Blog

NAN-S-18
Tennis
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Oct. 12, 2016 (NAN) No fewer than 62 students are competing for honours as the All-Kwara Secondary Schools Tennis Competition kicked off on Wednesday in Ilorin.

The competition’s Coordinator, Wale Obalola, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ilorin at the State Stadium Complex, venue of the tournament.

He told NAN after the competition’s draws that 32 students in the male category have been drawn while only 21 students have registered so far in the female category.

“The other female players are yet to conclude their registration,’’ Obalola said.

He added that if the other female players did not scale through the screening, the rated players in the competition would be seeded.

“The others will move into the second round by drawing bye,’’ the official said.

NAN reports that in some of the matches played on Wednesday in the male category Omolegbe Jerry defeated Abdulganiyu Ridwan 4-0 4-0.

Also, Abdulrazaq Aliyu beat Olaitan Tomiwa 4-0 4-0, while Mahmud Abdulrauf defeated Abdulganiyu Ridwan 4-1 4-0.(NAN)

(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

NAN-DS-14
Alert
By Yakubu Uba
Yola, Oct. 12, 2016 (NAN) Following Wednesday’s bomb blast in Maiduguri, the Adamawa Police Command, has called on the people of the state to be security conscious.

The call is contained in a press statement signed by SP Othman Abubakar, the command Public Relations Officer and issued to newsmen on Wednesday in Yola.

The statement drew the attention of the people to the prevailing security challenges in the North-East and urged them to be security conscious.

It urged the people to the vigilant and alert at all times, adding that they should not to accept or keep items presented to them by strangers.

The statement called on the people to report any suspicious movement of persons and strange objects to the police or other security agencies closer to them.

It urged them to call GSM number 08089671313 if they are in distress or under security threat “for urgent attention by the police.” (NAN)
YMU/AEA/AEA
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Edited by Archibong Asuquo

NAN-DS-13
Explosion (Update)
By Lizzy Agbaji
Abuja, Oct. 12, 2016 (NAN) Eight persons died and 15 others were injured in an explosion that occurred early on  Wednesday at  Muna Motor park, Maiduguri, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), confirmed.

The agency made the confirmation in a statement issued by Mr Sanni Dati, Head of Media, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in Abuja.

Dati said that a rescue team from NEMA responded to the incident and evacuated the injured and the dead to University of  Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and Borno State Specialist Hospital.

He said the motor park, located on the outskirt of Maiduguri, was used by motorists travelling to areas, such as  Dikwa and  Gamboru Ngala in Borno.

Dati said security had  been beefed up at the scene of explosion.

The police had earlier confirmed five persons dead after a suspected female suicide bomber detonated  explosives near the garage.

Mr Victor Isuku, the spokesman for the Police Command in Borno, said that about 8.30a.m. an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion occurred in a Golf 1 car.

He said the vehicle, No JERE 349 XA, body S/No RTEAN 7179 taxi colour was carrying five people – four females and a male driver.

Isuku said the explosion occurred around Muna garage along Maiduguri /Gamboru Ngala road when the taxi was attempting to join vehicles heading to Gamboru town.

He said the four female passengers and the driver died but added that the bomber was suspected to have boarded the vehicle on the road.

“The suicide bomber who is reasonably believed to be one of the female casualties, was picked along the road,” Isuku said.

He ,however, said that the explosion did not affect other vehicles. (NAN)
LIZ/JCE
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Orubebe appeals CCT judgment on property

NAN-H-9

Appeal

By Martins Odeh

Abuja, Oct.12, 2016 (NAN) Mr Godsday Orubebe, ex-minister of Niger Delta, on Wednesday approached the Court of Appeal Abuja to set aside judgment of the Code of Conduct Tribunal that convicted him for non-declaration of an asset.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the notice of appeal filed on Oct.12, was made available to newsmen by lead counsel to the appellant, Mr Selekeowei Larry (SAN).

Mr Danladi Umar, Chairman of the tribunal, delivering the judgment on Oct. 4, ordered the forfeiture of the asset, a plot of land located in Asokoro part of the FCT to the Federal Government.

Umar also held that the appellant surreptitiously hid the asset from the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) for selfish reasons.

He held that the claim of the appellant that he (Orubebe) divested the property to a third party was an act to cover up the criminal act.

But counsel to the appellant said the tribunal erred in law when it held that the appellant was found guilty as charged.

He said the tribunal equally erred in law when it on the above premise ordered the forfeiture of Plot 2057 at Asokoro District, which did not belong to the appellant.

The appeal said the property was neither acquired corruptly nor purchased by the appellant, adding that it was a gift from the respondent (Federal Government).

The notice of appeal said the tribunal further erred when it held the appellant remained the owner of the property despite evidence of transfer to a third party.

“The learned trial tribunal erred in law when it held that the appellant remains the owner of Plot 2057, Asorko District, when evidence clearly shows various deeds of transfer.

“Not only were the deed of assignment, deed of sale and power of attorney tendered and admitted in evidence, the two defence witnesses testified to the transaction without contradiction.

“There is no time limit for regularisation of title at the Lands Registry,’’ it said.

The notice of appeal also said: “Under the law, the first defence witness (Divention Properties Ltd) is the holder of equitable interest in the said plot having paid for it.

“The finding of the tribunal is perverse and should be vacated in the interest of justice,’’ it said.

Advancing argument, the appellant counsel said “the judgment does not in any way contemplate our law’’.

“Our law does not ascribe ownership of a plot of land as in this case to the person who had divested his interest by selling to another.

“Orubebe had divested his interest in the said Plot 2057 Asokoro District, an empty land in the bush when he sold it to Mr Akinwumi Ajibola who claimed same in his evidence.

“In fact, the appellant made it very clear to the tribunal that the transaction was well made before his last declaration of assets held to be in breach of the law,’’ Larry said.

Larry also said: “Let us even assume without conceding that Orubebe did not declare the property, it would still not amount to infraction because the Plot 2057 was a gift by the respondent.’’

“In one sentence, the judgment of the tribunal was simply a travesty of justice,’’ he added.

NAN further reports that Orubebe was a minister under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan and became popular when he tried to disrupt the collation of the 2015 presidential election results. (NAN)

OMO/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-81

Appointment

Kano, Oct. 12, 2016(NAN) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State on Wednesday, swore in Hajiya Hafsat Kawu as Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Women Affairs.
‎

‎Ganduje ‎urged the new appointee to use her wealth of experience to move the state civil service forward.‎

‎He also congratulated the new permanent secretary on her elevation and urged her to be proactive with innovations.

‎‎The Governor said that the government would continue to transform the state’s workforce for improved service delivery.‎

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the governor presented a cheque of N5 million to family of a medical doctor with the state specialist hospital, Dr. Mudassir Sani ‎who died in a motor accident in Kano.

The governor also presented a cheque of N180,000 to the family of the deceased for ‎the payment of school fees for his three children.

‎In his remarks, the father of the deceased, Alhaji Sani Yakasai, thanked the state government for the gesture and prayed for the ‎repose of the soul of the deceased.(NAN)

MNT/AK/‎MTM

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Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Tukur Muntari.

NAN-DS-12
Base
Baga (Borno State), Oct. 12, 2016 (NAN) The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has assured that the proposed Naval Base at the Lake Chad would consolidate Nigeria’s efforts in ending the Boko Haram insurgency.

Ibas gave the assurance on Wednesday while briefing newsmen after inspecting the site of the proposed base in Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

He said that the Federal Government decided to establish the base in the area because of its strategic importance.

“I think that the decision was taken by the President because the lake stands at a strategic
location.

“You are aware that it provides means of communication for the four nations bordering the area.”

“You are also aware that inside the lake lies resources that might be of interest to the country.”

“But for us, I think our being there will help to consolidate our fight against terrorism and provide security for the post conflict recovery of the people.’’

Ibas said that his visit to the area was to get first class information on the establishment of the naval base, noting that “my visit to Borno is to personally appraise the ongoing operations to rid the nation of the Boko Haram terrorism.

“I also want to use the opportunity to assess the level of preparations for the induction of Naval forces in the base that we are establishing in the Lake Chad area.”

The Naval chief, however, lamented that the Boko Haram terrorists had destroyed almost all the infrastructure that would facilitate the take-off of the base in the area.

“The madness we had brought down almost all the infrastructure in the area.

“There is need to repair the communication facilities, the access road and other vital things in the area.

“Even government buildings there have been torn apart, this is not only a challenge for the people there but also a problem to the government as resources are scarce now.

“Putting those facilities back is our major challenge now.”

He said the location for the base needed access road, stressing that “we will also need electricity supply, you are aware that all communication facilities have been brought down, we need those things to settle down fast.

“All these are apart from the operational requirements which the Federal Government has provided for us.’’

He, however, expressed optimism that all the challenges would be tackled in the nearest future. (NAN)
ABI/FF/HA
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(Edited by Fela Fashoro/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NAN-H-82

Hotel

By Ajayi Toba

Ilorin, Oct.12, 2016 (NAN) The Chairman, Harmony Holdings, Prof. Halidu Abubakar, has said that the company has taken over the management of the government-owned Kwara Hotel, to reposition and make it profitable.

Abubakar said this while addressing newsmen during the inspection of the hotel by the company’s board on Wednesday in Ilorin.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the company formally took over the hotel  on  Oct. 11.

The hotel was established in 1975 by the state government under the leadership of late Col. David Bamigboye, the then Military Administrator of the defunct Kwara.

The Chairman, who is also the Emir of Ilesha Baruba, said the hotel could not be allowed to degenerate.

He said the new management would ensure the best working environment and turn things around for the good of the people.

Abubakar expressed concern over the backlog of salaries owed the workers of the hotel, saying that the situation was disturbing.

“We are aware of the workers’ situation. Their pain is our pain and we are ready to dialogue if they give us attention.

“We want everything done on time as renovation of the hotel will commence as soon as possible,” he said.

He called for public cooperation and prayers for the new management to succeed.

“I feel like weeping when I see the status of this hotel as it’s gradually degenerating.

“We in Harmony Holdings deem it fit to rescue the situation because we are also from Kwara,” he said. (NAN) LEX/YMU

Edited by Yakubu Uba/Idris Abdulrahman

Court remands 2 over alleged N25.2m fraud

NAN-H-8

Remand

Abuja, Oct. 12, 2016 (NAN) An FCT High Court on Wednesday ordered that two men, Gabriel Anebi and Ogunyemi Oluwadare, be remanded in prison custody over alleged N25.2 million fraud.

However, Anebi and Oluwadare, former staff of Advance Link Petroleum Limited, pleaded not guilty to the 22-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery and fraud.

Justice Abubakar Talba of FCT High Court, Gudu District, ordered their remand pending trial according to the prayer of the EFCC prosecution.

The court said it considered but refused the oral application for their bail by the defence counsel led P.A. Ogwuchie.

Instead, the counsels were asked to file their written application for bail on Oct. 13.

The prosecutor told the court that sometime in May and November 2011, while in the employment of Advance Link Petroleum Ltd, the defendants conspired to commit illegal act.

He said the illegal act consisted of theft of N25.2 million, being monies meant to be paid to NNPC Retail Ltd through its Zenith Bank account.

He said this act was done through forgeries consisting of illegal documents.

The court adjourned the hearing to Nov.15. (NAN)

SET/YMU/MST

Edited by Yakubu Uba/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-80

Surveyors

By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Oct. 12, 2016 (NAN) Women-In-Survey (WIS), says that recurring building collapse and  environmental disasters could be reduced if surveyors are involved in structural planning and environmental control.

They expressed this opinion at the South-West Zonal meeting of WIS in Ibadan on Wednesday.

The National Coordinator of WIS, Mrs Elizabeth Adekunle, said the non-involvement of surveyors in several construction and environmental control projects had led to several failures in the area.

Adekunle urged girls to study surveying with a view to be self reliant and contribute to national development, adding that their members were active both in practice and at the home front.

The Coordinator of WIS in the South West, Mrs Omolara Ajidahun, said the Nigeria Institute of Surveyors had done a lot in curbing quackery in the profession.

Ajidahun commended the Lagos State Government on the Land Grabbing Prohibition Law 2016 and urged other state governments to emulate it.

She also encouraged members to ensure that their home front was adequately catered for while performing their professional duties.

Mrs Adenike Durojaye, former South West Coordinator, called on government to enforce the use of genuine survey plan in approving building plans.

Durojaye appealed to governments to provide aerial mapping of states and advised members to employ the use of modern equipment to improve their jobs.

Mr Ola Siyanbola, the Chairman of the institute in the state, appreciated WIS members for enhancing professionalism in their duties in spite of their domestic challenges.

Siyanbola said that WIS should collaborate with women journalists to create awareness on its activities.

Oyo State Coordinator of WIS, Mrs Toyin Fowotade, said the meeting was to harmonise ideas as well as discuss some challenges facing the womenfolk in the profession.

Fowotade called on government to enact law against land grabbing, saying such would create environment conducive for the profession to thrive.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that WIS members from Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states attended the meeting. (NAN)

TAA/MNA/IEA
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Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Idahosa Asowata

Bureau urges National Assembly to publish budget online

NAN-H-79

Information

By Uche Bibilari/ Fumni Adeyemi

Abuja, Oct. 12, 2016 (NAN) To encourage transparency and accountability in governance, the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) has advised the National Assembly to publish the annual budget online.

The BPSR Director-General, Dr Joe Abah, gave the advice at the reform seminar on Open Government and Transparency organised by the bureau in partnership with Right to Know (R2k), an NGO, on Wednesday in Abuja.

He urged the National Assembly to learn from other developed nations, adding that doing so would make public servants and political office holders accountable for any decisions and actions made.

He noted that most civil servants cite the Official Secrets Act and refuse to disclose relevant information to the public.

Abah said that the bureau was working with the Ministry of Justice to ensure transparency in the system, adding that it would expand the reform to other arms of government.

“The Federal Government is committed to transparency in seven key areas including public participation, government integrity, freedom of information, fiscal transparency, public service delivery, extractive  and open data.

“We will extend the reform to other arms of government to allow for transparency in all sections of the economy.

“ We are in the process of developing a national action plan for Nigerians that will foster participation, government integrity and public service delivery.’’

He called for inter-agency coordination and high level political support to be able to achieve transparency in government business.

The director-general urged Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) to establish FOI units and provide funds to finance the unit.

He said that this would erase the bureaucratic bottlenecks in MDAs.

He also urged  on MDAs to be proactive in responding to application seeking for information within 7 days except for requests that require a large volume of records.

Abah further called on MDAs to promptly submit annual reports as this would also aid accountability and transparency.

“ In 2012, 16 MDAs submitted annual report and in 2013, only 32 MDAs submitted reports.

“ Also in 2014, 51 MDAs submitted, in 2015, 60 MDAs submitted while in 2016, only 44 MDAs submitted reports, which is not too good for our agencies.

He, therefore, encouraged agencies of government and public institutions to comply with the law by submitting their reports in 2017. (NAN)

FAK/UU/NKO

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Edited by Nkechi Okoronkwo

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