Blog

NAN-H-23
Documents
By Olaitan Idris
Lagos, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) A 36-year-old woman, Ifeyinwa Nlemchi,who allegedly burnt her husband’s official documents to protest his adulterous acts, was on Monday hauled up before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The accused, who resides at No.  45, Church St., Fiwakesin, Agebde in Ikorodu, Lagos State, is standing trial on a two-count charge bordering on malicious damage.

Prosecutor Roman Unuigbe told the court that the accused committed the offences on Sept.16 at their residence.

Unuigbe alleged that the accused who suspected that her husband was having an illicit relationship with another woman, planted a tape in his office bag to record their conversations.

He said the accused also found out that her husband was spending time at a hotel with another woman and out of jealousy, took all the documents he had brought from work and set them on fire.

“Her husband, who made a report at the police station, said he wanted her charged to court for willfully destroying four international passports belonging to clients of Multi Choice Nigeria.’’

The offences contravened Sections 338 and 348 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

Ifeyinwa, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mr P.A. Ojo, granted her bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

He said one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused and should be gainfully employed in a reputable and verified organisation.

In addition, the magistrate said the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to the government.

The case was adjourned to Nov. 4 for substantive trial. (NAN)

IOI/DA
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Edited & controlled by Dele Akinsola

Navy restates resolve to protect nation’s water ways

NAN-DS-7

Navy

By Yahaya  Isah

Abuja, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Navy (NN) on Monday said it would continue to protect the maritime domain of the country against any form of criminal activities.

The Chief of Naval Staff, (CNS) Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas, said this while inaugurating the service Strategic Directive (SD) 02 in Abuja.

Ibas explained that SD-02 was a continuation of SD01 being part of his strategic plans to take NN to greater heights.

He said that the target of SD-02 was to sustain efficient and effective operational presence at sea to create a secure maritime environment for national prosperity.

He said that it was also to build on the credible NN manpower development to achieve optimal professional capability of personnel, as well as consolidate on the reinvigorated planned maintenance system for enhanced operational readiness.

The CNS also said that the SD-02 was to sustain the partnership with relevant stakeholders and institutions both locally and internationally under the principle of burden sharing.

“To leverage requisite motivation and support for personnel, sustained regional security mechanism to enhance maritime security;

“To continue to demand the right attitude, high standard of discipline and selflessness from all personnel at all times,’’ he said

He stressed the need for NN to continue to efficiently monitor and maintain effective control of activities over the nation’s maritime domain, as well as focus on reactivation of governing Boards of professional training schools.

Ibas said further that his administration would also review NN policy on operational training, type and on-the job training, as well as reactivate courses/programmes for engineering personnel.

“Commencement of manpower training in civil/military relations and information management for take-off of directorate of civil/military relations;

“Commencement of manpower training in museum and archiving for smooth take-off of directorate of NN museum and archives;

“Development of doctrines on NN counter-terrorism crisis response and self propelled water/barges for enhanced NN brown water operations in designated choke point regimes.

“Development of a boat handling competition handbook. Development of training record book for officer’s training. Partnership with international Aviation College (IAC) Ilorin training of own pilots and provision of course curricula.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Nigerian Navy Strategic Development (SD-01) was inaugurated on Aug. 31, 2015.

This was to emplace a strategic directive for the attainment of NN goals as encapsulated in the revised NN transformation plan 2011-2020.

Also, the need to build a credible NN capable of discharging its constitutional roles and assigned tasks in a sustainable efficient and effective manner led to the promulgation of the CNS Strategic Directive 2015. (NAN)
YI/AMY

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Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-H-43
Reaction
Maiduguri, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) Some residents of Maiduguri on Monday commended the Federal Government’s crackdown on judges alleged to have engaged in corruption.

A cross section of those who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the action was a right step in the right direction.

Mr Ali Shuwa, a veteran journalist said the government must sustain the crackdown to sanitize the judiciary.

“Yes, I am in full support of the action. I think it is a step towards sanitising the judiciary; government must sustain such crackdowns until the entire process is sanitised”, Shuwa said.

He absolved government of any blame in carrying out the crackdown. “This kind of thing is not peculiar to Nigeria alone.

“Even in the United States, raids were conducted on corrupt judges, so what are we saying”, Shuwa said.

He added that the crackdown was also a pointer to the fact that the Buhari administration was serious in its anti corruption crusade.

“We are very happy about the development, I think government is serious about fighting corruption now”, he said.

Shuwa also advised that people should ignore threats of boycott of courts by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), saying it was empty.

Similarly, Malam Bakura Ba’ana, an opinion leader, said Nigerian judges had been taking advantage of the independence of the judiciary.

“Buhari’s government has shown that it is focused on fighting corruption in all sectors of our economy.

“The crackdown on the judges is a welcome development”, Ba’ana stressed.

He urged Nigerians to rally round the administration to ensure that the future of the country was safeguarded.

But Malam Ibrahim Jumma, a civil servant, expressed reservation over the government’s action.

“Well, the federal government has been saying that it is fighting corruption.

“But all along, what we have been seeing is different kinds of illegalities in the guise of fighting corruption.

“They claimed to have found money in the houses of some judges, but is it the right way to go about it?”, Jumma asked.

He supported NBA’s planned boycott of courts to put pressure on government to change its style of doing things.

“Since we are not in a military regime, we should learn to do things properly.

“Government must follow the normal channel if it is serious in winning the war against corruption’’, he said. (NAN)

ABI/EAL/IEA
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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi/Idahosa Asowata

NAN-H-25
Rape
By Teniola Ibitola
Lagos, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) A 31-year-old man, who allegedly has unlawful sexual intercourse with a 19-year-old girl and video recorded it, was on Monday brought before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court.

The accused, Kingsley Benjamin, is facing trial on a two-count charge of obscenity and rape.

The prosecutor, Insp. Cousin Adams, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Sept. 20 at about 7.00 p.m at No. 9, Unity Ave., Etebi, in Ajangbandi area of Lagos.

Adams alleged that the accused has unlawful sexual intercourse with the girl and recorded the act on his phone.

He said that the offences contravened Sections 149(1) (2) and 258 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Benjamin, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the penalty for obscenity is a fine of N450, 000 or three years imprisonment or both, if found guilty.

Also, Section 258 prescribes life imprisonment for rape.

The Magistrate, Mrs Helen Omisore, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Omisore said that one of the sureties must be a close relation of the accused.

She then adjourned the case till Nov.7 for mention. (NAN)
OAT/FLP/GOK
(Edited by Folorunso Poroye/controlled by Olagoke Olatoye)
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NAN-H-20
Robber
By Teniola Ibitola
Lagos, Oct. 10, 2016(NAN) A 31-year-old highway robber, Wasiu Ayinla, is to spend the next two years in a Lagos jail, an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court ruled on Monday.

Magistrate A.O. Ajibade, who handed down the verdict, said the the convict should serve the prison term with hard labour.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused, had earlier pleaded guilty to the three-count charge of conspiracy, malicious damage and stealing preferred against him.

The magistrate sentenced the robber to six months on conspiracy, one year on stealing, and another six months on malicious damage.

All the sentences are to run concurrently.

Earlier, the Prosecutor had said the accused committed the offences on Oct. 8 between 9.00 p.m. and 10.15 p.m. under Iganmu Bridge near the National Theatre Complex.

The accused had broken the window of a salon car with registration no. GC 337 LSR before robbing the occupant of her belongings.

Items stolen included an iPad, a black cosmetic purse and a brown purse, all valued at N215,000, property of a woman, Pearse Afonughe.

“The complainant had summoned courage to scream for help and the accused was quickly rounded up and beaten to a pulp before he was handed over to the police.”

The offences contravened Sections 285, 337 (7) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
(NAN)
OAT/DA
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Edited & controlled by Dele Akinsola

Capital Market: Experts attribute economic lull to delays in appointing MDA boards

NAN-HE-
MDAs
By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
Lagos, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) Some capital market experts have criticised continued delays by the Federal Government in the appointment of boards for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

According to them, this is not good for the growth and development of the economy.

Some of the experts told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos that government as a matter of urgency should appoint board members into MDAs, especially those concerned with financial management.

Mallam Garba Kurfi, Managing Director, APT Securities and Funds Ltd., suggested that boards for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), National Insurance Commission, Pension Commission, should be constituted without further delay.

Kurfi said that delays in such appointments had adversely been affecting the efficiency of the agencies, leading to slowdown in economic activities.

He stressed that NAICOM, SEC and PENCOM were performing below capacity because of failure to appoint of the board members.

Kurfi noted that certain decisions that would need board approvals were still pending as a result of government’s  inability to replace the members removed since February.

According to him, the development was affecting investors’ confidence in the nation’s money and capital markets.

Mr Ambrose Omordion, the Chief Operating Office, InvestData Ltd., said that negative macroeconomic indices had led to low liquidity, low production output and high unemployment rate.

Omordion said that investors were worried that the government had yet to take appropriate steps to address the present economic realities, particularly the current economic recession.

He called on government to introduce stimulus packages to woo the players in the real sector so as to encourage serious economic activities that could boost national output.

Meanwhile, a turnover of 934.91 million shares worth N6.36 billion were exchanged by investors in 12,352 deals last week against 1.29 billion shares valued at N9.30 billion traded in 15,258 deals.

The Financial Services Industry led the week’s activity chart in volume terms, accounting for 817.19 million shares valued at N4.08 billion traded in 7,268 deals.

The conglomerates sector followed with 46.37 million shares worth N86.73 million traded in 514 deals.

The third place was occupied by the Oil and Gas Industry with a turnover of 21.54 million shares worth N465.82 million transacted in 1,310 deals.

The All-Share Index dipped by 500.18 points or 1.77 to close at 27,835.22 against 28,335.40 achieved on Friday.

The market capitalisation, which opened at 9.733 trillion shed N172 billion or 1.77 per cent to close at N9.561 trillion due to price loses.

Lafarge Africa topped the losers’ chart in percentage terms for the week, shedding 13.87 per cent or N7.60 to close at N47.20 per share.

Wema Bank was placed second with a loss of 12.50 per cent or 9k to close at 63k, while Caverton lost 11.84 per cent or 9k to close at 67k per share.

On the other hand, 7UP led the gainers’ table in percentage terms, growing by 13.67 per cent or N19 to close at N158 per share.

FCMB Group followed with a gain of 8.41 per cent or 9k to close at N1.16, while Champion Breweries appreciated by 8.37 per cent or 21k to close at N2.72 per share. (NAN)
JNC/TON
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Edited by Tony Nezianya

NAN-H-41
Plant
Dutse, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) A Norwegian company, Novia Scotia Power Development Limited, on Monday said the proposed solar power plant in Dutse, Jigawa, would generate 80 megawatts of electricity when completed.

The company’s Managing Director, Mr Amit Modi, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen shortly after paying a courtesy call on the State Governor, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru in Dutse.

Modi assured that the project would be completed and handed over in 2018.
He said that the 150 million dollars project would be transmitted to the national grid when completed.

According to him, the company had already signed an agreement with the Federal Government to purchase the power and sell to companies.

He promised the host community that the company would employ its sons and daughters, when the project was completed and commenced operation.
Modi said the company had already started paying compensation to owners of the land acquired for siting project.

Earlier, Gov. Badaru said that the project would attract a lot of investments to the state.

Badaru said that no industry could function without stable power supply; hence, the project would facilitate his effort to key in the state among industrialised states in the federation.

He appealed to the company to honour its agreement and ensure that the project was completed at the agreed time in 2018.

The governor added that the project was part of his strategy to woo investment to the state and pledged the government’s support to ensure speedy completion of the project. (NAN)
MS/COF/MTM/
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(Edited by Oluyinka Fadare)controlled by Tukur Muntari.

NAN-H-18
Murder
By Teniola Ibitola
Lagos, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) An Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Monday remanded a 30-year-old woman, Bose Okhlua, at Ikoyi Prisons for allegedly killing a co-tenant.

Okhlua appeared before Chief Magistrate Abimbola Awogboro on a charge of murder.

Her plea was not taken by the magistrate, who said the court lacked the jurisdiction to try such cases.

Awogboro adjourned the case to Nov. 10 pending advice from the office of the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Daniel Ighodalo told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 4 at 3.00 p.m. at No. 4, Ogunmuyiwa St., Ikate-Itire, Surulere, Lagos.
He said the accused allegedly murdered one Mercy Onuoha, 24, by hitting her head on the wall when Ohklua threw her against the wall.

“The duo engaged a fight over whose turn to have their bath in the bathroom in the tenants’ apartment.

“In the process, the deceased hit her head against the wall,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the offence contravened Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.  (NAN)
OAT/AOS/DA
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Edited by Bayo Sekoni & controlled by Dele Akinsola

NAN-H-17

Bridges

Mararaba (Nasarawa State), Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) The Nasarawa State Government is to spend about N400 million on the construction of two pedestrian bridges at the Mararaba Orange Market in Karu Local Government Area of the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Works and Housing, Mr Godwin Makeri, made the disclosure in Mararaba on Monday while inspecting the progress of work on the bridges.

The commissioner said the two bridges when completed would reduce the plight of commuters wanting to cross the highway to enter the market.

“I am here to inspect the bridges at the Mararaba Orange Market and see by myself the quality of the job done so far by the contractor.

“The importance of embarking on the construction of roads and bridges by any government cannot be over-emphasised.

“Apart from boosting the socio-economic development and the revenue base of the state, it will also help in reducing the plight of the people.

“That is why the State Government has decided to embark on bridges and road construction across the state in order to fight poverty, youth restiveness and unemployment.

Makeri called on the contractor handling the work to ensure speedy completion of the projects to bring development to the state.

He assured the State Government’s commitment to initiating projects that would touch on the lives of residents of the state.

The contractor handling the project, Mr Ladan Mamuda, assured that he would perform a quality job for the state. (NAN)

AKW/MNA/SN

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(Edited by Maureen Atuonwu, controlled by Silas Nwoha)

NAN-HG-3
Allowance
By Yashim Katurak Rebecca
Abuja, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Monday refuted social media reports alleging it slashed corps members’ allowance by 25 per cent.

NYSC’s Director of Press, Mrs Bose Aderibigbe, said in Abuja the allowance of corps members remained N19,800, and not N14,800 as published by the social media.

Aderibigbe said the Director-General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Sule Kazaure, had not made any comments regarding allowances of corps members as claimed in the publication.

She reiterated the commitment of the scheme to the welfare of all corps members and urged corps members and the public to ignore what she called `the misleading information’. (NAN)
KRY/HS/YEE

Edited by Halima Sheji/Controlled by Emmanuel Yashim

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