Blog

NAN-H-44
NYSC
Jos, Nov. 4, 2016 (NAN) The newly discharged 2015 Batch “B” stream 2 corps members in Plateau have commended the Nation Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for initiating its skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development programme.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Jos during their passing out ceremony, the corps members described the programme as laudable.

Mr. Folorunsho Muyideen, a beneficiary of the programme, said that he acquired skill in food processing.

Muyideen said that the skill made him financially buoyant during his service year.

“During our orientation, we were asked to indicate interest in skills were would like to acquire, I indicated interest in food processing.

“I was taught how to make various types of pastries, continental and inter-continental cuisines.”

Muyideen noted that the programme had reduced the pressure on the country in terms of white collar job demands.

‘’ I acquired this skill absolutely free of charge; this skill has empowered me greatly.

“Now, I do not have to depend on my parents for funds anymore; in fact I don’t need a white collar job, all I would do now is to widen my horizon,” he said.

Similarly, Miss Tobi Ojo, commended the NYSC for the initiative and advocated that the progamme be sustained for future corps members.

She said that during her service year, she made money from tailoring.

“From my fellow corps members, I made money. I sewed a dress between the range of N3,000 to N4,000, and I made like six  dresses in a month because I had little time since I served as a teacher,” she said.

In his remark, the state NYSC Coordinator, commended the corps members for demonstrating uncommon courage and patriotism during their service year.

He further commended them for extending the skills they learnt while in camp to their various host communities.

Similarly, Mr Danladi Mang, the state Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, who represented the governor, urged the discharged corps members to shun all negative vices and engage in productive activities.

NAN reports that 11 corps members bagged awards for their outstanding performance. (NAN)
UBO/NKO/NKO

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Edited by Nkechi Okoronkwo

WFP very concerned about threat of famine in South Sudan
NAN-F-15
Famine
Geneva, Nov. 4, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) The World Food Programme (WFP) is concerned about the threat of famine in South Sudan, where people are fleeing from the conflict and leaving their crops to decay in the field.
The WFP spokeswoman, Bettina Luescher said on Friday that the food insecurity situation was “above emergency levels” in seven out of 10 states.
“A rare U.N. aid convoy, consisting of 38 trucks with food for a month, was on its way to the town of Yei and should arrive within hours, she said. (Reuters/NAN)
OYE/AFA
Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Felix Ajide
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NAN-F-13

Ban

Hong Kong, Nov. 4, 2016 (dpa/NAN) Hong Kong Government on Friday said China was considering ban on two Hong Kong lawmakers who refused to swear allegiance to China from sitting in the city’s legislative council.

Sixtus “Baggio” Chung-hang and Yau Wai-ching from pro-independence Youngspiration party last month altered their swearing-in oaths to refer to China by a derogatory term and displayed a banner, “Hong Kong is not China.”

China’s legislature, the National People’s Congress, has now asked for an interpretation of a section of Hong Kong’s Constitution.

The section to be interpreted states that legislators must swear allegiance to Hong Kong and China in order to serve in the council, the Hong Kong government said.

Hong Kong’s High Court is also deliberating whether the actions of the Youngspiration candidates constituted refusal to take the oath, in which case they will not be able to take up their positions as elected lawmakers.

China’s decision could potentially clash with the decision of the court, and could call Hong Kong’s judicial independence to question.

If China votes to overrule the courts, it could signal a breach of the separation of powers in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong’s legal and governance system is separate to that of mainland China as part of a treaty that ceded the territory from Britain in 1997.

Hong Kong held elections for the city’s legislative council in September amid growing fears that residents were gradually losing their freedom to speak openly about the governments in Hong Kong and mainland China. (dpa/NAN)

OYE/OPI

Edited by Damilola Oyewole and Olisa Ifeajika

Man caught with 400 grammes of cannabis sativa, pleads guilty

NAN-H-29
Guilty
By Wandoo Sombo
Abuja, Nov. 4, 2016 (NAN) A 20-year-old man, Mansur Bashir of Kabusa area of the Federal Capital Territory, on Friday pleaded guilty to dealing on cannabis sativa.

Bashir was arraigned before a Federal High Court, Abuja, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), for being in possession of 400 grammes of cannabis sativa.

The accused took his plea in Hausa language through an interpreter.

He was alleged to have committed the offence in the Kabusa area of the Federal Capital Territory in August.

The prosecuting counsel, Mrs S.I. Mark prayed the court for a date to review the case in view of the guilty plea entered by the defendant.

Mark also prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody pending the review.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Okon Abang adjourned the matter till Nov. 23 for the review of the facts. (NAN)
WS/JEY/ OU
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Edited by Johnson Eyiangho/ Obike Ukoh

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NAN-H-27
Contempt
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), Nov. 4, 2016 (NAN) An Upper Sharia Court sitting in Zaria on Friday remanded one Hashimu Danbala of Kofar-Kibo, Zaria, Kaduna State, for contempt of court.

Danbala, who is the eldest son of late Danbala Marafa, was arraigned following complaint by one A’ishatu Ibrahim, wife to the deceased, for refusing to pay N14.4 million inheritance of her three kids.

The accused was ordered to be remanded for contempt after he crossed his legs and put his hands in his pocket while responding to questions from the judge.

He also banged on the table while presenting some document to the court.

As a result, the presiding judge, Malam Aminu Jumare ordered that the accused be remanded for disrespecting the court.

During the proceedings, the plaintiff told the court that she was demanding N14.4 million as balance of N24 million share of inheritance for her three children from the sale of their father’s house in Abuja.

A’ishatu said she received the sum of N10 million through an account the accused asked her to send, saying, “I am yet to receive the remaining balance from him”.

When the court asked the accused about the money, he said the money was not in his possession, saying, “I am surprised as to why she sued me”.

Angered by the accused’s response and his disrespect for court of law, the judge ordered for his remand and adjourned the case to Nov. 10. (NAN)
KLM/ORO/MZA
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Edited by Razak Owolabi/Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-F-12
Investigation
Seoul, Nov 4, 2016 (dpa/NAN) South Korea’s President Park Geun Hye on Friday said she was
prepared to cooperate in investigations relating to ongoing scandal surrounding her friend Choi Sil.

In a televised address, Park apologised for a second time for the affair, saying she wanted to take responsibility for the matter and “cooperate with investigators where this is necessary.”

An arrest warrant for Choi was issued with prosecutors accusing the 60-year-old of embezzlement and illegally influencing state affairs.

Choi has also been accused of playing a role in pressuring companies to donate tens of billions of one to two non-profit organisations.

The South Korean president has already admitted that Choi, the daughter of one of her patrons, had access to dozens of presidential speeches before they were made public. (dpa/NAN)
OYE/HA
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Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

India authorities order probe into jailbreak killings

NAN-F-11
Jailbreak
New Delhi, Nov. 4, 2016 (dpa/NAN) Authorities in central India on Friday ordered probe into the killings of eight prisoners on trial after rights groups alleged the men were killed extra judicially in a staged encounter, reports said.

Police in Madhya Pradesh state said the prisoners, members of the banned Student’s Islamic Movement of India, were killed on Monday in a gunfight with police team hours after they escaped from a high-security jail.

State Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan late on Thursday night announced a judicial inquiry into the killings of the eight men, state-run broadcaster All India Radio reported.

Domestic media had raised questions about the men being killed in a “staged shootout”.

State authorities were also under pressure from rights groups, who cited contradictory statements from police officials.

Initially police said the prisoners were not armed when the clash took place and later they changed this, saying “they had guns and knives.

“The contradictory statements issued by authorities on the killings and video clips which appear to show the prisoners trying to talk to the police before being shot raise disturbing questions.

“An independent investigation must determine if the police extrajudicially executed the prisoners,” Tara Rao, Amnesty International India said. (dpa/NAN)
OYE/AFA
Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Felix Ajide
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NAN-H-12
Businesswoman
By Ummul Idris
Abuja, Nov. 4, 2016 (NAN) Forty-one-year-old businesswoman, Edith Obi, who allegedly collected N270, 000 on the pretext of renting out a shop and an apartment to some people, was on Friday brought before a Wuse Zone 2 Chief Magistrates’ Court in Abuja.

The woman, whose address is unknown, is facing a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating.

According to Prosecutor Abdullahi Adamu, two men — Williams Lamba and Nweke Joseph — reported the incidents at Durumi Police Station on Oct. 26 and Oct. 28.

He said the defendant allegedly deceived the complainants and collected the sum of N150, 000 and N120, 000 respectively to get them a shop and a room at Durumi.

“The defendant converted the money to her personal use after failing to provide any of the complainants as shop or a room.

“During investigations, it was discovered that the defendant had been defrauding poor people on the pretext of helping to get either a shop or an apartment for them.”

The offences contravened Sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation.

The defendant, however, denied the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N100, 000 with a surety in like sum.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr Nuhu Tukur, who gave the ruling, said the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and adjourned the case to Nov. 29 for hearing.(NAN)

UMD/DA
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Edited by Dele Akinsola

NAN-H-14

Training

By Adekunle Williams/Solomon Asowata

Lagos, Nov. 4, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has embarked on the training of no fewer than 100 of its aviation security, airport rescue and firefighting personnel.

A reliable source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that some of the firefighters and crew commanders recently returned from a one-week mandatory training in Douala, Cameroun.

According to the source, the training is a strategy geared towards promoting safety, security and airport excellence in the country.

“The training in Cameroun is the practical aspect of the mandatory course for firefighters. It is basically to sharpen our skills and improve our capacity in the discharge of our responsibilities,” the source said.

NAN reports that the Managing Director of FAAN, Mr Saleh Dunoma, had earlier announced that the agency was compiling names for the first batch of the trainees.

Dunoma said it was based on the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) annex 14 Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS) and Airport Council International (ACI) Best Practices.

“The first batch of 100 personnel drawn from the Aviation Security, Airport Rescue and Firefighting personnel are being short listed for the first batch, after which the other 600 personnel will follow suit,” he had said.

Dunoma said the training would further strengthen FAAN’s capacity at mitigating safety vulnerabilities identified by the evaluation observed by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. (NAN)

WAC/ASO/SOA

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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

NAN- H-20
Judge
By Aminu Ahmed Garko
Minna, Nov. 4, 2016 (NAN) Mr Taidi Jonathan, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Minna branch, has commended the National Judicial Council (NJC) for suspending the indicted judicial officers to enable them clear their reputation before competent courts of law.
Jonathan spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Friday.
He said that the decision of the NJC would restore public confidence in disciplinarian process of judicial officers.
He advocated a total overhaul of the NJC and state judicial service commission by appointing people with integrity to head the institutions.
“It is only by do doing so that we can protect the independence of the judiciary as presently obtained in the Republic of Kenya under its 2010 constitution where the country’s chief judge is not the chairman of judicial service council,” Jonathan said.
He said that doing so would strengthen the confidence of Nigerians in affairs of the judiciary.
Jonathan advised the indicted judges to take the suspension as an opportunity to redeem the battered image of the judiciary where it was presently perceived that justice was for the highest bidder or based on sentiment.
He called on Nigerians to show an understanding in the effort of the present approach by the judicial institutions which might be slow but would surely get things right.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two Supreme Court justices and five judges from various high courts are currently under investigation for alleged corruption.(NAN)
AAG/ORO/PAD
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Edited by Razak Owolabi, controlled by Peter Dada