Blog

Wife seeks N140,500, other claims as husband sues for divorce

NAN-H-76
Claims
By Usman Aliyu
Ilorin, Nov. 2, 2016 (NAN) A mother of two, Falilat Abubakar, on Wednesday sought for N140,500 among other claims from her husband, Abubakar Imam, who sought to divorce her before an Ilorin Area Court.

Imam had approached the court seeking dissolution of their marriage for lack of love.

The plaintiff said she had packed out of the matrimonial house since 2014, but wanted it to be legally executed.

Falilat said she was objecting the relief being sought by the plaintiff, but urged the court to grant her claims.

She also applied for the custody of their two children as well as N60,000 as a monthly maintenance cost of the children.

Besides, she prayed the court to compel the plaintiff to settle the rent for their accommodation, which she said had lapsed since May.

She urged the court to order the estranged husband to return her bathing sponge as well as N38,000 worth of mattress he took when he came to their house recently.

She further prayed the court to compel him to offset the medical bill of N30,290 she spent on one of the children, who she said was asthmatic.

“He also asked me to borrow him N7,500 for feeding in July and also borrowed a sum of N5,000 thrice before Eid-el-Kabir festival,” she told the court.

In his response, the plaintiff agreed with her request for the custody of the children, but said he would only pay N5,000 as monthly maintenance allowance for the two children.

He also denied taking her sponge and said that he bought the mattress he took.

He agreed to refund the N7,500 feeding allowance and denied any knowledge of N30,290 medical bill.

Imam also acceded to pay the outstanding rent, but said he would discontinue the payment once it lapsed.

However, the Presiding Judge, Mr AbdulQuadir Ibrahim, adjourned the case to Jan. 4, 2017, for the claimant to produce her proof on the disclaimed requests. (NAN)
AUO/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Germany decides whether to ban satirical poem that insulted Erdogan

NAN-F-11
Poem
Hamburg, Nov. 2, 2016 (dpa/NAN) A German court on Wednesday began hearing in a civil case against a German comedian accused of insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with a satirical poem.

Jan Boehmermann’s expletive-filled work, aired on German public broadcaster ZDF in March, said Erdogan watched child pornography and had sex with animals, sparking a diplomatic row between Ankara and Berlin.

A court in Hamburg had decided in May to grant a temporary injunction on parts of the poem after an expedited hearing.

It will now consider whether that decision should be replaced with a permanent ban on the entire poem as requested by Erdogan’s lawyer, Michael-Hubertus Sprenger.

A verdict is expected on Feb. 10.

A separate, criminal investigation of Boehmermann, also launched at the request of Erdogan, was dropped last month by German prosecutors, who said the poem was not intentionally slanderous and likely within the bounds of satire.

That investigation was carried out under a little-used statute against insulting foreign heads of state, prompting a heated debate about the limits of free speech in Germany.

During his opening statement, Sprenger said that the prosecutors’ decision to drop the criminal investigation was irrelevant in the context of a civil defamation case.

Berlin and Ankara have been locked in a protracted dispute about Turkey’s human rights record and its controversial path to EU membership.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel referred to the Turkish authorities’ recent arrest of 13 journalists as alarming.

She said that the country’s crackdown on media freedom would have a direct impact on its ambition to join the bloc. (dpa/NAN)
OYE/AFA
Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Felix Ajide
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Wife seeks dissolution of 6 month-old marriage over alleged battering, drunkenness
NAN-H-97
Wife
Ilorin, Nov. 2, 2016 (NAN) A house wife, Sekinat Aliyu, on Wednesday urged an Ilorin Area Court to dissolve her six-month-old marriage to Idris Aliyu over alleged battering and drunkenness.
Sekinat said she was tired of the union as Aliyu had beaten her to state of unconsciousness on two occasions among several other cases of battering.
She pleaded with the court to save her from the troubled relationship, saying her family was no longer in support of the union.
The petitioner also sought payment of N30, 000 the husband allegedly owed her.
She also demanded N10, 000 spent for medical expenses when she was beaten.
In his response, the respondent objected to the divorce sought by his wife, saying he is still in love with her.
He, however, acceded to the claim of N30, 000 debt, but said that he was not aware of the N10, 000 medical bill.
He also denied the allegations of battering and drunkenness and urged the court to give him time to reconcile with his wife.
In his ruling, the Judge, AbdulQuadir Ibrahim, granted the pray of the respondent to settle the misunderstanding with his partner.

He adjourned the case till Jan. 2, 2017 for a report on the reconciliation.

(NAN)
AUO/MOL/OU
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi.
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NAN-AE-10
Bridge
By AbdulFatai Beki.
Ilorin, Nov. 2, 2016 (NAN) Economic and social activities of residents of Kwara and Oyo states were on Wednesday grounded following the collapse of Moro bridge on llorin-lgbeti highway linking the two states.

The member representing Owode-Onire constituency in the state House of Assembly where the collapsed bridge is located, Abdullahi Taiwo, informed the House of the collapsed bridge during Wednesday’s plenary.

Taiwo, who was speaking under matter of urgent public importance, said the collapsed bridge had made transportation of farm produce to llorin, the state capital difficult.

He stressed the need for urgent construction of the bridge in view of its importance for transportation of food items and passengers from Oyo state and neighbouring Republic of Benin.

Members, who contributed to the debate including the House Leader, stressed the significance of the collapsed bridge constructed with corrugated iron several years ago by the military engineering corps.

The Deputy Speaker, Mathew Okedare, who presided over plenary, while reading the resolution of the House, directed its Committee on Energy, Works and Transport to liaise with the Federal Ministry of of Works on the reconstruction of the bridge.

The House called on the Kwara Government to put palliative measures in place before the reconstruction by the Federal Government.

Reacting, the Federal Controller of Works in Kwara, Mr Omotayo Awosanya told NAN that the Federal Government had advertised the construction of both the Moro and Ohan bridges.

Awosanya said work would soon commence on the two bridges which he noted had already been captured at the 2016 budget. (NAN)
BEKI/ORO/AFA
Edited by Razak Owolabi/Felix Ajide
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NAN-F-10
Probe
Johannesburg, Nov. 2, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) Thuli Madonsela, a South Africa’s constitutionally mandated anti-graft official, has recommended that a commission of inquiry headed by a judge be set up within 30 days to investigate alleged influence peddling in government.

In a report released on Wednesday, Madonsela said that the commission should present its findings and recommendations to the president within 180 days.

The release of the report was suspended on Oct. 14 after President Jacob Zuma’s application to the High Court.

Zuma on Wednesday withdrew his court challenge to delay the report and a judge ordered that it be released.

The country’s ruling ANC party said it would study a report on the alleged political influence of Zuma’s close allies, and would comment on it by Thursday. (Reuters/NAN)
OYE/YAZ

Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Yusuf Zango

NAN-H-95

Resignation

By Ayodeji Alabi

Akure, Nov. 2, 2016 (NAN) Two Special Assistants to Gov. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state on Wednesday resigned their appointments and defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those who resigned are Mrs Aderonke Morolayo, Special Assistant on Political Matters and Mr Victor Ojo, Special Assistant on Mobilisation.

In her letter of resignation dated Nov. 2, 2016 and addressed to the governor, Morolayo said, “this is to formally inform Your Excellency of my resignation from the government of Ondo State due to circumstances beyond my control.

“Your Excellency, let me also use this medium to thank and appreciate you for counting me worthy to serve the good people of Ondo state in this capacity.’’

She, however, informed the governor that his decision to have his successor from the Central Senatorial District, where he hailed from, would make Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to lose the Nov. 26 governorship poll.

NAN reports that Morolayo and Ojo on Wednesday formally declared their membership of the APC.

A statement by the APC’s Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr Abayomi Adesanya, said the two politicians were received into the party by the deputy governorship candidate in the forthcoming election, Mr Agboola Ajayi.

The statement said that the two new members had pledged to work for the success of APC in the election.

It stated that Ajayi assured the defectors of equal opportunities and urged them to work assiduously for the party’s victory and progress in the state. (NAN)

AYO/IKU/OPI

Edited by Tayo Ikujuni and Olisa Ifeajika

School principal docked over alleged demolition of fence

NAN-H-94

Demolition

By Ife Akintola

Enugu, Nov. 2, 2016 (NAN) Patrick Owoh, 56, the  Principal of New Haven Secondary School, Enugu, was on Wednesday arraigned in an Enugu North Magistrates’ Court for alleged demolition of a fence valued at N1.5million

Owoh pleaded not guilty to the four-count-charge bordering on conspiracy, malicious damage, assault and forgery, levelled against him.

He averred that the plot situated at CR/8 New Town Layout was part of the school’s property.

The principal said he was surprised to find a fence construction going on in some parts on the school land without his consent, and ordered the workers to stop work immediately.

In his submission, the complainant, Mr Reuben Irabor, denied any previous knowledge of the land belonging to the school, because he did his search before erecting the structure.

“I did not complain that Mr Owoh forged the survey papers, but the police that wrote the charge sheet can explain that.

“I knew the school is a government school, but I did not approach the Post Primary School Management Board (PPSMB) because I did not know they could help.

“When my bricklayer called me, I heard the principal in the background threatening to break the fence if the work continues,” he said.

However, the defence counsel, Mr Okechukwu Edeh denied that the principal pulled down the fence, because the masons stopped work as the principal directed.

Edeh said that the complainant only told the police and the court what he heard from his bricklayer because he was not at the scene.

The Prosecuting Counsel, Mr Cajetan Ugwu, explained that his subsequent witnesses would shed more light on the charge bothering on forgery.

The Magistrate, Lawrence Ukpai adjourned the matter till Nov. 21 for further hearing. (NAN)

IOA/MNA/OU

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Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Obike Ukoh

Gov. Al-makura seeks FG assistance in tackling erosion.

NAN-AE-9
Erosion
By Muhammad Baba Busu
Lafia, Nov 2, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Umaru Tanko Al-makura of Nasarawa state has sought Federal Government intervention in tackling erosion menace, which has hindered development in Lafia and other cities.

Al-makura made the appeal during the inspection of one of the site affected by erosion in Angwan Nungu area, Lafia, the state capital.

He said that the intensity of the devastation caused by erosion in the state is beyond the state and needed the support from the Federal Government and other agencies.

Al-makura said that the incident required the intervention of the Federal Government through the ecological fund or other related interventions for adequate control and management.

He said the huge amount of money required to tackle the problem was not within the resources of the state government

Al-makura, however, appealed to the residents to exercise patience with the state government and respect building codes as effort are being made to ensure their safety.

He explained that the state had spent much funds to rescue communities in the state from widening gully erosion that even threatened the state capital and other local governments in the state.

Al-makura sympathised with communities in the state on the ugly development and assured them that government would do all that would be required to tackle the problem. (NAN)
BAB/JEO/AFA
Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka/Felix Ajide
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NAN-HE-16
Support
Lucy Nwachukwu
Abuja, Nov. 2, 2016 (NAN) The Director-General, Budget Office, Mr Ben Akabueze, said on Wednesday that the implementation of the Common External Tariff (CET) would benefit the West African economy and improve welfare of its citizens.

He made the remarks at the Validation Meeting on the Draft Report on the Situation and Gap Analysis of ECOWAS Common External Tariff Implementation in Nigeria.

Akabueze said the gap analysis was timely and would assist the country to identify areas of success and weakness with a view to re-strategizing for optimum performance.

The director-general appealed to the duo to further assist the country to undertake the study on the impact of fiscal incentives employed in support of sectoral policies.

Akabueze said the policies included waivers, concessions, exemptions and other tariff measures.

He also called for proposed measures for supporting local production that were more transparent and which would facilitate harmonisation at the ECOWAS regional level.

“I humbly request GIZ to equally assist other ECOWAS Member States that have started implementing the CET to strengthen their trade support institutions.

“This will enhance the necessary policies for successful regional trade integration,’’ he said.

Represented by Mr Ayo Fadola, Director of Fiscal Policy, Akabueze also commended the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Government through the GIZ, for supporting the realisation of the policy in Nigeria.

Mr Juan Casla, Head of Section, Economic Cooperation and Energy, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said the EU supported Nigeria’s CET by strengthening Nigeria’s trade support institutions project.

Casla said that ECOWAS was a growing region of more than 300 million mostly young people which was open for business and urged investors and traders to take advantage of the fact.

“ All this is very good on paper but obviously the reality is much more complicated.

“We know that implementation of such a complex scheme, a complex tariff implies the adoption of legal disposition at a country’s levels in all the different countries.

“It also implies many technical measures in terms of organisation of customs procedures at the borders, adoption of common customs and the likes.

“These things are complex process and that is why it is very important to monitor what is happening and to report on the status of implementation of all these complex measures.

“The fact that we are doing this in Nigeria is very important because whatever works in Nigeria would be easily replicated to other countries in the ECOWAS region.

“We hope the analysis, measures and monitoring system that would be proposed would be submitted soon, so that it can speed up the implementation of CET in Nigeria and in ECOWAS.

Mr Frieder Mecklenburg, International Adviser, Trade Facilitation, Trade Policy and Facilitation Unit , GIZ, said changes in the country’s institutional and regulatory legal level would help surpass CET implementation challenges.

“To bring all these into harmony in a very short implementation period of five years is a major challenge because it requires the involvement of various ministries and agencies.

“However, Nigeria is best positioned in the region; they are in the lead and have moved far ahead; awareness is very high and I am optimistic that they will achieve implementation,’’ Mecklenburg said.(NAN)

LCN/EAL/IA
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi/Idris Abdulrahman

Educationist advocates enrollment of matured minds into higher institutions

NAN-H-93

Students

By Kate Obande

Abuja, Nov. 2, 2016 (NAN) An Educationist, Mrs Cornelia Okwori, has criticised the current trend of admitting immature students into higher institutions.

She was reacting to the observation that some children between 15 years and 16 years were being admitted into universities.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, Okwori, a secondary school teacher, said that no child less than 17 years should be into university.

According to her, school curriculums are planned based on the age of children.

“If your age doesn’t agree with a particular class, it will be a huge challenge.

“When students are not matured enough for a particular class or old enough for university, they become overwhelmed by the activities.

“Coping with academics becomes a challenge for them and it affects the general development of the society.

“Even when they graduate at tender ages and get a job, they tend to behave like children and cannot shoulder responsibilities given to them.

“They find it very difficult to reason and take decisions on their own in work places.”

Okwori stressed that parents should seek advice from educational professionals with regards to the right age of a child in a particular class before enrolling their wards.

She noted that the curriculum for secondary school students was currently overloaded with 15 subjects in JSS1.

She added that some of the subjects introduced recently such as entrepreneurship, do not have teachers who are well grounded to teach it.

“The education sector has a problem because of curriculum overload. The number of subjects has been increased and they are not taught in details.

“For example, when I started teaching biology, I compared it to what I learnt and realised that the recent syllabus was skeletal.”

She urged policy makers to always conduct a pilot study before implementing any new policy, particularly in the education sector.

She added that Nigeria was not ready for some of the policies such as making Biology an optional subject for senior secondary classes.

She, however, commended the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, for the re-introduction of history subject to the school curriculum. (NAN)

KTE/NKO/NKO

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Edited by Nkechi Okoronkwo

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