Blog

NAN-HE-8
Tax
By Ajayi Toba
Gbugbu (Kwara), Oct 17, 2016 (NAN) The Executive Chairman, Kwara Inland Revenue Service (KWIRS), Dr Muritala Awodu, has urged students in the state to serve as agents of tax education.

Awodu made the plea at the inauguration of Tax Clubs in Senior Secondary Schools on Monday in Gbugbu, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara.

Inaugurating the club at the Government Day School, Gbugbu, he advised the students to champion the cause of educating their parents on the importance of paying taxes and rates regularly.

He said the purpose of the club in secondary schools was to inculcate the sense of paying tax on the students at their formative years.

“The tax club introduced in secondary schools will serve as a medium of educating students about tax principles and to educate parents on the need to pay tax.

“By the time you grow up, you will know about tax. Why you should pay tax and it will no longer be strange to you.

“Members of Tax Club will serve as our vanguards on tax education across the state,” the chairman said.

The State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Mr Musa Yeketi, said the establishment of the Tax Club was in line with the club’s motto of  “catch them young’’.

The commissioner was represented by a Deputy Director in the ministry, Pastor Kayode Alabi.

Yeketi said the aim of the club was to prepare the youth for future economic development without stress and evolve a culture of responsibility in the youth.

He commended KWIRS for inaugurating the club and expressed his ministry’s readiness to collaborate with the revenue body to guarantee economic future of the state.

“It should be noted that the establishment of Tax Club is an opportunity for students to know what tax is all about and who to pay the tax.

“It will also serve as an opportunity for students to explore their creativity, showcase their talents, prepare them and expose them to future career path,” Yeketi said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 44 senior secondary schools in Kwara North were represented at the inauguration of the club.

Branded school bags and exercise books were presented to every member of the club at the inauguration. (NAN)
LEX/JI/AJA
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(Editing by Joseph Idika/Adeleye Ajayi)

Abuja barber gets 2 weeks in jail for breaking into hotel

NAN-H-40
Barber
By Ugochi Ugochukwu
Abuja, Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) A barber, Samson Peter, is to spend the next 14 days in jail in Abuja for breaking into a hotel in the night and fighting some guests, according to a ruling of FCT Area Court in Karmo.

Peter, 24, of Kado Village, Abuja, was given the sentence after  he pleaded guilty to the offence.

He begged the court for leniency and was given an option of N5, 000 fine.

The Judge, Abubakar Sadiq, who handed down the verdict, said it would serve as a deterrent to others.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Dalhatu Zannah, had told the court that on Oct. 9 that a man, Evenest Irate of Summit Villa Hotel at Life Camp, Abuja, reported the incident at the Life Camp Police Station.

According to him, the accused at about 10. 06 p.m., entered the hotel and started fighting some guests.

During the fight, the accused broke some bottles and pot worth N9, 500, Zannah said.

The offence contravened Section 327 of the Penal Code. (NAN)

UGO/DA
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Edited by Dele Akinsola

NAN-H-41

Release

By Yinka Olawale

Lagos, Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) on Monday commended the Federal Government for facilitating the release of 21 of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped in April 2014.

The girls were among over 200 students of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, kidnapped on April 14, 2014 in Borno.

The Deputy President of NAPTAN, Mr Adeolu Ogunbanjo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the federal government had proven that it was responsive to the plight of Nigerians.

Ogunbanjo said the release of the girls last week had restored the hope of the common man in the present administration.

He urged the government to intensify effort on the release of the remaining girls.

“The federal government must be commended for this effort.

“The Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group also deserves commendation for being persistent.

“The group was resilient in its demands for the release of the girls for over two years.

“In the past 12 weeks, the group had been telling the government to do something and the government has finally proved that it is a responsive government.

“Beyond that, we are happy as parents that the government has taken up the education and rehabilitation of the girls; this is also commendable.

“It is a good development, we commend the federal government for this effort,’’ the deputy president said.

Ogunbanjo also lauded the government for involving the Swedish government and the Red Cross in getting the girls out of the hands of their abductors.

“It is a good development that the President asked for international support, which yielded positive result.

“The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, over the weekend, said the federal government would work towards releasing more girls in the next batch.

“We are going to hold the minister to his words and we are waiting for the safe return of the remaining girls,’’ he said.

The deputy president also said the association would collaborate with states and federal government in providing adequate security in both public and private schools in the country.

He said the issue of security in schools had become a national problem, which should not be left to the government alone.

NAN recalls that the Boko Haram insurgents on Thursday morning released the 21 Chibok schoolgirls.

The minister said the release of the girls was “a product of painstaking negotiations and trust on both sides’’. (NAN)
OOG/AIB/SOA

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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Oluwole Sogunle

NAN-H-30

Lovers

By Deborah Akpede

Lagos, Oct. 17, 2016(NAN) A businessman, Kingsley Agina, has approached an Igando Customary Court in Lagos, to end his 10-year-old marriage to his wife, Obianju, accusing her of bringing men to their matrimonial home for sex.

Agina, 49, told the court on Monday that his wife, with whom he had four children also, poisons his food.

“My wife is promiscuous; she used to bring men into my house to sleep with them, whenever I travelled abroad for business.

“There was a day I came back from my business trip, I discovered that my glass center table was broken.

“I asked my daughter who broke it, she told me that it was one uncle her mother brought home that broke it.

“There was also a day I discovered that my bed was shaking, I called a carpenter to come and repair it.

“ But when we lifted the bed up, we saw several used tissue paper under the bed,’’ he said.

The petitioner alleged that his wife used to withdraw money with his ATM card and give her boyfriends.

He also accused his wife of poisoning his food.

“Since year 2008, I have noticed that my food was being laced with poison, which has resulted to my deteriorating health; I could not sleep nor walk.

“I have spent about N5 million on medical treatment, but I never get well in fact my health is getting worst.

“My mother-in-law is a native doctor, she has a shrine; she has been the one giving her daughter poison to kill me so that they can inherit my property.

“Since I became sick, my wife’s parent never called or came to my house to ask how I was feeling,’’ he said.

Kinsley begged the court to dissolve the marriage on the ground of lack of love.

Obianju, 35, a businesswoman, however, denied all the allegations.

She said that it was her husband that was promiscuous.

“My husband brings home different girls of different sizes and colours.

“I once saw condom in his bag, so I went to buy him a packet of condom and gave him.

“ He queried me on my action and I told him that he needs it, so that he will not contact any disease to infect me.

“I have been faithful to our marital vow; I have never had sex with any other man. My husband married me a virgin at the age of 25,’’ she said.

The mother of four said that she never poisoned her husband.

“How will I poison the father of my children, what do I stand to gain, my hands are clean, I don’t know how poison got into his body,’’ she said.

Obinaju said that the N100, 000 she withdrew with her husband’s ATM card was for the upkeep of the house.

She made a fervent plea to the court not to dissolve the marriage.

The respondent said that she still loves her husband.

The court president, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, after listening to the couple adjourned the case to Dec. 6 for judgment. (NAN)

DOA/DEB/MZA

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Edited by Debo Oshundun and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

FG working on new draft National Policy on Information-Minister

NAN-H-51

Policy

By Emma Nwoye

Jos, Oct.17 (NAN) Mr Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, said on Monday in Jos that the Federal Government was working assiduously to finalise work on the new draft National Policy on Information.

Mohammed spoke at the stakeholders’ conference on ‘National Communication Policy and Strategy,’ held at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos.

Mohammed was represented by Mr Peter Dama, Director, Press and Publicity in the Federal Ministry of Information at the conference with the theme ‘Towards a Comprehensive National Communication Policy and Strategy.’’

He said the theme of the conference was apt, considering the ongoing efforts of the administration in ensuring accountability, the rule of law, good governance, freedom of information and expression, among others.

According to him, the National Communication Policy in Nigeria has not been properly developed beyond an attempt in 1987 that produced a draft made to serve the former Ministry of Information.

“However, following the demerger of the now Federal Ministry of Communication Technology from the Federal Ministry of Information, there was need to recast and compartmentalise the policy document,” he said.

He said that the draft National Information Policy document now in its final process had been fashioned to provide a framework with which modern information systems and strategies can be deployed for national development.

“The draft National Information Policy by the Federal Ministry of Information is being formulated to address our aspirations through eliminating the gaps and disparities in information sharing and management.

“It also promotes widespread access to participation in ownership of information processes and systems in view of the centrality of information to national development.

“The draft National Information Policy also foresees the emergence of a nation in constant dialogue with itself and the world.

”The main purpose of the policy is to provide regulation and functioning communication system in Nigeria with due attention to challenges and opportunities inherent in a globalising world driven by digital technologies, “he said.

He said government was working hard to meet up with the June 2017 Digital Switch Over deadline, noting that the Switch Over was launched in Jos in April.

“Hopefully, by December, 2016, Digital Switch Over in Abuja will be launched,” he said.

Declaring the conference open, Gov. Simon Lalong said that most of the crises witnessed in the country would have been averted through adequate communication.

Represented by the Commissioner for Information, Mohammed Nazif, he said that the nation needed a comprehensive policy that would serve as a guiding principle to communication. (NAN)

ECN/OU

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EditedBy Obike Ukoh

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Woman leader urges FG to provide psycho-social assistance to IDPs

NAN-HG-11

By Yashim Katurak Rebecca

IDPs

Abuja, Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) Mrs Liyatu Ayuba, Women Leader, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp, Durumi, Garki Area 1, Abuja, has urged the Federal Government to provide psycho-social assistance to all IDPs.

Ayuba made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.

She said many IDPs were facing various degrees of trauma from their experiences during the insurgent attacks in the North East.

Ayuba said that she often saw some persons in the camp, especially women, speaking incoherently, adding that sometimes some persons take off running even when they were not being pursued.

She noted that this behaviour may have been as a result of the trauma these people experienced during the attacks as some of them lost their husbands, wives, children and relatives.

“If a psychiatrist comes to check us, I am sure that he or she will find most of us to be unwell; some people cannot even sleep at night.

“Just a few days ago, a woman died while giving birth here in the camp; she did not get the medical assistance she needed; she bled a lot and spoke incoherently a lot.

“I know that this woman lost her husband and she was left to fend for all the children which is not an easy thing to do. Sometimes she will just enter the road and be speaking like she has a mental problem.

“Some of the women act in a very unstable manner; they talk to themselves. Some will just start running away when no one is pursuing them.

“Anyone who sees this will think that they have ‘juju’, but I do not think that is the case. I think it is the trauma they got from the insurgent attacks and the death of their family members.

“Most of the organisations and agencies of government that have come to assist us focus mainly on our physical health and look out for signs of malaria, diarrhoea, cough and so on.

“We are yet to see anyone who will come to check and monitor our mental state and we need this; it is very important because of the trauma from the events that happened,” Ayuba said.

She said that there was presently a stereotype on mental disorder as a lot of people shied away from being associated with the condition even when they clearly need assistance.

Ayuba, who said they were about 2,263 persons in the camp presently excluding children and new born babies, raised concern over the poor condition in which they lived.

According to her, some of the women living in the camp have as many as nine children and they have to squeeze themselves in a small space to sleep.

“We have tried to make accommodation for ourselves using sack bags, some also use nylon to protect themselves from the rain but this has not helped as the rain still gets in and the camp is flooded whenever it rains.

“There is no toilet in the camp and a place for us to bath. Since food was distributed to the women during the fasting period, none has been given yet,” she said.

Ayuba said she had been in the camp for four years now after she lost her husband and a missionary took her to a hospital in the FCT to nurture her son who was injured in a bomb blast.

She said that since her discharge from the hospital after her son’s death, she has been selling food to make earns meet with the financial token given to her by a Good Samaritan. (NAN)

KRY/EAL/MST
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Court remands woman for stealing neighbour’s turkey

NAN-H-29

Stealing

By Elusogbon Dorcas

Ile-Ife (Osun) Oct 17, 2016 (NAN) An Osun Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ile-Ife, on Monday remanded one Sola Ajayi, 41, in prison custody for allegedly stealing her neighbour’s turkey.

Chief Magistrate Olalekan Ijiyode, remanded the accused in prison custody pending the perfection of her bail, as applied by her counsel, Mr Olalekan Babatunde.

Babatunde had applied for bail after the accused pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge of stealing.

The magistrate granted the accused bail in the sum of N30, 000 with one surety in like sum.

The court ordered that the surety must be a civil servant, who must swear to an affidavit of means and reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

Ijiyode ordered that the woman should remain in prison custody until the perfection of the bail conditions.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Sunday Osanyintuyi, had earlier  told the court that the accused committed the offence on Oct. 16, 2016 around 4 pm at Iloromu Quarters, Mokuro, Ile-Ife.

Osanyintuyi said that the accused stole a live Canadian turkey valued N30, 000, property of one Khadijat Lamidi.

The case has been adjourned to Nov. 26, for hearing.(NAN)
EDA/TO/MZA
Edited by Tola Okinbaloye and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

Osun court remands C & S prophetess in prison custody

NAN-H-34

Bail

By Elusogbon Dorcas

Ile-Ife (Osun) Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) A C & S prophetess, 41-year-old Sola Ajayi, who allegedly stole a Canadian-breed life turkey valued at N30, 000,  is to remain behind bars, an Ile Ife Magistrates’ Court in Osun ruled on Monday.

Ajayi was ordered to be kept in prison custody over his inability to perfect her bail.

Chief Magistrate Olalekan Ijiyode had granted her bail  in the sum of N30, 000 with one surety in like sum.

Ijiyode added that the surety must be a civil servant and should also reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no civil servant showed up to stand surety for her and the magistrate remanded the prophetess in prison custody until the bail condition was met.

The accused was arraigned on a charge of stealing to which she pleaded not guilty.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Sunday Osanyintuyi, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Oct. 16 at about  4.00 p.m. at Iloromu Quarters, Mokuro, Ile Ife.

Osanyintuyi said the accused stole the life turkey valued at N30, 000, property of a woman, Khadijat Lamidi.

The offence contravened Section 390 of the Criminal Code,Laws of Osun, 2002.

Counsel to the accused, Mr Olalekan Babatunde, urged the court to grant her bail.

The case was adjourned to Nov. 26 for hearing. (NAN)
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Edited by Dele Akinsola

NAN-AE-5
Farmers
Shuaibu Tatu/Awalu Yusuf
Birinin Kebbi, Oct.17, 2016 (NAN) The Kebbi Government said it has set a target of producing over two million metric tonnes of wheat and rice by the end of 2016 farming season.

Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, made the known on Monday in Birinin Kebbi during the 2016 National Pre-Season training workshop on irrigated wheat production, processing and utilisation for farmers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was organised by the Lake Chad Research Institute in collaboration with the Flour Miller Association of Nigeria.

The governor said that his administration would assist farmers’ association in promoting rice and wheat production to achieve the target and ensure food sufficiency.

Bagudu, who commended the organisers of the workshop and the participants, said the state was ready to participate in anything related to agriculture to achieve national food sufficiency.

He said the training programme was timely as the country needed to enhance agriculture to boost the economy.

Bagudu stressed the need for states to be encouraged toward increasing their wheat production.

He urged farmers to do their very best in enhancing rice and wheat production in the country.

The State’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Garba Muhammad, described wheat as part of commodities the country aimed to domesticate.

He urged all principle actors to be committed to the venture.

Mohammad pledged that the state would meet the target of two million metric tonnes of wheat and rice by the end of this farming season. (NAN)
SZT /BKD/JEO/AFA
Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka/Felix Ajide
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NAN-H-35
Certificate
By Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) The International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Monday formally presented Med-View Airline with its Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) Certificate.

The certificate was presented to the airline’s Managing Director, Alhaji Muneer Bankole by IATA’s Area Manager, South-West Africa, Mr Samson Fatokun in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IOSA programme is an internationally recognised and accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline.

Created by IATA in 2003, IOSA uses internationally recognised quality audit principles and is designed to conduct audits in a standardised and consistent manner.

Successful companies are included in the IOSA registry for a period of 2 years following an audit carried out by an organisation accredited by IATA.

With the presentation, Med-View Airline has now joined Arik Air, Aero Contractors, FirstNation Airways, Allied Air and Overland Airways as the IOSA certified airlines operating in Nigeria.

Speaking at the ceremony, Bankole noted that the process of certification began over two years ago when the airline received a request to enroll for the programme.

He said this was in line with the Abuja Declaration of 2012 that all African airlines should complete their IOSA certification by December 2017 toward enhancing air safety in the continent.

Bankole thanked the staff of Med-View and its customers for the support and patronage, adding that the airline would not relent in its quest to enhance safety.

He appealed to the Federal Government to support domestic airlines in addressing the challenges of scarcity of aviation fuel and foreign exchange which were critical to their operations.

“The industry today is challenging. Government must support the airlines because of their significance to Nigeria’s image and the economy,’’ Bankole said.

Congratulating Med-View for achieving the feat, Fatokun said many airlines which started the programme could not complete it due to its rigorous nature.

He said: “It is a thing of joy for any airline on this part of the globe to be on IOSA register.

“That means you are operating on the same level of safety with other globally known airlines on the IOSA register.

“It takes a lot of hard work to go through the process. So, we want to congratulate the Med-View management and staff for achieving this IOSA certification.’’

Fatokun urged the airline not to relent on its oars because the register was reviewed by IATA every two years, adding that they should work assiduously to remain in the register.

He urged them to strive to become formally registered with IATA in order to be able to play on a global level and be an example to other African airlines. (NAN)
ASO/PDE
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(Controlled by Peter Ejiofor)