data to the Microsoft cloud as it would guarantee the safety of their data, adding that data safety was key in Microsoft.

“Because it is your data, you decide who gains access, and you work with us to decide where it is located as we will use advanced security technology and cryptography to safeguard your data.

“Our compliance is independently audited, and we are transparent on many levels, from how we handle legal demands for your customer data to the security of our code.

“We offer detailed trust information on each of our cloud services,” Edokpolo said.

The Vice Chairman of Fedex Nigeria, Mr Isaac Orolugbagbe urged organisations to take stock of “where they are vis-à-vis where they want to be and champion the change with technology trends.’’

“People must learn to open their minds to technology that drives values rather than mere acquisition of technology,” he said. (NAN)
CAN/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

NAN-H-19
Tourism
By Taiye Baiyerohi
Lagos Nov. 30, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government should encourage Nigerian youths unable to seek greener pastures abroad through rejection by various embassies to invest in the country’s tourism sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of Boomtrust Travels and Tours, Mr Olubunmi Oshindero,gave the advice in an interview he granted the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.
Oshindero said that the government should encourage such Nigerian, majorly the youths, to invest in growing and renovating the existing tourist sites in the country.
He said that this was the best period the country could generate huge revenue from tourism as most people intending to travel abroad were finding it tough to obtaining visas.
The embassies were coming up with stringent procedures and intending travellers and the travelers were finding it them difficult to meet.
Oshindero said this was also to discourage Nigerian youths from travelling abroad but remaining at home to contribute their quotas to national development.
“ The embassies believe a lot of Nigerians wanted to elope. Presently, anyone who is not up to between 40 years and 50 years old will not be given Dubai visa,” he said.
He, however, noted that several Nigerians had been forced to remain in their country for leisure owing to the deliberate cumbersome procedure for visa procurement and fluctuation in the exchange rate.
He said this was an opportunity to groom tourism by renovating and re-branding the nation’s tourist sites and create new ones.
“ I believe this is a positive development, an opportunity for the Federal Government to groom the nation’s tourism industry.
“ With this development, it will attract inbound tourists,’’ he said.
Oshindero said that when the nation’s domestic tourism had been well developed, the tourist sites well renovated and maintained, then little would be done to attract foreign tourists. (NAN)
PTB/PAD
========
Edited by Peter Dada

UNICEF wants presidential task force to eradicate open defecation
NAN-HG-4
Defecation
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Nov. 30, 2016 (NAN) The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday called for a presidential task force to lead the response towards eradicating open defecation in Nigeria.

Mr Kanann Nadar, UNICEF Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Specialist, made the recommendation at the just concluded Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) Conference in Abuja.

He said the task force would act like the Presidential task force on Polio virus eradication that yielded positive results.

Nadar said the UN agency has been working in sanitation intervention and scale up in Nigeria through improving quality of CLTS interventions through a LGA-wide approach.

“There is need for all the WASH Sector players both government and development partners to adopt an LGA-wide approach in eradication of open defecation in Nigeria by 2025.

“There is need for presidential task force to lead the country’s response to eradication of open defecation in Nigeria like Presidential task force on Polio virus eradication that yield results,” he said.

The WASH specialist said that open defecation-free Nigeria was possible, saying that if Bangladesh and Peru could have reduced open defecation prevalence to single digits, it is possible for Nigeria.

He said Nigeria could achieve its target of meeting the National Roadmap of Ending Open defecation by 2030, if it put policies in place to encourage behavioural change for sanitation and hygiene.

Nadar said UNICEF had conducted a survey in some selected communities, and observed that there was a gap between knowledge and attitude in hygiene promotion practice, saying this can be reduced with proper hygiene promotion messages.

He said historically, Nigeria was known for having sanitary inspectors which carried out enforcement of hygiene practices, saying this should be encouraged by all, to reduce possible outbreak of preventable diseases.

The chief of WASH said poor persons were 36 times more likely to defecate in the open than rich individuals due to the disproportionate distribution of wealth in the society.

Besides, he said that there was the need for all stakeholders to develop simple, better, cost effective messages that will enable more Nigerians change their behaviour towards hygiene promotion.

He said since the Federal Government was signatory to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, there is the need to deliberately remove barriers to sanitation and hygiene problems in the country.

However, Nadar commended the federal government for launching the Partnership for Extended Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) Programme, noting that the impact will also help in tackling open defecation. (NAN)

TAK/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-DS-4
Device
By Thompson Yamput
Pankshin (Plateau), Nov. 30, 2016 (NAN) The speed limiting device will save millions of Nigerians from untimely death during the ember months, Mr Nnamdi Ikeh-Akabogu, Unit Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission in Pankshin, has said.

The commander made the statement on Wednesday during a rally organised by the commission for drivers in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was organised in conjunction with Airtel Mobile Telecom Service and NURTW.

“The introduction of the speed limiting device will curtail loss of lives that usually occur from road crashes caused by excessive speeding and over loading.

“Christmas is fast approaching; the rally is aimed at sensitising the public, especially motorists, to the need for them to install the device to preserve their lives and the lives of other commuters,” he added.

Ikeh-Akabogu thanked the management of Airtel Mobil Telecommunication for its partnership with the commission to sensitise the public on the dangers of excessive speeding and over loading.

He called on the NURTW to ensure that their members acquire and install the speed limiting device.

Mr Kingsley Okafor, a vendor of the speed limiting device, listed some of the functions of the device to include, limiting speed, tracking of vehicle and recording events during the journey, among others.

NDLEA commandant in Pankshin, Mr Felix Ossai, while commending the efforts of FRSC, warned motorists against the use of hard drugs while driving. (NAN)
TYC/HAS/AEA
===========

Edited By Hajia Sani/Archibong Asuquo

G9 summit: Panacea for trans-border criminality
NAN-H-11
Summit
Abuja, Nov. 30, 2016 (NAN) Dr King Adie, the President, Global Peace and National Reconciliation Organisation, says G9 summit is the panacea for trans-border criminality.

Adie made this known during his opening remarks at the ongoing maiden edition of the G9 2016 Summit in Abuja on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the G9 countries comprise Nigeria, Benin Republic, Cameroun, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Niger, Togo, Sao Tome and Principe, and Ghana.

The summit’s theme is “Peace, Education, Cultural Festivities, Tourism Development, Good Governance, Attitudinal Change for Effective Trans-border peace, Security, Cooperation, Development and Integration’’.

He said the summit would address the issues of peace and unity promotion, good neighbourliness, and integration which would help ameliorate underdevelopment, poverty, corruption terrorism and other social vices.

“We want to talk to ourselves and our leaders to be wise and denounce corruption, militancy, terrorism and other various evil acts that are opposed to our corporate existence.

“All controversies, questions, agitations and counter accusations can be solved by compromises and sacrifices from the parties involved,’’ he said.

Dr Philemon Gora, President, Global Funds Inc Florida, USA, said that private sector participation in poverty eradication would help reduce in the society.

“Trans-border crimes are growing in scale and momentum without a corresponding clear and coordinated strategy for dealing with this hydra-headed monster in the sub-region especially within the G9 nations.

“G9 nations have been battling with transnational crimes and I believe that the reason for these crimes is not ethnic or religious differences but poverty.

“We have seen through experience that when poverty pushes people to the wall, they would try and scale the wall as a remedy,’’ Gora said.

He said that it was obvious that the G9 countries inability to curb trans-border criminality was a direct consequence of the nations’ high rate of poverty.

“The government cannot do this alone and this is why I call for private sector participation for the growth, quality, sustainability and inclusiveness in every economy,’’ said the president of global funds.

Also, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, the wife of the President of Nigeria, advised G9 countries and Nigerians in particular at all level to work with their leaders to make their communities safe.

Aisha, who was represented by Mrs Joy Nuriel, said that peace and security would not be negotiated but that all must come together for the peaceful coexistence of the people of the nations.

Amb. Muhammed Abba-Gana, former FCT minister, said in his good will message that though these nations are passing through difficult times, they must unite and support their respective governments.

“We have political, socio-economic and security challenges, we must work to achieve the necessary peace, unity and security to enable us all bring about progress and general development in all sectors.

“So we must partner each other, having been the pioneer adviser to the President on Relations on Civil Society I know how synergy between the government and all and sundry can make Nigeria work better,’’ Abba-Gana said.

Highlights of the event include Global Peace Ambassador Awards to the wife of the President Aisha Buhari, and Abba-Gana, among others. (NAN)
EPA/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Rwanda opens criminal inquiry into France’s role in genocide

NAN-F-10

Genocide
Kigali, Nov. 30, 2016 (dpa/ NAN) Rwanda has opened a criminal inquiry into 20 French officials suspected of playing a role in the east African country’s 1994 genocide, which left 800,000 people dead, Prosecutor General Richard Muhumuza said.

President Paul Kagame’s government has accused the French of helping to mastermind and execute the killing of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus by members of the Hutu-led government.

“The inquiry, for now, is focused on 20 individuals who are required by the Prosecution Authority to explain or provide clarity on allegations against them,” Muhumuza said in a statement late Tuesday.

He said the authority would then decide whether those individuals would be formally charged.

Later on, “other French government agents and officials might be required to similarly assist the Kigali Prosecution Authority,” the statement added.

France has been accused of ignoring the warning signs of the genocide, and of training soldiers and militiamen who participated in the killings.

However, France did send troops to Rwanda late on in the genocide, but they have been accused of allowing genocidal Hutus to escape to neighbouring Congo.

Muhumuza said the relevant French government authorities had been formally engaged.

“The office of the prosecutor general expects that reciprocal judicial cooperation will be availed throughout this inquiry by the relevant French government agencies and authorities,” the statement added. (dpa/NAN)

(Edited by Julius Enehikhuere)

NAN-DS-2
Security
By Ajibola Olaniyi
Osogbo, Nov. 30, 2016 (NAN) An NGO, Advocacy for Advancement of Peace and Harmony in Africa Initiative (ADAPHAI), canvassed for the establishment of a special unit in security agencies to monitor general elections in the country.

Mr Ajibola Owolabi, Executive Director, ADAPHAI, made the call in Osogbo in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday.

He said that for elections to be adjudged credible and legitimate in any country, it required in depth knowledge of the democratic tenets and process by the umpire and security agents.

According to him, arbitrary deployment of security personnel to monitor elections is not healthy for the country’s democracy.

“Although democracy in Nigeria has not matured to the stage where we can have elections with light security deployment; yet, we cannot justify the militarisation of voting arenas in any way.

“Ideally, the environment where citizens exercise their civic rights should be devoid of intimidation and force, but with the peculiarities of Africa, and Nigeria especially, we still need to protect voters with caution.

“Government should look into the concept of establishing special election monitoring units within our security agencies, where we will have specially trained officers for election duties.

‘’This is the only way the electorate can be protected during elections without violating their rights and creating phobia in the minds of those not well grounded in civil process.

‘’Our security chiefs must realise that security arrangement during elections is sensitive, and clearly different in pattern to security mechanism in other situations, hence the need for thorough review,’’ he said.

The executive director has lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the successful conduct of a free and fair and credible governorship election in Ondo state.

Owolabi, who described INEC as a `clearing house’ in any democracy, urged the commission not to relent in strengthening democracy in Nigeria.(NAN)

DOO/AOS/DUA
Edited by Dada Ahmed
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Edited by Bayo Sekoni