Blog

Kaduna court sentences 25-year-old man, to death by hanging
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Hanging
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) A Kaduna High Court siting at Dogarawa, Zaria, on Tuesday sentenced a 25-year-old man, Hassan Adamu, to death by hanging for homicide.

The judge, Justice Kabir Dabo, who convicted Adamu after he pleaded guilty, discharged and acquitted, Abubakar Adamu, the second accused based on insufficient evidence.

Dabo said after listening to submission, deliberations and witnesses from both sides, the court hereby sentenced first accused to death by hanging under Section 221 of Penal Code of Northern Nigeria.

Adamu, who resides at Tudun Jukun, Zaria, was convicted on a two-count-charge of homicide and criminal conspiracy.

The first and second convict persons were dragged before the court for killing of Shamsuddeen Adamu, 27.

They stabbed the deceased with a knife in three different areas of his body, including his hand, back and stomach which subsequently led to his death.

The case which had been on for a long time was filed four years ago by counsel to the state government, Mr Aku Alexander-Amadi of Ministry of Justice. (NAN)
KLM/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha

No breakthrough on Ceta this week: President of EU parliament

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Negotiation

Berlin, Oct. 25, 2016 (dpa/NAN) There will be no breakthrough in negotiations over a controversial EU-Canada trade deal this week, EU Parliament President Martin Schulz, said on Tuesday.

Schulz said that a summit set to be attended by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should be postponed.

“I do not think that we will have a solution this week,this seems very, very difficult to me,” Schulz said.

Belgium’s government has failed to sway the country’s francophone Wallonia region to support the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which is supposed to be signed by Trudeau and European Union officials at the summit in Brussels on Thursday.

CETA is designed to ease the flow of goods between Canada and the EU by removing tariffs and trade barriers and requires all 28 EU member states to be on board.

Belgium is the only country that has not given its approval.

Wallonia has vowed to stall the country’s approval until its concerns about the deal’s impact on social and environmental laws have been addressed.

“Such a transatlantic trade agreement is not some little contract on the sale of a used car; it is an unprecedented trade agreement of global importance.

“If you need another 14 days, then you postpone the summit,” Schulz said. (dpa/NAN)
OYE/AMY

Edited by Damilola Oyewole and Abdullahi Yusuf

KDSG earmarks N424m to rehabilitate skills training centres

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Project
By Mohammad Tijjani
Kaduna, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) The Kaduna State Government has earmarked N424 million to rehabilitate, restructure, and equip Business Apprenticeship Training Centers (BATCs) across the state in 2017.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the figure is contained in the breakdown of the 2017 Budget obtained from the Ministry of Budget and Planning.

Gov. Nasir El-Rufai had on Oct. 12, presented to the state Assembly a total budget of N215.9 billion for the 2017 fiscal year.

The budget has a provision of N130.3 billion for capital spending and N85.5 billion for recurrent.

According to the budget document, N1.1billion was allocated to the Ministry for Commerce, Industry and Tourism for its services in the coming year.

The document also indicated that N250 million would be spent on the development of Green Economic Zone Projects.

It also shows that government would spend N108 million on the development of markets at Kafanchan and Zaria.

The document further stated that N77.1 million was earmarked for the establishment of Business Support Centre while N69.8 million was allocated for the design of Technology Parks. (NAN)

TJ/EAL/MZA
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi/Maharazu Ahmed
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Motorists

By Maureen Ojinaka-Nwanosike

Enugu, Oct.25, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has urged motorists to comply with traffic laws to prevent accidents during the Ember Months.

The FRSC Sector Commander in Enugu State, Mr David Mendie, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Tuesday.

Mendie also appealed to motorists and road users to comply with safety precautions by observing the road signs so as to stay alive as the Ember Months ushered in the last four months of the year.

The commander said the call became imperative because of the increased vehicular activities on the roads during the Ember Months as well as festive periods that followed it.

He advised motor park unions to ensure that its members continued to ensure that the ban on alcohol in parks remained in force, as it would prevent accident and check reckless driving on the road.

Mendie, said the FRSC had devices to test alcoholic drivers, saying that when any driver was tested positive, his journey would be terminated by the officials until the effect of the alcohol was reduced to the barest minimum.

The sector commander also advised pedestrians to always walk opposite and against up-coming traffic rather than walking beside; adding that it would help them to avoid accident.

“Pedestrians are advised to stick to the pedestrian lane, walk against coming vehicles and always use the pedestrian bridge.

“Nigerians should always draw the attention of FRSC officials whenever they notice any reckless driving,’’ he said. (NAN)
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Edited by Morayo Omolade and Abdullahi Yusuf

South African CEOs call for Gordhan charges to be dropped

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Charges

Johannesburg, Oct. 24, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) At least 80 heads of top South African firms, including Anglo American, Barclays Africa Group and Naspers want fraud charges against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan to be dropped, the report said.

“The top executives of mostly-listed firms in Africa ranging from mining, media, retail and banking had said that political wrangling was damaging an already stalling economy at a time the country faced a sovereign credit downgrade.

“We stand as one for the rule of law and against the decision to prosecute the Minister of Finance on charges that are, according to the preponderance of expert legal opinion, without factual or legal foundation,” the CEOs said.

The charges say Gordhan, while running the tax agency, fraudulently approved early retirement for a deputy commissioner and re-hired him as a consultant, costing the tax agency around 1.79,000 dollars.

The minister has dismissed the accusations as frivolous and politically motivated.

Analysts and supporters of Gordhan, whose first court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 2, argue that the charges could be a ploy by President Jacob Zuma allies to discredit him.

The president has said he is not in conflict with Gordhan and the country’s top prosecutor has denied that the charges are politically motivated.

Gordhan said last week his relations with Zuma were very good.

The corporate leaders joined opposition parties, analysts, and top leaders inside the ruling African National Congress, including Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, who have publicly expressed support for Gordhan. (Reuters/NAN)
OYE/AMY
Edited by Damilola Oyewole and Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-S-19
Coach
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) Ex-Belgium coach, Marc Wilmots has rejected a chance to lead Algeria after contract talks collapsed over finances.

Frenchman Rolland Courbis now likely to take over Nigeria’s World Cup rivals.

According to the Algerian Football Federation (FAF), negotiations between Wilmots and FAF President, Mohamed Raouraoua, which was held in Brussels, broke down over finances.

It was, however, speculated that the Belgian coach’s asking price was beyond the budget of Algeria.

As a result,  Courbis has now emerged as the favourite to replace the Serb Milovan Rajevac.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Rajevac quit his post earlier this month after Cameroon forced Algeria to a 1-1 draw in Blida in a World Cup qualifier.

NAN also recalls that Belgium under Wilmots were one of the leading favourites to win the 2016 Euros in France only for them to fail so miserably. (NAN)
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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Yusuf Zango

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Award

By Victor Okoye

Abuja, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) Nigerian international William Troost-Ekong has been nominated for the best defender award in the Norwegian Tippeligaen.

His nomination for the Norwegian top flight award was posted on the club’s official website.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Eagles’ star made the list of nominees for the most outstanding players in Norway this season following his awe-inspiring performance.

The 23-year-old joined FK Haugesund on loan from K.A.A Gent.

From his defensive duties, the Nigeria international boasts of three goals from 23 matches to help Andrea Loberto’s men place fourth on the log with 44 points.

NAN recalls that the versatile defender played a key role in Nigeria U23’s bronze medal finish at the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil. (NAN)

VO/MO/YAZ
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Edited by Morayo Omolade/

Geography proffers solution to basic human needs-lecturer

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Geography

By Ajibola Olaniyi

Osogbo, Oct. 25, 2016(NAN)A senior lecturer in the Department of
Geography, Osun State University, Osogbo, Dr Kayode Alamu,
said geography provided solution to basic human needs.

Alamu said this in an interview with the News Agency of
Nigeria(NAN) in Osogbo on Tuesday.

He explained that geography, being a social relevance, addressed
basic problems of the society like, hunger, inequality, disease and
others through applied research.

According to him, the discipline encompasses the techniques and
tactics of exploring the environment optimally for the benefit of the
generality of the people.

‘’The prevailing ignorance of geography and its inherent values is
responsible for many of the persisting human problems that continued
to plague humanity.

‘’ The age-long menace of poverty, disease, inequality and a host of
others can easily be curbed by using the knowledge of geography, and to
explore the environment optimally.

‘’Geography is indeed a diverse phenomenon, with its unique real
variation, that touches international affairs, location analysis,
political redistricting coupled with urban and regional planning, ” Alamu said.

He said that every spectacular
discovery in the world today emanated from the knowledge of geography.

He called on stakeholders in the educational sector to  reemphasise the teaching  of
the subject in schools.

‘’The lackadaisical approach of many policy makers in the educational
sector in some of the states of the federation is solely responsible for
the waning of geography in our schools.

‘’Many of the states have refused to teach their students with the new
curriculum we sent to them and continued to teach with old ones, which
deprived the students the opportunity to be up-to-date.

‘’I am imploring stakeholders in the educational sector to encourage
the teaching of geography for better understanding of the strategy for
development through exploration of nature,’’ he said.(NAN)

DOO/LDA/LDA

Edited by Lawal Ado

NAN-S-16
Awua
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) Inter Milan Director, Peter Fuscoas has heaped praise on Nigerian wonder kid, Theophilus Awua, as his performance hasn’t gone unnoticed by the upper ends at the Milan based side.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Awua, who played for Football Academy Abuja, has been in fine form for the Primavera side.

Awua arrived Inter from Serie B side Spezia this summer, where he had pre-season training with the main team.

However, Fusco was quoted on the club’s website as saying that the club had been monitoring him since he played against their youth team at the Viareggio Youth Tournament.

“Awua has been with us for a short time, but we know him right from when he played against us at the Viareggio, so at the end of the season, we asked specially for him.

“He is a midfielder with a great amount of quality, a destroyer in the making and there is still room for him to grow further in the game.

“He reminds me of Danielle De Rossi but he is less physical but very athletic.”

Fusco also confirmed reports that the 18 year-old cost Inter-Milan 200,000 euros in loan fee, with a fee of two million pounds agreed as permanent transfer in the summer, if he progresses as expected.

“Yes, the figure of his loan and transfer fee are correct as speculated.

“For now, he could have some difficulty playing in the first team, so the Primavera is the right place for him to grow and improve his game.

“It’s premature to speak on if he will be signed permanently in the summer.

“The season has just began and it’s right we allow the player progress with his game before speaking about the chances of him signing a permanent deal in June,” Fusco said. (NAN)

VO/MO/YAZ
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Edited by Morayo Omolade/Yusuf Zango

NAN-H-6
Stealing
By Monday Ajogun
Benin, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) An Egor Magistrates’ Court, Benin, on Tuesday sentenced a 22-year-old man, Kingsley Friday, to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour for stealing an Elepaq generator.

The Magistrates, Mrs Igho Braimoh, sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing and begged for leniency.

Prosecutor  Osayomwanbor Omoruyi had told the court that Friday, with others at large, committed the offence at about 10 p.m., at No. 9 Igiedo Str., Uselu Quarters, Benin, on Oct. 16.

Omoruyi said the convict stole one Elepaq generator valued N25, 000, belonging to Victor Oghenekone.

He said the offence contravened sections 516 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code. (NAN)
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Edited by Felix Nwadioha