Blog

NAN-H-75

Land

By Emmanuel Antswen

Makurdi, Nov. 2, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has directed his aides to make arrangement for the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to access land in Makurdi to enable it to build an office.

Ortom gave the directive in Makurdi on Wednesday when he received in his office the Corp Marshall of FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi.

The governor said his decision to provide land to the commission for office accommodation was informed by the commendable work FRSC officials were doing in saving the lives of Nigerians on roads across the country.

“Everywhere you go road safety officials are on hand to assist road users and this situation is really saving a lot of lives in the country,’’ he said.

He stated that FRSC will soon be part of the state security council meetings as a way of strengthening security.

Earlier, Oyeyemi disclosed that Nigeria is now the leading road safety nation in Africa.

Oyeyemi stated that FRSC officials are making the commission proud by living up to their mandate.

He, however, expressed dismay that some of the roads in the country required rehabilitation.

He said that with good roads in place, road accidents in the country would reduce.

“Some of the roads in the country need rehabilitation. The Makurdi-Lafia road needs to be rehabilitated for effective usage,’’ he said.

He disclosed that the commission would soon embark on the recruitment of more personnel as the Federal Government has already given approval for the exercise.

The corp marshal warned against the blocking of road with massive logs of wood and stones in a bid to compel motorists to reduce speed, saying it could be dangerous.

He said the use of appropriate speed breakers could compel motorists to reduce speed on the highway. (NAN)

AEB/YEE

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim
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NAN-H-73

Remand

By Amen Gajira

Minna, Nov. 2, 2016 (NAN)‎ A Minna Chief Magistrates’ Court has ordered the remand in prison custody of two women, Aisha and Fatima Garba, for allegedly dumping a day old baby girl.

The accused were arraigned in court on Wednesday on a two count charge of criminal conspiracy and abandonment, contrary to sections 97 and 237 of the penal code.

The Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Lawrence Mowette, told the court‎ that one Usman Suleiman of Tsohon Area of Sarkin Pawa reported the matter at the Divisional Police Headquarters on Oct. 18.

Mowette said the complainant alleged that he had gone to his farm near a river on the same day when he found a day old baby tied in nylon and abandoned close to the railway bridge.

The Prosecutor added that investigations showed that the baby had been born by the 1st accused who conspired with the 2nd accused, her mother, to abandon the child.

When the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, thereafter, prayed the court for an adjournment to enable the police complete investigation.

In her ruling, the presiding magistrate, Hauwa Baba, ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case to Nov. 16. (NAN)

AMEN/IS

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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

NAN-H-54
Judgment
By Edith Nwapi
Abuja, Nov. 2, 2016 (NAN) Justice Jude Okeke of an FCT High Court Maitama on Wednesday imposed a fine of N5 million on Airtel Nig. Ltd., for violation of customer’s right to privacy

Okeke delivered judgment in a suit filed by Mr Emmanuel Anene on Dec. 21 filed against Airtel for continued disturbance through unsolicited messages to his telephone line.

“Putting into consideration the obvious inconveniences, discomfort and embarrassments, the plaintiff had undeniably gone through, the defendant has been directed to pay to the plaintiff damages, not the N200 million the plaintiff asked for but N5 million only, Okeke held.

The judge said that the issue for determination was whether the plaintiff’s evidence made out a case to justify the claims in the reliefs he sought.

“ One of the reliefs sought an order of the court seeking award of damages.

“A plaintiff who seeks reliefs for violation of right is to succeed on the strength of his case and not on the weakness or absence of the defence, though he can rely on the absence of the defence to support his case,” he held.

He said that the court records showed that the plaintiff’s evidence of claims was served on the defendant.

“ The defendant, who was afforded the opportunity, failed to file a statement of defence contradicting the plaintiff’s statement of claim, or lead evidence in challenge to the claims; it means he has admitted the facts.

“Unless the court does not believe in the evidence or sees any reason in contrary in law, it reserves a duty to act on such.

“The defendant failed to place any evidence on the other scale of balance; there is nothing against which the plaintiff’s evidence can be weighed.”

“In every wrong, there must be a remedy. To vindicate the plaintiff’s right which has been violated in the forthgoing circumstance by the defendant, the plaintiff shall be awarded damages based on the discretion of the court,” he said. (NAN)

NEO/IGO
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(Edited by Ijeoma Popoola)

NAN-H-47
Fraud
By Oluwatope Lawanson
Lagos, Nov. 2, 2016 (NAN) A commercial tryclist, Godwin Okereke, who allegedly defrauded a passenger of N205,000, was on Wednesday hauled up before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

Okereke, 39, a resident of Bola Oyewo in Obawole, a Lagos suburb, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining under false pretences and stealing.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Babaji Ishaku, told the court that the offences were committed on April 15 at 10.00 a.m. at Iju-Ishaga, a suburb of Lagos.

Ishaku said the accused and three others still at large, conspired to defraud the woman, Mosebolatan Tobi, who boarded his tricycle, of N205, 000.

“The complainant, on her way from work, boarded the tricycle being driven by the accused.

“While alighting from the tricycle, the accused grabbed and took her to a location at Iju-Ishaga.

“They collected N205,000 from her and kept threatening her to bring more money to help solve her spiritual problems,’’ Ishaku said.
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He said several months later, the accused came to defraud the complainant again but she recognised him.

“Suspecting that they are fraudsters, the complainant raised an alarm and they were caught and handed over to the police.”

The offences contravened Sections 285, 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes a three-year imprisonment for stealing, while Section 312 provides 15 years for false pretences.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr J. A. Adegun, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum, one of who must be a community leader.

The case adjourned the case till Nov. 4 for mention.(NAN)

LAW/AIB/DA
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Dele Akinsola

For rape of 16-year-old girl, Tailor, 26 bags 3 years imprisonment

NAN-H-51

Rape
By Muftau Ogunyemi
Akure, Nov. 2, 2016 (NAN) An Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday sentenced a 26-year-old Tailor, Seun Badmus, to three years imprisonment for raping a minor, 16-year-old girl.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Helen Komolafe, found the convict guilty of a count charge of rape.

She, however, gave him an option to a pay N200, 000.

Delivering judgment, Komolafe said: “having been found guilty of the offence and having listened to the plea of the defence counsel and considering the circumstances surrounding the case, I am persuaded to pronounce the sentence.

“He is here by, sentenced to 3-years imprisonment or pay an option of N200,000 fine for having unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl”.

Earlier, the police Prosecutor, Cpl. Adebayo Ayorinde said the convict had unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor without her consent.

Ayorinde added that the convict lured the girl, who was hawking banana into his room and raped her.

He said the convict committed the crime on Oct. 23, at about 4:30 p.m.. at Owodunni St., opposite Lao Filling Station within the Akure metropolis.

He said the offences contravened Section 358 of the Criminal Code Cap.. 37 Vol.1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006. (NAN)
OMA/KOO/TON
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Tony Nezianya

Italian NGO trains 1,500 persons on peace building in Plateau

NAN-H-40
Peace
Mangu (Plateau) Nov. 2, 2016 (NAN) APURIMAC, an Italian Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has trained 1,500 persons on peace building strategies in Plateau, according to its Project Coordinator, Mr Peter Iorapuu.

Iorapuu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Mangu, Plateau State, on Wednesday, that the training was carried out in conjunction with Augustine Order, a Catholic organisation based in Jos.

He said that the training was part of the NGO’s efforts to curb the sectarian and ethnic conflicts that had been the lot of Plateau over the years.

“ What we have done is to engage various actors in the society into peace building capacities in areas where crises are likely to occur.

“We paid special attention to schools and trained their Principals, teachers, Education Secretaries, Area Directors of Education and officials of Students Union Government (SUG), in tertiary institutions.

“Generally, such groups usually interact with all manners of persons; we figured that reaching out to them will mean reaching out to a large segment of the society,” he said.

He said that the trainees were selected from six of the 17 Local Governments in Plateau, and explained that each of the three senatorial districts had two each.

“Very often, villagers cause trouble in schools by triggering protests over compensation and other frivolous demands. If the Principals and teachers are not trained on how to handle such situations, it may run out of hand and disrupt the peace of that community,’’ he said.

The project manager also noted that bad elements had often used students to foment trouble in tertiary institutions, hence the decision to capture the SUG Officials in the training programmes.

“You must have noticed that Plateau has not recorded any case of violence in tertiary institutions in the past few years. Our efforts are responsible for that,” he said. (NAN)
TYC/ETS

NAN-H-45
Party
By Oluwatope Lawanson
Lagos, Nov. 2, 2016 (NAN) Six men believed to be political thugs, who allegedly conspired with others still at large and invaded the inauguration venue of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Executive Committee to cause mayhem, were on Wednesday released on N300,000 bail on the order of an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

The accused are Tunde Edward, 53; Chika Ekwugha, 26; Mojeed Salami, 51; residents of Ifako-Ijaiye; Hakeem Odunewu, 57; Lukmon Laguda, 53, a resident of Iju-Ishaga, a Lagos suburb, and Isaac Adepoju of Oke-Ira, Ogba in Lagos.

They are facing charges of conspiracy, possession of dangerous weapons and breach of public peace.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Babaji Ishaku, said the accused with 20 others still at large invaded a PDP inauguration venue with some dangerous weapons.

Ishaku said the offences were committed on Oct. 14 at about 4.30 p.m. at  Block 61, Flat 5, Ifako-Ijaiye Housing Estate, Pen Cinema, Agege.

He alleged that a man, Laguda Lukmon, who is still at large, mobilized the accused persons armed with broken bottles, stones, sticks and a substance suspected to be an acid harassed and threatened PDP members at the venue.

“The PDP members and the complainant,Kehinde Koku were holding meetings and inaugurating the state executive committee of the party at his residence.

“Suddenly, the accused persons invaded the venue of the inauguration, harassing and threatening the party members with some dangerous weapons.

“The party members fled the scene and reported the incident to the police which led to the arrest of the accused persons.”

The offences contravened Sections 166, 327 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The six accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 327 prescribes six months for unlawful possession of dangerous weapons, while Section 409 stipulates two years imprisonment for conspiracy.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr J.A. Adegun, granted each of the accused persons bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties each in like sum.

He adjourned the case to Nov. 4 for mention. (NAN)
LAW/DA
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Edited by Dele Akinsola

NAN-H-65
Dissolution
By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus
Ilorin, Nov. 2, 2016 (NAN) An Ilorin Area Court on Wednesday dissolved a four-year marriage between Aminat Abubakar and Ahmed Ibrahim for abandonment.

Aminat, a resident of Ita Alamu, prayed the court to dissolve her marriage to Ahmed because he no longer cater for her.

She said the marriage, which was contracted in 2012, which produced no child was no longer appealing to her.

“He doesn’t provide food or any other thing for my sustenance maybe because I have not given birth yet.

“I want an end to this marriage because he has even abandoned me at home. So, I am no longer interested in the marriage,” she said.

The defendant was not present in court, but the presiding judge, Abdulquadr Ibrahim, dissolved their marriage and issue a certificate of divorce to the petitioner. (NAN)
BAY/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-63
NIPOST

By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Nov. 2, 2016 (NAN) Mr Adebayo Shittu, the Minister of Communications said the ongoing reform in the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) would take effect in the first quarter of 2017.

Shittu made this known while speaking with newsmen in Ibadan at the monthly forum of the Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

He stated that the ministry has alraedy submitted a memo in furtherance of the reform to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

He added that the ministry also working closely with the Bureau of Public Enterprise to ensure that the reform succeeds.

According to him, the reform is aimed at expanding NIPOST’s mandate to boost its capacity to deliver quality service and increase government revenue.

“We intend to bring on board some new services in the operations of NIPOST. Among them is NIPOST Banking and Insurance Service and NIPOST Properties Services.

“Others are: NIPOST Transport and Logistics Services; NIPOST E-Commerce Services and NIPOST E-Government Services,” he said.

The minister said that the services would contribute a lot to strengthening the nation’s economy and improve the agency’s capacity to contribute significantly to the national treasury.

Shittu also said that the ministry had evolved policies that would promote Information Communication Technology (ICT) and enable it to serve as an another massive source of revenue to the country.

He said that with an effective ICT industry in place, social and business life as well government productivity would be enhanced.

According to him, all that is required is broadband connectivity.

“We have evolved ICT roadmap for 2016 to 2019. ICT will encourage foreign direct investment.

“All we have to do is to provide the enabling environment, regulation, and legislation as well as encourage people,’’ he said.

Speaking on the issue of a cabal within the government, he said he was not aware that such exists within FEC.

“I am a member of FEC. I have a right to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of Nigeria’s dream.

“I have been doing that and representing the state very well without any hindrance.

“I don’t know of the existence of any cabal. Those talking about it should explain the meaning of cabal.

“It is mischievous to talk about such thing.’’ (NAN)

TAA/YEE

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

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NAN-S-7
Football
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Nov. 2, 2016 (NAN) The 2016 FCT Principals Cup for inter-secondary schools football competition in the FCT  is to begin on Nov. 8.

Mr Patric Nwaogu, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, made this disclosure in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the competition was earlier scheduled to kick off on Oct. 26.

He said the shift in the date followed a series of activities involving secondary schools in the FCT, which made it difficult to kick start the tournament as earlier scheduled.

Ngwaogu, who doubles as the First Vice Chairman of the FCT FA, said, “in this kind of tournament, we have to key into other activities that the schools are involved.

“Within the last one week, the students have been engaged in various activities that are also designed to ensure that they are adequately empowered in their studies.

“Therefore, since these activities have been arranged to last for not more than five days, we decided to adjust our programmes to accommodate them.

“We are kick starting the Principals Cup on Tuesday, Nov. 8 in five centres; comprising of Kwali, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Wuse and Karshi.

“We have 72 schools taking part in the male competition while 20 schools will participate in the female category.

We have also decided that the finals would come up on Friday, Nov. 25’’.

Ngwaogu appealed to individuals and corporate organisations to come forward and identify with the FCT Principals Cup.

He stressed that the competition remained the best thing that ever happened to the grassroots football development in the territory.

NAN also recalls that the winners of the first edition of the tournament in 2015, FOSLA Academy, played up to the finals of the 2016 NNPC/Shell cup competition.

Also, two of the players, who were invited from the tournament to the National U-17 team, made the starting lineup of the team that played Niger early in the year. (NAN)
VO/JEY/YEMI
Edited by Johnson Eyiangho
Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju