Blog

Lufthansa seeks injunction to stop pilots’ strike

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Strike
Frankfurt, Nov. 28, 2016 (dpa/ NAN) Lufthansa requested that a Munich labour court issue an injunction to stop a pilots’ strike scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

A ruling is expected later on Monday.

In advance of the planned strike, the airline said it cancelled 816 short- and medium-haul flights on Tuesday and 890 on Wednesday, when long-haul flights would also be affected.

An earlier four-day strike that ended Sunday resulted in the cancellation of 3,000 flights.

The walk-off was prompted by a breakdown in salary negotiations for Lufthansa’s 5,400 pilots and co-pilots, with the Vereinigung Cockpit union rejecting a new wage offer.

The offer from the management of Germany’s biggest carrier had foreseen a 4.4-per-cent salary increase and a one-time payout equivalent to 1.8 month’s salary.

The pilots’ union has demanded a backdated 22-per-cent wage hike over five years up until April 2017.

During the four-day action last week, a court in Frankfurt rejected a request by Lufthansa for an injunction to stop the pilots’ strike. (dpa/NAN)

(Edited by Julius Enehikhuere)

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FRSC
By Kazeem Akande
Lagos, Nov. 28, 2016 (NAN) Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said in Lagos on Monday that many crashes were caused as a result of disobedience to traffic rules and regulations by road users, not the ember months.

Oyeyemi made the remark during the official flag-off of the Ember months campaign of the FRSC, Lagos State Command.

Oyeyemi, who was represented by Mr Austine Aipoh, Zonal Commanding Officer, Osogbo, said that there was no supernatural thing about the ember months, saying that crashes were caused mainly by human disobedience to regulations.

“Today, we have come to demystify the belief and situate the mindsets and our actions for veritable safety on our highways.

“The truth is that nothing is supernatural about the ember months, road crashes are caused due to disobedience of rules and regulations by road users,’’ Oyeyemi said.

According to him, increase in socio-economic activities during the period engenders inordinate traffic surge that stretches the road transport system.

He said that most motorists throw caution to the winds under the complex traffic situation, and embark on speeding, overloading and wrongful overtaking.

Oyeyemi added that speed limit violations by drivers had become a critical risk factor which accounted  annually for a significant loss of lives.

The FRSC boss, therefore, advised that motorists and stakeholders should rise to their responsibilities by playing a part towards achieving a crash-free season.

Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos State Governor, represented by Mr Anofiu Elegushi, Commissioner for Transport, said that the ember months campaign were a strategy to reduce crashes.

Elegushi said that the aim was to elevate the consciousness of motorists during and after the festive season.

“The ember months campaign as a component of the FRSC strategic engagements is aimed at elevating the consciousness of Nigerians to the realities of road traffic crashes and its implications.

“Nigeria, as a developing country accounts for 91 per cent of road fatalities, which are colossal to human capital and material losses, with frightening implications on the health system and sustainable development,’’ he said.

The commissioner appealed to Lagos residents to consider their safety as utmost, especially during the end-of-year festivities.

According to him, the road is not a race track and it is not a place for competition, hence drivers must stay away from speeding, drunk driving, dangerous driving and use of mechanically deficient vehicles.

Mr Tajudeen Agbede, Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), represented by Mr Ifeoluwa Adenusi, said that the association has advised its members to drive safely during the season.

Agbede noted that members have been encouraged to go through medical check-ups before embarking on their journeys.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ember months campaign tagged “Crash the Crash: Speed Kills,’’ was sponsored by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO). (NAN)
AKA/PIO/PIO
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(Edited by Idonije Obakhedo)

FG set to launch campaign to end child marriage

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Marriage
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Abuja, Nov. 28, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government has announced plans to launch a campaign to end child marriage and other related harmful traditional practices in the country.

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Aisha Alhassan, said this during a media briefing on Monday in Abuja.

Alhassan said the move was borne out of the resolution by African leaders to end child marriage during the 25th African Union Ordinary Session of Heads of State in June 2015.

She said the leaders also resolved to take practical steps in addressing the issues of child marriage and other harmful traditional practices.

“One of first practical steps is a vigorous campaign to end child marriage which will be launched tomorrow, Nov. 29, at the Sheraton Hotel.

“Global communities and Nigeria in particular are increasingly recognising child marriage as a serious challenge, both as a violation of human rights and a hindrance to key developmental outcomes,’’ she said.

Alhassan said African countries were faced with the challenges of child marriage which robbed girls or children of their education, health and future.

She said according to UNICEF findings, 15 million children are married off every year globally with devastating consequences on their general wellbeing.

“This is very disturbing as it is further revealed that 15 out of the 20 countries with the highest rates of child marriage in the world are in Africa.

“Fifteen African countries have so far launched the campaign to end child marriage.

“The countries are Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Niger, the Islamic Republic of Gambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Eritrea, Zambia, Chad, Burkina Faso , Mali and Madagascar,” Alhassan said.

She said a National Technical Working Group set up to end child marriage in the country was inaugurated on July 23, 2015, by the ministry.

Alhassan urged the media, development partners and other stakeholders to redouble their efforts in ensuring girl’s rights to freedom from child marriage and other forms of violence against children.

She also urged all stakeholders in the campaign to be more proactive and come up with concrete actions to end child marriage in the country. (NAN)
OEO/ORO/MZA

Edited by Razak Owolabi/Maharazu Ahmed

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Refugees
By Lizzy Agbaji
Abuja, Nov. 28, 2016 (NAN) The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said that a total of 239,834 Nigerians are currently taking refuge in neighbouring countries of Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

The information is in a statement by Mr Sani Datti, the Head of Media and Public Relations of NEMA made available on Monday in Abuja.

According to him, a published report on humanitarian relief intervention by the Agency reveals that the Republic of Chad hosts about 20,804 Nigerian refugees, 80,709 in Cameroon and 138, 321 in Niger Republic.

He, however, said that in 2015, about 29,581 Nigerians who fled their communities in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states as a result of the insurgency had voluntarily returned home.

Datti stated that in May 2015, 13,046 Nigerian returnees from Niger Republic were received in Geidam, Yobe State, while between April and
December 2015, NEMA received 15,595 returnees from Cameroon.

“Some of the Nigerians that fled to Neighbouring countries of Niger, Chad and Cameroon were provided with humanitarian relief support by the Federal Government of Nigeria through NEMA to alleviate their suffering.

“The displaced Nigerians have also received humanitarian support from the host governments, the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), host communities and Nigerian citizens living in the three host countries,” he added.

Datti said that NEMA adopted a monthly Humanitarian Coordination Meeting; a forum which consists of relevant Federal Government agencies, UN systems and International Non-Government Organisations (INGOs).

The public relations head explained that the forum analysed the humanitarian situations, conducted need assessments, identified priorities and provided humanitarian interventions to the displaced persons based on their respective mandates.

He said that the system operated through different sectors, led by national MDAs and co-led by UN Agencies.

He added that due to the successes recorded by the Nigerian Military with the support of Multi-National Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in the fight against Boko Haram, “the humanitarian dashboard is fast changing.”

Datti said the focus was gradually shifting toward Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Resettlement, Recovery and dignified return of IDPs back home.

According to him, the process for the return of Nigerian refugees from neighbouring countries is ongoing.

He added that NEMA would continue to support and work toward bridging the identified gaps in humanitarian response through enhanced coordination, capacity building and strengthening collaboration with the affected states and relevant stakeholders.

These, he said, would be achieved in line with MDAs, local and international response organisations and the UN system. (NAN)
LIZ/DOE/HA
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Edited by Dianabasi Effiong/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

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Basketball (Wrap Up)
By Babatunde Ogunrinde
Lagos Nov. 28, 2016 (NAN) The Defenders Basketball team, is upbeat over its promotion to the elite DStv Basketball Men’s League, team Coach Monday Puzo said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team, owned by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, emerged victorious in the Savannah Conference.

Puzo told the NAN in a telephone interview that the team merited the promotion.

“We worked really hard for this. We are happy to be back to the elite division having lost out in 2012.

“I am delighted we finally got back to the league and this time, we are well equipped to fight with the big boys in the conference and hopefully make the playoffs.

“We believe with the support of the NSCDC management we will attain our goal,’’ Puzo added.

Meanwhile, winners of the Atlantic Conference, Hoops and Read Basketball Club of Lagos have won the National Division One Championship trophy after defeating the Defenders 82-60 in the finals on Sunday.

The team proprietor and former captain of Nigeria’s national team, Olumide Oyedeji, said that the victory attested to his belief in the abundance of talents at the grassroots.

“My target initially was to raise a team of talented players at the grassroots, who also believe in education.

“I remain resolute to this end and will continue to push the players in the right direction, which is acquiring good education and also pursuing their dream of playing professional basketball.”

Femi Adefeso, a sport journalist said “it was a fantastic competition” which unfolded has a pool of untapped wonderful players.

“I urge coaches who in the past complained of lack of quality player to replace the ageing ones with these young and skillful players that abound in Division One,’’ Adefeso said.(NAN)

BAO/DEB/MZA

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Edited by Debo Oshundun/Maharazu Ahmed

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Pilgrims

Ilorin, Nov. 28, 2016 (NAN) Mr Peter Kishira, the Kwara Deputy Governor, on Monday advised prospective Christian pilgrims from the state in 2016 to be good ambassadors during their spiritual engagement in Jerusalem.

Kishira spoke in Ilorin at a seminar for the prospective pilgrims to Israel.

The deputy governor, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Goke Bamidele, urged the pilgrims to conduct themselves properly and also to be security conscious.

According to him, pilgrimage to the Jerusalem should be for spiritual uplifment, hence the need for the pilgrims to desist from any act that could tarnish the image of the country.

The leader of the delegation, Dr Adesina Julius, had earlier said that the seminar was organised to intimate the prospective pilgrims on the rights and wrongs in the Holy city.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seminar featured lectures on unblemished and hitch-free pilgrimage exercise. (NAN)

AUO/ORO/TA

Edited by Razak Owolabi/Tajudeen Atitebi

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Insecticides
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Nov. 28, 2016 (NAN) A 38-year-old clearing agent, Yakubu Kabiru, on Monday appeared before a Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged importation of fake and unregistered insecticides.

Kabiru, who resides at Custom Quarters, Seme, was charged on three counts by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The accused, who was arraigned before Justice Abdulazeez Anka, however, pleaded not guilty.

After Kabiru’s plea, his counsel, Mr Nathaniel Emeka, made an oral application for his bail.
Anka, however, ordered the defence counsel to file a proper application for bail before the next adjourned date.

The judge remanded the accused in custody pending hearing and determination of his bail application.
He adjourned the case to Jan. 31, 2017, for trial.

The prosecution counsel, Mr Umar Shamaki, had told the court that the accused committed the offences on Jan. 14.

He said that the accused was arrested on the said date on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway while in possession of Green Arrow Plant Fiber Mosquito Coils.

According to Shamaki, the said product is unregistered and banned by NAFDAC.

He said that the offences contravened the provisions of Section 1(a) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs, Unwholesome Processed Food (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap A34 Laws of the Federation, 2004.

The prosecution counsel also said that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 1(1) of the Food and Drugs (Related Products Registration) Act, Cap F33 Laws of the Federation, 2004. (NAN)
UNS/AOS/IGO
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(Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Ijeoma Popoola)

Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, Obla SAN, arraigned over alleged corruption

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Corruption
By Moji Eniola
Ikeja, Nov. 28, 2016 (NAN) Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Godwin Obla, were on Monday arraigned at an Ikeja High Court over alleged corruption.

Ofili-Ajumogobia, also a serving judge of the Federal High Court, Lagos, and Obla, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obla is also a serving prosecutor for the EFCC.

The duo were jointly charged with a two-count charge of perverting the course of justice by the anti-graft agency.

However, they pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Obla was charged with an additional two-counts of offering gratification in the sum of N5 million to Ofili-Ajumogobia, a public official during her service as a judge.

He also pleaded not guilty to the charges.

While Ofili-Ajumogobia faces a 26-count charge of unlawful enrichment, taking property by a public officer, corruption by a public officer, forgery and giving false information to an official of the EFCC.

But she also denied the charges.

According to the EFCC, Obla, on May 21, 2015, intentionally transferred N5 million to Ofili-Ajumogobia via his Obla and Co United Bank of Africa (UBA) account with number: 1015319084 in order to refrain her from acting in her official duties.

The anti-graft agency alleges that Ofili-Ajumogobia, while serving as a Justice of the Federal High Court, on June 5, 2012, unlawfully received N18 million through her Access Bank Plc account, which she could not give a reasonable account of.

The EFCC said that between 2012 and 2015 Ajumogobia also received a total of 788,000 dollars from various sources into her Diamond Bank Account with number: 0032091183.

Ofili-Ajumogobia allegedly received N51.1 million into the Diamond Bank account from various sources which did not reflect her source of income as a judge.

The EFCC also alleged that between July 5 and Dec. 30, 2010, Ofili-Ajumogobia forged a deed of assignment between County City Bricks Development Co Limited and Nigel and Clove Limited.

The forged deed dated July 5, 2010, which was purportedly prepared and signed by Charles Musa and Co.

The anti-graft agency said that on Oct.19, the judge made a false statement through a phone call to one Lawal Abdullahi, an officer of the EFCC, where she claimed she was on admission at the Goldcross Hospital, Ikoyi.

The EFCC said the offences were in contravention of Section 39 (2)(a) of the EFCC Act, Sections 64 (1), 82 (a), 97(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State and Section 467 of the Criminal Code.

After the charges were read, counsel to the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, requested for an immediate trial.

“My Lord we hereby apply for an immediate, accelerated trial,” Oyedepo said.

Lawyer to Ofili-Ajumogobia, Mr Olawole Akoni (SAN) in his application for bail, pleaded with the court to release his client who had been in the custody of the EFCC.

“My Lord, the charged against the first defendant are bailable offences according to Sec 115 (2) (3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

“The defendant does not pose a threat, she’s a responsible member of society, a judge of the Federal High Court and she will certainly stand trial to clear her name.

“On the claims by the EFCC that she has interfered with the investigations of this matter, I refer to paragraph eight of our affidavit which stated that she has not and will not interfere with the investigations.

“In summary, I urge your Lordship to admit the defendant to bail in her own recognition and in the unlikely event that my Lord would give conditions, I request that the conditions be very liberal,” Akoni said.

Oyedepo, however, countered Akoni’s claims that Ofili-Ajumogobia will not interfere with the trial.

“Your Lordship can look at the proof of evidence before the court, there’s overwhelming evidence against Ofili-Ajumogobia of interference.

“In paragraph six, we gave details about how the defendant interfered with our investigations and tried to influence witnesses who were Ademola Oshodi and Ogor Okafor.

“The statement of Oshodi on Nov. 1 says and I quote ‘Justice Rita called me to meet her at the Church of the Assumption, Falomo, to tell me how I should answer the EFCC questions.’

“I urge your Lordship to refuse this application and grant accelerated hearing,” Oyedepo prayed.

Lawyer to Obla, Mr Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) noted that Obla, who is a prosecutor for the EFCC, poised no flight risk.

“The second defendant has been going and coming to the EFCC for some sister cases and he has deposited his passport with them.

“The applicant is not a flight risk, he went to the USA with the knowledge of the EFCC and he returned his passport to them, he is not a flight risk.

“There is no instance where he has interfered with the investigations of the EFCC. He is one of them; instead of paying him for the cases he has won for them, they charge him to court.

“I plead with your Lordship, Obla is a respectable member of the bar, a prosecutor for the EFCC and I urge your Lordship to grant him bail.’’

In his ruling, Oshodi noted that though the offences the duo were charged with were serious, the offences were bailable and as a result of their status in society, they poised no flight risk.

“The defendants are hereby granted N20 million bail on self recognition and they shall forfeit their international passports,” the judge ordered. (NAN)
MAE/AOM/MST
Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

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Olympics
Germany, Nov. 28, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) German state broadcasters (ARD and ZDF) say they will not show the Olympic Games for the first time, having failed to clinch a deal to buy broadcast rights from Discovery Communications.

Discovery last year won the European broadcast rights for the Olympics from 2018 to 2024 for 1.3 billion euros ($1.38 billion), beating out national public broadcasters like the BBC or France Television.

But Discovery had been expected to pass on some lucrative rights.

German monthly Manager Magazine reported in June that talks between Discovery and ARD and ZDF had stalled over the price of a sub-license.

According to the magazine, ARD and ZDF wanted to pay no more than 100 million euros for the broadcast rights in Germany, while Discovery was demanding at least 150 million.

Discovery declined to comment on details of the negotiations. ARD sports rights director Ulrich Wilhelm said in a statement that Discovery’s demands were “far above what we could justify’’, without providing details.

“We are obligated to be economical with our funds. But if Discovery changes its stance, our door is of course open’’.

Discovery’s Eurosport said on Monday that it would show the Olympic Games on its Eurosport 1 and DMAX free-TV channels with some additional content to be made available on its pay-TV channel Eurosport 2 and web platform Eurosport Player. (NAN)
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(Edited by Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-H-48
Loan
Ilorin, Nov 28, 2016 (NAN) Comrade Issa Aremu, the Vice Chairman, Industrial Global Union has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to withdraw his request for 30 billion dollars loan presented to the National Assembly.

Aremu, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin, advised the president to shelve the idea to save the country from another debt burden.

NAN reports that Buhari on Nov. 1, requested the loan to execute key infrastructural projects across the country between 2016 and 2018.

The Senate threw out the request because it was not accompanied with a borrowing plan.

The former national vice chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said that the Nigerian leader should exhibit self-reliance in his development paradigm for the country.

He urged him and other African leaders to emulate the virtues of late Fidel Castro of Cuba in entrenching self-reliance in governance.

He said the president needed to emulate his selflessness and self-reliance style of leadership.

Aremu said that these qualities were also acknowledged by Buhari in his condolence message to the people and government of Cuban Republic.

He said that Buhari must heed Castro’s advice on the danger of indiscriminate loans and credits.

“Fidel Castro had long promoted his ideas of self reliance.

“Castro had described the debt burden as torment in Greek mythology in which a man is doomed to push a large stone uphill for eternity, a stone that always rolls down, ’’ he said.

Aremu stressed that “debtor don’t need new loans, Fidel has since been proven right that most debts are unpayable and uncollectible.’’

The labour leader condemned trending passage of outrageous pensions for governors in the country, saying the development was not sustainable and was causing underdevelopment in the states.

He made reference to the recent passage in Edo on the pensions for retired governors and top officials in the state, and urged the former Gov. Adam Oshiomole to desist from joining the bandwagons.

“Following the trend in other states, the Edo Assembly recently approved a pension benefit for a residential building worth N200million for the immediate past governor, while N100 million was approved for his deputy, among other benefits.

“We appeal to former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to make a positive difference by not collecting the life pension benefit as approved by the State Assembly.

“Edo’s governance report since 2008 points to Nigeria’s renewed optimism. Indeed we have witnessed a renaissance which defeats the old pessimism that nothing can work.

“Edo state within a short time became one huge reconstruction site in governance, Many things went on simultaneously; from massive rural and urban reconstructions to public schools reinventions.

“Others included innovating of sporting facilities, new public transportation, maternal and child care to mass public employment in record time, from multiple assaults on insecurity to mass beautification of the ancient city of Benin,’’ he said.

Aremu added that the previous regime also executed massive water projects, job creation, prompt payment of salaries, including 25per cent increase in minimum wage above the statutory N18, 000.

He urged Nigerians to resist bad governance, saying that while they were beaming their torch on the Federal Government, worse things were happening at the states-level.

According to him, the passage of pension law for former governors in the country is not based on need, “but greediness of the leaders’’.

He however commended the incorruptible style of the Buhari’s administration. (NAN)
AUO/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf