Blog

NAN-H-38
Inmates
By Sunday John
Nasarawa (Nasarawa State), Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) The Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Suleiman Dikko, has granted pardon to 23 awaiting trial inmates in Laifa, Wamba, Keffi and Nasarawa prisons.

Dikko gave the figure on Friday at the Nasarawa Prisons, Nasarawa Local Government Area, while briefing newsmen at the end of his four-day tour of prison formations across the state.

Dikko said that out of the 23, nine were from Lafia Prison, two from Wamba Prison, eight from Keffi Prison and four from Nasarawa Prison.

He said that the routine prison visit was part of his duties aimed at decongesting prisons in the state and ensuring justice to inmates wrongly detained.

Dikko frowned at the attitude of counsel who abandoned their cases in courts and allowed their clients to languish in prison custody.

He urged the National Human Rights Commission to get in touch such counsel and request that they should continue with the matters.

“Inadequate police counsel and counsel from the state ministry of justice is one of the things responsible for delay in justice delivery and prisons congestion.

“Both the police and the state ministry of justice need to get more hands by employing more counsel in order to effectively prosecute the rising number of cases in the state,” he said.

He urged the police, prisons authorities and other
stakeholders to rise up to their responsibilities to ensure speedy administration of justice in the state.

The chief judge also assigned counsel from the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria to inmates awaiting trial who lacked money to engage the services of counsel.

He advised the discharged inmates to exhibit good character and shun crimes to avoid being returned to prison.

Earlier, Mr James Lander, Deputy Controller in-charge of Keffi Prison, said that the prison lacked vehicles, accommodation and potable water, among some other necessary things.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state controller of prisons, members of Human Right Commission in the state; official of Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, judges and private lawyers accompanied the chief judge on the visit. (NAN)

SDJ/IGO
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(Edited by Ijeoma Popoola)

NAN-S-17

Falconets

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Abuja, Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) expects the Falconets to reach the final of the 2016 U-20 World Cup in Papua New Guinea, an official has said.

NFF’s Assistant Director (Technical), Abdulrafiu Yusuf, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that with the quality of players in the squad, the Falconets are capable of reaching the final.

Cue in audio

“They have prepared and the competition is starting in the next few days; so we expect them to do well.

“They have been there before; the last time they got to the final. So, I expect them to get to that stage now.

“`They have the complements of a few of the players that played last time and they have the complements of some of the U-17 players, who joined them.

“`I think they will do well.’’

Cue out audio

The Falconets, who arrived Papua New Guinea on Wednesday, reached the final of the last edition in 2014 in Canada where they lost 0-1 to Germany.

NAN reports that two U-17 players Aminat Yakubu and Rasheedat Ajibade made the squad to the World Cup.

Falconets, however reached the quarter-finals of the event in Thailand 2004, also in Russia 2006 and Chile 2008.

The team reached semi-finals in Japan 2012 and finished second place in Germany 2010 and Canada 2014.

Nigeria is scheduled to face Japan at the Bava Park Stadium in its opening Group B match on Sunday, Nov. 13 when the tournament begins.

The tournament, which is the 8^th edition, ends on Dec. 3, 2016. (NAN)

IHA/LAB/YEE

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

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Yusuf’s audio on Falconets

NAN-H-41
Lebanese
By Oluwatope Lawanson
Lagos, Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) A legal practitioner, Adeyinka Oshin, who allegedly assaulted a Lebanese , Abass Kobeissi, through beating , was on Friday docked at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The accused, 56, a resident of No. 17, Gbagba Crescent off Mojisola Street, Ifako, Lagos State, is standing trial on a two-count charge of assault and a breach of the peace.
The prosecutor, Insp. Ishola Samuel, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Oct. 19, at 7.30 a.m., within Omofade Crescent, Omole Estate, Phase 1, Ojodu, Lagos State.
He said the accused assaulted the complainant by beating him and inflicting injuries on his body.
Samuel said the accused went to the complainant’s house to serve him a quit-notice which he asked him to sign.
The prosecutor said that the complainant refused saying he needed to see his lawyer before signing any paper.
The accused refused to listen to the complainant and this led to a misunderstanding, the prosecutor said.
“The accused then unlawfully assaulted Kobeissi by tearing his shirt and beating him into a pulp, hence, the report,” Samuel said
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 166 and 171 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The senior magistrate, Mrs A.R. Onilogbo, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.
She said that the sureties must be gainfully employed with two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Onilogbo adjourned the case till Nov. 25 for mention. (NAN)
LAW/PAD
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Edited and controlled by Peter Dada

NAN-H-40

Advertising
By Taiye Baiyerohi
Lagos Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) Some foreign and local exhibitors at the ongoing 30^th Lagos International Trade Fair have tasked the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), on the need for proper advertisement of the fair, ahead of its 31^st edition.

The exhibitors made the remark in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

Mrs Marie Louise, a crafts woman, said that the market at the fair had been dull and boring for her, adding that this was as a result of improper advertising ahead of the fair.

She urged the LCCI to run jingles on various radio and television stations, make handbills to be distributed at strategic places and engage in other forms of advertisements, for its forthcoming fairs.

“The LCCI must engage in other forms of advertisements to project the fair, next year. It must not continue like this,” Louise said.

Mr Joel Soh, from Cameroon, said that the year’s sales had not been encouraging, compared to last year.

He attributed this to insufficient advertisement and has urged the LCCI to make adequate preparations ahead of the fair’s 31^st edition, next year.

“There is need for proper advertisement of this fair. I feel it’s declining by the year,” Soh said.

Mrs Caroline Jegede, the proprietor of Carol Kitchen, lamented the poor sales of food at the ongoing fair.

Jegede, however, demanded for effective adverting of subsequent fairs, so as to enable them to be able to  attract foreign tourists.

“The trade fair is not only meant for Nigerians but also for foreigners who love Nigerian dishes.

“We need to also work on bringing in the foreign tourists.

“Last year, people were struggling to sit in various canteens but this year, very few people come to eat and many of them want the food to even be discounted,’’ she added. (NAN)
PTB/PIO/PIO
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Edited by Idonije Obakhedo

NAN-H-52
Prisons
By Edith Nwapi
Abuja, Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) Some Legal Practitioners in the Federal Capital Territory, on Friday called on the Federal Government to improve the state of the prisons across the country.

The lawyers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews that improving the state of the prisons would help to change the conditions of the inmates for the better.

One of the respondents, Mr Anthony Ekuma, was of the opinion that inmates should be kept in separate prisons according to the gravity of offences they committed.

“There should be minimum and maximum prisons; the authorities should ensure that those committed for minor offences are kept in minimum prison while those committed for `heinous’ offences are kept in maximum prison.

“Prisons should be a place where reformation of character should be achieved if properly managed.

“There should be collaboration between the law enforcement agents, in such a way that certain minor offences could be settled at their stations, rather than taken to court and prison,” he said.

Ekuma stressed the need for more `jail delivery,’ whereby a Chief Judge visits the prison and set free some inmates who deserve such freedom.

He also stressed the need for the recruitment of more judiciary officers to give quick attention to the needs of offenders

In his submission, Mr Joel Ali another legal practitioner in Abuja, decried the state of prisons in Nigeria, saying some of the inmates might not be guilty of the offences they were accused of.

“Our law enforcement agents, especially the police should be thorough in their investigations; as some of the allegations preferred against an accused at times may not be sufficient.

“On the part of the court, there should be speedy trail to bring about speedy judgement on criminal cases especially.

“The court is hope for the common man as the prison should also be a place of reformation for offenders, “he said.

The lawyer advised the government to strengthen the Administration of Criminal Justice Act which advocated custodian sentence or alternative sentence.

According to Ali, strengthen the Administration of Criminal Justice Act will help to decongest the prison and ensure that inmates charged with light offences were not kept together with those with criminal offences.

In her submission, Ms Christie Nwaka, declared that if the state of the prisons were not improved, the much needed character reformation which was the main aim for establishing prison would not be achieved..

“The prison should be made to wear the colour of what it stands for, that is character reformation and moral building not just a dumping ground for those who cannot buy justice.

“The inmates should be trained one vocation or the other, especially the `unfortunate` ones to enable them earn a living after serving their terms.

“If their focus is not directed rightly, inmates will end up being more hardened and continue to unleash terror on their environment.

“They will also see the society as unjust and live meaningless life,” Nwaka added. (NAN)

NEO/TO/AEA
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Edited by Tola Okinbaloye/Archibong Asuquo

NAN-HE-13
Entrepreneurs
Calabar, Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has graduated 520 entrepreneurs in Cross River under the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP).
The Director General of SMEDAN, Dr Dikko Radda, made this known at the graduating ceremony of the entrepreneurs in Calabar on Friday.

He said that the programme was in partnership with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and Bank of Industry (BoI).
Radda, represented by Dr Robert Owoyaiye, Director Monitoring and Evaluation, said that the three months training was in furtherance of the Federal Government’s commitment to diversify the economy.
He explained that the training programme cut across 19 states of the Federation and in 57 centres, adding that over 10,000 micro-entrepreneurs were expected to be trained in three vocational skill areas.
According to him, this will no doubt add a lot of value to the MSME subsector and increase the pool of entrepreneurs needed to build the economy and reduce unemployment.
“It is expected that the training in the other 17 states and the FCT will build on the successes and lessons leant from this present exercise,’’ Radda said.
He said the agency would soon commence “open air business clinics’’ where all regulatory agencies would be present to diagnose and solve most of the problems confronting would-be and existing entrepreneurs.
In his remarks, Mr Joseph Ari, Director General of ITF said that the NISDP was aimed at actualising the diversification agenda of the Federal Government.
“The National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) seeks to precipitate in rapid industrialisation and stimulate inclusive economic growth by empowering the youth to be gainfully employed.
“This can be achieved through the provision of training in technical vocational skill in various trades, business development services and business financing. ‘’
He urged Nigerians to support the Federal Government in its efforts to diversify the economy and reduce over dependence on oil.
Mr Idiongesit Akpan, Calabar Area Manager of ITF commended the trainees for their commitment during the three months period and assured them of the fund support.
He said that the 520 graduates were drawn from three senatorial districts of the state, adding that they were trained in aluminum fabrication, events management and fashion designing. (NAN)
BEN/MO
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Edited by Morayo Omolade

Taraba vaccinates 956,875 children against polio
NAN-HG-9
Polio
Ardo-Kola (Taraba ) , Nov. 11,2016 (NAN) Taraba Commissioner of Health, Dr Innocent Vakkai, said on Friday that 956,875 children in the state were vaccinated against poliomyelitis under the Third Polio Outbreak Response Campaign.
Vakkai spoke in Ardo-Kola at the launching of the Fourth Polio Outbreak Response Campaign.
According to him, the state was selected for the campaign, as Taraba was among the states with the high risk of contracting polio.
Gov.Darius Ishaku,  said his administration was committed to the ‘total eradication’ of the viral disease in the state.
Ishaku, who was represented by the Head of Service, Mr Simon Angyu , said the state government would continue to give priority to health programmes.
“You will agree with me that the health of our children and those unborn must be taken seriously if truly we want to preserve our future generation,” the governor said.(NAN )

NB/OU/OU

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Edited by Obike Ukoh

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NAN-HE-2
Cluster
Kano, Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) The Kano State Government has earmarked N50 million for the establishment of a Tie and Dye Cluster at Kwachiri in Fagge Local Government Area.
The state Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Tourism, Alhaji Rabi’u Ahmad, disclosed this when the Kofar Mata Dye-pit Association visited him on Friday.
A statement by Alhaji Shehu Sani, the Ministry’s spokesman, said that necessary facilities would be provided at the cluster to further strengthen the association’s capacity.
He disclosed that a piece of land had been identified and secured at Fagge Local Government for the establishment of the cluster.
The commissioner said the preservation of cultural heritage was one of the cardinal principles of the Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje-led administration.
He said that a nine-member committee was set up by Ganduje to review the Kano State Tourism Master Plan (2014-2020) and advise government on implementation strategies.
In her remark, the State Director of Tourism, Hajiya Rabi Mansur, urged the dyers to add value to their work and improve its standard.
Earlier, the Association’s chairman, Alhaji Danjuma Muhammad, identified dilapidated nature of their place of work and insufficient capital as the major challenges facing them.
Muhammad also urged the Ministry to facilitate government’s interest-free loans for members. (NAN)
BO/AOM/WOJ
============
(Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed / Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-H-35

Student
By Oluwatope Lawanson
Lagos, Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Friday remanded a student, Abayomi Segun, in prison custody after he admitted to the wilful and unlawful damage of the windscreen of a Toyota highlander car.

Segun, 22, a resident of Aboru area of Iyana-Ipaja, a Lagos suburb, is charged with unlawful damage of property.

A Senior Magistrate, Mrs A.R. Onilogbo, ordered the remand of Segun in Kirikiri Prisons and adjourned the case till Nov. 18 for facts and sentence.

The prosecutor, Insp. Ishola Samuel, had earlier told the court that the accused committed the offence on Nov. 5 at Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.

He said the accused hit the windscreen of a Toyota Highlander with registration number LSD 77 DR, valued at N150,000, property of Mrs Chinyere Mwanma, without reasonable cause.

Samuel said the accused claimed the complainant hit him with her car by the traffic light at Allen junction, Ikeja and refused to get out of her car to apologise to him.

“Out of annoyance, Segun wilfully and unlawfully destroyed the front windscreen of the complainant’s car, hence the report,” the prosecutor said.

The offence, he noted, contravened Section 348 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 348 prescribes two years imprisonment for offenders. (NAN)

LAW/SOA

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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

NAN-HE-4
Renewable
By Simon Akoje
Lagos, Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) An Energy Expert, Mr Kolawole Oriyomi, on Friday advised the Federal Government to set aside 10 per cent of annual capital budget to explore renewable energy sources.
He said that such investment would enable government to adequately tackle the energy challenges in the country.

Orieyomi, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Topian Energy Solutions, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that such allocation should start with the 2017 federal budget.

According to him, a nation with a population of over 150 million people will need huge power demand to industrialise.

“Given its enormous size, the country needs about 100,000 mega watts of power supply according to United Nations’ reports.

“However, investing gradually in solar energy, especially in area of business clusters can change the power narrative in the country,’’ he said.

Oriyomi said that even the wind energy was yet to be harnessed and utilised to augment what the country was currently generating.

The expert said that exploiting the potential of renewable energy sources was the best option considering the nation’s stand on climate change.

“Given the country’s support for climate change, renewable energy is the cleanest and safest means of energy supply.

“It is completely not harmful unlike other means from coal, fossil fuel and gas, which are currently being used globally,’’ he said. (NAN)
STA/ERO/TA
(Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Tajudeen Atitebi)