Blog

NAN-H-85

Order

By Martins Odeh

Abuja, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave order restoring jurisdiction to the Court of Appeal, Abuja, to determine all appeals arising from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), leadership dispute.

Justice Walter Onnoghen, the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, led three other justices of the court to arrive at the decision.

The Appeal Court had on Oct. 18, suspended hearings into the various applications pending the decision of the apex court.

The Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the party had approached the apex court following the decision of the court of appeal to grant leave to Ahmed Makarfi faction to appeal against the decision of the Federal High Court.

The appellant had also challenged the decision of the court of appeal to allow Eyitayo Jegegde to appeal against his substitution as PDP candidate for the forthcoming Ondo governorship election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that on June 29, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court upheld Sheriff as the Acting National Chairman of the party.

The decision bestowed the Sheriff’s faction of the PDP the right to conduct governorship primary of the party for the Nov. 26 Ondo State governorship election.

The appellate court had on Nov.11 granted the trio (Jegede, Makarfi and Obi), the leave to appeal against those decisions.

However, the Sheriff faction had immediately challenged the two rulings at the Supreme Court.

Mr Beloulisa Nwofor (SAN), counsel to Mr Biyi Poroye, Ondo state Chairman of PDP, contended that the panel must stay proceedings pending the determinations of those interlocutory appeals.

Nwofor had argued that the court was stripped of its jurisdiction the moment the appeals were entered at the apex court.

Also, Mr Raphael Oluyede, counsel to the Sheriff-PDP, aligned himself with Nwofor’s objections.

Oluyede had added that it was trite in law to stay action once an appeal was entered against the decision of a lower court.

The panel was set to deliver judgment on the party’s governorship candidate crisis before a notice of a motion from the apex court was served on it.

Onnoghen held that the motion for stay having been withdrawn by Nwofor, the court of appeal’s jurisdiction had been fully restored.

“The lower court is enjoined to continue with the proceedings as the apex court prepares the ground to hear substantive appeals brought before it.

“The apex court views with dismay the audacity of the counsel to the applicants who had allowed the three justices of the court of appeal handling the appeals to be joined as parties.

“The law is trite on this, judges and justices of courts are immune from actions that question them while performing their functions as judicial officers’’, he said.

Onnoghen said: “in view of the need to bring an end to litigation, the parties are ordered to go back to the lower court for the determination of the proceedings’’.

“The applicants are hereby ordered to pay the sum of N250, 000 as fine to the three respondents as penalty for the withdrawal of the motion.

“Furthermore, the applicants are equally ordered to pay the sum of N500, 000 as cost of processes to the respondents.

“Nwofor, counsel to the first to the ninth applicants is ordered to personally pay N1 million each to the three justices of the lower court to have allowed this motion brought against them’’, he held.

Earlier, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), counsel to the respondents had argued that it was a wrong move taken by the applicants, adding that their actions denigrated judiciary.

Olanipekun submitted that the proceedings at the court of appeal were done according to law, adding that the panel had jurisdiction when it heard his client’s appeal.

“My Lords, it is not all situations that the lower court should stay proceedings following entry of a stay motion at a superior court.

“This is a pre-election matter and time is of the essence, therefore, I urge the court to dismiss this interlocutory motion and allow the court of appeal to complete its work,’’ he said.

Onnoghen adjourned the hearing of the substantive appeals until Nov. 24. (NAN)

OMO/IEA/IEA Edited by Idahosa Asowata

NAN-H-82
Poll
Akure, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Police Force said that it would deploy 26,000 personnel , three helicopters, 12 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and 20 gunboats for the Nov.26 governorship election in Ondo State.
The Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr Ibrahim Idris, said this on Tuesday in Akure during a meeting he held with INEC officials and representatives of the political parties in the state.
“Twenty-six thousand police officers will be deployed in the state, and five officers will be at each polling unit during the election.
“ Also, 20 gunboats will be deployed in the water ways to ensure maximum security along the riverine areaa while three helicopters will be patrolling at each of the three senatorial districts of the state,” he said.
Idris added that three commissioners of police would be in the state for special operations during the election, while 12 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) would be deployed in some strategic areas.
The police who boss warned all security agents to always attach their name tags to their uniforms; threatened that anyone caught disobeying the order would be arrested.
He also said that the security personnel should restrict themselves to their designated posts.
He, however, warned the electorate to shun violence before, during and after the election, and urged the public to cooperate with security agencies in ensuring a peaceful conduct of the election.
“We cannot do it alone because security is the responsibility of all,” he said.(NAN)
OMA/PAD
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Edited by Peter Dada

NAN-H-65
Kidnapping
By Aisha Ahmed
Kano, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) An Islamic scholar in Kano State, Malam Abdulmumin Muhammad, has advocated severe punishment for kidnappers to serve as deterrence to others.
The Muslim cleric made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Tuesday.
According to him, kidnapping was an unpardonable act which is against the tenets of Islam.
He said: “It is a shame to find people with such hardened heart in our society and there is serious need to flush them out of our mist.
“Only people with a wicked heart can be so greedy to kidnap people struggling to survive and demand for money before they set them free.”
The Islamic scholar also urged government to desist from pardoning criminals, adding that culprits should be made to face the wrath of the law for their crime.
NAN recalled that the Kano State Police Command on Monday arrested 22 suspected kidnappers in Doguwa Local Government Area of the state. (NAN)
AAA/DUA/WOJ
(Edited by Dada Ahmed / Wale Ojetimi)
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Women conference will promote trade, investment in Nigeria – NGO

NAN-HG-8

Women

By Chinenye Offor

Abuja, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) Lady Charity Ohadiugha, the Executive Partner, Women International Networking Conference Nigeria, says the women international conference would promote trade and investment in the country.

She disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja at the inaugural conference of the Women International Networking (WIN).

Ohadiugha said that WIN is an avenue where women from all works of life would identify their inner potentials as well as develop them.

She also said that WIN agenda was geared towards promoting gender equality within organisations as well as to connect and empower women leaders, giving global perspectives and tools for women to integrate feminine leadership.

According to her, WIN is a mission driven organisation and reference for women working internationally as well as for companies active in women’s leadership, diversity and inclusion.

Ohadiugha noted that the global WIN conference was considered the biggest forum on leadership and female empowerment, providing tools, knowledge, skills and inspiration to refuel women’s vision and speeding up their career.

She further stated that the international conference, which was the first in Nigeria, would help women who were facing challenges in life to find their bearing and also identify their potentials.

“There is something unique in every woman, culturally and ordinarily.

“This conference would help women marry relationships both locally and internationally.

“It is also an avenue for trade and investment as well as those who have not been to Nigeria to discover the culture and values of Nigerian women,’’ she said.

Ohadiugha further said that the conference would help foster global mindset and international exchange to enable the truly global leader to emerge as well as inspire women worldwide.

However, she said that WIN conference would help participants gain in capacity building, networking as well as have the ability to seize every available opportunity.  (NAN)

CSO/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-81
Chinyere Bassey
Loan
Lagos, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) Lagos business woman and socialite, Mrs Erelu Abiola-Dosumu, has called for the input of women entrepreneur on the government’s plan to borrow about 29.9 billion dollars for infrastructure projects.

Abiola-Dosumu, who spoke at a round table conference in Lagos on Tuesday, said that the money would be better invested to yield income than to be used on infrastructure.

“I appeal that people like Mrs Nike Akande, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) should speak out about the implications of the loan,’’ she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, on Oct. 28 sought the approval of the National Assembly for external borrowing plan of 29.9 billion dollars.

According to the President, the money if approved will help to execute key infrastructure projects across the country between 2016 and 2018.

The Lagos socialite said that investing such huge amount into infrastructure projects would be perishable and affect the future generation.

“Let us invest money on things that will bring returns and put smiles on the faces of Nigerian citizens,’’ she said.

In her response, Akande said that the country needed to re-diversify in the agriculture and solid mineral sector, especially now that oil was not accruing the desired revenue.

She said that the country would not progress if it did not identify its challenges and find solutions to them.

She said that LCCI was planning to have a rice investment, adding that LCCI would take leadership position on industry, trade and investment.

Also, Mrs Kema Chikwe, former Minister of Aviation urged the LCCI to take control of the business sector to attract more investors into the country.

According to Chikwe, in Nigeria, seasonal fruits such as mangoes are allowed to waste due to lack of processing and storing facilities.

She decried the importation of tomatoes which had become expensive because of high cost of clearing goods at the port

Chikwe added that Nigeria was capable of producing its own.

She urged LCCI to synergise with other Anglophone countries to speak with one voice concerning business investment that would promote and generate revenue for the economy.(NAN)
CHIN/EAL/MO
Edited By Ekemini Ladejobi/Morayo Omolade
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NAN-H-80
Strike
By Chinyere Nwachukwu
Lagos, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Tuesday hailed the resilience of its members in the struggle to re-position the nation’s university system as it concludes a one-week warning strike.

The union’s National President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, gave the commendation in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

NAN recalls that the union last week, declared a national warning strike to press home their long standing demands from the Federal Government.

The lecturers under the aegis of ASUU began the strike in all university branches on Nov. 16.

The union listed its demands to include Federal Government’s refusal to honour its 2009 agreement and the denial of staff entitlement in respect of earned academic allowance, amounting to N128 billion.

Other demands are poor funding of universities for revitalisation and refusal to register the Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company.

According to Ogunyemi, members had ensured total compliance of the strike while it lasted in all the universities.

“I am very happy with the level of compliance shown by members.

“I had good reports concerning the strike from the various zones and branches.

“Thus, it goes to show the commitment that our members are putting in place to achieve global competitiveness for Nigerian universities.

“The strike will be over today and we have directed that academic activities should resume,’’ the president said.

He said that negotiations were ongoing with a committee put in place by the Senate to look into the issues listed by the union.

“Yesterday, we commenced talks with the committee to deliberate on the various issues on ground.

“The meeting had in attendance representatives from the Ministries of education, budget, finance, labour and representatives of the committee on tertiary institutions, TETfund and others.

“The deliberation was fruitful as we all had good approaches on the issues.

“For now, we can call this development as work in progress.

“We shall update our members on all that transpired because we are a democratic group,’’ Ogunyemi told NAN.

According to the unionist, the outcome of the meeting will be reviewed by members.

Ogunyemi added that if they were satisfied with it, a congress would be called to give a common verdict.

“It is not in the place for the executive committee members to unilaterally take decisions concerning the issue.

“Members will be the ones to know the next line of action to take in respect of the understanding that the executive reached with the government.

“If members are satisfied with the outcome of the meeting, then there will be no need for further agitation.

“All we are saying is for government to always try to keep its own side of the bargain so that our members can keep fate in them,’’ he said. (NAN)
CCN/AIB/GY
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Grace Yussuf

NAN-H-79

Registration

By Chinyere Nwachukwu

Lagos, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) The University of Lagos has begun registration of new students, whose names appeared on the 2016/2017 merit admission list.

The Deputy Registrar (Information) of the university, Mr Toyin Adebule, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday that the registration is holding at the institution’s multipurpose hall.

Adebule said that the registration, which began on Monday Nov. 21, would end on Friday, Dec. 2., adding that candidates should strictly follow the registration procedures.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Registrar said the university was set to chase out persons who do not have business with the institution’s community.

Adebule said that the university had also devised measures to weed illegal students from the system.

He said there were many illegal students, who often deceive their parents and the public, claiming to be students of the university.

“We have published names of about 68 students, either rusticated or expelled, while their pictures have been pasted around the campus for easy identification.

“They were sanctioned with either rustication or expulsion, having been found guilty during the 2015/16 academic year.

“Some of them were also found wanting for academic and social misconducts, ranging from result forgery to conducting themselves in a manner that is inconsistent with the university’s rules and regulation.

“Management has warned that the rusticated students must stay away from the offices, departments and faculties of the university until the expiration of their rustication period,’’ Adebule said.

He advised genuine students of the institution to abide by the university’s rules and regulations by joining hands with management to sustain set standards. (NAN)

CCN/AIB/IS

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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Ismail Abdulaziz

NAN-H-78
Arrest
By Aminu Ahmed Garko
Minna, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Niger Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), said no fewer than 76 suspects were arrested for committing various crimes from January till date.

Mr Philip Ayuba, the State’s Commandant of the corps, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Tuesday.

He said the crimes were committed within the state.

He said seven of the arrested suspects were prosecuted while investigation was ongoing in the remaining cases.

“The command has taken proactive security measures to enhance peaceful coexistence in the state.

“I want residents of the state to assist the command with required information that will pave way for the arrest and prosecution of criminals in the state’’, he said.

Ayuba said that such information from good Samaritans would enable the command to come out with security strategies that would lead to the arrest of criminals in planning stages. (NAN)
AAG/OIF/IEA

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Idahosa Asowata

NAN-DS-9
Army
By Modupe Seriboh
Ibadan, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) New Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Chukwunedum Abraham, on Tuesday assumed office with a call for training and retraining of officers to enhance professionalism.

The GOC made the call at the handing over ceremony at the 2 Division headquarters, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Abraham also called on officers under the division to brace up in the discharge of their duties in spite of the existing peace in the state.

The new GOC replaces Maj. Gen. Kasimu Abdulkarim who is to head the newly established 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt as the GOC.

Abraham urged officers and men of the division to work in accordance with the vision of the Chief of Army Staff of astute professionalism which required dedication to overcome contemporary challenges.

“We still have to brace up and join hands with other commands and divisions that are prone to security challenges such as terrorism though we are in the South West region which is very peaceful,” he said.

Abraham urged the host communities in the division to continue to maintain the relative peace enjoyed by all.

The GOC solicited the support and cooperation of officers to tackle security challenges facing the nation such as terrorism, kidnapping and pipeline vandalism.

In his valedictory remarks, Abdulkarim thanked officers and men of the division for their cooperation and the opportunities given to him since he took over as the acting GOC in July.

He called on officers to rededicate themselves with trust and honesty in the discharge of their duties. (NAN)
MAM/MNA/IS
Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Ismail Abdulaziz

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NAN-H-68
Pilgrimage
by NaMustapha Sumaila
Dutse, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) Jigawa Government on Tuesday said pilgrims who missed their meals during this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia would be refunded.

The Deputy Governor and leader of the state delegation to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan, said this while presenting the Hajj report to Gov. Muhammad Badaru in Dutse.

He said lists of those affected had been compiled for onward submission to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for refund.

He said officials of the commission had signed agreement to refund pilgrims who did not benefit from the services, which they paid for.

The Deputy Governor advised the state government to henceforth be making arrangement on accommodation and flight for its pilgrims.

He said as it had been the practice, early booking of accommodation would determine best location as well as least possible prices.

Receiving the report, the governor commended the delegation for a successful hajj exercise.

Badaru said he would consider the recommendation of the report for immediate implementation. (NAN)
MS/EAL/IM
Edited By Ekemini Ladejobi/Ibrahim Mammaga