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Death
Lagos, Sept. 17, 2018 (NAN) The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Lagos State Chapter, has expressed shock at the demise of one of its patrons, Reverend Moses Iloh.

The State SWAN Chairman, Debo Oshundun, in a statement signed by Bunmi Ogunyale, Secretary of the chapter, said Iloh would be greatly missed.

Oshundun extolled the virtues of the late veteran sports administrator, saying he was a pillar of the association for many years.

“Despite leaving us at a ripe age, Reverend Iloh’s demise is a great loss to us in Lagos SWAN and the country as a whole.

“We would forever miss him because he was not just our patron, but our father.

“Rev. Iloh was a passionate sports man and he was always there to advise and guide us any time we ran to him.

“I pray the Almighty God grant his soul eternal rest and also give his family members and the sports community the fortitude to bear this great loss,” he said.

The late Iloh, according to the statement, played a major role in completion of the Lagos SWAN secretariat.

According to family sources, the firebrand sports administrator died on Saturday at the age of 88.

He was until his demise the General Overseer of Soul Winning Chapel, with headquarters in Yaba, Lagos.

The deceased was also the former president of the Nigeria Cycling Federation. (NAN)
KOA/KOLE/SOA

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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Oluwole Sogunle

Stealing

By Moronke Boboye

Lagos, Sept. 17, 2018 (NAN) A 26- year-old man, Bayo Ishola, who allegedly stole his employer’s goods valued at N40,000, was on Monday docked before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.

The accused, who is also an aluminum fabricator of No. 33, Abiodun Sadiku St., Dopemu, a suburb of Lagos, is being tried for conspiracy and stealing.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Innocent Odugbo, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Sept. 14 at the Aluminum Village in Dopemu.

Odugbo said that the accused and one other at large went to the shop of Mrs Olabisi Ibiomah, the employer of the accused, at night and parked some aluminum profile valued at N40,000.

“The security guards employed by Ibiomah sighted the accused and his accomplice during the act and ran after them.

“The other accomplice escaped while the accused was arrested, “he said.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The magistrate, Mrs S. K. Matepo, granted the accused to a bail of N20,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Matepo adjourned the case until Oct. 18 for mention. (NAN)

MTO/BOLA/PAD
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Peter Dada

Basketball

By Babatunde Ogunrinde
Lagos Sept. 17, 2018 (NAN) The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) under the leadership of Musa Kida, has expressed gratitude to basketball fans for coming out in large numbers to support the senior national men’s team, D’Tigers at the ongoing qualifiers for the 2019 World Cup in China.

D’Tigers outclassed their archrival, Senegal, 89-61 to confirm their dominance in the FIBA World Cup series, recording nine straight victories.

Kida told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the match at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium on Sunday in Lagos that he was thrilled by the massive support the fans gave to the team.

He added that the crowded sports hall provided the right atmosphere for the sport and would continue to grow under his leadership.

“It’s a great feeling I must confess, the players gave their best and the fans were so supportive, and the spirit in the hall had brought the kind of excitement we wanted.

“It has indeed been an eventful series and hopefully the players and the coaching crew are the true heroes of the sport.

“When we came on board in the NBBF, we promised all stakeholders that their competitions will be staged for fans of the sport to appreciate and enjoy watching their star players here in Nigeria.

“We can only do more for basketball, especially as the women’s team, D’Tigress also prepare to go for the World Cup which comes up in Spain on Sept. 22,’’ Kida said.

Kida told NAN that the NBBF’s intentions when they came on board was to conquer Africa, and also make Nigeria the destination of choice for basketball.

“We want to ensure the sustainability of the sport, we want our players far away to feel connected to the sport at home and contributing their own quota.

“It is also the very first time in the history of Nigeria where we have our women going for the World Cup and the men also going for the World Cup.

“At the local level, we have the grassroots development programmes such as the Total Division One and Two Leagues in operation.

“At the end we want to say proudly that basketball is back and it is back for good in Nigeria,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the next FIBA Men’s World Cup comes up in February 2019, where Nigeria will play three games against Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Central Africa Republic.

Senegal with seven victories out of nine hopes to build on its wins to book a spot alongside Nigeria for the World Cup which comes up in China. (NAN)
BAO/ERO/PDE
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara//Peter Ejiofor)

Resumption

Maureen Ojinaka
Enugu, Sept. 17, 2018 (NAN) Public and private schools in Enugu State on Monday resumed for 2018/2019 academic session with cleaning up of their schools’ environment.

A Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the resumption in some public and private schools in Enugu metropolis reports that all the schools visited had commenced academic and extra-curricular activities without delay.

The head school teachers who spoke to NAN, said that students and pupils resumed in their numbers which helped the cleanup of the school environment, including classrooms to be faster as well as enable them to have one or two lessons in their new classes.

The Vice-Principal of Girls High School, Uwani, Mrs Chioma Ebue, said that a large number of students turned up, adding that the cleanup would be completed without delay to enable the students begin their lesson.

“Until all the students get into their new classrooms and settle down, lesson will then commence because this is a new session where students are meant to begin in new classes with introduction of new, additional subjects,” Ebue said.

The Head Teacher of Zik’s Avenue Primary School 2, Uwani, Mrs Ude Nwobele, told NAN that about 65 per cent of the pupils came to school, noting that their large turnout had made the cleanup activities in the classrooms, surroundings and toilets to be faster and as such, lessons followed immediately.

Mrs Ezeora Ngozika, Coordinator of the new intake registration at Zik Avenue Primary School, said that the number of new pupils coming for registration into Primary 1 was much.

“Many pupils are really coming in for registration, in fact, before 9.30 a.m., we have registered more that 21 children into Primary 1,” she said.

At Igbariam Primary School, Achara Layout, the Headmistress, Mrs Josephine Obodo, noted that virtually all the classrooms had more than 20 pupils each, saying that the number showed that a large number of pupils came to school.

Obodo said that lessons would also commence immediately after the cleanup of the environment because they were many to keep the environment clean as quick as possible.

“Everywhere is almost cleaned up because the pupils are large in the their number and with this development, they will be going into their new classrooms for one two lessons before we close for the day,‘’ she said.

Mrs Esther Obi, the head teacher of God’s Care Private School in Achara Layout, said that pupils were already in their various new classes, while new comers were undergoing registration so as to join in the learning going on. (NAN)
OJI/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)

Linda Ikeji

By Anita Eboigbe 

Abuja,  Sept. 17, 2018 (NAN) Popular blogger, Linda Ikeji has given birth to a baby boy on Monday in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States.

The elated new mother shared the news of her delivery through her Instagram page on Monday with a post delivery picture.

She wrote, “Oh dear Lord, I am a mum. Baby J is here. He was born today 17th September. This is so surreal.

“Thank you guys so much for the love through this journey and thanks for all the well wishes. Love you guys!,” she wrote.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ikeji’s pregnancy generated a lot of interest in the past few months leading to the delivery.

Fans of the media mogul have remained  curious about the paternity of the child which she is yet to reveal, although she let it slip that he is from the Itsekiri tribe of Delta State.

However,  there was more outrage from fans over the deviation from her usual celibacy stance when she announced the pregnancy in May as many termed the move as hypocritical.

NAN reports that Ikeji maintained a high anticipation for the baby, regularly posting pictures of her pre-natal care and plans for the child fondly called ‘Baby J’. (NAN)

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Boy, 15, drowns in Kano pond

By Bosede Olufunmi
Kano, Sept.17, 2018 (NAN) A 15-year-old boy, Mohammed Basa, has drowned while bathing in a pond at Kuka Bulukiya Community in the Dala Local Government Area of Kano State.

The Spokesman of the Kano State Fire Service, Mr Saidu Mohammed, revealed the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Monday.

He said that the incident happened on Sunday when the deceased went to take his bath along with his friends.

“We received a distress call from one Malam Auwalu Dala at about 12:40 p.m. that Basa’s body was found floating on a pond.

“On receiving the information, we quickly sent our rescue team to the scene at about 12:58 p.m.

“Basa was found dead and his corpse was later handed over to the police.’’

The spokesman advised parents to prevail on their children and wards to stay away from water bodies to prevent harm coming to them. (NAN)

BO/SN

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Edited by Silas Nwoha

Transformer
By Kingsley Okoye
Abuja, Sept. 17, 2018 (NAN) The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has installed two units of 60 Mega Volt Amp (MVA) 132/33kV power transformers at Papalanto and Okpella transmission substations in Ogun and Edo states respectfully.

Mrs Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.

According to Mbah, the 60MVA transformer in Okpella will be commissioned by the Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Sept 22.

She said the 60MVA at Papalanto would be commissioned by the Minister of Power Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola at a later date.

Mbah said the 60MVA power transformer installed in Okpella, would greatly support the industrial policy of Edo government, given the existence of huge deposit of limestone and other solid minerals in the area.

She said the BUA cement factory at Okpella would also enjoy the improved power supply in the area.

Mbah said the installation of the 60 MVA transformer has increased the capacity of Okpella substation from 15MVA to 75MVA.

She said several communities including Okpella, BUA cement company, Aghenebode town and environs that are customers of Benin Electricity Distribution Company are expected to experience improved power supply.

She also said the capacity of Papalanto substation has also increased from 75MVA to 132MVA following the installation of the new 60MVA power transformer.

The TCN spokesperson added that electricity users in Ilaro, Lapeleke, Sango, Onihale and environs in Ogun state who are customers of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company would experience improved power supply. (NAN)
KC/IS
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Legal Aid Council secures 17 judgments in 6 months

Judgement

Igbaugba Ehigimetor

Benin, Sept. 17, 2018 (NAN) Mr Eddy Enenero, Edo Coordinator, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, said the Council secured 17 judgments between January and June, 2018.

Enenero who spoke in an interview with the  News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday in  Benin, added that  no fewer than 130 cases were currently being handled by the Council’s team of lawyers.

He assured of improvement in 2018, when compared to 2017, where 39 judgments were secured.

Enenero who listed lack of vehicles, paucity of funds and manpower, as some of the challenges facing the Council in Edo, said the Council currently has seven lawyers handling its cases.

According to him, “From the seven lawyers we have, five handle cases within Benin, while two handle cases in Auchi and Ubiaja.

“ This is however outside those that handle cases for us on probono,” he said.

Enenero said that the Council needs no fewer than 20 lawyers to handle its cases across the state.

He expressed delight that cases were now easier to conclude because of the reformation in the state’s judiciary, especially the separation of criminal courts from civil courts. (NAN)
ESI/OU

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Edited by Obike Ukoh

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Flag-off

Victor Adeoti

Osogbo, Sept. 16, 2018 (NAN) As part of Federal Government’s efforts to improve basic health care in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari will perform the national flag off of basic health provision fund in Osogbo, the Osun state capital.

Dr Niyi Oginni,the Executive Director of Osun Health Insurance Scheme (O’HIS), who disclosed this at a news conference on Sunday in Osogbo, said the flag off would be performed by the President and the Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Sept. 20.

Oginni said that the basic health provision fund , which was signed into law under section 11 of 2014 Health Act, would be flagged off along side Osun Health Insurance Scheme by the President.

He said that after the flag-off, malaria treatment, high blood check, diabetics screening would be free of charge for all residents.

Oginni said that under the scheme, delivery, anti-natal, post-natal and family planning would be free for pregnant women, while immunisation would be free for children.

He said other pilot states where the basic health fund scheme would be flagged-off include Abia, Niger, Katsina, Yobe and Edo.

Oginni said the basic health fund would be disbursed through the State Primary Health Care Development Agency and Social Health Insurance scheme.

He said the primary health care development agency would be responsible for personnel, infrastructure and purchase of consumables and drugs.

“While the health insurance scheme will capture the data of those who have received services under the basic health fund,” he said.

Oginni explained that under the insurance scheme, those who require further services, which basic health fund could not cover, would have to be enrolled into the scheme.

He said for civil servants and those in organised formal sector, who would be enrolled into the scheme, 1.5 per cent would be deducted from their basic salary while their employers would contribute 3 per cent on a monthly basis.

He said the beneficary could add their spouse and four children who are under the age of 18 years.

He said those in the informal sector could also be enrolled under the scheme.

Oginni said the health insurance scheme would provide robust health services for the people of the state. (NAN)

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma