Blog

NAN-H-41
NCC
By Constance Athekame
Abuja, Oct 12, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Wednesday said a decision to transfer Visafone licence to MTN had not yet been taken.

The commission also said what had been  approved in the transaction was 100 percent shareholding, not licence.

This information was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by Mr Tony Ojobo, the commission’s Director of Public Affairs.

Ojobo said that NCC’s final approval to the changes in shareholding of Visafone Communications was taken by virtue of Section 38 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003..

The spokesman said the Act stated that “the granting of a licence shall be personal to the licencee.’’

According to him, the licence shall not be operated by, assigned, sub-licenced or transferred to any other party unless the prior written approval of the commission has been granted.

“This is contrary to the speculation in a section of the media that the NCC,  the regulatory agency for telecommunication, had foreclosed the release of the spectrum held by Visafone to MTN.

“This clarification has become necessary in order to allay the fears in some quarters that the frequency had been withheld by the commission.

“ The commission is yet to meet to take a decision on the application by Visafone to transfer its licence to MTN.

“ The NCC has only approved the shareholding structure by 100 percent and not transfer of licence,’’ he said.

He said Visafone Communications Limited with a Universal Access Service Licence (UASL) – deploying Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology– applied to NCC for an approval to effect a change in its shareholding structure by transferring 100 percent of its shares to MTN Nigeria.

“Having met all the preliminary requirements for grant of approval for change in shareholding structure, the NCC in line with its established procedure granted an Approval-In-Principle to Visafone Communications Limited,’’ he said.

This, he said, was subject to fulfilment of conditions to transfer 100 percent of its shares to MTN Nigeria.

“Having fulfilled the conditions stipulated in the Approval-In-Principle, the NCC, in line with its procedure,  granted a “Final-Approval” to Visafone for the change in its shareholding structure.

“Thereafter, Visafone applied for approval to transfer its licence to MTN.

“The NCC has written to Visafone clearly stating that a decision was yet to be taken on the transfer of Visafone licence to MTN,’’ he said. (NAN)
COA /MA/OJO
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(Edited by Folorunso Poroye  and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-23
Judgment
By Deborah Akpede
Lagos, Oct, 12, 2016 (NAN) A mother of six, Titilayo Abdul-Hammed, has lost her 17-year-old marriage for making her husband a laughing stock in the neighbourhood.

An Igando Customary Court in Lagos on Wednesday granted the request of her estranged husband, Minkail Abdul-Hammed.

Abdul-Hammed, a cleric, 57, had approached the court seeking to end his 17-year-old marriage with Titilayo, because her nakedness was seen by spectators free of charge.

The Court President, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, in his judgment said that it was obvious from available testimony and the respondent’s refusal to appear in court that the marriage had “hit the rock”.

“Throughout the duration of this case, the respondent refused to honour court processes.Therefore, the court has no other choice than to dissolve the marriage.

“The marriage between, Minkail Abdul-Hammed and Titilayo Abdul-Hammed is hereby dissolved.

“Both parties are no longer husband and wife; they are free to marry any partner of their choice without any hindrances and molestation,” he said.

Abdul-Hammed had said that his wife was always disgracing him in public as she was fond of tying only wrapper to watch television in the neighbourhood.

“I bought my wife clothes, but she will never wear them; she prefers to tie wrapper on her chest.

“There was a day I came home from the mosque and was looking for my wife because she did not come for the Jumat prayer.

“I was told she was in the third house, so I went there and met her in front of the TV with residents of that house despite the fact that I bought T.V in all our rooms.

“I queried her for preferring TV to mosque and ordered her to follow me home.

“She refused and as I was trying to push her from the room, her wrapper dropped, and behold my wife was neither wearing a pant nor a brassier.

“The residents in the room saw my wife’s nakedness live and direct and were making jest of us. I was embarrassed and ashamed.

“The petitioner also accused his wife who was absent from court of being fetish.

“Of recent, I noticed that my wife always lock her room and keep the key to herself whenever she wants to take her bath or do anything within the premises.

“One day, she went to buy something and locked her room as usual. I searched for the duplicate key because I was curious and opened the door.

“I sighted a paper in which a long incantation was written on it and my name was mentioned.

“I was to search her closet when I heard her footstep coming, I quickly locked the room, I took the paper to show her family members,” he said.

Abdu-Hammed also described his wife as being wasteful with food as she was in the habit of cooking far in excess of what they could eat.

“I have always told her to measure food before cooking and that she can always give out the remnant to the poor, but she prefers throwing them away.

“She has stopped cooking for me since 2012 and told me to be doing the cooking which I am still doing,” he said. (NAN)
DOA/TA

Edited/controlled by Tajudeen Atitebi

NAN-H-40
Property
By Suleiman Shehu
Ibadan, Oct.12,2016 (NAN) An Ibadan-based businessman, Mr Mumini Adegboyega, has dragged his siblings to an Oyo State High Court over a family property, saying it was given to him as a gift by their late father, Alhaji Suberu Adegboyega.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the respondents are Isiaka Adetunji, Mujidat Adesanya, Lukman Suberu and Khadijat Siyanbola.

Adegboyega told the court through his counsel, Mr Segun Popoola, that he was in possession of the necessary documents on the agreement between him and his late father on the property.

Popoola said that his client decided to sue his siblings when the intervention moves made by close family friends to settle the matter were not successful.

The claimant’s counsel told the court that the defendants went to the property to pull down a fence and also threaten the tenants.

But in her  response, the counsel to the respondents, Mrs Folake Olaniran, told the court that she was not aware that her clients pulled down the fence of the disputed property.

Olaniran, however, apologised on behalf of her clients.

She also told the court that an application urging the court to order the tenants to pay their rents to the court pending the determination of the suit had just been filed.

Justice Eni Esan adjourned the case till Nov.14 for hearing of the application. (NAN)
SYS/OJO
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(Edited and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-20
Appointments
Kafanchan (Kaduna) Oct. 12, 2016 (NAN) As part of measures to reposition the Kaduna State College of Education (KSCOE) Gidan Waya, the authorities of the college haves approved new appointments and set up committees.

According to a statement signed by the college’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Ishaya Akungba, the new appointees include Mallam Ma’awuya Ibrahim, Special Adviser to the College Administrator on Academic Matters and Dr Grace Yusuf Tabat, Dean, Directorate of Student Affairs.

The others include Mrs Safiya Garba, Coordinator, Interim Joint Admission Matriculation Board (IJMB) Unit; and Mr John Tukura, Academic Secretary in the Directorate of Academic Planning and Monitoring.

The authorities also set up committees for senior staff discipline, students discipline, and staff development as well as a committee on proper placement and implementation.

The authorities also approved the redeployment of the PRO, Akungba to the Graduation and Certification Unit. (NAN)
MGK/KOLE
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Edited by Remi Koleoso and controlled by Ijeoma Popoola.

NAN-DS-3
Suicide
By Ali Inuwa
Maiduguri, Oct. 12, 2016(NAN) The Police in Borno on Wednesday confirmed the killing of five persons after a suspected female suicide bomber detonated her explosives near Muna garage, in Maiduguri.

Mr Victor Isuku, the spokesman of the state Police Command, confirmed the incident in a statement.

“Please be informed that at about 0830 today (Wednesday), there was an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion on board a Golf 1 motor vehicle with reg. No JERE 349 XA, body S/No RTEAN 7179 taxi colour.

“The car was carrying five people – four females and a male driver,” Isuku said.

He said that the explosion occurred around Muna garrage along maiduguri /Gamboru Ngala road.

“The explosion occurred when the taxi was attempting to join the convoy of other vehicles heading to Gamboru town.

“All the four female passengers and the male driver died in the explosion,” Isuku said.

He said that the bomber was suspected to have been picked by the driver 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 the other vehicles on the queues as everybody rushed out after the explosion. (NAN)
ABI/JEY/AMY

Edited by Johnson Eyiangho and Abdullahi Yusuf

20-year-old Lagos Heroin trafficker bags 18 months in jail

NAN-H-12
Heroine
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Oct. 12, 2016 (NAN) A 20-year-old boy, Abiodun Oyatolu, who had pleaded guilty to trafficking in 9.9 grammes of heroin in Lagos, is to cool his heels in prison for the next 18 months, a Federal High Court  ruled on Wednesday.

Justice Abdulazeez Anka, who handed down the verdict, said the drug trafficker was guilty as charged.

The accused had admitted guilt of the offence of trafficking in hard drug preferred against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The judge, however, sad the sentence should begin from the date of judgment and ordered the exhibits to be destroyed if there was no subsisting appeal.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, had tendered as evidence before the court a written statement of the accused, a request for scientific aid form, a drug analysis certificate, as well as remnant of the analysed substance which were admitted as exhibits.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that shortly before the sentence, the accused had begged the court to temper justice with mercy, saying “it is the work of the devil, I promise to turn a new leaf.”

The accused committed the offence on Jan. 20 at Ipodo, the heart of Ikeja, Lagos State capital.

He was arrested with 9.9 grammes of heroin, a narcotic similar to cocaine and other psychotropic substances.

It was analysed in the laboratory by the NDLEA and was confirmed as heroin, the prosecutor said.

The offence contravened Sections 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004. (NAN)
UNS/DA
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Edited & controlled by Dele Akinsola

NAN-H-38
Diesel
By Aminu Ahmed Garko
Sokoto Oct .12, 2016 (NAN) The Sokoto State government said it is spending N24 million monthly on diesel in order to provide potable water in the state.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Arzika Tureta made this known at the ongoing ministerial briefing in Sokoto on Wednesday.

He said the state government is committed to ensuring adequate provision of potable water for its citizenry.

He said that the state government had also committed N5.5 million for the purchase of pipes and fittings for the distributions network in Sokoto metropolis and environs to effectively ensure regular water supply.

He appealed to residents to develop the habit of reporting any damage to water pipes in and outside the metropolis for prompt repairs. (NAN)
AAG/AOS/MTM
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Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Tukur Muntari.

NAN-S-4
Cricket
Harare, Oct. 12, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) Zimbabwe have named former international, Heath Streak, as the country’s new national team head coach.

Zimbabwe Cricket announced the appointment on Tuesday, ending the caretaker role of former South Africa international Makhaya Ntini, who is expected to stay on as bowling coach.

Another former Proteas test cricketer, Lance Klusener, is the team’s batting coach.

Streak, 42, played 65 tests and 189 one-day internationals between 1993 and 2005, with the former fast bowler the first Zimbabwean to capture 100 test wickets.

He ended his career with 216 victims at an average of 28.14.

Streak has a little less than three weeks to prepare his side for the first of two home tests against Sri Lanka starting on Oct. 29.

They will also face the sub-continent side and West Indies in an ODI triangular tournament in Zimbabwe next month. (Reuters/NAN)
ERO/PDE
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara and Controlled by Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-HE-1
Budget
By Mohammed Mamman
Damaturu, Oct.12, 2016 (NAN) Alhaji Idi Gubana, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning in Yobe, has urged the state Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to support government’s drive to boost revenue generation.

Gubana made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Damaturu.

The commissioner said that the MDAs should also ensure judicious expenditure to improve living standard of people in the state.

He said that the state government has engaged the MDAs in a discussion on the need to fashion out a realistic direction for the state fiscal policy in 2017.

Gubana said that the discussion would guide the ministries, departments and agencies toward a dependable and realistic budget proposal for 2017.

“This became necessary in view of the economic challenges facing the state in particular, and the country as a whole.

“The ministries, departments and agencies will share knowledge to appreciate the financial position of the state, and prioritise their activities to impact positively on the lives of the people.

“In 2017, we will emphasis the need to achieving a sustainable revenue generation with prudence in expenditure in line with the state development plan.

“The establishment of the State Fiscal Responsibility Board and the Public Procurement Bureau will check unnecessary wastage and leakages to save resources for the state government,” he said. (NAN)
MM/KOLE/GOK
(Edited by Remi Koleoso/controlled by Olagoke Olatoye)
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NYSC accredits 1,344 out of 4,8000 OAU graduands  recommended for service- Dean, Student Affairs

NAN-H-33

NYSC

By Elusogbon Dorcas

Ile-Ife (Osun), Oct. 12, 2016 (NAN) The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), accredited 1,344 out of 4,800 graduands of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, recommended for the  2016 ‘Batch B’ of the service, an official of the institution has said.

The official, Dr Babaiide Afolabi, Vice Dean, Division of Student Affairs, stated this on Wednesday in Ile-Ife in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Afobabi said:”May be it was as a result of inadequate resources for the programme that caused the reduction in their intake for the programme.’’

He expressed dismay over the situation, saying that the remaining 3, 500 graduands would have to wait for another batch before they could serve their father land.

Afolabi, however, advised those not immediately mobilised to engage in entrepreneurship programme pending the time they will be called for service.

According to him,“ we all know that no knowledge is lost.’’(NAN)

EDA/TO/OU

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Edited by Tola Okinbaloye/Obike Ukoh

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