Blog

NAN-H-52
Cocaine
By Wandoo Sombo
Abuja, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Tuesday arraigned one Musa Idris on a three-count charge of possessing and trafficking 22.4 grams of cocaine.

Idris, who is 24 years old and resides in Kaduna, however pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The offence, which was read to Idris through an interpreter, contravenes sections 2(b) and 14 of the NDLEA Act.

The prosecuting counsel, Mrs N.E Falomo, asked the court for five days to enable her file all the necessary documents that would enhance the smooth prosecution of the case.

Trial judge, Justice Ademola Adeniyi, gave the defence counsel, Mr Abel Ozioko seven days after the prosecution had filed their processes to file his reply.

He adjourned hearing of the case till Nov. 3. (NAN)
WS/HAS/AEA
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Edited By Hajia Sani/Archibong Asuquo

NAN-H-29
Validity
By Benson Ezugwu
Calabar, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) A lecturer,  Mr Ugoji Nwabueze, on Tuesday in Calabar  criticized senate’s approval of three years validity for Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results, saying that it would be counter-productive  .

The senate recently passed into law, the JAMB Amendment Bill, 2016, seeking extension from one to three academic years, the validity of any admission offered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to any candidate.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nwabueze, a lecturer at the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), said that the extension would make students academically lazy.

He added that it would disrupt due process in university admissions and cause confusion in the system.

“It will create academic laziness and prevent students from working hard.

“ It will bring serious confusion in the system. It is counterproductive and should be discouraged at all cost,” he said.

He said that UTME propelled candidates to work hard and set goals for themselves.
Nwabueze, also the National President of University of Calabar Alumni Association, said that lack of due process in university admissions over time led to confusion in the system.

According to him, the three years validity period will not give students the opportunity to set benchmark for academic excellence.

The don said that the law establishing JAMB was clear on admission of students into tertiary institutions.

“The law is very clear on the process of admission but the confusion is as a result of poor policy implementation,” he said.

The lecturer said that there was nothing fundamentally wrong with the system of the admissions.(NAN)
BEN/ORO/IGO
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(Edited by Razak Owolabi/Ijeoma Popoola)

al-Shabaab launches three attacks in Somalia and Kenya

NAN-F-11

Attacks

Mogadishu, Oct. 25, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) Somalia’s al Shabaab terrorist group rammed a military base with a suicide truck bomb, shot dead an intelligence officer and killed 12 people in a Kenyan border town.

The group, which once ruled much of Somalia, wants to topple the Western-backed government in Mogadishu.

It also planned to drive out African AMISOM peacekeepers made up of soldiers from Kenya, Djibouti, Uganda, Ethiopia and other African nations.

The attacks mark the build up to elections in coming weeks for the Somali parliament, which will in turn pick a new president to continue slow reconstruction efforts in a nation racked by more than two decades of conflict.

al Shabaab spokesman, Abdiasis Abu Musab said the group was behind a truck bomb that rammed into an AMISOM base in the Somali town of Beledweyne, north of Mogadishu.

He said 17 soldiers from Djibouti were killed.

AMISOM, which is battling the rebels in support of the government, said a vehicle packed with explosives was set off at the base and 10 suspected al Shabaab militants attacked.

“The terrorists were all killed.

“Reinforcement from a nearby base was rushed to the camp and the situation swiftly brought under control,” AMISOM said.

al Shabaab, whose assessment of casualties often varies from those of officials, typically rams the entrance to a target site with a car or truck bomb so that its fighters can storm in.

The al Shabaab spokesman also said the group shot senior intelligence officer, Colonel Abdiasis Araye, as he walked to a mosque late on Monday.  (Reuters/NAN)
OYE/AMY
Edited by Damilola Oyewole and Abdullahi Yusuf

FCT: 10,973 cases filed in FCT courts in 2015/16 legal year

NAN-H-3

Cases

By Edith Nwapi

Abuja, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) No fewer than 10,973 cases were filed in various FCT courts during the 2015/16 legal year, while 26,707 cases were brought forward.

This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Chief Judge of the FCT, Justice Ishaq Bello, at a ceremony to usher in the new legal year of 2016/17.

Bello said 6,961 cases were filled at the High Court levels, 5,931 at Magistrates’ Courts, while 81 were filed at the Abuja Multi Door Courthouse (AMDC).

“In total, 7,695 were disposed with while 9,252 pending, the Abuja Multi Door Courthouse dealt with 99 cases disposed 67.

“The prevailing situation as indicated by the numbers above is illustrative of the fact that we have all worked tirelessly in the year to ensure that expectations of the judiciary are met,’’ he said.

The chief judge also enjoined stakeholders to make use of the Abuja multi door courthouse for disputes and conflict resolution.

“I am still not satisfied however with the use of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) at the Multi door courthouse.

“In this regard I call upon my brothers, lawyers and court users who are yet to appreciate and embrace ADR to please do so in view of the many advantages it offers including speed, reliability and cost effectiveness,’’ Bello said.

He said that their activities were open for all to see and the court proceedings could be accessed, for this serve as tools in objectively testing the effectiveness of the system.

“This breeds transparency and shows that we have nothing to hide.

“To further this objective we are embarking on partnerships and collaborations that will help us take a critical look at our operations through different eyes,’’ he said.

He further said that in the last legal year, three magistrates’ courts were commissioned at Zuba, Lugbe and Mpape to bring justice closer to those who needed it most.

Bello said that there were plans to open a judicial division at Nyanya/Karu axis, and that seven courts were renovated, while work on the High Court building at Jikwoyi was 70 per cent completed. (NAN)

NEO/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Centre plans media workshop to strengthen business sector, professional bodies
NAN-HE-16
Workshop
By Martha Agas
Jos, Oct 25, 2016(NAN) An international organisation, the Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), in partnership with Plateau Coalition of Business and Professional Associations (PLACOPA), is organising a media workshop to strengthen the business sector and the capacity of professional coalitions,  to enable them to discharge their duties effectively, its official has said.

Mr Haroun Audu, Coordinator of CIPE, said this at a news conference organised by the body on Tuesday in Jos.

He said that the media were very pivotal in sensitising the public, especially key stakeholders to the need to create an enabling environment for the establishment and operations of several medium, small and micro enterprises constituted in the coalition.

He said CIPE’s primary objective was strengthening democracy globally through private enterprise and market oriented reform.

“ The key programme areas of CIPE includes anti corruption, advocacy, business association, corporate governance, democratic governance, access to information, women and youths,’’ he said.

Audu said the workshop was designed to enable a better appreciation of the role of media in projecting the activities of the Coalition.

He said PLACOPA would embark on advocacy visits to the relevant government agencies and stakeholders.

NAN reports that the media workshop will hold on  Nov. 3 while the launch of the business agenda comes up on the Nov. 4

According to him, the event will draw participants from the executive, legislature, policy makers, business owners, professional bodies and other relevant stakeholders.(NAN)
MAA/IA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

NPDC wants court to stop investigation into oil spillage

NAN-H-49
Spillage
By Wandoo Sombo
Abuja, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Petroleum Development Corporation (NPDC) has the Federal High Court, Abuja, to stop the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) from continuing its investigation into oil spillage in the country.

Counsel to NPDC Ayotunde Ogunleye brought an ex parte motion in this regard before Justice Ademola Adeniyi on Tuesday.

Ogunleye prayed the court for a judicial review against the commission’s special investigative panel on oil spillage and pollution by prohibiting the panel from going on with the investigation.

Ademola, however, complained that the counsel was making reference to documents that were not before him.

He said the issue was a serious one and that all necessary exhibits must be before him before he would consider the motion.

The judge adjourned hearing of the motion till Oct. 27 to enable counsel regularise their processes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that NHRC, on Feb. 21, set up a special investigative panel on oil spills and environmental pollution in the country.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Bem Angwe, said the committee was set up following the myriad of petitions to the commission on oil spills and environmental pollution. (NAN)
WS/HAS/OFN
Edited By Hajia Sani //Felix Nwadioha

NAN- AE-5
Wall
BY Ebere Agozie
Abuja, Oct.25, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government says it is working not only to grow Green Wall to fight climate change but reclaim the environment to reduce the impact of Climate Change and Environmental Degradation.
The Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, made the assertion on Tuesday in Abuja during a Public Policy Forum on Desertification and Deforestation organised by the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation.
According to her, the ministry is putting every action in place, working with the government and partnering the general public in creating an enabling environment to fight desertification and deforestation.
“Climate Change is real and global, so we must advocate the need to tackle, partner and create awareness to sustaining what the FG has put in place to address the challenges.
“Government is trying to strengthen the relevant institutions to identify the root causes of desertification and deforestation and address the issues.’’
She said that lack of key stakeholder awareness and understanding were hampering effective policy and process response to the impacts of climate change on Nigeria.
“We are partnering rural communities because citizens are unaware of the scale of problems and creeping effects of climate change,’’ the minister said.
Also, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, the Chairman Senate Committee on Environment, said that desertification, which could be caused by climate change or human activities must be curtailed by the efforts of all.
“We must emphasise on education and create awareness on how to prevent and fight the Climate Change.
“As well as educate the public to avoid wood logging, bush burning and monoculture and start implementing government’s policies and galvanise collective efforts to combat it.
“This forum for public discourse will stress the impact of climate change and environmental degradation on human and food security in Nigeria and to show that `Climate change’ issues must be seriously addressed,’’ she said.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, the organisers of the forum was established to sustain Shehu Yar’Adua’s legacy.
The foundation promotes transparency, accountability and national unity in order to inspire Nigeria’s future generations with his life of service.(NAN)
EPA/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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Oil export: Court refuses to bar journalists from covering FG’s suit against Total
NAN-H-2
Export
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday dismissed an application to bar journalists from covering the case of alleged illegal oil export filed by the Federal Government against Total E&P Nig. Plc.

The federal government sued Total E&P Nig. Plc, alleging that the oil company under-declared the volume of crude oil it shipped out of the country between January 2011 and December 2014.

The federal government accused the oil company of short-changing it to the tune of 245 million dollars by allegedly shipping several barrels of crude oil out of Nigeria, without making due remittance to the government.

Total, through its lawyer, Mr Babatunde Fagbohunlu (SAN), on Tuesday brought an application, urging the court to bar journalists from covering and reporting the proceedings.

He had argued that the media reports made it appear as if his client had already been found guilty of the allegations levelled by the federal government.

Fagbohunlu said the media reports were pre-judging the case.

But in a short ruling, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun dismissed the application, stating that she could not bar journalists from performing their duties in court.

She reminded counsels that the court was a public place, which was also open to journalists.

However, she warned journalists to always report accurately.

Similarly, Justice Olatoregun also granted an application by the federal government to amend its pleadings in the case.

“The prayer of the plaintiff was to amend pleadings and same was disclosed as being urgent. The defendants failed to disclose any injury they will suffer if this application is granted.

“I find merit in granting this application to amend the process and the list of witnesses.

“This must be filed within 14 days from today. The defendants are at liberty to file consequential amendment if they choose to do so,” she held.

Justice Olatoregun adjourned further proceedings in the case tol Jan. 16, 2017.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government, through its lawyer, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), had said it filed the suit following a forensic analysis.

The analysis was said to be linking decline in oil revenue to alleged non-declaration or under-declaration of volume of crude oil shipped out of the country by the Total and other oil companies.

The federal government’s statements of claims were backed by supporting affidavits deposed to by three United States of America-based experts.

They include Prof. David Olowokere, a U.S. citizen and Lead Analyst at Loumos Group LLC, a technology and oil and gas auditing firm based in the US; Jerome Stanley, a counsel in the law firm of Henchy & Hackenberg.

According to the deponents, about 57 million barrels of crude oil were allegedly illegally exported by the defendant.

He said these were sold to buyers in the U.S. between January 2011 and December 2014 without making due remittance to the federal government.

The deponents claimed that the said crude oil was sold to Tostsa Total oil Trading SA of San Felipe Plaza-Suite 2100,5847SAN FELIPE, 770557-HOUSTON, U.S. at the port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The federal government claimed to have uncovered the alleged illegality using high-technology information technology system, including satellite tracking systems, which were deployed by its consultants.

The federal government is therefore seeking a court order, compelling Total E&P Nig. Plc to pay it 245 million dollars, “being the total value of the missing revenues from the shortfall/under-declared crude oil shipments’’.

The federal government wants 21 per cent interest per annum on the sum till final liquidation.

Again, it is also seeking general damages in the sum of 245 million dollars from Total E&P Nig. Plc.

NAN also recalls that the court had on Sept. 30, dismissed a preliminary objection filed by Total, urging the court to dismiss the federal government’s suit for failing to disclose a reasonable cause of action.

Similar suits had been filed by the federal government against Chevron Nig. Ltd, Agip Oil Company Ltd, Shell Western Supply & Trading Ltd, and others. (NAN)
UNS/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Journalists urged to join war against child Abuse

NAN-H-48

Abuse

By Kate Obande

Abuja, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has urged journalists to adequately report cases of violence against children, to address the menace.

Felicia Chukwurah, the Chairperson, FCT  NAWOJ chapter, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

She said that the media, whose primary responsibility is to educate, inform and enlighten the public, should be maximally utilised to eradicate violence against children in the country.

Chukwurah advised the media to ensure that their programmes do not impact negatively on children.

“We, as professionals, should use our communication tools to inform, sensitise and educate the public properly.

“We should take sensitisation seriously and help the society by reporting cases of violence against children, particularly the girl-child.

“We should step our actions on information and entertainment as the media has been accused of propagating such vices through television programmes.’’

According to her, many children act what they see, citing the example of entertainers who sag their trousers and the kids pick them as role models and begin to emulate them.

She urged the government to urgently establish special courts to handle cases of violence against children, to enable speedy trial and punishment of perpetrators.

She said that government should intensify efforts in ensuring that every child, especially the girl-child, was educated.

According to her, any child who is educated, will be an independent and self-sustaining adult, thereby eradicating poverty from the society.

The chairperson told NAN that the association, in its efforts to address violence against children, had embarked on various sensitisation programmes in the area councils of the FCT.

She explained that the programmes focused on rape and has both men and women as participants, for effective enlightenment. (NAN)

KTE/HS/NKO

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Editing by Halima Sheji/Nkechi Okoronkwo

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NAN-H-26

Corruption

By Lydia Ngwakwe

Lagos, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) The Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI), on Tuesday said that the anti-corruption program of President Muhammadu Buhari was gaining momentum and should be encouraged by all.

Mr Dennis Aghanya, the Executive Secretary of ARDI, said in a statement in Lagos that the program was openly accusing and prosecuting the “touchable and untouchables’’ in the society.

The statement came against the backdrop of the arrest of seven judges accused of corrupt practices by the Department of State Services.

The judges were arrested after a sting operation by the DSS, but later released on bail.

Aghanya said: “In the past, a serving judge could not be challenged of corrupt practices, but today they are arrested.’’

He, however, said that the allegation by two of the judges that the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, had, some time ago, approached them in a bid to manipulate judgments should be looked into.

“Amaechi and others should be subjected to the same questioning by the security agencies so that the masses can once more be assured that there is no sacred cow.

“An accusation does not make one guilty, but since other persons accused in recent times have been quizzed by the security agencies, Amaechi and others should be made to go through the same process,’’ Aghanya said.

He called on Nigerians to support the anti-corruption fight of President Buhari.

Two of the arrested judges, Justice Okoro Inyang and Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, had alleged that Amaechi spoke to them on different occasions, to influence judgments of two different elections.

Amaechi has, however, since dismissed the allegations as false.

LED/FF/SOA

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Edited by Fela Fashoro/Oluwole Sogunle