Blog

NAN-H-137
Herdsmen
Ugah (Nasarawa), Nocv 15, 2016 (NAN) Fulani herdsmen in Ugah chiefdom and its environs in Nasarawa State have been cautioned against deliberately allowing their cattle to graze on farms.

Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji-Ugah, a second class Emir of Ugah in Nasarawa State, gave the warning during a stakeholders meeting at his palace in Ugah, Lafia Local Government Area on Tuesday.

Ugah, who expressed dismay over the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the area, called on them to take proper care of their cattle in the interest of peace.

He lamented that herdsmen in the area had developed a nonchalant attitude towards farmers by allowing their cattle on farmlands.

According to him, “the situation often result to clashes between the two groups.

He noted that in spite of meetings held with farmers and cattle breeders, some of the herdsmen refused to change their attitude.

He expressed fear that the situation, if not properly checked, could  threaten the existing peace and unity being enjoined in the area.

The traditional ruler said the essence of the meeting was to exchange views with the stakeholders.

The monarch expressed disappointment that only one Fulani representative attended the meeting.

He, however, appealed to the state government to assist by sending security operatives to the locality, to maintain law and order.

Earlier, the Sarkin Angwan Saadu Musa called on farmers and herdsmen to tolerate one another, even as he advised both to follow appropriate channels in resolving their differences.(NAN)

BAB/IA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

NAN-H-138
Trial
By Martins Odeh
Abuja, Nov.15, 2016 (NAN) The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Tuesday, raised questions on Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje’s legal attempt to stop the prosecution of five judges accused of fraud.

Ogungbeje, a Legal Practitioner on Oct. 28 approached a Federal High Court in Abuja through an ex-parte application, seeking an order to restrain further action against the judges.

The applicant asked the court to stop President Muhammadu Buhari, the Department of State Services (DSS) and others from re-arresting or taking any “untoward action” against the five judges.

However, delivering a bench ruling, Justice Gabriel Kolawole of Federal High Court, Abuja,
held that the motion was shrouded with complexities.

He said that a number of issues, including the locus standi of the plaintiff, would have to be concluded before any vital pronouncement could be made on the prayer.

He also said that the applicant should put the respondents on notice by effecting service on them.

The plaintiff had sought an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from further arresting, intimidating and arraigning the judges pending the determination of the suit.

The plaintiff had filed the ex parte application following his apprehension that the judges could soon be arraigned in court.

The Federal Government had already filed criminal charges against Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court and Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Buhari, Director-General of the DSS, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Inspector-General of Police are the respondents.

The other respondent in the suit is the National Judicial Council.

However, Mr Chiesonu Okpopo, counsel to the President had raised three grounds of objection to the suit.

These are contained in a notice of preliminary objection dated Nov. 3 and brought pursuant to Section 6 (6) (a) and (b) of the 1999 constitution.

Okpopo averred that the applicant did not disclose his locus standi to initiate and maintain the suit.

He also said that there was no dispute pending between the applicant and the respondents in the suit.

“The applicant’s suit as constituted and conceived is a mere academic exercise,” he said.

The President and the AGF, who are the 1st and 4th respondents respectively, accompanied the preliminary objection with a written address, with a sole issue for the court’s determination.

They had asked the court to decide whether the applicant has the locus standi to initiate and maintain the suit.

“My Lord, it is our humble submission that a calm perusal of the affidavit in support of the applicant’s originating motion, shows clearly that he did not disclose any personal injury he suffered by the act complained of,” the respondents said.

NAN reports that the respondents attached copies of the Search Warrant which authorised the DSS to raid the homes of the judicial officers.

Consequently, they urged the court to decline the plaintiff’s prayer.

The judge adjourned hearing in the suit until Dec. 14. (NAN)
OMO/HAS/HA
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Edited By Hajia Sani/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Sultan Dasuki: Nigeria has lost a great leader – Don

NAN-H-135

Loss

By Aminu Ahmed Garko

Minna, Nov. 15, 2016 (NAN) Dr Alabi Thomas, Head of Educational Technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, on Tuesday described the death of the late Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki as a great loss to Nigerians.

Thomas told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that the late Dasuki was a unifying factor in the north.

He said that his exemplary leadership carried every one along, irrespective of tribal, religious and ethnic differences.

He said that the late Sultan encouraged the youth to embrace western education, adding that “his legacy is responsible for what I am today; he was a pillar”.

The don described late Dasuki as “a pillar and promoter of knowledge who desired to put an end to the Almajiri system in the north.

“We have lost another good leader, a father and above all, a committed Nigeria who worked tirelessly for the unity of our nation”.

Dr Ibrahim Kuta of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, said Sultan Dasuki was a ruler who enjoined peaceful coexistence among Nigerians. (NAN)
AAG/HAS/IA
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Edited By Hajia Sani/Idris Abdulrahman

NAN-H-130

Dasuki

Minna, Nov.16,2016 ( NAN) Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger on Tuesday described the passing away of Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, the 18th Sultan of Sokoto as a great loss.

A statement signed by Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor,  described the deceased as a seasoned technocrat.

The governor said that Dasuki was a respected traditional ruler, a diplomat par excellence and religious bridge builder.

Bello said that the late Sultan contributed towards the socio-economic and political growth of the country.

He said that the nation needed the wealth of knowledge of the late Sultan at this critical period of the nation’s challenges.

Bello said that the late Dasuki left an indelible footprint, virtually on every sector of human endeavour during his lifetime.

“The late Sultan Dasuki made his mark not only as a traditional and religious leader, but also as a political icon,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dasuki, the father of retired Col. Sambo, ex-NSA, died on Monday in an Abuja Hospital at 93 and buried in Sokoto on Tuesday.(NAN)

AAG/DUA/IA
Edited by Dada Ahmed/Idris Abdulrahman
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NAN-H-127
Salary
By Akeem Abas
Oyo(Oyo State), Nov. 15, 2016 (NAN) Academic staff of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education (EACOED), Oyo, have appealed to Gov. Abiola Ajimobi to pay their outstanding nine months salaries.

The members, under the aegis of College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), made the appeal on Tuesday in Oyo town during a protest over their unpaid salaries.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the workers, who wore black clothes,  carried out a peaceful protest march  from the school’s premises to Oroki junction while wielding  placards bearing various inscriptions.

Some of the inscriptions read: “ 25 percent subvention is obnoxious’, ‘COEASU demands immediate release of fact finding committee report’ and ‘This suffering is too much, please pay our outstanding salaries’

The COEASU Chairman in the college, Mr Samuel Oyewunmi, told newsmen that the protest was to appeal to the governor to pay their nine months outstanding salaries.

He said that the union had lost many of its members while many were now sick because of the hardship inflicted on them due to  the non-payment of salaries.

“We hardly can say that we have received two months salaries this year. We have made several overtures to the state government and had been turned down.

“Our congress has already issued a 21-day ultimatum to the state government over the issue.

“We thank the governor for sending a fact-finding panel to the institution but we are waiting for the report to be published, ” he said.

Oyewunmi also bemoaned the reduction of the  subvention given to the institution to 25 percent, saying the school was rendering social services and was not comparable to polytechnics and universities.

“ This college renders social services. We train teachers here and cannot be self-sustaining as other institutions,’’ he said.

Mr Nathaniel Adegbite, a member of the union, said that the protesters wore black clothes  to  graphically paint  their level of hardship.

“As you see us today, we are walking corpses. We collected full salary in January, half in February and March. We are not declaring war but appealing to the state government to pay us.

“This suffering is unbearable and we don’t want to be emotional. This college can’t be self-sustaining. We are talking of N181 million for payment of salaries.

“The approach will ruin the training of teachers. All we demand is full payment of our salaries from February,” he said.(NAN)
TAA/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

Pinnick lauds FIFA as DTMS workshop begins in Abuja

NAN-H-125

Workshop

By Victor Okoye

Abuja, Nov. 15, 2016 (NAN) Amaju Pinnick, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday, expressed appreciation to world football-governing body, FIFA for organising the Domestic Transfer Matching System (DTMS) workshop in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the NFF was recently enlisted on the Premium Services of the world governing body, FIFA DTMS and Intermediary Regulations Tool.

The workshop aims to further educate officials of the Nigeria Football Federation, League Management Company and Nigeria National League on the workings of the Domestic Transfer Matching System (DTMS).

Pinnick noted that the NFF would continue to support the reforms of the FIFA leadership.

“As a member association, the NFF will continue to key into FIFA’s new thinking and reforms, and I can assure you that we have very warm relationship with the FIFA leadership and will always support them.

“The seriousness that FIFA attaches to this workshop can be seen in their decision to send four persons from Switzerland to Nigeria for the programme.

“We cannot thank FIFA enough,” Pinnick added.

FIFA officials in Nigeria for the workshop are Prisca Mutesi (Legal Counsel, Integrity and Compliance); Bertrand Vinit (Project Manager); Annabel Belzunce (Client Services Coordinator) and Natalia Pliszczak (also a Clients Services Coordinator).

The workshop will focus on how the trained officials will subsequently take on the responsibility of educating the clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League and the clubs in the Nigeria National League on the DTMS

The three –day workshop which began on Tuesday is expected to end on Thursday. (NAN)

VO/AK/OU

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Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Obike Ukoh

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How Metuh spent N171m for Jonathan’s image laundering, witness tells court
NAN-H-111
Witness
By Martins Odeh
Abuja, Nov. 15, 2016 (NAN) A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday heard how PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, spent N171 million to launder ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s image ahead of the 2015 elections.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Metuh is standing trial on allegation of embezzling N400 million.
In his testimony before Justice Okon Abang, Richard Ihediwa, the fifth defence witness, told the court that Metuh spent N171 million on the committee for the image laundering exercise.
Ihediwa said N140 million was spent on various groups coordinated by aides to the former President while N31 million was disbursed for advertorials in several newspapers.
“Various aides to former president helped to coordinate groups that worked across the country with regards to boosting his image towards the 2015 Presidential Election.
“There were many aides to Jonathan who coordinated those groups and they belonged mostly to the media and publicity, strategy, research and documentation departments.
“In the light of this, Metuh made a lot of payments to these groups coordinated by Presidential Aides and they received N140 million,” he said.
He however said the payments were made in line with Jonathan’s directives, adding that Metuh never used discretionary powers to disburse the funds.
“There was also a bill of N31 million for advertorial for the media, using representatives of media houses reporting the beat.
“Metuh made the payment through me. I received the payment through my Access Bank account and consequently paid all the media houses.
“Some payments were made through transfers while others were made in cash,” the witness said.
Ihediwa said the issue of image laundering for the former president was raised at the meeting of PDP stakeholders and Metuh was assigned the responsibility.
“The issue of his image was very important to him because of that election. So, the major mandate given to the team led by Metuh was to find ways to improve on Jonathan’s standing using the media.
“The fact is that the fund spent was not taken from government treasury as alleged.
“I am aware funds were raised and domiciled with the former president. At that time, the Fund Raising Committee headed by Professor Jerry Gana had started working and they held a fund raising dinner,” he said.
The presiding judge however adjourned the case till Nov. 16 for continuation.
Metuh, who is facing a seven-count charge, was also accused of illegal 200,000 US dollars transaction. (NAN)
OMO/WOJ
(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)

Jigawa APC Chairman to sponsor 972 for eye surgery

NAN-HG-17

Eyes

Dutse, Nov. 15, 2016 (NAN) No fewer than 972 visually impaired people in Babura and Taura Local Government Areas of Jigawa will benefit from free eye surgery sponsored by the state APC Chairman, Alhaji Ado Sani.

The Information Officer in charge of Babura local government council, Alhaji Sunusi Sulaiman, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Dutse.

According to him, the Medical Officer in the Council, Dr Habibu Umar, announced the sponsorship at the commencement of the exercise.

The spokesperson added that Umar said that more than N2 million would be expended for the exercise.

Sulaiman quoted the medical officer as saying that the exercise will be conducted simultaneously at palace of the District Head of Babura, Kanya Babba town.

He added that Umar advised the beneficiaries to comply with directives given to them by the surgeons after the surgery for healing.

According to him, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the council, Alhaji Sammani Andu, commended the APC chairman for the intervention.

Sulaiman said the council boss noted that it would enable the beneficiaries regain their lost sight. (NAN)

MNB/UDO/MST

Edited by Udochukwu Ifionu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Gov. Ganduje urges women to access free ante-natal care

NAN-HG-16‎ Women By Mohammed Nur ‎ Kano, Nov. 15, 2016 (NAN)‎ Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has advised women to embrace the free ante-natal healthcare provided by the State Government to reduce maternal mortality.‎

Ganduje‎ made the call at the flag-off of the state Maternal and Child Healthcare Week and Polio Immunisation on Tuesday at Dawanau in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of the state.

“‎I am calling on our women to please avail themselves of the free exercise aimed at reducing the high rate of maternal mortality in the state,” he said.

Ganduje appealed to pregnant women to ensure they attend antenatal as at when due, adding that they should also use Mosquito Treated Nets to protect themselves and their children from malaria. ‎ ‎He said that malaria control drugs and treated mosquito nets worth millions of Naira were provided to all hospitals and primary healthcare centres for distribution.

The governor said that very soon healthcare equipment worth million of naira would be installed in 250 health centres.

Ganduje restated the government’s commitment to eradicate polio in the state, adding that for over one and half years no single case of polio was recorded in the state.

He urged indigenes of the council to use the week to visit designated centres order to benefit from free diagnosis and medication.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabiru Getso, said Dawanau and Badumi hospitals were among the 125 healthcare centres upgraded and provided with facilities.

Getso added that participants would benefit from antenatal, advice and consultation, as well as children on drugs for pneumonia and Vitamin A, among others.

He urged women across the state to come forward and participate in the programme. (NAN) MNT/JPE/MST Edited by Joseph Edeh/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NiMet predicts hazy, sunny weather for Wednesday

NAN-AE-14
Weather
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Nov. 15, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted hazy atmosphere over central states of the country on Wednesday.
NiMet made the prediction in the Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Tuesday.
It said that the region would also have day and night time temperatures of 34 to 38 degrees Celsius and 18 to 25 degrees Celsius respectively, with exception of Jos city with 28 to 13 degrees Celsius.
The agency predicted that the southern states will experience cloudy morning with partly cloudy to sunny skies over the inland cities later in the day.
It also predicted prospects of isolated thundery showers around Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Warri, Yenagoa and Eket with cloudy skies elsewhere along the coast in the evening and night hours.
According to the prediction, the southern states will have day and night time temperatures of 33 to 35 degrees Celsius and 22 to 25 degrees Celsius respectively during the forecast period.
It also predicted that the northern states would experience dust haze with day and night time temperatures of 34 to 37 degrees Celsius and 14 to 22 degrees Celsius respectively.
“Northern cities will remain under dust haze condition in moderate horizontal visibility while the southern cities should experience cloudy conditions with prospects of isolated thundery showers along the coast”. (NAN)
OYS/BOLA/OU
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Obike Ukoh

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